Abdulrahman Fahad al-Thani, a 16-year-old member of Qatar’s royal family, went viral on Chinese social media for his animated facial expression during a football World Cup match.&nbsp;

Netizens are showing love for the expression of sadness and exasperation of the young royal on Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media platform. They have even called him super-cute and dubbed him "dumpling wrapper prince".&nbsp;

Fahad al-Thani's expressions were from the FIFA World Cup host country's match against Ecuador, in which Qatar lost 0-2, and he looked so disappointed.&nbsp;

Chinese netizens have said that with his traditional Qatari headdress, Abdulrahman looked like La’eeb, the World Cup mascot.&nbsp;

The "Dumpling wrapper prince" reference came from a banter when netizens earlier joked about the World Cup mascot, calling it traditional Chinese dumpling wrappers. From where Abdulrahman's nickname came.&nbsp;

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La'eeb 🫶<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/BmqeDmZAET">pic.twitter.com/BmqeDmZAET</a>
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1594350703857868801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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As quoted by the South China Morning Post, one user commented on Weibo, "We love him because he is so cute. We love him because he is so cute. It’s got nothing to do with politics."&nbsp;

Amid all the buzz, Abdulrahman created an account on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. He amassed more than 15 million followers in less than a week. Users on Douyin have also tried to re-create Abdulrahman’s facial expressions.&nbsp;

In his first Douyin video, he said: "Ni hao. Hello. This is my message for all of my Chinese friends. Thank you so much for all your support."&nbsp;

He also joined Weibo and named himself "Little Prince La’eeb", amassing almost 2.5 million followers.&nbsp;

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Chinese fans’ love for the cute <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar</a> prince 
 
Did you guys notice the cute prince in the audience? Qatar prince is so cute and these reactions make him like the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldcupQatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldcupQatar2022</a> mascot <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/laeeb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#laeeb</a>. Many Chinese fans made the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/imitation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#imitation</a> and he has watched our videos <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/C9HBqjqWB8">pic.twitter.com/C9HBqjqWB8</a>
— Vica's Class (@VicaLi18) <a href="https://twitter.com/VicaLi18/status/1596388073214214145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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During an interview with China’s state-run broadcaster CCTV, he said he was surprised by the attention he received. He said: "I was just reacting, just a normal reaction. I didn't expect to reach to China or to anywhere else, honestly."&nbsp;

He further said, "All of you, all the Chinese fans, are welcome to Qatar to experience our amazing culture."&nbsp;

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Abdulrahman Fahad al-Thani, a 16-year-old member of Qatar’s royal family, went viral on Chinese social media for his animated facial expression during a football World Cup match.

Abdulrahman Fahad al-Thani, a 16-year-old member of Qatar’s royal family, went viral on Chinese social media for his animated facial expression during a football World Cup match. Netizens are showing love for the expression of sadness and exasperation of the young royal on Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media platform. They have even called him super-cute and dubbed him "dumpling wrapper prince". Fahad al-Thani's expressions were from the FIFA World Cup host country's match against Ecuador, in which Qatar lost 0-2, and he looked so disappointed. Chinese netizens have said that with his traditional Qatari headdress, Abdulrahman looked like La’eeb, the World Cup mascot. The "Dumpling wrapper prince" reference came from a banter when netizens earlier joked about the World Cup mascot, calling it traditional Chinese dumpling wrappers. From where Abdulrahman's nickname came. La'eeb 🫶#Qatar2022 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/BmqeDmZAET — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 20, 2022 × As quoted by the South China Morning Post, one user commented on Weibo, "We love him because he is so cute. We love him because he is so cute. It’s got nothing to do with politics." Amid all the buzz, Abdulrahman created an account on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. He amassed more than 15 million followers in less than a week. Users on Douyin have also tried to re-create Abdulrahman’s facial expressions. In his first Douyin video, he said: "Ni hao. Hello. This is my message for all of my Chinese friends. Thank you so much for all your support." He also joined Weibo and named himself "Little Prince La’eeb", amassing almost 2.5 million followers. Chinese fans’ love for the cute #Qatar prince Did you guys notice the cute prince in the audience? Qatar prince is so cute and these reactions make him like the #WorldcupQatar2022 mascot #laeeb. Many Chinese fans made the #imitation and he has watched our videos #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/C9HBqjqWB8 — Vica's Class (@VicaLi18) November 26, 2022 × During an interview with China’s state-run broadcaster CCTV, he said he was surprised by the attention he received. He said: "I was just reacting, just a normal reaction. I didn't expect to reach to China or to anywhere else, honestly." He further said, "All of you, all the Chinese fans, are welcome to Qatar to experience our amazing culture." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Cute' expressions of young Qatari royal go viral, netizens in China call him 'dumpling wrapper prince'

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released data which showed that the sales of arms and military services by the 100 largest companies in the industry reached $592 billion in 2021. It is a 1.9 per cent increase as compared to the year before that.&nbsp;

The rise in 2021 marked the seventh consecutive year of rising global arms sales. The report further showed that the rate of growth was higher in 2021, but it was still below the average for the four years probably because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.&nbsp;

The significant rise has been reported despite supply chain issues that jeopardised shipments of critical components, which is expected to worsen due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.&nbsp;

The year 2020 was impacted due to the coronavirus, and the subsequent global restrictions were massive. The SIPRI report noted that many parts of the arms industry were still affected by pandemic-related disruptions in global supply chains in 2021. The disruptions led to delays in global shipping and shortages of vital components.&nbsp;

Lucie Béraud-Sudreau, director of the SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme, said in a statement: "We might have expected even greater growth in arms sales in 2021 without persistent supply chain issues."&nbsp;

"Both larger and smaller arms companies said that their sales had been affected during the year. Some companies, such as Airbus and General Dynamics, also reported labour shortages," the statement.&nbsp;

