US President Donald Trump has heralded a peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, capping months of efforts to end the three-decade conflict that has killed millions of people.
But continuing clashes have led to some scepticism about the “historic” breakthrough in the war, which Mr Trump claims is one of eight he has ended since his inauguration in January, when he vowed he would be remembered as a “peacemaker and unifier”.
Mr Trump and his supporters say he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts, and he has been nominated for the prestigious award by scores of people and countries, including Pakistan and Israel.
But he has been unable to broker an end to the war in Ukraine, a conflict he once boasted he would end within a day of returning to the White House.
Here is a closer look at the eight “wars” Mr Trump says he ended.
DRC and Rwanda
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed a peace accord in late June, but intense clashes between Rwandan-backed anti-government M23 fighters and Congolese forces continued in the eastern part of the country despite the agreement.
At a peace deal signing ceremony in Washington on December 4, Mr Trump said he expects to see an end to the fighting “very quickly”.
“I think you'll see very immediate results. I have confidence that that's what's going to happen,” he said at the ceremony with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi.
The durability of the peace has yet to be established and clashes continued the week after the deal signing.
Amnesty International’s director for East and Southern Africa Tigere Chagutah said months of discussions and the signing of agreements in Washington and Doha “have had no tangible impact on the lives of Congolese civilians” as violence continues.
Israel-Gaza conflict
Mr Trump in October declared an end to the war in Gaza, more than two years after Hamas militants sparked the conflict by attacking Israel.
The first phase of his peace plan secured the release of all remaining living hostages, although the remains of one dead captive has yet to be returned. The truce is fragile and both Hamas and Israel are accusing each other ceasefire breaches on a near-daily basis.
A second phase is being negotiated but progress is slow. Far fewer civilians are being killed in Gaza than before the ceasefire, but there has not been a complete end to the fighting. It took him nine months but Mr Trump deserves credit for reducing the violence, something his predecessor Joe Biden largely failed to do.
Israel and Iran
In June, years of tensions between Israel and Iran exploded into a 12-day air war in which the two foes exchanged missile fire and Israel launched strikes against Iranian military targets.
On June 24, Mr Trump announced that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was in place.
There is no doubt the US played a crucial role in the conflict, especially after it bombed Iranian nuclear sites. But it is not clear how durable the truce will be and Mr Trump has left the door open for more strikes if the US assesses Tehran is trying to build a nuclear weapon.
Still, Mr Trump deserves at least partial credit for helping to end the retaliatory strikes between Iran and Israel.
India and Pakistan
Mr Trump's claim that he ended a “war” between India and Pakistan has driven New Delhi to distraction.
The South Asian neighbours exchanged artillery, plane and drone strikes in early May after gunmen killed 26 people in the Himalayan tourist spot of Pahalgam in the Kashmir Valley. India accused Pakistan of backing the attack, which Islamabad has denied.
Mr Trump infuriated New Delhi when he announced that the US had “mediated” a ceasefire. His announcement pre-empted India making a statement, and New Delhi has long maintained that any issues with Pakistan, including over the disputed Kashmir region, can only be addressed bilaterally and without the intervention of a third country.
India has insisted the recent ceasefire with Pakistan was decided through direct contacts between the two countries' armies. Pakistan, conversely, has lauded Mr Trump's role and nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize in June.
Egypt and Ethiopia
The African neighbours are not at war, so Mr Trump's claim is disingenuous. Still, tensions are high after Ethiopia inaugurated an enormous dam this month, which Cairo claims could rob it of its vital share of the river's water.
Egypt, which relies on the Nile for 97 per cent of its water, has long decried the project, with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi calling it an “existential threat” to the country's water security.
During his first term in office, Mr Trump suggested Egypt could bomb the dam, leading Ethiopia to accuse the US leader of trying to provoke a war.
Cambodia and Thailand
The neighbouring South-East Asian nations fought along their vaguely delineated border in July in the deadliest fighting between them since violence flared from 2008 to 2011 over disputed jungle territory.
Mr Trump warned Cambodia and Thailand that there would be no trade deals with either until they stopped fighting, and a ceasefire was announced soon after.
It was an abrupt end to the fighting, but critics contend that the reasons the conflict happened in the first place were not addressed.
