Lebanon's hunger crisis, US-Iran legal deadline and Dubai's financial crime crackdown

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, UN-backed forecasts warn that almost a quarter of Lebanon's population could face acute hunger, as the conflict continues despite ceasefire efforts. US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discuss the war in Iran and a possible ceasefire in Ukraine during a phone call. The US conflict with Iran is approaching a legal deadline that could determine whether the war continues without congressional approval, as efforts also continue to manage the impact of a potential long-term blockade. In the UAE, a new national strategy has been approved to strengthen supply chains and protect access to essential goods amid global disruption. And in Dubai, a major international operation has led to the arrest of 276 suspects linked to organised financial crime networks. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.