When US President Donald Trump took to the podium at the United Nations exactly one year ago and warned North Korea would be “totally destroyed” if America was forced to defend itself, the world seemed one impetuous decision from catastrophe. “Rocket man is on a suicide mission,” said Mr Trump, as Pyongyang’s chair lay empty, its ambassador to the UN having marched out in protest. Just a month earlier, North Korea had threatened to fire ballistic missiles near the US territory of Guam.
But in the 12 months since, headway has been made at almost breakneck speed, and with each new development the likelihood of peace on the Korean peninsula grows. In January, the two Koreas negotiated for the first time in two years. Three months later, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made history when he entered the South, vowing to end hostility and reduce arsenals. In June, Mr Trump and Mr Kim shook hands in a historic meeting in Singapore and, this week, the South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited Pyongyang in pursuit of a breakthrough.
The North has now reportedly agreed to dismantle a key missile test site, connect roads and railways with the South and continue its march towards denuclearisation.
Most astonishingly, the two Koreas will launch a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics. The prospect of thousands of nations flocking to North Korea – long the world’s most politically isolated state – would have seemed fanciful just months ago.
Even a superficial understanding of nuclear warfare is sufficient to generate immense fear of a confrontation between the US and North Korea. And while peace now looks more probable than ever, a number of questions linger, most notably why Mr Kim would surrender his nuclear deterrent when it has, for three generations, been the sole source of North Korea's international leverage. "There will be challenges and trials, but the more we overcome them the stronger we will become," said Mr Kim.
It is also clear that the greatest progress on this once intractable situation has been orchestrated by the two Koreas themselves.
The US president deserves some credit for defying protocol to breach the divide, but on the peninsula – as in Washington – the Trump doctrine reigns. It works broadly as follows: Mr Trump makes spectacular pronouncements and his administration, diplomats and even foreign leaders set about realising them.
But the pursuit of spectacle poses its own problems. Mr Trump’s escalating trade war with China – North Korea’s biggest ally and benefactor – for instance, will not help peace efforts.
And after an astonishing year, we must not start to believe in the inevitability of a lasting accord. Because when it comes to the world's two most mercurial leaders, the descent into conflict will always be shorter than the road to peace.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Shafaf, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Noof KB, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m
Winner: Taamol, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Mekhbat, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
Match info
Uefa Nations League Group B:
England v Spain, Saturday, 11.45pm (UAE)
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Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Blonde
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'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
Rating: 2/5
Guardians%20of%20the%20Galaxy%20Vol%203
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJames%20Gunn%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Pratt%2C%20Zoe%20Saldana%2C%20Dave%20Bautista%2C%20Vin%20Diesel%2C%20Bradley%20Cooper%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
