In a telephone call, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi congratulated Iraqi President Latif Rashid on his election as the country's new President and further developed it in all areas.

Iraqi President Dr. Latif Rashid told al-Sisi that Iraq and Egypt share meaningful historical relationships and added that Egypt has always played a significant role in helping Iraq and considers it necessary to invest in these relations and strengthen them.

On October 13, President Latif Rashid defeated incumbent Barham Salih by securing 162 votes out of 261 casts.

The country was a divided country after that. Lately, religious figures such as Ali as-Sistani, the once ultimate arbiter was sidelined when protesters stormed the parliament and ignored his call to leave.

Now President Rashid at the Presidential Palace could step in to fill the void as a person with a unifying reputation that is never taken part in factions or rivalries but devoted his political life to bridging differences.

President Rashid has a long history with Iraqi leaders and is a pioneering member of the PUK, the first party to resist Saddam Hussein's brutal crackdown on Iraqi opposition in the mid and late 1970s.

The PUK headquarters in the mountains of the Kurdistan region served as a safe house and refuge for Iraqi opposition groups to resist tyranny. The PUK relied on support primarily from the E.U., in which President Rashid represented the PUK in the U.K. and several important western nations. As such, he is known for his efforts to bring differences together and work collectively for Iraq and not only the Kurdistan region. 

As the constitution and conventional wisdom have it, the position of the President of the republic is a symbolic one. Yet, former President Jalal Talabani empowered that position by turning it into the center of arbitration for all Iraqi forces. He was a nationally accepted leader with a long history with Iraqi leaders. He helped them in their fight against Saddam Hussein and gave them shelter and protection through the PUK.

The Salam Presidential Palace was a place where all parties, whether marginalized or in power, could turn to and resolve their disputes. He made the office of the President the place that bound all of Iraq together and needed somebody who all could welcome.

In fact, in a consociational democracy where power is shared among different ethnic and sectarian groups, without an overarching authority, Iraq could devolve into anarchy as it did after the 2021 general elections because the office of the president could not bring the parties together.

When President Talabani departed from Iraqi politics in late 2012, the gap he left was felt more than ever. The current political stalemate could have never happened had they heeded President Talabani's advice.

The election of Barham Salih as president of Iraq in 2018 was followed by nationwide Tishreen Protests and frequent clashes between pro-US and pro-Iranian forces. Iraq could no longer balance Iran and the US from one side and local militia from the other. Former President Barham Salih was a figure that the PUK put forward as a compromising one to prevent the party fracture, defied the role Talabani came to make to the office of the Republican President.

Although it might not have been intentionally, Barham Salih divided not only the Kurdish house but also the Shiite house. Most notably, Muqtada al-Sadr, once called him out, saying, very shameful that [he is] the so-called President of the Republic of Iraq (Barham). However, the election of Dr Latif Rashid to President broke a year of stalemate and will bring back that tradition.

All Iraqi parties and leaders welcome President Rashid as he has a long history in Iraq and always eschewed taking sides in rivalries and conflicts and putting his resources into bringing others together. Although relations between the KDP and PUK are record low, they surprisingly agreed on the President Rashid's election.  As a democrat educated in the U.K., president Rashid believes that democracy is the ultimate unity that Iraq so early is in dire need of.

Unity could be the answer to violence, resulting in peace, stability and prosperity and eventually a satisfying majority of Iraqis.

Sulaimani Civil Defense Spokesman Aram Ali told KurdSat that a firm mistakenly sent gasoline instead of kerosene to Bardakari Primary School in Tanjaro, causing a fire in the school warehouse.

He said the teachers did not know it was gasoline. The fire broke out while transporting the gasoline to the school store tank, injuring the assistant principal, a teacher, a student and an employee working in the warehouse was severely wounded.

Iraqi Joint Operations Commander Lieutenant Tahsin Khafaji said, "Iraqi army launched several intensive ground and air operations have against the remnants of the terrorist group ISIL in the past two to three months."