Russia-Ukraine war and its impacts&nbsp;

Notably, Russia is a major supplier of raw materials used in arms production and the Ukraine war amplified the supply chain challenges for arms companies.&nbsp;

In the report published on Monday, &nbsp;SIPRI Senior Researcher Dr Diego Lopes da Silva said, "Increasing output takes time. If supply chain disruptions continue, it may take several years for some of the main arms producers to meet the new demand created by the Ukraine war."&nbsp;

The report underlines how US companies have dominated the top 100 list, but there's a decline in sales. As per the report, the arms sales of the 40 US companies in the list totalled $299 billion in 2021.&nbsp;

High inflation in the US economy during 2021 was partly responsible for around 0.8 per cent real-term decline. The top five companies in the Top 100 have all been based in America since 2018.&nbsp;

SIPRI Senior Researcher Dr Nan Tian said, "We can probably expect to see stronger action from the US government to limit arms industry mergers and acquisitions in the next few years. The US Department of Defense has expressed concern that reduced competition in the industry could have knock-on effects on procurement costs and product innovation."&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;War in Ukraine | German Chancellor: Grave mistake to stop talking to Russia&nbsp;

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As per the report, the combined arms sales of the 21 companies in Asia and Oceania included in the Top 100 reached $136 billion in 2021, which is 5.8 per cent more than in 2020.&nbsp;

Chinese companies had a rapid growth in Asian arms sales as the eight companies in the list had total arms sales of $109 billion, a 6.3 per cent increase.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the firms based in the Middle East generated $15.0 billion in arms sales in 2021, which was a 6.5 per cent increase compared to the previous year. The pace of growth in the Middle East region was the fastest of all regions represented in the Top 100.&nbsp;

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Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released data which showed that the sales of arms and military services by the 100 largest companies in the industry reached $592 billion in 2021.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released data which showed that the sales of arms and military services by the 100 largest companies in the industry reached $592 billion in 2021. It is a 1.9 per cent increase as compared to the year before that. The rise in 2021 marked the seventh consecutive year of rising global arms sales. The report further showed that the rate of growth was higher in 2021, but it was still below the average for the four years probably because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The significant rise has been reported despite supply chain issues that jeopardised shipments of critical components, which is expected to worsen due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The year 2020 was impacted due to the coronavirus, and the subsequent global restrictions were massive. The SIPRI report noted that many parts of the arms industry were still affected by pandemic-related disruptions in global supply chains in 2021. The disruptions led to delays in global shipping and shortages of vital components. Lucie Béraud-Sudreau, director of the SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme, said in a statement: "We might have expected even greater growth in arms sales in 2021 without persistent supply chain issues." "Both larger and smaller arms companies said that their sales had been affected during the year. Some companies, such as Airbus and General Dynamics, also reported labour shortages," the statement. Russia-Ukraine war and its impacts Notably, Russia is a major supplier of raw materials used in arms production and the Ukraine war amplified the supply chain challenges for arms companies. In the report published on Monday, SIPRI Senior Researcher Dr Diego Lopes da Silva said, "Increasing output takes time. If supply chain disruptions continue, it may take several years for some of the main arms producers to meet the new demand created by the Ukraine war." The report underlines how US companies have dominated the top 100 list, but there's a decline in sales. As per the report, the arms sales of the 40 US companies in the list totalled $299 billion in 2021. High inflation in the US economy during 2021 was partly responsible for around 0.8 per cent real-term decline. The top five companies in the Top 100 have all been based in America since 2018. SIPRI Senior Researcher Dr Nan Tian said, "We can probably expect to see stronger action from the US government to limit arms industry mergers and acquisitions in the next few years. The US Department of Defense has expressed concern that reduced competition in the industry could have knock-on effects on procurement costs and product innovation." WATCH | War in Ukraine | German Chancellor: Grave mistake to stop talking to Russia × As per the report, the combined arms sales of the 21 companies in Asia and Oceania included in the Top 100 reached $136 billion in 2021, which is 5.8 per cent more than in 2020. Chinese companies had a rapid growth in Asian arms sales as the eight companies in the list had total arms sales of $109 billion, a 6.3 per cent increase. Meanwhile, the firms based in the Middle East generated $15.0 billion in arms sales in 2021, which was a 6.5 per cent increase compared to the previous year. The pace of growth in the Middle East region was the fastest of all regions represented in the Top 100. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Global sales of arms and military services rise to $592 billion in 2021 despite supply chain issues

During her visit to India, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday (December 5) discussed several issues of mutual interest, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. &nbsp;

Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that he had a wide-ranging conversation today with his german counterpart in India's capital, New Delhi. &nbsp;

Jaishankar said that they took forward the frequent exchanges and discussions held this time in "greater detail". He tweeted, "Reviewed our bilateral ties and shared perspectives on a number of important regional and global issues."&nbsp;

In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the West imposed sanctions on Moscow. The Western countries also raised concerns about India's trade ties with Russia.&nbsp;

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A wide ranging conversation today with FM <a href="https://twitter.com/ABaerbock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABaerbock</a> of Germany. Took forward our frequent exchanges, this time in greater detail. 
 
