This week, Iraq was plunged into more political uncertainty. Lawmakers from the parliamentary bloc of powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr resigned en masse at their leader's request. The Sadrist bloc is the largest in parliament and since an election last October, parties have been unable to form a government. The move aims to up pressure in a bid to end the country's political paralysis. We take a closer look.
Meanwhile, more than half of the population of Syria – some 12.5 million people – don't have enough to eat, according to the World Food Programme. Now, with the country in the middle of a summer drought, the situation is becoming even worse. As if that wasn't enough, the war in Ukraine is contributing to soaring food prices.
Finally, Lebanon is famous for its beaches, nightlife, mountain resorts and cuisine. The country is hoping that summer tourism could give its economy a much-needed boost. Authorities say they're expecting hundreds of thousands of Lebanese expats and tourists to spend the summer in Beirut and other parts of the country.