"There is no one left in Iraq to lead the terrorist group remnants, which is a deadly blow to the terrorist group, and the people's cooperation with the Iraqi army and security forces in locating the terrorists has proved crucial." 

ISIS controlled vast swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014, but the terrorists became fully devoid of territorial control in 2017. While the group currently doesn'tcontrol any territory, it still continues to pose security risks through abductions, hit-and-run attacks, and bombings, especially in the disputed territories between Erbil and Baghdad. 

"An explosion took place in Amasra around 18:15 yesterday. All our institutions for search and rescue and support from many parts of Turkey, as well as competent institutions of the Ministry of Energy, from AFAD to the Ministry of Health, from Kızılay to UMKE. All of our search and rescue and health personnel were mobilized until today. We wish that we could make this statement to you without any loss in front of us. From this time on, a great mobilization and great effort was made in the works carried out 300-350 meters underground," Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters. 

Speaking at the scene, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said, "during the accident, a total of 110 workers were working, while 49 workers were in risky areas, and 21 people were transferred to the hospital. Rescue operation is underway for those trapped underneath. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan postponed his visit to Diyarbakir today due to the mining explosion in the Amasra, according to the statement made by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications. Turkish media reported that Erdogan will go to Bartin today and coordinate the rescue efforts on the spot. 

Turkish media reported visits by most Turkish leaders, mostly party leaders. The large attention given to the incident comes before the Turkish general elections scheduled for 2023. 

People's Democratic Party (HDP) canceled its 10th-anniversary celebrations planned for tomorrow and said, "we express our condolences to the miners who lost their lives in the mining disaster in Amasra and our condolences to their families and people. Due to this great and painful loss." Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also tweeted his sympathy for the victims in a tweet."

Three hundred one miners died after a fire erupted inside a coal mine in the town of Soma, considered Turkey's worst mine disaster in 2014. 

Mohammed Salih Iraq, an Al-Sadr inner circle man, tweeted after the election of the President and designation of the prime minister of Iraq, his position which mirrors Al-Sadr's that "the forming of a experienced, militia-dependent government that confronts people's interests and in opposition to the "the tried won't be tried again" and after failing to form a majority government that is neither easter or western that service justice, law and an impartial judiciary that gives all arms back to the state."

The Sadr Movements' remarks come after the prime minister designated Al-Sudani promised to form a cabinet soon, one that al-Sadr has publicly rejected for being tried, as al-Sadr says.

"We denounce suppression of people's voices and bring back to square one… and we demand that to keep Iraq away from turning into a puppet of foreign agendas, weapons removed from [non-state] groups and reject taking peoples into the pockets and banks of the corrupt," Al-Sadr noted.

Al-Sadr also warned against using the government to plunder state resources as it was done in the past. The Sadr movement has promised the people of Iraq to drain the swamp, referring to Baghdad's Green Zone, the political capital of Iraq.

Warning his allies and affiliates, Iraqi objects to participating in the government in a strongly worded passage, "to those who participate in the ministries of the unjust for whatever reasons does not represent us and we are acquitted of them."

Iraqi also calls for avoiding the government formers and compares them to “Gog and Magog,” as they spread evil on earth.

The long-awaited and overdue al-Sadr message is the strongest and reveals his deep mistrust and opposition to the government, although it remains to be seen how the Sar Movements' words unfold on Baghdad's streets.

Iraq broke a year of political impasse after electing a president who immediately designated al-Sudani as prime minister in charge of forming a council of ministers; however, with the de facto leader of Iraqi streets calling it corrupt and failed experience, more is lying ahead of Iraq.

Saudi Arabia King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud congratulated Dr. Latif Rashid on his election as Iraqi president, calling strengthening of relations between Baghdad and Riyadh a necessity.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman sent a congratulatory message to Dr. Latif Rashid and expressed Saudi’s readiness to provide all kinds of assistance and support to Iraq and stressed the need to strengthen relations.

