Iran is likely to disrupt oil shipments from the Persian Gulf if the United States continues with its campaign to halt Tehran’s oil exports.“We will sell our oil and they (the United States) are not able to stop our oil exports,” Hassan Rouhani, President of Iran, said addressing the people of Semnan Province in Shahrood City on Tuesday, December 4. “If the U.S. wants to stop our oil sales, no oil will be exported from the Persian Gulf.”The Trump Administration reimposed sanctions on Iran’s energy, shipbuilding, shipping, and banking sectors, on November 5, as a way of pressuring Iran to abandon its nuclear program, development of ballistic missiles and other “malign activities.”Specifically, 50 Iranian banks and their foreign and domestic subsidiaries as well as over 200 persons and vessels in Iran’s shipping and energy sectors have been blacklisted.In the wake of the reimposition of sanctions, the U.S. Department of State’s Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, said that Iranian tankers calling at international ports and passing through waterways pose a major risk as they have lost access to insurance on the international market.Furthermore, the country’s tanker fleet has been dubbed a floating liability amid reports that Iranian tankers are switching off their AIS transponders at sea as a way of avoiding U.S. sanctions. Namely, when ships go dark it is harder to tract their movement and potential breach of sanctions. The tactic has been used during previous sanctions in 2012, Hook said.By exerting pressure on Iran, the U.S. is trying to isolate the country and expects its oil exports to plummet slashing Iran’s oil revenue.However, Rouhani said on Tuesday that the recent sanctions have not severed ties between Iran and its neighbors.“America is not able to sever our business relations in the world and the region and they must understand that this land will keep its cultural, political and economic relations with the countries of the region and the world,” he added.“The U.S. is trying to separate Iran from its neighbours, Europe, China and India, promoting Iranophobia, while we won’t be enemy to our neighbours.”Eight jurisdictions have been temporarily exempted by the Trump administration from U.S. sanctions for importing Iranian oil. The six months period of exemption is granted to China, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey.The allotments were given because the said parties demonstrated “significant reductions in their crude oil and cooperation on many other fronts and have made important moves towards getting to zero crude oil importation.”As disclosed on the website of Iran’s President, the United States keeps sending messages from different channels for holding negotiations.However, Rouhani is quoted as saying at the meeting of the Administrative Council of Semnan Province that Iran would resume talks with the U.S., only “if U.S. surrenders to what is right.”World Maritime News Staff read more

Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) has commenced the construction of a new car and passenger ferry for Kvarken Link, a Finnish-Swedish consortium.As informed, the steel cutting ceremony for the vessel was held at the shipyard on September 16.The environmentally friendly newbuilding, which will operate between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden, will feature a hybrid electric system with batteries and four Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel engines capable of operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and biogas which reduce CO2 emissions by 50% compared to the previous vessel.The new roll-on/roll-off (RoPax) ship will have a capacity of 800 passengers and 1,500 lane meters for trucks and cars.As explained, the newbuild will be the world’s first RoPax ferry with a Clean Design class mark.“Our ferry will be something exceptional and it will feature the most advanced and reliable technology. It will be the most environmentally friendly Ropax vessel built so far,” Peter Ståhlberg, CEO of Wasaline, commented.To be operated by shipping company Wasaline under the Finnish flag, the new ferry will replace the company’s existing vessel Wasa Express in the spring of 2021.The shipbuilding contract is estimated to be worth about EUR 120 million (USD 132.6 million). The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a EUR 70 million loan aimed at improving the ferry connection between Sweden and Finland.The project also includes port upgrade works required for the reception of the new vessel at the ferry terminals in the cities of Vaasa and Umeå.Image Courtesy: Kvarken LinkRelated:Kvarken Link, RMC Sign LOI for Hybrid FerryNew Wasaline Ferry to Get Wärtsilä Navigation SystemIn Depth: Lack of Automation Rules a Major Challenge, Ståhlberg Says read more