Reviewed our bilateral ties and shared perspectives on a number of important regional and global issues. <a href="https://t.co/ibNUs34S38">pic.twitter.com/ibNUs34S38</a>
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1599683808869351424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
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While commenting on the same, Jaishankar said that India's trade with Russia is at a very "small level" in comparison to European nations.&nbsp; 
During the joint press conference with visiting German foreign minister, Jaishankar was asked about Russia sending a list of requests to India and how is it different from the past.&nbsp;

Jaishankar said, "We have been discussing for some years now with Russia on how to expand our trade. Our trade with Russia is really quite small level. I would say generally it's been in the 12-13 billion dollar if you compare it to most European countries. Most of them have multiple times that trade."&nbsp;

Jaishankar also hinted that India will prioritize its own energy needs and continue to buy oil from Russia, despite the Western pressure.&nbsp;

Jaishankar said, "We have faced challenges it often happens in trade you know phytosanitary standards or non-tattoo and other regulatory impediments. So, at the moment you know the ongoing discussion and what either side can import from each other that is the context in which it is taking place."&nbsp;

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During her visit to India, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday (December 5) discussed several issues of mutual interest, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

During her visit to India, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday (December 5) discussed several issues of mutual interest, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that he had a wide-ranging conversation today with his german counterpart in India's capital, New Delhi. Jaishankar said that they took forward the frequent exchanges and discussions held this time in "greater detail". He tweeted, "Reviewed our bilateral ties and shared perspectives on a number of important regional and global issues." In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the West imposed sanctions on Moscow. The Western countries also raised concerns about India's trade ties with Russia. A wide ranging conversation today with FM @ABaerbock of Germany. Took forward our frequent exchanges, this time in greater detail. Reviewed our bilateral ties and shared perspectives on a number of important regional and global issues. pic.twitter.com/ibNUs34S38 — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) December 5, 2022 × While commenting on the same, Jaishankar said that India's trade with Russia is at a very "small level" in comparison to European nations. During the joint press conference with visiting German foreign minister, Jaishankar was asked about Russia sending a list of requests to India and how is it different from the past. Jaishankar said, "We have been discussing for some years now with Russia on how to expand our trade. Our trade with Russia is really quite small level. I would say generally it's been in the 12-13 billion dollar if you compare it to most European countries. Most of them have multiple times that trade." Jaishankar also hinted that India will prioritize its own energy needs and continue to buy oil from Russia, despite the Western pressure. Jaishankar said, "We have faced challenges it often happens in trade you know phytosanitary standards or non-tattoo and other regulatory impediments. So, at the moment you know the ongoing discussion and what either side can import from each other that is the context in which it is taking place." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Jaishankar says India's trade with Russia is 'quite small' compared to European nations

Chinese authorities might come up with 10 new COVID-19 easing measures as early as Wednesday, news agency Reuters reported citing sources. The report comes after China started relaxing some of the strict restrictions in the aftermath of public outrage and massive protests in different parts of the nation.&nbsp;

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the sources told the news agency on Monday, that the management of the disease may be downgraded as soon as January, to the less strict Category B from the current top-level Category A of infectious disease.&nbsp;

China has classified Covid as a Category B infectious disease since January 2020, but it has managed it under Category A protocols. The authorities have given local authorities the power to quarantine patients and their close contacts and lock down regions.&nbsp;

In China, category A covers diseases such as bubonic plague and cholera. Category B groups SARS, AIDS and anthrax. Category C deals with diseases such as influenza, leprosy and mumps.&nbsp;

However, The National Health Commission has not confirmed the Reuters report so far.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;China: Protesters in China angered against Xi’s Zero Covid policy&nbsp;

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China, a country where the first known case of Covid was reported in late 2019, adopted a "zero-Covid" policy to curb the spread of the deadly virus.&nbsp;

The so-called "zero-Covid" policy included mass testing and phased lockdowns, but it caused huge losses to the Chinese economy.&nbsp;

Not just China's economy, the policy also cost its role as the world's workshop. Market leaders urged Beijing to relax some of the rules when restrictions impacted production.&nbsp;

But recent reports have suggested&nbsp;that China is all set to let go of the "zero-Covid" policy, but the rise in cases is alarming and the&nbsp;authorities also faced the daunting task of handling the Covid protesters.

China on Saturday called the virus no more serious than a "seasonal cold" and urged the public not to panic.&nbsp;

&nbsp;As quoted by the South China Morning Post report, Tang Xiaoping, the director of the No 8 People's Hospital in Guangzhou, said: "The virulence of the new coronavirus [Omicron] has now evolved to the level of the seasonal flu, and some are even less virulent than the flu, so you really don’t need to panic."

Tang is also the head of the national key clinical department of infectious diseases.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Chinese authorities might come up with 10 new COVID-19 easing measures as early as Wednesday, news agency Reuters reported citing sources. The report comes after China started relaxing some of the strict restrictions in the aftermath of public outrage and massive protests in different parts of the nation.

Chinese authorities might come up with 10 new COVID-19 easing measures as early as Wednesday, news agency Reuters reported citing sources. The report comes after China started relaxing some of the strict restrictions in the aftermath of public outrage and massive protests in different parts of the nation. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the sources told the news agency on Monday, that the management of the disease may be downgraded as soon as January, to the less strict Category B from the current top-level Category A of infectious disease. China has classified Covid as a Category B infectious disease since January 2020, but it has managed it under Category A protocols. The authorities have given local authorities the power to quarantine patients and their close contacts and lock down regions. In China, category A covers diseases such as bubonic plague and cholera. Category B groups SARS, AIDS and anthrax. Category C deals with diseases such as influenza, leprosy and mumps. However, The National Health Commission has not confirmed the Reuters report so far. WATCH | China: Protesters in China angered against Xi’s Zero Covid policy × China, a country where the first known case of Covid was reported in late 2019, adopted a "zero-Covid" policy to curb the spread of the deadly virus. The so-called "zero-Covid" policy included mass testing and phased lockdowns, but it caused huge losses to the Chinese economy. Not just China's economy, the policy also cost its role as the world's workshop. Market leaders urged Beijing to relax some of the rules when restrictions impacted production. But recent reports have suggested that China is all set to let go of the "zero-Covid" policy, but the rise in cases is alarming and the authorities also faced the daunting task of handling the Covid protesters. China on Saturday called the virus no more serious than a "seasonal cold" and urged the public not to panic. As quoted by the South China Morning Post report, Tang Xiaoping, the director of the No 8 People's Hospital in Guangzhou, said: "The virulence of the new coronavirus [Omicron] has now evolved to the level of the seasonal flu, and some are even less virulent than the flu, so you really don’t need to panic." Tang is also the head of the national key clinical department of infectious diseases. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China may announce new COVID-19 easing measures on Wednesday: Report

