Iraqi President Dr. Latif Rashid released a statement on the tanker explosion in Baghdad's Binuki neighborhood and instructed authorities to look into the matter thoroughly, which killed 9 and injured over 20 bystanders.

The president also hoped citizens would cooperate with the police and civil defense and emphasize the relevant authorities to investigate the incident and hold negligent persons accountable, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Last night a gas tanker truck exploded in Baghdad’s Binuki neighborhood, a chunk of the tanker’s iron cover blew into the sky, landing 300 meters away in a football stadium, where hundreds of audiences watched a game, as the iron chunk smacked the stadium and hit the onlookers, KurdSat’s reporter in Baghdad said.

Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, Sair Makhif, said, "after the significant decline in domestic agricultural production harms farmers and consumers."

"The committee is working to make agriculture and water scarcity a priority in its agenda with the Ministry of Agriculture and wants to access to water to farmers through a new irrigation program and subsidize farmers in every way to increase production levels Fill in the barley," the chairman noted.

He added that "food security has been of great importance to the lives of citizens and has helped to sign contracts with several producing countries to strengthen grain reserves, but efforts should be intensified to guarantee emergency solutions.

The Director of the General Company for Grain Trade at the Iraqi Ministry of Trade, Muhammad Hanoun, said that Iraq would only produce about two million tons of wheat this season. "This season's decrease would be 50% compared to what was marketed last season," Hannoun told Iraq's Al-Sabah newspaper.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned that the world is at risk of yet another year of record starvation as the global food crisis continues to drive more people yet into worsening levels of acute food insecurity warn.

This year Iraq has made it to WFP and FAO's list of countries at risk of facing hunger. 

The bodies of 1,459 Iraqis killed in the eight-year war between Iraq and Iran have been buried in Basra province.

The bodies of 1,459 unidentified Iraqis killed in the eight-year war with Iran have been buried in the Burjsiya cemetery in Basra province, the Defense Ministry said.

The ministry added that the bodies were found while searching for missing persons from the 1980-1988 war in the battlefields along the border between the two neighboring countries.

Often, remains of fallen soldiers of the war are found in both Iraq and Iran.

There are official figures on the number of missing soldiers in the eight-year Iran-Iraq war. It is estimated that around one million were killed on both sides. The war was also the 20th century’s most prolonged conflict, more protracted than WWI and WWII. 

An elderly Iranian woman prays at the graves of unknown soldiers who were killed during 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran

According to a statement issued by the October demonstrators, they hold demonstrations in Baghdad and ten other southern and central Iraqi provinces, chanting slogans, including rejecting the government of Mohammed Shia Sudani, that is yet to form.

A significant presence of security forces were seen marching in the streets of Baghdad and other major Iraqi cities. 

Security sources said most streets near Tahrir Square, including the Sink Bridge and the Republic Bridge, were closed. The security forces shut Republic Street leading to Khalani Square and the gate of the Green Zone towards the Supreme Judicial Council.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Kazemi issued ten orders to the security forces to protect the lives of demonstrators and government institutions, calling against using plastic bullets against demonstrators.

The demonstration coincides with the third anniversary of the October 25, 2019, protests, also known as the Tishreen Movement Protests. Official figures put the number of the dead at around 500 people, while local sources talk of a thousand. The protest weakened after over 500 people were killed and close to 8 thousand people injured. Also, Covid quarantine measures played a role.

A year after general parliamentary elections, the Iraqi House of Representatives elected President Rashid as Iraq’s new president. He immediately designated Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani as prime minister in charge of forming a cabinet.

Today, Tuesday President Latif Rashid received European Union (EU) ambassador to Iraq Ville Varjola at the Salam Presidential Palace in Baghdad. reiterated EU's commitment to strengthening friendly relations and cooperation with Iraq in various fields.

President Rashid thanked Ambassador Varjola for his congratulations and expressed his readiness to support the ambassador's efforts to serve the highest interests of Iraq and the European Union countries.

The EU and Iraq has long historical and social relations as millions of Iraqis leave in EU countries and maintain close contact with their kins in Iraq.

Arrests: The Iraqi interior ministry announced on Monday the arrest of an official involved in the 2.5 billion US Dollar embezzlement at the Baghdad International Airport while attempting to board a private jet to leave corruption-ridden Iraq. See the moment of the official's arrest at Baghdad International Airport.

Fraud Of the Century: The discharged minister's internal investigation body concluded that 3.7 trillion Iraqi dinars, about $2.5bn USD, were lavishly paid to five firms. The funds were allegedly stolen from the Tax Authority's account at the state-run Rafidain Bank. The money was paid through 247 cheques between September 9, 2021, and August 11, 2022, from the commission's account at Rafidain Bank. Many of those involved in the scheme are yet to be discovered.

Trading companies and people dealing with the government must deposit a specific amount of cash, from which taxes will be deducted later.

Not much is known about the arrested official, whose given name is Nour Zurhair Jasim, besides the fact that he holds Iraqi citizenship and was not a household name until his arrest.

Nour Zuhari Jasim in a cell in Baghdad after his arrest

A 21-year-old Involved: According to a leaked Ministry of Interior document directed to the Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) that warrants the arrest of three people, a 21-year-old Hussein Brifkani. The paper also names Nour Zuhair Jasim. Brifkani is an Erbil resident, according to local media.

