Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) said on Monday it has secured a 10-year marine services contract for Argentina's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export, marking its entry into South America and expanding its international marine services footprint and reinforcing growing energy linkages between India and Argentina.

India's largest integrated transport utility said the contract has been awarded to APSEZ's step-down subsidiary -- The Adani Harbour International FZCO -- through a consortium with Argentina-based Meridian Group, following a global competitive tender process conducted by Southern Energy SA (SESA).

The Adani Group-Meridian consortium will deliver marine services for the Southern Energy FLNG project, supported by an estimated investment commitment of $70 million.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have the lowest fertility rate in India, according to the National Family Health Survey-6 recently released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Union Territory has a total fertility rate (TFR), of less than half the replacement rate, indicating a significant population decline.

NFHS-6 shows India’s total fertility rate remaining the same as in NFHS-5, conducted in 2019-20, but several states and Union Territories have seen a significant decline. A TFR below 2.1 indicates a decline in population over time. A TFR of 2.1 is known as the replacement rate.

Although India’s TFR is already lower than this, Andaman and Nicobar is the only Union Territory with a TFR below one. It is the lowest TFR in the country.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today launched E85 fuel for flex-fuel vehicles in New Delhi. Addressing the launching ceremony, Mr Puri described it as a landmark initiative in India’s transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy. The Minister announced that E85 fuel will be priced approximately 20 rupees per litre lower than normal E20 blended fuel. Highlighting the benefits of E85, Mr. Puri said, it offers substantial environmental advantages by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering dependence on imported crude oil. He added that wider adoption of ethanol-based fuels would support farmers, strengthen the rural economy, and contribute to India’s energy security. He said, around 50 to 100 E85 dispensing stations will be operational within a few weeks across the country. Mr Puri further added that the number of dispensing stations is expected to increase to 500 stations by the end of this year and five thousand stations by the end of 2027. He emphasized that India’s growing ethanol production capacity, supported by diversified feedstocks such as maize, agricultural residues, and bamboo, has strengthened the energy security. 

The Nagaland government has imposed a one-year ban on the manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of all food products containing tobacco or nicotine across the state. An order issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety said the ban has been enforced in the interest of public health and in compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, relevant regulations and directions of the Supreme Court.

The ban covers all forms of gutkha, pan masala, flavoured and scented chewable products, as well as any other food items containing tobacco or nicotine. It also applies to packaged and unpackaged products sold separately but intended to be mixed or consumed together by users.

The Health and Family Welfare Department said the widespread consumption of such products poses serious health hazards, particularly among children and young adults. The government said the measure aims to protect public health and curb the use of harmful tobacco-based food products in the state.

President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Padma awards to 65 eminent personalities for the year 2026 at the second civil investiture ceremony on the 23rd of this month. Earlier last month, the President had presented Padma Awards to 66 eminent personalities at the 1st Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This year, the President has approved the conferment of 131 Padma awards, including five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards.

The awards are announced on the occasion of the Republic Day every year. The prestigious civilian honours are given in various fields – art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports and civil service. Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, while Padma Bhushan is for distinguished service of high order, and Padma Shri is for distinguished service in any field.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, along with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, today inaugurated eighteen Namo Oxygen Parks in New Delhi on the occasion of World Environment Day. The Union Minister also launched a series of environmental initiatives under the nationwide campaign ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Yadav said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged as a global leader in environmental action.

It has achieved major milestones, including becoming one of the world’s leading nations in solar capacity addition, establishing the International Solar Alliance, launching the International Big Cat Alliance and achieving several Nationally Determined Contribution targets ahead of schedule under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Referring to the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, the Union Minister said the campaign has transformed tree plantation into a people’s movement rooted in gratitude, responsibility and environmental consciousness. He urged citizens not only to plant trees but also to nurture and protect them for future generations.

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, the current Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of Air Staff. He will take charge on July 1.

Considered to be an ace fighter and test pilot, Air Marshal Dixit has played a significant role in enhancing the jointness of the tri-services as the Ministry of Defence pushes for early rollout of theaterisation. During his different stints in the Air Headquarters, he has also aggregated efforts towards indigenous fighter projects, besides playing a role in force modernisation.

He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 06, 1986 after passing out from the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. The Air Marshal has done Defence Services Staff College (Bangladesh) and National Defence College, New Delhi.

Poet, writer and academic A.C. Sreehari passed away following a heart attack on Friday night. He was 56. He was a former head of the Department of English at Payyanur College and had retired from service on April 30.

A noted voice in contemporary Malayalam literature, several of his poems are included in university curricula across Kerala. Among his well-known works are Yuva Kavithakkoottam (1999) and Kavithayude Noottandu (2001), which earned wide recognition among readers and scholars.

Born on November 24, 1969 at Alappadamba near Payyanur in Kannur district, he was a son of A.C. Damodaran Namboothiri and Savithri Antharjanam. He received his primary education at Kuruveli Vishnusharma ALP School and later studied at Government Higher Secondary School, Mathil, and Nehru Arts and Science College, Kanhangad. Mr. Sreehari graduated in English from Payyanur College and obtained his postgraduate degree from St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri.

Alphabet Inc’s Google has agreed to pay Elon Musk’s SpaceX $920 million a month for computing power as part of a cloud services deal that runs through mid-2029, its second such agreement with an AI competitor in a matter of weeks.

Google will pay SpaceX the monthly fee from October this year through June 2029, SpaceX said in the filing Friday. That amounts to about $30 billion through the time of the agreement.

If SpaceX fails to deliver access to Nvidia Corp chips as part of the deal by September 30, Google has the right to terminate the contract, with a one-month grace period, the filing shows.

Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation has received UPERC approval to source electricity from the 511-MW hydro project of Khorluchu Hydro Power in Bhutan, as the state looks to strengthen its regional energy supplies.

Khorluchu Hydro Power is a joint venture between homegrown Tata Power and Druk Green Power Corporation.

According to sources, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) had approached Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) to seek its approval to source power from the Khorluchu Hydro Power Ltd (KHPL) project at a flat tariff of Rs 6.75 per unit for a period of 30 years.

"The body UPERC has given its approval to the request through its order dated May 27," they said.

A power sale agreement is expected to be signed between KHPL and UPPCL in due course.