Nelson Mail 19 Sep 2012A new law targeting “high-risk” sex and violent offenders could be used to send the Beast of Blenheim back to jail. Justice Minister Judith Collins yesterday introduced legislation which will allows the courts to keep dangerous criminals in prison beyond their original sentence. It comes less than a month after serial sex offender Stewart Murray Wilson was released into the grounds of Whanganui Prison. The new legislation, which could be in force by next year, would allow the chief executive of Corrections to apply to the court for a public protection order if Wilson’s behaviour indicates he is a risk. Ms Collins said the PPOs were aimed at inmates who posed a “very high risk” of committing a crime on release – mostly child sex offenders. They would be kept in the grounds of a prison until the High Court ruled they were safe for release.http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/7698656/New-law-could-put-Beast-in-jail read more

RelatedPosts China waste treatment plant fined $16m for dumping untreated waste Premier League terminates China broadcast contract NAFDAC warns Nigerians against apple, blackcurrant from Australia American boxing legend Floyd Mayweather looks set to return to the ring in an exhibition bout in China next year against an opponent to be named. The news will come as a blow to Manny Pacquiao, who has been chasing a rematch with Mayweather ever since losing a 12-round decision to the undefeated welterweight in Las Vegas in May 2015. The popular Filipino has gone 5-1 since – losing to Jeff Horn in a close fight in Australia two years ago – and is coming off a victory over Keith Thurman that earnt him the WBA welterweight championship in July. Mayweather’s last foray into the ring was a 136-second demolition of kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in an exhibition bout in Saitama just outside Tokyo in Japan on New Years Eve, earning him a reported $9 million. The China exhibition promises another lucrative payday. The Mission Hills Group has invited media to attend a press conference in Haikou, Hainan on September 18 to announce Mayweather’s “first fight in China”. “The press conference will announce that Mayweather will hold a boxing match in China next year,” a spokesperson told the South China Morning Post. “We have already got the Hainan government’s temporary approval for this event. “But everything needs to be confirmed with Floyd as well. The details are not 100 per cent confirmed yet. We are in the process of negotiating details with Mayweather’s management.” No official date has yet been confirmed for the bout and the eventually opponent will be chosen through a recruitment campaign held in China. “This match aims to enhance the friendship between two powerful nations through boxing, gaining popularity for Hainan in the role of an international tourism island and achieving Mission Hills’ vision of bringing world-class sports events to Haikou,” the media invitation added.— Tags: AustraliaChinaFloyd MayweatherManny Pacquiao read more

The on-loan Liverpool winger had impressed for the Potters before suffering a knee injury during a training camp in Dubai in February. Assaidi tore a medial ligament and it was initially estimated he would be out of action for between four and six weeks. He told Stoke City Player: ” Things are certainly getting better, but my knee is still not fully healed. “I could forget about the pain and play, but that would be a massive long-term risk, so I believe it’s best to be patient and wait for it to get better before playing. “I am recovering well so I hope it isn’t too long until I can be picked to play again.” The Moroccan joined Liverpool in the summer of 2012 but did not make a Premier League start last season and was loaned to Stoke for this campaign. After a slow start his importance to Mark Hughes’ side grew and he made himself a Potters hero by scoring a spectacular winner against Chelsea in December. Assaidi is due to head back to Anfield at the end of the season but he admits he does not yet know where his future lies. The 25-year-old said: “I’m unsure what Stoke or Liverpool wants. I am really happy to play for Stoke and I am happy they gave me a chance to play regularly. “I still have a contract with Liverpool and I hope the boss (Brendan Rodgers) gives me a chance. “If not, I do not want to sit on the bench because I want to play games, so you never know what can happen in the future.” Press Association Oussama Assaidi is hopeful he will play for Stoke again before the end of the season. read more

A Palm Beach County dad is being hailed a hero after saving his 18-month-old toddler from possibly drowning.The incident, captured in a now-viral video, occurred Sunday while Albert Passavanti and his family were relaxing by the pool at his Palm Beach Gardens home.The video shows his son Rocco walk through an opened area of a 4-foot fence surrounding the pool, attempting to grab a ball and then the gut-wrenching moment when the boy fell into the water.Rocco’s father immediately sprints toward the pool and performs a diving leap over the fence to rescue his son.Passavanti told Inside Edition that his son was in the water for a few seconds, but it was still scary.“You have got to get to him as quickly as you possibly can,” he said. “You just absolutely have to keep an eye on your kids. I don’t care what measures you have in place.” read more