On December 8, Thailand launched air strikes against Cambodia as fighting broke out along the disputed border. Both countries accused the other of breaching the ceasefire brokered by Mr Trump.
Armenia and Azerbaijan
Armenia and Azerbaijan have feuded for decades over their border and the status of ethnic enclaves in each other's territories, and went to war twice over the disputed Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan recaptured from Armenian forces in 2023.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have praised US efforts to settle the conflict, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said he would back Mr Trump's nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.
In August, Mr Trump hosted Mr Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House, where the two leaders signed a peace declaration.
Mr Trump also raised eyebrows last week when he made a gaffe saying he had settled the war between “Aber-baijan and Albania”. It was the second time he mistook Albania for Armenia. Calling Armenia “Albania” is offensive to many in the region given the historical context of Caucasian Albania, which has nothing to do with Albania the country.
Kosovo and Serbia
Serbia and Kosovo have not signed a final peace treaty, and Nato-led peacekeeping forces have been stationed in Kosovo since the end of the 1998-1999 war between ethnic Albanian guerrillas and Serbian forces.
Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a move that Belgrade has not recognised.
Mr Trump did not forge a peace between Kosovo and Serbia, but his administration did broker an economic normalisation agreement between them during his first term.
At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Adel Al Hosani
Defenders: Bandar Al Ahbabi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Mohammed Barghash, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Hassan Al Mahrami, Yousef Jaber, Mohammed Al Attas
Midfielders: Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Majed Hassan, Abdullah Hamad, Khalfan Mubarak, Khalil Al Hammadi, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Harib Abdallah, Mohammed Jumah
Forwards: Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo, Ali Saleh, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Results
2pm: Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m; Winner: Majestic Thunder, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,950m; Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
3pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Classic Conditions Dh300,000 1,400m; Winner: Thegreatcollection, Adrie de Vries, Doug Watson.
4pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Oktalgano, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.30pm: Conditions Dh250,000 1,400m; Winner: Madame Ellingtina, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m; Winner: Mystery Land, Fabrice Veron, Helal Al Alawi.
5.30pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,000m; Winner: Shanaghai City, Jesus Rosales, Rashed Bouresly.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Book of Collateral Damage
Sinan Antoon
(Yale University Press)
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
The%20specs
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Company%20profile%20
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The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday Sassuolo v Torino (Kick-off 10.45pm UAE)
Saturday Atalanta v Sampdoria (5pm),
Genoa v Inter Milan (8pm),
Lazio v Bologna (10.45pm)
Sunday Cagliari v Crotone (3.30pm)
Benevento v Napoli (6pm)
Parma v Spezia (6pm)
Fiorentina v Udinese (9pm)
Juventus v Hellas Verona (11.45pm)
Monday AC Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
The Al Barzakh Festival takes place on Wednesday and Thursday at 7.30pm in the Red Theatre, NYUAD, Saadiyat Island. Tickets cost Dh105 for adults from platinumlist.net
ON%20TRACK
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Section 375
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat
Director: Ajay Bahl
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL
Rating: 3.5/5
DUBAI WORLD CUP CARNIVAL CARD
6.30pm Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.05pm UAE 1000 Guineas Listed $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.40pm Dubai Dash Listed $175,000 (T) 1,000m
8.15pm Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions $100,000 (D) 1.900m
8.50pm Al Fahidi Fort Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections
6.30pm: Gifts Of Gold
7.05pm Final Song
7.40pm Equilateral
8.15pm Dark Of Night
8.50pm Mythical Magic
9.25pm Franz Kafka
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Wydad 2 Urawa 3
Wydad Nahiri 21’, Hajhouj 90'
Urawa Antonio 18’, 60’, Kashiwagi 26’
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sideup%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202019%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Waleed%20Rashed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cairo%2C%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20technology%2C%20e-commerce%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.2%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Launch%20Africa%20VC%2C%20500%20Global%2C%20Riyadh%20Angels%2C%20Alex%20Angels%2C%20Al%20Tuwaijri%20Fund%20and%20Saudi%20angel%20investor%20Faisal%20Al%20Abdulsalam%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PROFILE OF STARZPLAY
Date started: 2014
Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand
Number of employees: 125
Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners
SPECS%3A%20Polestar%203
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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