The FIFA World Cup 2022 frenzy is all over. Fans are showing love for their national teams and favourite players, who are sweating it out in Qatar to win the coveted trophy.&nbsp;

It seems the World Cup fever is catching up with the animals and fish as well, as an adorable video shows stingrays displaying their football skills underwater.&nbsp;

In a video shared by Sea Life London Aquarium, rays are seen playing their own version of a football-like game.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/cute-expressions-of-young-qatari-royal-go-viral-netizens-in-china-call-him-dumpling-wrapper-prince-540015">'Cute' expressions of young Qatari royal go viral, netizens in China call him 'dumpling wrapper prince'</a>&nbsp;

According to the team, the ball that is used in the game is hollow and stuffed with their favourite fish. The team says the fun-filled game is good for the rays as it encourages mental stimulation.&nbsp;

In the video, six stingrays can be seen playing football. They are kicking and pushing the ball towards each other.&nbsp;

It appears experts at the aquarium are helping the rays to rely on their sense of smell to find their food, which is against their instincts as the rays have the special ability to find prey based on the creatures of the electric field give off.&nbsp;

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As quoted by the UK-based media outlets, Rowena Kennedy, Displays Supervisor at SEA LIFE London Aquarium said: "Our squad of rays have loved playing their own version of the beautiful game since we introduced the new enrichment plan for the start of the World Cup."&nbsp;

Kennedy, "Rays are intelligent creatures so it's important that we encourage natural feeding behaviours and problem-solving in their care plan."&nbsp;

"Our feeder footballs are a fun and stimulating way for the rays to eat as it encourages foraging behaviour and utilises their keen sense of smell as they would in the wild," the supervisor further said. &nbsp;

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The FIFA World Cup 2022 frenzy is all over. Fans are showing love for their national teams and favourite players, who are sweating it out in Qatar to win the coveted trophy.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 frenzy is all over. Fans are showing love for their national teams and favourite players, who are sweating it out in Qatar to win the coveted trophy. It seems the World Cup fever is catching up with the animals and fish as well, as an adorable video shows stingrays displaying their football skills underwater. In a video shared by Sea Life London Aquarium, rays are seen playing their own version of a football-like game. ALSO READ | 'Cute' expressions of young Qatari royal go viral, netizens in China call him 'dumpling wrapper prince' According to the team, the ball that is used in the game is hollow and stuffed with their favourite fish. The team says the fun-filled game is good for the rays as it encourages mental stimulation. In the video, six stingrays can be seen playing football. They are kicking and pushing the ball towards each other. It appears experts at the aquarium are helping the rays to rely on their sense of smell to find their food, which is against their instincts as the rays have the special ability to find prey based on the creatures of the electric field give off. × As quoted by the UK-based media outlets, Rowena Kennedy, Displays Supervisor at SEA LIFE London Aquarium said: "Our squad of rays have loved playing their own version of the beautiful game since we introduced the new enrichment plan for the start of the World Cup." Kennedy, "Rays are intelligent creatures so it's important that we encourage natural feeding behaviours and problem-solving in their care plan." "Our feeder footballs are a fun and stimulating way for the rays to eat as it encourages foraging behaviour and utilises their keen sense of smell as they would in the wild," the supervisor further said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

World Cup fever! Stingrays at London aquarium show stunning football skills - Watch

Kylian Mbappe was in another league yet again, while the ever-reliable Olivier Giroud netted a record goal, to send defending champions France into the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a 3-1 victory against Poland on Sunday.

Les Bleus, who will face either Senegal or England for a spot in the last four, had to dig deep but scored on the stroke of halftime as Giroud became the outright all-time scorer for France with 52 goals before Mbappe's 74th-minute and stoppage-time screamers sealed Poland's fate.

Poland, in the knockout stage for the first time since 1986 and looking for a first quarter-final appearance since 1982, had a huge chance in the first half but the France midfield did a great job at cutting the feeding line to Robert Lewandowski, who reduced the arrears with a twice-taken, last-second penalty.

Keeper Hugo Lloris made his 142nd appearance and is now tied with Lilian Thuram as France's most-capped player, and his experience mattered when he made a superb quick save to deny Piotr Zielinski.

Coach Didier Deschamps had warned that there was more to Poland than Lewandowski and he was proved right at the Al Thumama stadium as the French were at times shaky at the back.

"It's not been easy because they're a well-organised team and we had to make some positional changes at halftime," said Deschamps.

"We're a united squad and tonight the players' impeccable behaviour has been rewarded. Now we're going to spend a little bit of time with our families."

France got off to a dominant start before abandoning possession, looking to create space in the back of the Polish defence after Mbappe's first forays failed to lead to clear chances.

Poland's poise came close to being rewarded in the 38th minute when the onrushing Zielinski's shot was parried by Lloris. It then came back into the midfielder's path but his second attempt was deflected by Theo Hernandez.

Jakub Kaminski followed, only for his shot to be saved close to the goal-line by Raphael Varane.

"We fought, we created a couple of chances, some really clear ones, especially in the first half; it’s a pity nothing went in," said Lewandowski.

NINE WORLD CUP GOALS

One minute from the break, however, France's tactics paid off.

Mbappe drew the defence to him and slid the ball through into the path of Giroud, who grabbed the inch of space he needed to clip the ball past Szczesny and net his third goal of the tournament.

The 36-year-old Giroud, who did not score in Russia four years ago, had drawn level with Thierry Henry on 51 goals after netting a double in the defending champions' 4-1 win over Australia in their opening Group D game.

France looked too casual, however, especially Mbappe, but the forward came up with a spine-chilling rising shot that went under the bar before curling another jaw-dropping shot into the top corner one minute into injury time.

