Two successive blasts hit a patrolling convoy of the Iraqi army on Tuesday, leaving five soldiers injured. According to security sources, the blasts targeted the convoy near al-Mukhisa village on the outskirts of Abu Sayda district. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment while the security forces cordoned off the area for investigations.

Giuseppe Conte has resigned as Italy’s prime minister after blasting Matteo Salvini, the leader of the far-right League, as an “opportunist” for triggering a government crisis that could have “serious consequences” for Italy. Conte said he would formally resign his mandate to the president, Sergio Mattarella, after the close of the debate in the Senate on Tuesday.

FIFA, has granted Iraq approval to play international qualification matches for the 2022 World Cup at home at the Basra Sports City Stadium. “After evaluation of the situations, Basra can be considered as a home venue for the official qualification matches for 2022 world cup in Qatar,”The decision was made following a successful 2019 West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Championship in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region—the first major international tournament held in the region since the 1991 Gulf War.