AN unbeaten century from opener Rocky Sarjoo gave the visiting Laluni All Stars a convincing 9-wicket victory over Everest Masters on Easter Sunday at the Everest Cricket Club (ECC) ground.The match, which was organised by the ECC, as part of the club’s annual weekend of activities to observe Easter, was played in the true spirit of the game though it ended as a one-sided affair.Opting to bat, the hosts amassed a competitive 203-8 from their 25 overs which was later overhauled by Laluni with 15 balls to spare.Everest Masters got off to a flying start with Saheed Mohamed and Sahadeo Hardaiow racing to 43 without loss in four overs, to set the pace for the rest of the match. When Hardaiow was bowled for 11 (2×4) off Sunil Sarjoo’s first ball of the match, Mohamed was joined by Hemraj Garbarran and the runs continued to flow from the pink ball on the fast outfield.However, when Mohamed seemed set for a half-century, disaster struck and hewas run-out for the top score of 48 (4×4, 3×6, 33 balls) at 87-2. He added 44 runs for the second wicket with Garbarran who followed shortly after for 22 (2×4) at 98-3.Laluni opener, Rocky Sarjoo (right) smashed an unbeaten 113 to be adjudged Man of the Match. Rajesh Singh hands over his special trophyFormer national opener, Azeemul Haniff then rolled back the years with a polished 20 (2×4; 21 balls) as the middle and lower order kept up with the scoring rate until the allotted 25 overs. Ronald Jaisingh cashed in with 30 (1×4, 2×6), former national youth wicketkeeper Joseph Perry 24 (2×4, 1×6) and Basil Persaud 16 (1×4, 1×6) while debutants Safraz Sheriffudeen and Ishwar Persaud were not out at the end on one and three respectively.The pick of the Laluni bowlers were Sunil Sarjoo with 3-28 who got support from Derick Tejnarine 2-45, Rocky Sarjoo 1-22 and Glen Campbelle 1-34.Set a target of 204 from 150 balls, the young openers from the Amerindian village along the Linden Highway were asked to score at a rate of more than 8 runs per over and started the run chase with Rocky and Tejnarine.The right-handed openers matched each other shot for shot in their brisk partnership of 175 runs before Tejnarine was bowled by medium pacer Basil Persaud (1-9) in the 20th over for 83 (54 balls, 5×4, 5×6).By then the match was all but sealed but Rocky was still on the go and brought up his milestone with a lofted six before ending the contest in similar fashion. He ended unbeaten on 113 (74 balls, 9×4, 7×6) while number three Campbelle was on 8 not out when victory was achieved in the 23nd over.Captain of Everest Masters, Rajesh Singh and his opposite number Julian Mohabir expressed their gratitude for the match to mark the occasion of Easter and both hinted at a rematch in Laluni in the near future. For his pugnacious innings, Rocky was named Man-of-the-Match.Everest Masters are next set to host Bartica on Saturday, April 27 from 13:00hrs also at the Everest cricket club ground in the city. read more