They were his fourth and fifth goals in Qatar, and Mbappe became the first player to score nine World Cup goals before his 24th birthday, having netted as many as Argentina's 35-year-old Lionel Messi.

It helped Mbappe to erase painful memories from last year's European championship, when he missed the decisive penalty that sent Switzerland into the last eight after a shootout following a 3-3 draw.

A handball by Dayot Upamecano gave Lewandowski a chance of scoring a consolation goal with a penalty that was first saved by Lloris before being retaken -- and scored -- as the keeper did not have his feet on the line.&nbsp;

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Kylian Mbappe was in another league yet again, while the ever-reliable Olivier Giroud netted a record goal, to send defending champions France into the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a 3-1 victory against Poland on Sunday.

Kylian Mbappe was in another league yet again, while the ever-reliable Olivier Giroud netted a record goal, to send defending champions France into the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a 3-1 victory against Poland on Sunday. Les Bleus, who will face either Senegal or England for a spot in the last four, had to dig deep but scored on the stroke of halftime as Giroud became the outright all-time scorer for France with 52 goals before Mbappe's 74th-minute and stoppage-time screamers sealed Poland's fate. Poland, in the knockout stage for the first time since 1986 and looking for a first quarter-final appearance since 1982, had a huge chance in the first half but the France midfield did a great job at cutting the feeding line to Robert Lewandowski, who reduced the arrears with a twice-taken, last-second penalty. Keeper Hugo Lloris made his 142nd appearance and is now tied with Lilian Thuram as France's most-capped player, and his experience mattered when he made a superb quick save to deny Piotr Zielinski. Coach Didier Deschamps had warned that there was more to Poland than Lewandowski and he was proved right at the Al Thumama stadium as the French were at times shaky at the back. "It's not been easy because they're a well-organised team and we had to make some positional changes at halftime," said Deschamps. "We're a united squad and tonight the players' impeccable behaviour has been rewarded. Now we're going to spend a little bit of time with our families." France got off to a dominant start before abandoning possession, looking to create space in the back of the Polish defence after Mbappe's first forays failed to lead to clear chances. Poland's poise came close to being rewarded in the 38th minute when the onrushing Zielinski's shot was parried by Lloris. It then came back into the midfielder's path but his second attempt was deflected by Theo Hernandez. Jakub Kaminski followed, only for his shot to be saved close to the goal-line by Raphael Varane. "We fought, we created a couple of chances, some really clear ones, especially in the first half; it’s a pity nothing went in," said Lewandowski. NINE WORLD CUP GOALS One minute from the break, however, France's tactics paid off. Mbappe drew the defence to him and slid the ball through into the path of Giroud, who grabbed the inch of space he needed to clip the ball past Szczesny and net his third goal of the tournament. The 36-year-old Giroud, who did not score in Russia four years ago, had drawn level with Thierry Henry on 51 goals after netting a double in the defending champions' 4-1 win over Australia in their opening Group D game. France looked too casual, however, especially Mbappe, but the forward came up with a spine-chilling rising shot that went under the bar before curling another jaw-dropping shot into the top corner one minute into injury time. They were his fourth and fifth goals in Qatar, and Mbappe became the first player to score nine World Cup goals before his 24th birthday, having netted as many as Argentina's 35-year-old Lionel Messi. It helped Mbappe to erase painful memories from last year's European championship, when he missed the decisive penalty that sent Switzerland into the last eight after a shootout following a 3-3 draw. A handball by Dayot Upamecano gave Lewandowski a chance of scoring a consolation goal with a penalty that was first saved by Lloris before being retaken -- and scored -- as the keeper did not have his feet on the line. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

World Cup: Record Giroud, sublime Mbappe send France into quarter-finals with Poland win

The OPEC+ oil cartel decided at a meeting on Sunday (December 4) to maintain their current crude output levels as they haven't changed their targets for shipping oil to the global economy.&nbsp;The announcement comes amid uncertainty as markets are trying to assess how a slowing Chinese economy will affect demand and how the recent price cap on seaborne Russian oil by EU and G7 nations will impact&nbsp;supply.&nbsp; 
 
The much-awaited decision came&nbsp;just two days after the Group of Seven (G7) nations agreed to a $60 per barrel price cap on Russian oil, even as many nations in Europe are battling an energy crisis.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which is a cartel of 13 countries, led by Saudi and allied producers including Russia, decided to stick to their course agreed upon in October of a production cut of two million barrels per day until the end of 2023.&nbsp;

In a statement, OPEC+ described the decision it took in October as one "which was purely driven by market considerations". The statement added that it had been "the necessary and the right course of action towards stabilizing global oil markets."&nbsp;

The move had angered the United States, who blamed the bloc and accused the leaders of siding with Russia despite Moscow's war in Ukraine.&nbsp;

The next OPEC+ ministerial meeting is scheduled for next year on June 4. But the alliance said it was ready to "meet at any time and take immediate additional measures" to address market developments and support the oil market if necessary.&nbsp;

According to OPEC+, its output was reduced as a result of a dimmer economic outlook. Because of slower Chinese and global growth as well as rising interest rates, oil prices have fallen since October, which has led the market to speculate that the group may reduce output once more.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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The OPEC+ oil cartel decided at a meeting on Sunday (December 4) to maintain their current crude output levels as they haven't changed their targets for shipping oil to the global economy.

