Sonowal welcomes India’s first very large gas carrier 'Shivalik' at Visakhapatnam Port
Visakhapatnam (PTI): Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday accorded a ceremonial welcome to India’s first Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) ‘Shivalik’ during its maiden call at Visakhapatnam Port.
The vessel, inducted under the Indian flag by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) on September 10, marks a significant milestone in the nation’s maritime and energy logistics.
"Welcome to India’s first Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) ‘Shivalik’ at Visakhapatnam Port… The induction of ‘Shivalik’ under the Indian flag is a proud milestone, reflecting India’s maritime growth and aligning with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Maritime India Vision 2030," Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways said while addressing the ceremony.
He congratulated the SCI team and lauded the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) for facilitating smooth operations during the vessel’s inaugural LPG consignment handling.
The arrival of ‘Shivalik’ aligns with the Indian government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant) vision and the Maritime India Vision 2030, promoting self-reliance and indigenous growth in the shipping sector.
Sonowal interacted with the crew of ‘Shivalik’, appreciating their contribution to India’s maritime excellence, and commended VPA’s efforts to modernise infrastructure and strengthen energy logistics.
The event underscored the government’s commitment to developing Visakhapatnam as a leading energy logistics hub on the eastern coast.
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West Asia war is not NATO's: UK PM Starmer says he has British national interest in mind
London: Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that he has vowed to act in the best interest of the United Kingdom amid the West Asia crisis, regardless of the pressure on him and the leaders of the other member-nations of the NATO.
The British PM was speaking to reporters on Wednesday, amid US President Donald Trump's remark that he was strongly considering giving up the US membership of the Organization, reports Deccan Herald.
Stressing that the war in West Asia was not theirs, Starmer said at the press conference at Downing Street, “We will not be drawn into the conflict that is not in our national interests. Whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I'm going to act in the British national interest in the decisions that I make.”
In the backdrop of Trump's fresh criticism of the Organization, calling the nations as 'paper tigers', the British PM stood up for the NATO, calling it the single most effective military alliance in the world.
Also, although the US President said that he had held doubts about the credibility of the NATO members for long and felt it was 'beyond reconsideration', Starmer pointed out that the NATO had kept the member-nations safe for many decades. “We are fully committed to NATO,” Starmer added.