The UN Special Representative for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, has called on authorities to recover $2.5 billion embezzled from the General Commission of Taxes in the latest corruption scandal to rock the country.

Prime minister-designate Mohammed Shia al-Sundani promised to stop laundering money of Iraqi people; he works to build his cabinet.

Who Revealed It? Oil Minister and former acting finance minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar brought the matter to public attention on October 16 and ordered an investigation into it, although he lost the House of Representatives' confidence and was removed from the chief of the finance ministry on October 11.

Reactions: The Supreme Judicial Council said in a statement that a Baghdad court had been investigating the case since August and called the involved an "organized network linked to influential figures."

Although Iraq ranks better compared to previous years, it still ranks at the top of the world's most corrupt countries, per Transparency International's corruption perceptions index.

Corruption Ranking: The scale of the corruption reveals Iraq's rampant and dangerous corruption that is a threat to its record low public approval and its stability and security.

The ambassador conveyed a written message from Czech President Milos Zeman to President Latif Rashid on his inauguration as Iraqi President, stressing his country's desire to strengthen friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.

President Rashid conveyed his greetings and thanks to the Ambassador and stressed the development of relations between the two countries that serve common interests.

The President stressed the importance of coordinating efforts and positions between Iraq and the Czech Republic on issues of mutual interest to achieve security and stability at the regional and international levels.

"I am pleased to send to my dear brother my best regards and sincere wishes for continued health, happiness and success, and to the brotherly Iraqi people to achieve further progress and prosperity," told President Rashid.

"It is my pleasure to express to Your Excellency, on my behalf and on behalf of the people and government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, our deepest congratulations and sincere blessings on the occasion of gaining the confidence of the House of Representatives and your election as President of the brotherly Republic of Iraq," the Jordanian King added.

The Jordanian King hoped to expand relations between the neighboring countries in all fields and preserve both countries' interests. I reiterate Jordan's support for brotherly Iraq and its dear people in maintaining its security and stability, the King noted in him a message.

"Asking God Almighty to protect you, take care of you, enjoy good health and wellness, and grant you success in serving your country and people," King Abdulla concluded in his letter to the Iraqi president.

In his message, the King of Sweden expressed his sincere congratulations and best wishes to the President, wishing him success in his duties and happiness, prosperity, and well-being for the Iraqi people.

The Iraqi Ministry of Education said in a statement that the 2021-2022 academic year will be considered a "pass year", meaning that no student will be fail, and everyone would pass tests.

The ministry added that the ministry’s Directorate of Assessment and Examinations the necessary guidelines for the directive at a later date.

The move comes after exams in many academic institutions were cancels amid Sadr-led nationwide protests that swept across Baghdad and major Iraqi cities that also resulted in many casualties. The decision aims to ease any forthcoming protests as many of these participating in the protests are teens.

Iraqi Joint Operations Command spokesman, Lieutenant Tahsin Khafaji, said, “the Joint Operations Command is working with all security forces to eliminate ISIS remnants through an extensive air campaign.”

“The group has lost the ability to lead and conquer areas with most of its prominent leaders eliminated, and since the beginning of this year, 150 leaders of the group have been killed,” Khafaji said.

Lieutenant Tahsin Khafaji added that careful planning from the defense minister, coordination with border guards and the Iraqi army, and coordination with the Peshmerga forces have helped prevent terrorists from infiltrating the Syrian Iraqi border.

The commander explained that the Iraqi army has also mounted cameras on the borders between Syria and Iraq to monitor terrorist activities.

Since the territorial and military defeat of ISIS in late 2017 and early 2018, ISIS remnants have begun spreading in middle and eastern Iraq. Coordinated efforts between the Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces have helped track down the terrorists.

Iraqis Don’t Need Visa for Iran: On its official account on Facebook, Iran’s representative office in Sulaimani wrote, “Dear citizens of Iraq, based on the agreement with the Iraqi authorities, the travel methods for Iraqi citizens holding ordinary passports going to the Islamic Republic of Iran will be as follows until further notice; Iraqi citizens do not need visas when entering Iranian territory by land, air, rail or sea. Border officers at border crossing points would record a traveler’s data upon arrival, and they are given a legal entry permit valid for 30 days.

Who Needs Visa? Iraqis entering Iran for education, work, investment, journalism, or apply for a family visa (Iranian spouse's family scheme) must obtain the necessary visas through the embassies and representative office of the Islamic Republic of Iran abroad, per the Iran GC announcement.

Where is Does the Decision Apply: Authorities at all points of entry to Iran would apply the new regulation, the GC said.

Health Measure is Still Needed: Compliance with health measures and regulations is necessary. A Covid19 vaccination card with at least two doses or a negative coronavirus test done prior to less than 72 hours must be presented to border officers on arrival, according to the statement.

Is It Reciprocal: Iran and Iraq share deep historical, linguistic and economic ties. Travel restricts between the two countries is very loose despite political relations, Iran’s decision to lift Visa on Iraq’s is not mirrored in Iraq, even though Iran has removed travel restriction in front of Iraqis on many occasions.

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.