The OPEC+ oil cartel decided at a meeting on Sunday (December 4) to maintain their current crude output levels as they haven't changed their targets for shipping oil to the global economy. The announcement comes amid uncertainty as markets are trying to assess how a slowing Chinese economy will affect demand and how the recent price cap on seaborne Russian oil by EU and G7 nations will impact supply. The much-awaited decision came just two days after the Group of Seven (G7) nations agreed to a $60 per barrel price cap on Russian oil, even as many nations in Europe are battling an energy crisis. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which is a cartel of 13 countries, led by Saudi and allied producers including Russia, decided to stick to their course agreed upon in October of a production cut of two million barrels per day until the end of 2023. In a statement, OPEC+ described the decision it took in October as one "which was purely driven by market considerations". The statement added that it had been "the necessary and the right course of action towards stabilizing global oil markets." The move had angered the United States, who blamed the bloc and accused the leaders of siding with Russia despite Moscow's war in Ukraine. The next OPEC+ ministerial meeting is scheduled for next year on June 4. But the alliance said it was ready to "meet at any time and take immediate additional measures" to address market developments and support the oil market if necessary. According to OPEC+, its output was reduced as a result of a dimmer economic outlook. Because of slower Chinese and global growth as well as rising interest rates, oil prices have fallen since October, which has led the market to speculate that the group may reduce output once more. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

OPEC+ agrees to stick to its oil output targets amid market uncertainties, energy crisis

The United States' National Intelligence Director Avril Haines said on Saturday (December 3) that the Russian forces in Ukraine are using up ammunition "quite quickly".&nbsp;Despite the recent attacks on missile infrastructure, US intelligence believes that fighting in parts of Ukraine has been slowing down, which apparently will continue in the coming months.&nbsp;

Haines told the annual Reagan National Defense Forum in California, "We are seeing a kind of a reduced tempo already of the conflict ... and we expect that's likely to be what we see in the coming months."&nbsp;

According to Haines, both the Ukrainian and Russian troops will prepare for a counter-offensive after the winter. But before that, they might try to refit and resupply.&nbsp;

She said, "We actually have a fair amount of scepticism as to whether or not the Russians will be in fact prepared to do that. I think more optimistically for the Ukrainians in that timeframe."&nbsp;

At the defence forum, Haines also noted said she thought Russian President Vladimir Putin had been taken aback by his military's lack of greater success.&nbsp;

She said: "I do think he is becoming more informed of the challenges that the military faces in Russia. But it's still not clear to us that he has a full picture at this stage of just how challenged&nbsp;they are ... we see shortages of ammunition, for morale, supply issues, logistics, a whole series of concerns that they're facing."&nbsp;

Haines also claimed that Putin might think to scale back his military objectives "on a temporary basis with the idea that he might then come back at this issue at a later time".&nbsp;

Russia appeared to be using up its military stockpiles "quite quickly", Haines said, further adding that "it is pretty extraordinary, and our own sense is that they are not capable of indigenously producing what they are expending at this stage."&nbsp;

"That's why you see them going to other countries effectively to try to get ammunition ... and we've indicated that their precision munitions are running out much faster in many respects," she added.&nbsp;

<h2>UK warns Putin could use 'peace talks' to restock his army&nbsp;</h2>

In an interview with The Telegraph, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that Putin could use peace talks to restock his army in Ukraine before launching another attack.&nbsp;

Cleverly alleged that Putin could pretend to engage in negotiations while training more troops and sending more ammunition, the newspaper said on December 2.&nbsp;

The paper quoted Cleverly as saying that there is a risk that a cease-fire would be used by Putin to "refit his damaged armed forces and to rearm his armed forces".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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The United States' National Intelligence Director Avril Haines said on Saturday (December 3) that the Russian forces in Ukraine are using up ammunition "quite quickly".

The United States' National Intelligence Director Avril Haines said on Saturday (December 3) that the Russian forces in Ukraine are using up ammunition "quite quickly". Despite the recent attacks on missile infrastructure, US intelligence believes that fighting in parts of Ukraine has been slowing down, which apparently will continue in the coming months. Haines told the annual Reagan National Defense Forum in California, "We are seeing a kind of a reduced tempo already of the conflict ... and we expect that's likely to be what we see in the coming months." According to Haines, both the Ukrainian and Russian troops will prepare for a counter-offensive after the winter. But before that, they might try to refit and resupply. She said, "We actually have a fair amount of scepticism as to whether or not the Russians will be in fact prepared to do that. I think more optimistically for the Ukrainians in that timeframe." At the defence forum, Haines also noted said she thought Russian President Vladimir Putin had been taken aback by his military's lack of greater success. She said: "I do think he is becoming more informed of the challenges that the military faces in Russia. But it's still not clear to us that he has a full picture at this stage of just how challenged they are ... we see shortages of ammunition, for morale, supply issues, logistics, a whole series of concerns that they're facing." Haines also claimed that Putin might think to scale back his military objectives "on a temporary basis with the idea that he might then come back at this issue at a later time". Russia appeared to be using up its military stockpiles "quite quickly", Haines said, further adding that "it is pretty extraordinary, and our own sense is that they are not capable of indigenously producing what they are expending at this stage." "That's why you see them going to other countries effectively to try to get ammunition ... and we've indicated that their precision munitions are running out much faster in many respects," she added. UK warns Putin could use 'peace talks' to restock his army In an interview with The Telegraph, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that Putin could use peace talks to restock his army in Ukraine before launching another attack. Cleverly alleged that Putin could pretend to engage in negotiations while training more troops and sending more ammunition, the newspaper said on December 2. The paper quoted Cleverly as saying that there is a risk that a cease-fire would be used by Putin to "refit his damaged armed forces and to rearm his armed forces". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US believes Russia using up military stockpiles ‘more rapidly’ than it can replenish

Ukrain's President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that a $60 price cap per barrel on seaborne Russian oil, imposed by the G7 (Group of Seven), the European Union and Australia, is "not serious".&nbsp;

To restrict Russia's source of income, the West announced the oil price cap. This cap is in addition to an EU embargo on maritime deliveries of Russian crude oil. The oil cap, expected to come into effect on Monday, is aimed at restricting Moscow's capability to finance the ongoing war in Ukraine.&nbsp;

