In today’s episode of Trending Middle East podcast, the UN Security Council prepares to vote on a Bahrain-backed resolution addressing Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as Gulf states push for measures to protect global shipping and maintain the flow of trade.

We also cover the latest security developments, including missile attacks on Israel claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. In Iran, US President Donald Trump says a major bridge linking Tehran and Karaj has been destroyed, indicating continued escalation and pressure on key infrastructure.

In the UAE, churches in Dubai will be closed to the public over the Easter weekend, with some moving services online as a precaution amid continuing missile and drone threats.

The conflict is also affecting education across the region, with a major UK exam board cancelling international GCSE and A-level exams in several countries, including the UAE, as schools look for alternative arrangements.

Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, we look at US President Donald Trump's suggestion that Washington is close to achieving its core objectives. While he pointed to a possible end to operations, questions remain over how the conflict will conclude and what comes next.

We also look at the UAE’s response, as officials reject reports suggesting the country could take part in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by force.

In London, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called an international meeting to address the crisis, warning that even if the war ends, risks to global shipping will persist.

Elsewhere, Unesco, the UN's cultural organisation, has granted enhanced protection to dozens of cultural sites across Lebanon amid the conflict, while Nasa has launched Artemis II, the first crewed Moon mission in more than half a century.

Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, we look at signs of a shift in the trajectory of the US-Israel war on Iran, after US President Donald Trump suggested the conflict could end within weeks.

We also look at the economic impact of the conflict, as rising oil prices drive sharp increases in fuel costs across the UAE. Governments across the region, including Egypt and Jordan, have also raised fuel prices in response to global market strain.

Finally, we cover the latest escalation in regional attacks, with missile launches from Yemen’s Houthi rebels against southern Israel, and reported Iranian strikes hitting infrastructure in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Trending Middle East is AI-generated, using original reporting published in The National and curated by humans.