Dr. Latif Rashid was sworn in as Iraq’s ninth president in house House of Representatives. He ran against incumbent president Barham Salih and won in the second round with 162 to 99 votes. Following his election President Rashid designated Mohammed Shia al-Sudani prime minister and in charge of forming a cabinet.

Born in 1944, in the northeastern Sulaymaniyah region, Rashid is trained engineer at the University of Liverpool, graduating in 1968, completing his engineering doctorate in 1976 at the University of Manchester.

Dr. Latif is a Kurdish politician, statesman, and well-versed academic who works for his people behind the cameras and rarely appears publicly. His preferred choice of governance is action over words.

President Rashid is a statesman with a long experience in world-renowned international organizations and the Iraqi government. He served as Iraqi Minister of Water Resources during Nouri al-Maliki's premiership from December 2003 until December 2010, given as he holds a Ph.D. in water hydraulics. Late president Jalal Talabani appointed him as the Senior Adviser to the President of the Republic at the end of 2010 until October 31, 2018. He was a trusted advisor to President Talabani.

Born in 1994 in Sulaimani, President Rashid is from a Kurdish family committed to Kurdish rights in Iraq and the region, rights denied for long. In his teen years, he moved to complete his education to serve his country better. He obtained a master's degree in hydraulics from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom in 1972. He received a Ph.D. in water hydraulics from the same university in 1976.

President Rashid's political life began in the 1960s, when he joined the Kurdistan Democratic Party, became an influential member and leader in the Kurdish Student Association in Europe, and participated in meetings for the founding of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. The PUK led the liberation of the Kurdistan region in the 1990s. President Rashid was named the party's representative in Britain and several European countries for his distinguished skills and linguistic abilities that were rare to come by at the time.

As a vigorous young engineer, President Rashid was appointed to Sir William Halcrow & Associates Consulting Firm in London from 1975 - 1976. Later, he moved to Saudi Arabia in February 1977 to supervise the national Saudi irrigation and development project.

He was then assigned to work in Somalia in the Northern Irrigation Project to conduct a survey and evaluation of the project from 1979 until 1981. Again, his passion for humanity made him an adept humanitarian in countries that needed assistance.

President Rashid is a crucial supporter of human rights organizations in the Kurdistan region and Iraq, such as Kurdistan Save the Children.

He became the project manager for the International Food and Agriculture Organization - Agricultural Development Project for Wadi Tuban in Yemen from 1981-82. Then, the Jizan Valley Dam and the irrigation project between 1982-1983.

The International Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) appointed him as Director of the International Food and Agriculture Organization project between 1983 - 1986.

Latif President Rashid is married to Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, PUK Politimember of the working body in the political bureau of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. She is the sister-in-law of the late former Iraqi President Jalal Taliban. President Rashid is the father of two sons and one daughter and is fluent in Arabic, Kurdish, and English.

President Abdul Latif Rashid is a licensed engineer, a fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers in Britain, and a member of the International Commission for Irrigation and Sanitation. He is the Head of the International Commission for Irrigation and Sanitation in Iraq and a member of the Iraqi Society of Engineers and Iraqi Engineers Association. He is also involved with other scientific societies and forums, as well as his published scientific research in Arabic and English.

As the Iraqi National Congress was formed in the early 90s, he was elected as a member of the Executive Leadership Council and played a pivotal role in toppling Saddam Hussein's dictatorial regime.

President Rashid is a uniting factor in Kurdish and Iraqi politics. He has always worked to bridge gaps between different factions and create favorable environments for talks. He has never taken a side in rivalries and conflicts. 

President Rashid won the run for President of Iraq on October 13, defeating the incumbent President Barham Salih, the first incumbent President defeated in the parliamentary voting in the democratic history of Iraq.

President Rashid is a figure that works to unite all Iraqi parties at a time that division runs deep within all. He is also a President that is welcomed from all sides for his conflict-proof approaches to politics. He is expected to name a prime minister soon and help cover the gaps between Iraqi Shiite political parties that have disagreed on a candidate for prime minister for a year.