But Zelensky says that is not enough. In his nightly address, he said, "Russia has already caused huge losses to all countries of the world by deliberately destabilizing the energy market." The Ukrainian president described the decision as "a weak position".&nbsp;

Zelensky added that it is "only a matter of time when stronger tools will have to be used anyway." He said, "It is a pity that this time will be lost. The logic is obvious: if the price limit for Russian oil is $60 instead of, for example, $30, which Poland and the Baltic countries talked about, then the Russian budget will receive about a hundred billion dollars a year... This money will also be used to further destabilize precisely those countries that are now trying to avoid big decisions."&nbsp;

During the negotiations, Poland tried to hold out for a lower threshold of $30, before finally agreeing on Friday to the higher ceiling.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Russia has rejected the price cap and called it "dangerous". Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told domestic news agencies: "We will not accept this price cap." Peskov also said that Russia was "analysing" the move.&nbsp;

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Ukrain's President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that a $60 price cap per barrel on seaborne Russian oil, imposed by the G7 (Group of Seven), the European Union and Australia, is "not serious".

Ukrain's President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that a $60 price cap per barrel on seaborne Russian oil, imposed by the G7 (Group of Seven), the European Union and Australia, is "not serious". To restrict Russia's source of income, the West announced the oil price cap. This cap is in addition to an EU embargo on maritime deliveries of Russian crude oil. The oil cap, expected to come into effect on Monday, is aimed at restricting Moscow's capability to finance the ongoing war in Ukraine. But Zelensky says that is not enough. In his nightly address, he said, "Russia has already caused huge losses to all countries of the world by deliberately destabilizing the energy market." The Ukrainian president described the decision as "a weak position". Zelensky added that it is "only a matter of time when stronger tools will have to be used anyway." He said, "It is a pity that this time will be lost. The logic is obvious: if the price limit for Russian oil is $60 instead of, for example, $30, which Poland and the Baltic countries talked about, then the Russian budget will receive about a hundred billion dollars a year... This money will also be used to further destabilize precisely those countries that are now trying to avoid big decisions." During the negotiations, Poland tried to hold out for a lower threshold of $30, before finally agreeing on Friday to the higher ceiling. Meanwhile, Russia has rejected the price cap and called it "dangerous". Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told domestic news agencies: "We will not accept this price cap." Peskov also said that Russia was "analysing" the move. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Zelensky says $60 price cap on Russian oil is ‘not serious’, won’t push Moscow into ending war

A devastating suicide bomb recently rocked Pakistan with several killed and injured. The blast was orchestrated by the deadliest militant group in Pakistan. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan hail from a place which even British colonialists failed to control calling it “Hell’s door knocker”. They’re not the Afghan Taliban and they’re not fighting the U.S. – instead they’re aiming at Pakistan! Here's a report by Shivan Chanana.

Pakistan created a monster which it cannot handle | Why Tehreek-e-Taliban are gunning for Pakistan

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned a "dastardly assassination attempt" on Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan in Kabul on Friday (December 2).&nbsp;WION broke the news before Sharif tweeted, demanding&nbsp;an immediate investigation&nbsp;against those who were involved.&nbsp;Sharif wrote: "I strongly condemn dastardly assassination attempt on Head of Mission, Kabul."

"Salute to brave security guard, who took bullet to save his life. Prayers for the swift recovery of security guard," he added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kabul-hit-by-attack-near-office-of-former-afghan-pm-hekmatyar-539441">Kabul hit by attack near office of former Afghan PM Gulbuddin Hekmatyar</a>&nbsp;

Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani is currently Pakistan's mission head at the Kabul embassy. He took charge this year on November 4.&nbsp;

In the aftermath of the attack, Pakistan will evacuate its embassy staff, the Head of Mission Ubaid Nizamanai and also the injured SSG guard, who took three bullets to his chest.&nbsp;

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I strongly condemn dastardly assassination attempt on 🇵🇰 Head of Mission, Kabul. Salute to brave security guard, who took bullet to save his life. Prayers for the swift recovery of security guard. I 
demand immediate investigation &amp; action against perpetrators of this heinous act
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1598656921036554240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the compound of the embassy in Kabul came under attack today, targeting Nizamani.&nbsp;

"By the grace of Allah Almighty, the Head of Mission is safe. However, a Pakistani security guard Sepoy Israr Mohammad has been critically injured in the attack while protecting the Head of Mission," the statement added.&nbsp;

Amid concerns over Nizamani's health, Sharif tweeted to inform that he spoke to the Head of Mission, who is safe now.&nbsp;

WION learned from sources that Pakistan is to send in a special flight to evacuate its Head of Mission, embassy personnel and staff and the injured soldier for the time being, later today or tomorrow early morning. It will depend on the health of the injured man.&nbsp;

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Just spoke to Ubaid Nizamani 🇵🇰 Head of Mission, Kabul. Relieved to hear that he is safe. I expressed solidarity of govt &amp; people with him, while assuring full support &amp; assistance to him &amp; mission on all counts. I also conveyed prayers for swift recovery of brave security guard.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1598668497483096064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
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At the time of his inaugural interaction with the embassy staff, Nizamani had emphasised that it would be his priority to work towards enhancing multifaceted bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan.&nbsp;

