Trump orders shutdown of USAID overseas operations
US President Donald Trump has ordered the elimination of all USAID overseas positions by the end of September, significantly restructuring US foreign aid operations.
A State Department message gathered by The Guardian confirmed the decision, noting that all USAID international staff positions will be eliminated, with responsibility shifting to the Department of State beginning June 15.
The directive, issued under National Security Decision Directive 38, affects hundreds of employees from more than 100 nations. Chiefs of mission at US embassies have been directed to execute the measures within four months.
The layoffs follow a broader downsizing led by the former head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk, who cut 86 percent of USAID programs in the first weeks of Trump’s term, The Guardian reported.
House meeting scheduled for today
The House of Representatives is scheduled to meet at 1 pm today.
The opposition parties have been regularly obstructing the House flaring up the issue related to 'visit visa' scam.
The scheduled meetings of the Lower House have been postponed without entering the regular agenda since May 27
Despite several rounds of discussion among the political parties for consensus, nothing concrete has been yielded to avert the prolonged parliamentary deadlock.
In today’s meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel is set to present a proposal seeking discussion on 'the annual estimates of revenue and expenditure for the fiscal year 2025/26 along with the statement.
Similarly, President of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee Ramhari Khatiwada will present the report of the 'Federal Civil Service Bill, 2082.'
Due to continuous obstructions from the opposition parties, the Parliament has not been able to enter the regular agenda in recent days.
Socialist revolution in a new phase: Dahal
CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has asserted that the party has been launching a campaign to reconnect it with the people in order to take the socialist revolution to a new phase by correcting the mistakes and weaknesses the party committed in the past.
At a program organised in Kathmandu today to welcome new entrants to the CPN (Maoist Center), Chair Dahal shared that the Maoist Center is in the campaign of good governance, social justice and prosperity.
"The party has been launching a campaign to reconnect the party with the people by correcting its mistakes and weaknesses. I urge all to be involved in this campaign," he mentioned.
Welcoming the leaders and cadres of Janata Samajbadi Party, Karnali, including Karnali Province Chair Devi Krishna Neupane to the party, the CPN (Maoist Center) expressed the belief that joining the party by leaders and cadres of different political parties has added energy and enthusiasm in the campaign.
He opined that people have trusted the CPN (Maoist Center), adding appropriate responsibility would be given to those joining the party.
Russia halts flights at Moscow Airport after massive Ukraine drone strike
Russia temporarily closed all major Moscow airports on Tuesday due to safety concerns following a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack. Russian air defenses reported shooting down 76 Ukrainian drones in just two hours late Monday.
The incident occurred after Russia launched its largest drone strike on Ukraine since the war began, deploying 479 self-destructing drones and multiple cruise and ballistic missiles. Ukraine's air force said it intercepted or blocked 460 drones with electronic countermeasures, according to Firstpost.
One person was injured in Ukraine’s western Rivne region. Russia also claimed progress toward the Dnipropetrovsk region in southeastern Ukraine.