The candidates are the incumbent president Barham Salih has close to 150 votes and Latif Rashid has close to 140 votes. 

For the House of Representatives to appoint the President requires two-thirds of the MPs to be present, or 220 out of 329 MPs. Many observers believe that a minimum number of MPs is needed in the house to hold its session. The required number might not be present in tomorrow's session. 

"The President of the Republic is the Head of the State and a symbol of unity of the country and represents the sovereignty of the country," Article 67 of the 2005 Iraqi constitution states. The President has no executive powers and is responsible for signing republican decrees, submitting bills, and representing Iraq internationally, in addition to appointing the candidate for the premiership. 

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today, "In fact, these are undisguised attempts to discuss the possibility of legalizing previously committed theft. Well, it is foolish to say that this is contrary to every thinkable and unthinkable norms of international law. It's just pure international banditry."

The Kremlin said Wednesday there were no plans for Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden during a Group of 20 summit in Indonesia.

Putin's top spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “neither the Russian, nor American side" had put forward suggestions to hold bilateral talks during the summit in Bali next month.

Asked about Biden’s comments in an interview with CNN in which he warned the use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine would lead to a “horrible outcome,” Peskov said the remarks were part of “harmful and provocative” Western nuclear rhetoric.

Putin has previously said he wouldn’t hesitate to use “all means available” to protect Russian territory, but his spokesman said Moscow did not want to be part of his "harmful practice".

Peskov also said Western discussions over using seized Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine would be an act of "international banditry".

The war between Russia and Ukraine escalates as bombing population centers have become part of the war, and Russian drawbacks by its troops have concern US and EU officials of Russia’s publicly stated use of “all means necessary,” to protect Russian territory,  a thinly veiled expression for nuclear weapons.

A security source said that a military force has launched a large-scale security operation to search for ISIS sleeper cells in Mount Sheikh Ibrahim in the district of Tala'afar in western Mosul.

The operation aims to destroy ISIL strongholds and arrest terrorists hiding in valleys and tunnels.

On Tuesday, the 14th Brigade of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) launched a search operation to eliminate ISIS sleeper cells in Nineveh, the aim of the operation was to protect citizens and control the roads through which ISIS terrorists infiltrate into Nineveh.

After the military defeat of ISIS in late 2017, and early 2018, the terrorist group began regrouping the disputed and loosely controlled regions between the Peshmerga forces and Iraqi army. These operations aim to deny the group a safe heaven in these regions.

KurdSat’s reporter said, “clashes between Turkish armed groups have been going on in Afrin, Bab, and Sari Kani for two days. The Syrian Liberation Council (SLC), formerly Al-Nusra Front, has controlled Basuta town from Faylaq al-Sham.

The groups try to control border crossing between them and the Syrian government and between them and the SDF-controlled regions or Rojava, these border crossings are a source of revenue for these groups, and the clashes are to control more of them, Said KurdSat's reporter. 

Clashes erupted on September 29 between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA)-affiliated National Liberation Front in Syria’s Norther Western Regions of Afrin and Sari Kani (Serêkaniyê). Turkey invaded Afrin and Sari Kani in the past few years. 

“In the earlier clashes, Turkey intervened to settle the disputes, but in the current dispute Ankara has remained silent despite many casualties, and the death toll and casualties are yet to be revealed,” KurdSat’s Dara Barakat in Rojava said. 

Clashes erupted between SLC on the one hand, and the Hamza Division on the other, on Tuesday evening In the Euphrates Shield area. SLC controlled Hamzah Division’s headquarters, including the Al-Ziraa prison, which housed Kurdish prisoners whose fate was a mystery before the takeover. 

These clashes come following Hamza Division’s killing of Abu Ghanoum and his family, KurdSat’s reporter said. Mohammed Abu Ghanoum was affiliated with SLC and was killed last Friday.