Daily Morning Brief - 19 April 2026

INDIA

1. Delhi Shatters 14-Year April Rainfall Record Following Western Disturbance: Delhi’s Palam observatory recorded 19mm of rain yesterday, the highest single-day April rainfall in 14 years. A weak Western Disturbance collided with intense local heat, triggering the "heat-storm" and providing temporary relief from the summer heatwave.

2. Indian ship attacked in strait of Hormoz.

2. India Summons Iranian Envoy Over Attacks on Indian-Flagged Ships in Strait of Hormuz : India summoned the Iranian envoy after two Indian-flagged ships, the Sanmar Herald and Jag Arnav, were fired upon in the Strait of Hormuz. New Delhi expressed "deep concern" over the safety of Indian crews in the waterway.

3. Cabinet Approves 2% Dearness Allowance Hike for Central Employees and Pensioners: The Union Cabinet approved a 2% hike in DA and Dearness Relief (DR), raising the rate to 60% effective from January 1, 2026. This adjustment benefits over 1 crore central employees and pensioners by offsetting inflation.

WORLD

4. Iran Rejects US Proposal to Transfer Enriched Uranium Stockpiles to America: Iran officially denied US claims of an agreement to transfer enriched uranium abroad. Tehran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz to many vessels, stating passage remains restricted as long as the US maintains its current naval blockade on Iranian ports.

5. US Extends Sanctions Waiver on Russian Oil to Curb Skyrocketing Fuel Prices: The US Treasury extended a one-month waiver (until May 16, 2026) for transactions involving Russian oil shipments already at sea. This move aims to prevent a global energy price spike amidst rising tensions in the Middle East.

Economy

6. Global Tech Layoffs Hit 80,000 in Q1; Projected to Surpass 3 Lakh by Year-End

Tech layoffs hit 80,000 in Q1 2026, driven by AI restructuring. Analysts project cuts could cross 3 lakh by year-end. Major firms like Oracle and Amazon are leading the downsizing to prioritize efficiency and AI infrastructure investments.

ODISHA

8. Odisha Replaces State Planning Board with SITI-Odisha Policy Think Tank: The state government replaced the State Planning Board with the State Institute for Transformative Initiatives (SITI). Chaired by the Chief Minister, this NITI Aayog-style think tank will lead the "Samrudha Odisha 2036" vision for long-term development.

9. Goa’s Sadhvi Satish Sail Crowned Femina Miss India World 2026 in Bhubaneswar: Sadhvi Satish Sail from Goa was crowned Femina Miss India World 2026 during the grand finale held in Bhubaneswar. A native of Karwar, she will represent India at the Miss World pageant, focusing on financial literacy.