BL Morning Report April 22, 2026: Get today’s top business news, market headlines about the Stock Market, Sensex & Nifty trends, key market insights, economic highlights, and the latest updates from India and global markets.

From Amazon’s $100 billion AI partnership and India’s push for energy self-reliance to Pakistan’s extended airspace ban and the IMO’s ship evacuation plan — here are today’s top tech, energy, international relations, and maritime stories you need to know.

Amazon, Anthropic deepen AI partnership with $100 billion cloud deal

Amazon announced a major partnership with AI startup Anthropic, committing over $100 billion in cloud technology investments over the next 10 years. This includes a $5 billion immediate investment, with an additional $20 billion contingent on certain milestones, building on the $8 billion Amazon has already invested. Anthropic aims to advance its AI models in coding and design, while Amazon pushes its custom silicon chips for AI applications.

India should aim to achieve 100% ethanol blending: Nitin Gadkari

India should aim for 100% ethanol blending in the near future to become energy self-reliant, says Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Amid the West Asia crisis, he emphasizes the need to reduce dependence on oil imports, which account for 87% of the country’s requirements. Gadkari also highlights the launch of E20 petrol and the country’s push for alternative fuels like green hydrogen, stressing the importance of making hydrogen production affordable. He also advocates for the circular economy to boost employment and calls for a shift away from petrol and diesel vehicles without forcing it.

Pakistan further extends airspace ban on Indian airlines till May 24

Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft using its airspace until May 24, 2026. This move, which has been in place since April 24, 2025, follows tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack, which India linked to Pakistan. The closure has caused significant losses for Indian airlines, especially for flights to the Gulf. In retaliation, India closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines. This is the first time Pakistan has imposed such a restriction, recalling similar airspace closures during the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis.

IMO prepares Hormuz evacuation plan for hundreds of ships

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is preparing an evacuation plan for hundreds of ships stuck in the Persian Gulf due to US and Israeli strikes on Iran. IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez said the plan will be activated when de-escalation is evident. The evacuation will follow established maritime routes, including a Traffic Separation Scheme adopted in 1968. The IMO is collaborating with Iran, Oman, and other relevant states to finalize the details, which will take into account factors like crew duration and specific routes, some of which may require payment.

Script & VO: Prethicshaa Gurumoorthy

Published on April 22, 2026