The story: A top Iraqi court has deemed the mass resignations of Sadrist Movement MPs lawful, putting an end to speculations of their possible return to the parliament. The ruling has coincided with lawmakers rejecting the resignation of Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi in the first session of the legislature since late July. This comes as Iraq is set to mark the anniversary of the eruption of anti-establishment protests in Oct. 2019.

The coverage: Sadrist Movement leader Muqtada Al-Sadr in June ordered his bloc’s 73 MPs to withdraw from the 329-member parliament. The move followed months of deadlock over the formation of Iraq’s next government in the aftermath...