By Faizool DeoGUYANA and Trinidad & Tobago won a gold medal each on Friday night to punch off the international bouts of the Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing Tournament, which is currently underway at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.Local boxers were involved in all six of the opening night’s fights, but the home team split their wins in the final two bouts, which were against pugilists from Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago.Against Barbados, Guyana’s Mark Crawford registered a comprehensive victory in the Light Welterweight (60-63kg) battle to win gold against Tyree Taitt, while in the Light Flyweight (46-48kg) Schoolboys’ bout Trinidadian Al Jaleel Jokhu won a split decision against Guyanese Wayne Castello.Although Crawford was the winner on all five of the judges’ scorecards, he almost undermined his efforts with a plethora of shots in the first round, which initially spent his energy. Fortunately, he recomposed himself in the second round and delivered some good combination punches.Jaqwan Milo attacks the body of Jeron McKenzie in their bout.Castello looked to give Guyana a clean sweep of wins in the feature clash of the evening but although he put together a good first round, his opponent was able to weather the storm and bounce back with some good counterpunches and a few nice combinations, which eventually earned him the fight.His coach, former Olympian Kirt Sinette told Chronicle Sport that the 14-year-old boxer from South Trinidad delivered in his bout.“I personally believe that he dug deep and scored cleaner shots.”Prior to the international bouts, Guyanese boxers were involved in four fights against each other. The night started off with a win for southpaw Sean Graham over Malachi Jones. The shorter Graham used his speed, determination and footwork to undermine his opponent. He gained valuable points with several body shots in the bout.In the second clash, a solid first round from Jaqwan Milo resulted in a dominant performance against Jeron McKenzie. Milo, who threw a barrage of shots, connected with a hard straight right in round one, which resulted in a standing eight-count. Although McKenzie started the second round aggressively, he could not keep up the pace and eventually the punching power of the 14-year-old East Ruimveldt boxer Milo derailed his attempts.After Milo’s victory, 12-year-old Joshua Thombarran got past Thierry Moore and in a more calculated bout, Sherlon Stephen got the better of Shemar Morrison.The tournament, which includes boxers from seven nations including Guyana, was expected to continue last evening before concluding tonight. read more

WHEN Michael Clarke is asked to reflect on Australia’s 2015 World Cup triumph he remembers the young superstars he had the pleasure of commanding in a tournament he had to beat the odds to be involved in.Five years ago – on March 29, 2015 – Clarke lifted the World Cup trophy alongside his jubilant teammates having comprehensively defeated New Zealand by seven wickets to secure Australia’s fifth title.Clarke scored a brisk 74 from 72 balls, and even hit a six, in the run chase in front of 93,013 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in what was his last one-day international.It capped off a dominant campaign with only one slip up – a thrilling one-wicket loss in the group stage to tournament co-hosts New Zealand, which served as a timely reminder that the Australians were not invincible.Featured in the winning squad were youngsters the likes of Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitch Marsh, players who have become regulars in the national teams and a few who will go down as genuine greats of the game.So for Clarke, his job as captain was not to control those young guns but simply get them ready for game day to let them express themselves on the field and produce match-winning performances.“My message throughout the whole tournament was ‘play with freedom’,” Clarke tells cricket.com.au.“The thing about the squad we picked is we had so many superstars who wanted to be on the big stage.“There was a lot of big egos on the team and they wanted the bigger game, bigger crowd, bigger moment.“For me it was about our training and preparation being so important because then all I wanted to do was allow these x-factor players – Faulkner, Maxwell, Warner, Starc, Smith – these superstars to get on stage and show the world how good they are, and that’s what happened.“Those young x-factor players won us that World Cup because they wanted to shine on the big stage, but they did the hard work to allow them to shine on the big stage.“Us older farts, we just sat back and clapped. They were unbelievable, brilliant..”The game we lost against New Zealand, I know we got close, but it was the perfect little kick up the arse to make us all go, ‘Righto, we have to be at our best to win this tournament’.”While Clarke was all smiles walking laps of the MCG with his comrades after the victory, his mood was completely different just five months earlier.On the final day of the emotional Test match at the Adelaide Oval, Clarke ripped his right hamstring from the bone to put his playing career in serious jeopardy.Surgery ruled him out of the Test summer against India but the medical team around Clarke was confident he could be back in time for the World Cup.However, a change of plans from the hierarchy meant Clarke was at long-odds of being fit in time, but as he recalls, nothing was going to stop him.“When I tore my hamstring and had surgery they told me it was a 12-week injury and I was given nine weeks to get myself fit,” Clarke says.“I was told by surgeons, physios, doctors if I do all the right things they believed I could come back and then Rod Marsh and the selectors rang me two weeks later and said, ‘No, you’ve only got six weeks, you’ve got to be ready by an earlier date’.“That’s when the doctors said it was going to be too hard, there was too much risk in re-tearing it.“Alex Kountouris and I had a tough conversation. I said to ‘Lexi’ that I want to give this a crack, give it everything I’ve got and take that risk.“To the credit of Alex, the surgeon and the doctor, they gave me all the rehab, all the exercises, all the strength and conditioning I needed to get myself right to pass a fitness test.“But mentally, I was so driven on making that World Cup because it was always going to be special to play in front of your home fans. “I knew it was going to be certainly my last World Cup, so I wanted to have a crack.“I knew my body so well, I knew I was fit and healthy and had the discipline to do whatever it took to get right.“Did I know if I could get back in six weeks? No, I didn’t know that, but I wasn’t going to give up.”While he missed the first game, Clarke was back for the clash against New Zealand in Auckland and played every game from then.As a captain, Clarke says he preferred to let his actions do the talking, which was why he was thrilled to see his enthusiastic players walk the walk and not talk the talk. “What I love most about that World Cup, it wasn’t what we said, it was what we did,” he recalls.“I hope I set the tone with that regarding me getting back on the field.“It didn’t matter how many times somebody told me I wasn’t going to be fit or how many times I told the world I was going to be fit. That was irrelevant. “If you say you’re going to be fit, go and get fit. If you’re going to play, go play.“I just feel every single one of us said less and did more.”The win in 2015 made Clarke a two-time World Cup champion, but he could not split the two when asked which one he treasured more.But what did make it that extra special was the group of highly-talented young players he got to share the experience with after what had been a tumultuous summer for the Australian captain.“I don’t like to compare 2007 and 2015, (they’re) both as special as each other,” he says.“But personally, just what I went through with my hamstring and the loss of ‘Hughesy’ (Phillip Hughes, Clarke’s close friend who passed away in November 2014) and battles with Cricket Australia to get back into that team, out of everything what I’m most proud of is how the boys played throughout that whole tournament.“How hard they trained, how disciplined with stuff off the field, they were so committed to our cause and our goal that I can say now five years on we deserved to win that World Cup.“We did everything we needed to do to win that World Cup. “Especially those young blokes – I loved having those guys in my team.” read more

