Tuesday Morning Scoop: A Peaceful Easy Feeling?

Kim Jong-un smiling, holding a cigarette

Summit Plan Sparks Hope Across Korean Peninsula

Kim Jong-un smiling, holding a cigarette
Someone’s in a good mood. (Image: driver Photographer via Flickr)

A South Korean delegation led by intelligence chief Suh Hoon and National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong, had dinner with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un Monday and confirmed plans for a summit on the border between the nations. Jong-un also reportedly said he was willing to talk to the U.S. about nuclear disarmament.

These are extraordinary moves from the Korean leader, who also said no nuclear testing would take place while diplomacy efforts with the South continued. It will be the first meeting between top leaders from the two countries in nearly 10 years.

The positive feelings seem to be a continuation of the goodwill shown between the two countries at the recently concluded Winter Olympic games, which were held in Pyongyang.

Protests and Arrests At Michigan State

Hundreds of protestors swarmed around Michigan State University Monday, protesting an appearance by white nationalist Richard Spencer, the same man whose scheduled appearance at the University of Virginia resulted in the death of a protestor and sparked nationwide outrage.

Police say at least 24 people were arrested and scuffles between supporters and protestors broke out. Read more in CMN’s report.

Today in a Tweet

Texas is holding a key primary today, amid early reports of high voter turnout. And remember, we’re keeping an eye on all the key races in our weekly feature In the Hot Seat

Defiant (and Weird) Talk from Ex-Trump Aide

Former Trump campaign aide Sam Nunberg announced in a series of media interviews Monday that he was subpoenaed to appear in front of a grand jury investigating Russia’s potential 2016 election meddling, but claimed he won’t show up.

“’Let him arrest me,’ Nunberg told The Washington Post in his first stop on a media blitz, saying he does not plan to comply with a subpoena from special counsel Robert S. Mueller III to hand over emails and other documents related to President Trump and nine current and former Trump advisers.”

Nunberg seemed to back off his defiant claims later in the day, leading to speculation about the motives behind his unusual string of media appearances. At one point, an interviewer asked Nunberg if he was drunk. 

Civilians Continue to Suffer in Syria 

Syrian government warplanes bombarded a rebel-held enclave in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta Monday, killing at least 70 civilians according, to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The area, home to 400,000 people, had been under siege by the government ever since armed opposition groups took control of it in mid-2013.

Estimates say 600 civilians have been killed in the past few weeks in Ghouta, while the Syrian regime continues to try to block medical supplies and other aid from reaching the area.

Last But Not Least: Stanford Students Protest Apple’s Inaction Towards Device Addiction

Students from Stanford are protesting against smartphone addiction.

The Stanford Students Against Addictive Devices (SSAAD) protested on Saturday outside the Palo Alto Apple store on University Avenue. According to the fliers distributed by SSAAD, Apple has failed to take the necessary steps towards curbing technology addiction.

Read the whole story in Arianna Lynne’s report for CMN. 


Tuesday’s Morning Scoop was compiled by Natalia KolenkoAnjalie TandonArianna Lynne and the CMN Staff. Speaking of CMN Staff, we’re looking for students to join us. You up for it? 

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