Compiled by Max Craig
South Korea
South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean President Kim Jong-un are set to meet in Pyongyang on Tuesday for a three-day summit. The summit between the South and North is the third of its kind since the division of the Korean peninsula and comes amid stalled nuclear disarmament negotiations between North Korea and the United States. While the US would like to see a concrete plan for denuclearization, North Korea would like a joint declaration to formally end the Korean War, which ended in a peace treaty that imposed sanctions on the country. President Moon is expected not only to mediate between the two countries, but also improve relations between his country and the North, hopefully easing tensions at the countries’ Demilitarized Zone. (Al Jazeera)
China
Typhoon Mangkhut touched down in Guangdong, China’s most populous province, on Sunday. The storm had just moved through Hong Kong, where its 120 mph winds caused intense flooding and infrastructural damage. Mangkhut also killed at least 54 in the Philippines, largely through landslides caused by heavy rain. More than 2.45 million people have been evacuated in the Guangdong province and 18,327 emergency shelters have been activated. The storm has weakened since its touchdown in Hong Kong, but is still expected to bring winds of up 40 mph. (CNN)
Kenya
Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge broke the world marathon record at the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, clocking in at two hours, one minute and 39 seconds. Kipchoge bested the previous record holder, fellow Kenyan Dennis Kimetto, by 78 seconds. The 33-year-old’s feat was celebrated across Twitter by citizens, athletes and celebrities, including a congratulation from Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. With this win, Kipchoge is being called the greatest marathon runner of the modern era. (Al Jazeera)
Yemen
The United Nations have sent a special envoy to war-torn Yemen to meet with a delegation of Houthi rebels. Envoy Martin Griffiths’ previous visit failed due to the Houthi delegation asserting that the UN did not ensure their safe return. Following these failed talks, Saudi-UAE-backed government forces began efforts to retake the port city of Hodeidah, an effort which is ongoing and intensifying. The UN warned that a famine could be triggered if this effort continues. Yemen’s situation has been described by the EU as the world’s “worst humanitarian crisis,” with at least 10,000 having been killed and 22 million in need of aid. (Al Jazeera)
Syria
On Sunday, Syrians in government-controlled areas voted in the country’s first local elections since 2011, when the country spiraled into a war between government troops and rebels. While the Syrian state news agency, SANA, claimed “high participation” in the elections, the news agency AFP reported that fewer people were voting than in previous elections. Many Syrians expressed apathy for the elections, since most of the candidates represented the ruling Baath party. In addition, turnout was limited due to a law preventing displaced Syrians and refugees from voting. London School of Economics researcher Mazen Gharibah said the Syrian government is largely using these elections as a propaganda tool to show the country is on a “path to recovery.” (Al Jazeera)