Trump raises questions about South Korea ahead of summit

US President Donald Trump raised questions about South Korea just hours ahead of his meeting with its new president Lee Jae Myung at the White House later on Monday, Reuters reported.

WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution. We can’t have that and do business there. I am seeing the new President today at the White House. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!" Trump wrote on his social media platform, according to Reuters.

 

Trump to sign orders aimed at ending cashless bail policies

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order on Monday that seeks to end cashless bail by threatening to revoke federal funding for jurisdictions that use it, according to a White House official, Reuters reported.

Trump is also expected to sign a separate order targeting Washington, D.C. that instructs police to charge suspects with federal crimes and hold them in federal custody to avoid cashless bail, according to a fact sheet seen by Reuters.

The moves are the latest effort by Trump and Republicans to place crime on the national agenda as they preview a game plan to retain power in Washington in the midterm elections next year. Trump recently took control of Washington's police force and has lashed out against Democratic mayors and governors over crime policies.

Cashless bail is a system where defendants are released from jail while awaiting trial based on their promise to appear in court, rather than by paying a specific cash amount, according to Reuters.

Israel hits Gaza hospital, killing at least 20 people, including 5 journalists

Israel struck Nasser hospital in the south of the Gaza Strip on Monday, killing at least 20 people, including five journalists who worked for Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera and others, Reuters reported.

Cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, was killed near a live broadcasting position operated by Reuters on an upper floor just below the roof of the hospital in Khan Younis in an initial strike, according to Palestinian health officials.

Officials at the hospital and witnesses said Israel then struck the site a second time, killing other journalists, as well as rescue workers and medics, who had rushed to the scene to help.

The journalists killed included Mariam Abu Dagga, who freelanced for the Associated Press and other outlets, Mohammed Salama, who worked for Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist who worked with several news organisations including occasionally contributing to Reuters, and Ahmed Abu Aziz, according to Reuters.

PM Oli calls Cabinet meeting

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called a Cabinet meeting on Monday.

The meeting will be held at 6 pm at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat informed.

It has been learnt that the meeting will decide on matters related to the government's regular operations, some appointments, transfers and promotions.

 

Nepse surges by 21. 30 points on Monday

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 21. 30 points to close at 2, 761. 26 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 3. 18 points to close at 474. 38 points.

A total of 10,877,942-unit shares of 317 companies were traded for Rs 5. 75 billion.

Meanwhile, Narayani Development Bank Limited (NABBC) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 9. 99 percent. Likewise, RBB Mutual Fund 1 (RMF1) was the top loser as its price fell by 3. 87 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 56 trillion.

 

Eala 'in the mood for more' after historic US Open win

Alexandra Eala made Grand Slam history in front of a raucous US Open crowd on Sunday as she reached the second round of a major for the first time, BBC reported.

The Filipina was one of the breakout stars of the early part of the season, beating three Grand Slam champions in a row on her way to the Miami Open semi-finals in March.

The 20-year-old had never won a Grand Slam singles match before, losing in three sets at the French Open and Wimbledon.

But, roared on by a packed Grandstand crowd at Flushing Meadows, Eala stunned world number 14 Clara Tauson 6-3 2-6 7-6 (13-11).

Residents of Little Manila - an area of Queens home to a large Filipino community - packed out the stands to support Eala as she fought back from 5-1 down in the third set, according to BBC.

 

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ gives Netflix its first box-office win

Netflix appears to have its first No. 1 box-office title in the streaming company’s 18-year history thanks to the sensation of “KPop Demon Hunters.”

Rival studios on Sunday estimated “KPop Demon Hunters” led all films over the weekend with $16-18 million in ticket sales. Distribution executives from three studios shared their estimates for the Netflix phenomenon on condition of anonymity because the streaming company has a policy of not reporting ticket sales, Associated Press reported.

Following a dominating few weeks as one of the most popular Netflix releases ever, the streamer put the film into 1,750 theaters for sing-along screenings Saturday and Sunday. Studios are able to accurately estimate ticket sales for all releases on Sunday morning, though the uncommon nature of the “KPop Demon Hunters” releases means a wider variance. Some estimates were as high as $20 million.

Doctors in Gaza say patients’ protruding ribs and bony limbs offer evidence of malnutrition

Not long after Texas surgeon Mohammed Adeel Khaleel arrived at a Gaza City hospital in early August, a 17-year-old was brought in with gunshot wounds to both legs and one hand, sustained when he went to collect food at an aid site. Associated Press reported.

In the emergency room, Khaleel said he noted the ribs protruding from the teen’s emaciated torso, an indication of severe malnutrition. When doctors at Al-Ahli Hospital stabilized the patient, he raised his heavily bandaged hand and pointed to his empty mouth, Khaleel said.

“The level of hunger is really what’s heartbreaking. You know, we saw malnutrition before, back in November, already starting to happen. But now the level is just, it’s beyond imagination,” Khaleel, a spinal surgeon on his third volunteer stint in Gaza, said in an interview.

On Friday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, the leading authority on global hunger crises, said for the first time that parts of Gaza are in famine and warned that it is spreading. For months, U.N. agencies, aid groups and experts had warned that Israel’s blockade and ongoing offensive were pushing the territory to the brink, according to Associated Press.