Daily Morning Brief - 26 June - Top News Updates from India world economy and odisha

India

1. More than 6,600 farmers and labourers died by suicide in Maharashtra.

The Maharashtra government reported 6,669 farmer and agricultural labourer suicides in 2023. Rising debt, shrinking landholdings, crop losses due to climate shocks, and dependence on private moneylenders continue to push thousands of farming families into distress.

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2. Researchers discover elusive Sistan Sand Boa in the Thar Desert.

Researchers confirmed India's first record of the Sistan Sand Boa in Rajasthan's Thar Desert. Previously known only from Iran and Pakistan, the non-venomous burrowing snake becomes the fourth recognised sand boa species recorded in India.

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3. Project Hawk Eye launched to monitor the Amarnath Yatra route.

Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched Project Hawk Eye to strengthen security along the Amarnath Yatra route. The system uses drones, high-resolution CCTV cameras, facial recognition technology, observation posts, and sniper teams for continuous surveillance.

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World

4. Devastating earthquake hits Venezuela; over 200 dead and 1,500 injured.

Two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela, leaving around 200 people dead and more than 1,500 injured. The disaster caused widespread destruction, collapsed buildings, disrupted transport, and triggered large-scale rescue and relief operations.

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5. Japan earthquake causes 13-foot ground displacement.

Geological surveys following a major earthquake in Japan recorded ground displacement of up to 13 feet in some areas. The massive tectonic movement altered parts of the landscape and highlighted the country's high seismic vulnerability.

Also read: From Books to Reels: Endless Scrolling Is Silently Damaging Your Child’s Brain

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Economy

6. Gold and silver prices decline.

Gold and silver prices declined in domestic and international markets due to changing global economic conditions, interest rate expectations, and reduced investor demand, providing temporary relief to jewellery buyers and investors.

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7. Amazon proposes an additional $13 billion investment in India.

Amazon has proposed investing an additional $13 billion to expand its artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure in India. The investment aims to strengthen AWS services, support digital growth, and increase local cloud computing capacity.

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8. Passport fee increased by ₹1,000.

Passport application fees have been increased by ₹1,000 under revised service charges. The increase is expected to support better passport services, enhanced biometric security, and improved infrastructure at Passport Seva Kendras.

Also Read: What Mistakes Have Made Bhubaneswar Unbearable to Live in During Summer?

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Odisha

9. OCS aspirants in trouble as OPSC excludes 48 reserved-category applicants.

The Odisha Public Service Commission excluded 48 OCS applicants from reserved categories after finding invalid or incorrect certificates. Candidates who failed to submit proper documents within the prescribed deadline lost their reservation benefits.