Middle East & North Africa

TEHRAN, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- A top Iranian commander has revealed a naval encounter between the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and two U.S. cruisers near the Gulf a week ago, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Monday.

During the encounter on Dec. 5, Iran's Shahid Rouhi high-speed and missile-launching assault boat succeeded in preventing the U.S. cruisers from entering the Gulf, IRGC Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri said at a event to commemorate Iranian martyrs.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Tears are flowing from soccer’s biggest superstars as they make emotional exits from what might be their last World Cup.

First it was Neymar. Then it was Cristiano Ronaldo. Could Lionel Messi be next?

Momentum is building behind Messi’s push to cap his career with the biggest prize in the game. The 35-year-old Argentina playmaker has carried his team to the semifinals, almost in the same way Diego Maradona — the man with whom Messi is so often compared — led the South American nation to its second and most recent World Cup title in 1986.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran executed a second prisoner on Monday convicted over crimes committed during the nationwide protests challenging the country’s theocracy, publicly hanging him from a construction crane as a gruesome warning to others.

The execution of Majidreza Rahnavard came less than a month after he allegedly fatally stabbed two members of a paramilitary force after purportedly becoming angry about security forces killing of protesters.

11 Dec 2022; MEMO: Iran has summoned the British and German ambassadors to protest "meddling" amid months-long protests in the country, reports Anadolu Agency.

In a Saturday statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said it summoned Simon Shercliffe to protest what it called "meddlesome" remarks by top British officials about "internal affairs" of the country and support for "acts of terror and unrest" in Iran.

11 Dec 2022; MEMO: A senior United Arab Emirates official said on Saturday it was encouraging to see greater European outreach to Gulf Arab states in the face of the Ukraine conflict and energy crunch, but that engagement should not be "transactional", reports Reuters.

A number of European officials have visited Gulf countries to secure energy supplies outside of former top provider Russia after the West imposed sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

12 Dec 2022; MEMO: Israel's Attorney General is likely to oppose a bill that would give the incoming minister of national security unprecedented power over the police, it has been reported.

11 Dec 2022; MEMO: French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Qatar to attend the World Cup semi-final between France and Morocco on Wednesday, French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said on Sunday, reports Reuters.

France, tournament winners in 2018, will play Morocco for a place in the final after they beat England 2-1 and the North Africans beat Portugal 1-0 in Saturday's earlier quarter-finals.

11 Dec 2022; MEMO: Ankara and Moscow can start working on the export of different food products and gradually other commodities through the grain corridor, the Turkish president told his Russian counterpart on Sunday, reports Anadolu Agency.

In a phone call with Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said over 13 million tons of grain have reached those in need through joint efforts so far under the Black Sea grain export deal, according to a statement by Turkiye's Communications Directorate.

12 Dec 2022; MEMO: Israel's use of administrative detentions, imprisonment without charge or trial, is an 'open-ended life sentence' against Palestinians, Palestinian Member of Parliament Ahmad Attoun said yesterday.

Calling for urgent action to stop the Israeli violations, Attoun said Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails need serious support and their cause needs to be prioritised.

11 Dec 2022; MEMO: Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the Chinese ambassador to Tehran late Saturday to protest a statement related to three disputed islands in the Persian Gulf, reports Anadolu Agency.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said Chang Hua was summoned to express "strong dissatisfaction" with the joint statement of China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.