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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned a "dastardly assassination attempt" on Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan in Kabul on Friday (December 2). WION broke the news before Sharif tweeted, demanding an immediate investigation against those who were involved.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned a "dastardly assassination attempt" on Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan in Kabul on Friday (December 2). WION broke the news before Sharif tweeted, demanding an immediate investigation against those who were involved. Sharif wrote: "I strongly condemn dastardly assassination attempt on Head of Mission, Kabul." "Salute to brave security guard, who took bullet to save his life. Prayers for the swift recovery of security guard," he added. ALSO READ | Kabul hit by attack near office of former Afghan PM Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani is currently Pakistan's mission head at the Kabul embassy. He took charge this year on November 4. In the aftermath of the attack, Pakistan will evacuate its embassy staff, the Head of Mission Ubaid Nizamanai and also the injured SSG guard, who took three bullets to his chest. I strongly condemn dastardly assassination attempt on 🇵🇰 Head of Mission, Kabul. Salute to brave security guard, who took bullet to save his life. Prayers for the swift recovery of security guard. I demand immediate investigation & action against perpetrators of this heinous act — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) December 2, 2022 × Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the compound of the embassy in Kabul came under attack today, targeting Nizamani. "By the grace of Allah Almighty, the Head of Mission is safe. However, a Pakistani security guard Sepoy Israr Mohammad has been critically injured in the attack while protecting the Head of Mission," the statement added. Amid concerns over Nizamani's health, Sharif tweeted to inform that he spoke to the Head of Mission, who is safe now. WION learned from sources that Pakistan is to send in a special flight to evacuate its Head of Mission, embassy personnel and staff and the injured soldier for the time being, later today or tomorrow early morning. It will depend on the health of the injured man. Just spoke to Ubaid Nizamani 🇵🇰 Head of Mission, Kabul. Relieved to hear that he is safe. I expressed solidarity of govt & people with him, while assuring full support & assistance to him & mission on all counts. I also conveyed prayers for swift recovery of brave security guard. — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) December 2, 2022 × At the time of his inaugural interaction with the embassy staff, Nizamani had emphasised that it would be his priority to work towards enhancing multifaceted bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Assassination attempt': PM Shehbaz Sharif condemns attack on Pakistan's mission head in Afghanistan

Iran's atomic energy agency said on Saturday (December 3) the nation has started the construction of a new nuclear plant in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.&nbsp;

In a televised remark, Mohammad Eslami, who is the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, announced that the construction has been started.&nbsp;

The announcement regarding the construction of a 300-megawatt Karun power plant in the Darkhovin district of Khuzestan came when the United Nations nuclear chief said that Iran ties are needed to get back on track.&nbsp;

Eslami added that the construction of the plant will take around seven years. He further mentioned that project is expected to cost between $1.5 billion and $2 billion.&nbsp;

He said that the power plant was "first set to be constructed by a French company." However, the company refused and backed out of its "commitments" after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.&nbsp;

He said: "Later, other countries avoided cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, because of the sanctions."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-moscow-says-vladimir-putin-will-visit-east-ukraine-in-due-time-539756">Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow says Vladimir Putin will visit east Ukraine 'in due time'</a>&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Friday that Iran appears to be at odds with the UN nuclear watchdog over information it should be provided regarding its atomic programme.&nbsp;

Rafael Grossi told a conference in Rome, "We don't seem to be seeing eye-to-eye with Iran over their obligations to the IAEA. We need to put our relationship back on track."&nbsp;

He also raised concerns over a recent announcement by Tehran that it was boosting its enrichment capacity.&nbsp;

The nuclear deal was signed in 2015 and Iran agreed to a pact with six major powers to limit its nuclear program. It was harder for Iran to obtain a weapon in return for relief from economic sanctions.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-eu-g7-and-australia-agree-to-price-cap-on-russian-oil-539655">G7 and Australia follow EU, agree to $60 a barrel price cap on Russian crude oil</a>&nbsp;

But former US President Donald Trump reneged on the deal in 2018 and reimposed harsh sanctions on Iran. Trump's decision led Tehran to start violating the agreement's nuclear limits about a year later.&nbsp;

As part of the deal, restrictions aimed at preventing Iran from covertly developing a nuclear weapon. But Tehran has repeatedly denied that it seeks to develop an atomic bomb.&nbsp;

However, after the deal crumbled, Iran has since reopened its Fordo plant. Last month Tehran said it had begun producing uranium enriched to 60 per cent there.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Iran's atomic energy agency said on Saturday (December 3) the nation has started the construction of a new nuclear plant in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

Iran's atomic energy agency said on Saturday (December 3) the nation has started the construction of a new nuclear plant in the southwestern province of Khuzestan. In a televised remark, Mohammad Eslami, who is the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, announced that the construction has been started. The announcement regarding the construction of a 300-megawatt Karun power plant in the Darkhovin district of Khuzestan came when the United Nations nuclear chief said that Iran ties are needed to get back on track. Eslami added that the construction of the plant will take around seven years. He further mentioned that project is expected to cost between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. He said that the power plant was "first set to be constructed by a French company." However, the company refused and backed out of its "commitments" after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He said: "Later, other countries avoided cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, because of the sanctions." ALSO READ | Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow says Vladimir Putin will visit east Ukraine 'in due time' Meanwhile, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Friday that Iran appears to be at odds with the UN nuclear watchdog over information it should be provided regarding its atomic programme. Rafael Grossi told a conference in Rome, "We don't seem to be seeing eye-to-eye with Iran over their obligations to the IAEA. We need to put our relationship back on track." He also raised concerns over a recent announcement by Tehran that it was boosting its enrichment capacity. The nuclear deal was signed in 2015 and Iran agreed to a pact with six major powers to limit its nuclear program. It was harder for Iran to obtain a weapon in return for relief from economic sanctions. ALSO READ | G7 and Australia follow EU, agree to $60 a barrel price cap on Russian crude oil But former US President Donald Trump reneged on the deal in 2018 and reimposed harsh sanctions on Iran. Trump's decision led Tehran to start violating the agreement's nuclear limits about a year later. As part of the deal, restrictions aimed at preventing Iran from covertly developing a nuclear weapon. But Tehran has repeatedly denied that it seeks to develop an atomic bomb. However, after the deal crumbled, Iran has since reopened its Fordo plant. Last month Tehran said it had begun producing uranium enriched to 60 per cent there. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Iran starts construction of new nuclear power plant in the southwestern province of Khuzestan

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Zee News Rajasthan

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