Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe from its 1980 independence to 2017, has died (NYT) at the age of ninety-five. Announcing the longtime leader’s death, President Emmerson Mnangagwa praised Mugabe’s role in the country’s liberation, while Zimbabweans lamented Mugabe’s responsibility (Guardian) for the country’s protracted economic crisis. 
 
Mugabe, who led Zimbabwe through economic growth in the 1980s and lauded Pan-Africanism throughout his life, repeatedly crushed political dissent and oversaw the country’s descent into financial crisis. He was ousted in late 2017 in a military coup, replaced by his former aide and close ally Mnangagwa. Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party, still in power, has presided over (FT) continued hyperinflation, food shortages, and political repression. Mugabe had been in Singapore seeking treatment for an undisclosed illness.

Pyongyang requested that the United Nations cut its international personnel (Reuters) in the country by the end of this year, citing “the politicization of UN assistance by hostile forces.”
 
China: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in Beijing, called for a peaceful resolution to ongoing protests in Hong Kong and complained that the U.S.-China trade war is harming other countries. Merkel emphasized that Germany is open for Chinese investment (DW).

A top Afghan official expressed concern (NYT) that a draft U.S.-Taliban deal for the withdrawal of U.S. forces is not contingent on peace progress between the militant group and the Afghan government. Taliban fighters launched several attacks (Reuters) in the western province of Farah today, following a suicide bombing in Kabul that killed ten civilians and two NATO soldiers.
 
In Foreign Affairs, Johnny Walsh writes that a deal with the Taliban is only the first step toward peace.
 
India: India is hoping to become the fourth country to successfully land on the surface of the moon (Mint) with the descent of its Vikram lander tomorrow.

President Donald J. Trump’s lead Middle East envoy, Jason Greenblatt, who worked with White House advisor Jared Kushner to draft a peace plan, announced he is stepping down (AP). One of Kushner’s top aides is set to replace Greenblatt.
 
CFR’s Global Conflict Tracker looks at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
 
Yemen: U.S. Assistant Secretary of Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker said the United States is currently holding talks with Houthi rebels (AFP) to end the country’s civil war.

Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok announced eighteen cabinet members (Reuters) set to join a three-year transitional government. The group includes the country’s first female foreign minister and a former World Bank economist who will serve as finance minister.

British opposition leaders will hold a conference call today to discuss blocking new elections from happening before they can pass legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit (FT). On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will seek another vote in Parliament for early elections.
 
Turkey: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that if other countries do not cooperate with plans for a safe zone in northern Syria, Turkey will “open its borders” (Hurriyet) with Europe to allow the more than three million Syrian refugees to pass into the region.

The death toll from Hurricane Dorian has reached thirty people, according to Bahamian officials, and hundreds of others are still missing (CNN) after the storm. Parts of the southeastern United States are experiencing severe flooding as Dorian makes its way up the coast.
 
Brazil: H&M, the world’s second-largest fashion retailer, joined brands such as Timberland and The North Face in temporarily boycotting Brazilian leather (NYT) amid concerns about environmental harm to the Amazon.
 
CFR looks at how fires raging in Brazil’s Amazon threaten the climate.

The Trump administration announced plans for sweeping changes to the U.S. housing market (WaPo) that include privatizing the banks Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which back roughly half of mortgages across the country.