Morning coverage began with the high-profile arrival of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Gujarat, but editorial focus abruptly shifted following ISRO's first launch of 2026. Initially reported as a success, the PSLV-C62 mission was soon confirmed a failure after a technical anomaly in the third stage caused the rocket to deviate, resulting in the loss of 16 satellites, including the defense-critical 'Anvesha'. By midday, attention turned to the arrival of new U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor, who sought to repair the previous days' trade friction by inviting India to the 'Pax Silica' initiative and hinting at a visit by President Trump. Simultaneously, media tracked the six-hour CBI interrogation of actor-politician Vijay regarding a stampede incident. In the evening, reports highlighted a worsening security situation in Bangladesh following the targeted killing of a Hindu driver, alongside developments in Iran where the regime reportedly deployed a 'kill switch' against Starlink internet access amid rising protest fatalities.