Middle East & North Africa

18 Dec 2022; MEMO: Morocco's dream run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup ended in defeat as Croatia held on for a 2-1 win in the third-place playoff on Saturday, reports Anadolu Agency.

A frantic start at the Khalifa International Stadium saw Croatia take the lead in just the 7th minute through a diving header from defender Josko Gvardiol that capped off a cleverly worked free-kick routine.

It took Morocco all of two minutes to level matters with a headed goal of their own from defender Achraf Dari.

TEHRAN, December 17. /TASS/: Iran has boosted the uranium enrichment rate to a record high ever in the history of the national nuclear industry, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami said on Saturday.

"The capacity for the enrichment of uranium in Iran is currently twice as high as the total capacity since the genesis of the nuclear industry in the country," the Tasnim news agency quoted him as saying.

RABAT, Dec 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — France has restored “normal consular activity” with Morocco following a year-long visa dispute, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna announced Friday.

Speaking at a press conference with her Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in Rabat, Colonna said that the resumption of “a full consular relationship” between the two countries aims to “enhance human exchanges and deep interlinks between our two societies.”

ADEN, Dec 17 (NNN-YPA) – At least three people were killed yesterday, in a landmine explosion, in Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, a government official said.

“The landmine explosion occurred, while a group of people, along with their children, were working on their farm in the Hays district of Hodeidah,” the local government official said, on condition of anonymity.

He said that, five others were critically injured in the explosion, and transferred to a nearby field hospital, to receive treatment.

ADEN, Yemen, Dec 17 (NNN-YPA) – At least 20 people were killed and several others injured, in intense clashes between Yemen’s government forces and tribal fighters, in the country’s oil-rich province of Marib, a security official said, yesterday.

“Heavy fighting continued between government troops and scores of tribal fighters, during the past 24 hours, leaving 12 soldiers and eight armed tribesmen killed, and several others injured from both sides,” the local security official said.

ISTANBUL, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that the courts would correct any mistakes in an appeal process after the jailing of Istanbul's opposition mayor, and in the meantime Turks had no right to ignore legal rulings.

In his first direct comments on Wednesday's conviction of Ekrem Imamoglu - a potential challenger to Erdogan who was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison and handed a political ban - Erdogan said he did not care who is the opposition candidate in next year's elections.

ISTANBUL, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye is working toward becoming a global energy hub, which sets the benchmark price of natural gas, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Friday.

Speaking at the Silivri Natural Gas Storage Facility in Istanbul, Erdogan said he had already discussed the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and steps were already being taken.

CAIRO (AP) — The International Monetary Fund has approved a deal that will provide a $3 billion support package to cash-strapped Egypt over a period of almost four years, with the agreement expected to draw in an additional $14 billion in financing for the Middle East country.

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisians are voting to elect a new parliament on Saturday, to the backdrop of a soaring cost-of-living crisis and concerns of democracy backsliding in the North African country — the cradle of Arab Spring protests a decade ago.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Fatima Garcia donned a headscarf and a black abaya — a long, loose-fitting robe — over her clothes as she walked into a mosque in Doha to learn about Islam.

In Qatar to enjoy the World Cup with friends, the Salvadoran visitor took a day off from soccer to go sightseeing at the Katara mosque, where preachers have been introducing Islam in multiple languages to curious fans from around the world.