Head Coach of Akwa United FC, Abdul Maikaba, has expressed his delight with Akwa United’s victory over MFM FC in midweek Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.The Promise Keepers secured victory over the Olukoya Boys, thanks to goals from Ibrahim Alhassan and Friday Ubong.“I’m happy for the team because in the last few matches we have been playing well and getting results we deserve. These are three important points which will give us more confidence,” Maikaba recalled yesterday. “We converted our chances at the right time and did well to keep them (MFM) at bay. The win was needed and we got a good value for it.“We wanted this victory, I think it is deserved and now we hope to get better as time goes on,” he added.“It’s only normal that people want more, we all do, but I think the fans will be happy with the hunger they saw. Those who played gave their all. Of course I want to play better football, but the fundamental thing was to get three points.“I must admit we faced a quality team that gave us a good fight. Now we will prepare for our week 20 match against MFM and see what will happen in Lagos,” he concluded.Meanwhile, Abia Warriors FC defender, Abiodun Adebayo, who started and completed all the 19 matches for his club in the first phase of the on-going season has been rewarded by the team for his efforts.The Oyo State-born central defender who joined Abia Warriors this season from Niger Tornadoes of Minna, was rewarded with N50,000 cash and other prizes in appreciation of his proficiency.Handing over the items to the player at the club’s Secretariat during a management meeting, the Chairman, Emeka Inyama, said it required an extra commitment and determination for a player to start and complete 19 matches without being substituted and hoped he would replicate the performance in the second stanza of the league.Inyama said the gesture was to appreciate his efforts and to challenge his colleagues to work harder for the overall interest of the team.Responding, an obviously elated but surprised Adebayo thanked the management for appreciating his efforts and promised to do even more to realize the club’s objectives at the end of the season.Share this:FacebookRedditTwitterPrintPinterestEmailWhatsAppSkypeLinkedInTumblrPocketTelegram read more