South Korea's conservatives pick hardline Kim Moon-soo as presidential candidate
South Korea's conservative People Power Party (PPP) has nominated Kim Moon-soo as its presidential candidate in the June 3 snap election. Kim, 73, received 56.5 percent of the votes in the party's national convention in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, according to Reuters.
The election was triggered by President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, which occurred when the Constitutional Court found that he had unlawfully declared martial law on December 3.
Kim, a former labour and democracy activist, later joined the conservative bloc. He previously served as labour minister and as governor of Gyeonggi Province from 2006 to 2014, Reuters reported.
In his speech, Kim pledged business-friendly measures, increased support for youth and low-income groups, and a tough stance against North Korea. He also stressed innovation and research as key components of his economic plan.
Trump administration plans major downsizing at US spy agencies
The Trump administration is planning significant staff reductions at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other US intelligence agencies, according to The Washington Post.
Around 1,200 CIA positions are expected to be cut, along with thousands more across the broader intelligence community. The reductions will be made gradually, mostly through hiring cuts as opposed to layoffs.
A CIA spokesperson did not confirm the exact figures but said Director John Ratcliffe is aligning the agency’s workforce with the administration’s national security goals. The change is intended to boost productivity, invigorate the organization, and make room for fresh leadership.
In March, the CIA announced plans to fire some younger workforce deemed unsuitable for intelligence work. In February, the agency offered buyouts to a select group of employees, though the number who accepted remains unclear. These changes are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to downsize key government agencies and reshape the intelligence community, The Washington Post reported.
Government’s policies and programs to be discussed in lower house
The annual policies and programs of the government for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83 will be discussed at the House of Representatives for six days.
President Ram Chandra Paudel presented the government's policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83 BS in the joint meeting of both Houses of the federal Parliament earlier this afternoon.
In the second meeting of the House of Representatives, Speaker Devraj Ghimire informed the MPs that the dates for deliberations on the government's policies and programs and response from the Prime Minister have been set for May 5 to 11.
He also urged the concerned parties to provide the names of the lawmakers to the Business Advisory Unit one hour before the commencement of the meeting, so that the discussion on the policies and programs can be held on the basis of party representation.
Speaker Ghimire informed lawmakers who want to propose amendments to the policies and programs to inform the same to the Business Advisory Section between 11 am and 3 pm on May 3 and 4.
The House of Representatives will meet next on May 5.
Earlier, the government's policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/083 was tabled in the House of Representatives.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli tabled a copy of the President's address to the joint meeting of both Housed of the Federal Parliament
Government to hire interns in government services
The government has announced to hire interns in the government services.
Making public the government’s policies and programs, President Ram Chandra Paudel said that interns will be hired in the government services from local level to center.
