Briefly

UNITED STATES

Stopgap bill to avert govt shutdown passed

The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives passed a stopgap bill on Tuesday to keep federal agencies funded past Friday, averting a partial shutdown beginning this weekend even as President Donald Trump dramatically shrinks the government. The bill passed in a nearly party-line 217-213 vote, with one Republican voting no and one Democrat yes. The continuing resolution, which largely keeps the government funded at its current level through Sept 30, would need to be passed by the Republican-majority Senate and signed by Trump into law by Friday to avoid a shutdown.

Education Department to halve staff members

The US Department of Education said on Tuesday it would lay off nearly half its staff members, a possible precursor to closing altogether. The terminations are part of the department's "final mission", it said in a news release, alluding to President Donald Trump's vow to eliminate the department. Asked on Fox News whether the firings would lead to the department's dismantling, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said "yes", adding that doing so "was the president's mandate". The layoffs would leave the department with 2,183 workers, down from 4,133 when Trump took office in January.

SOUTH KOREA

Ministry bans drones ahead of Yoon ruling

South Korea's air traffic authorities will ban drones from flying around the Constitutional Court in Seoul from Thursday ahead of the ruling on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. The measure will take effect from Thursday to Wednesday, according to a notice to airmen issued on the Transport Ministry's aeronautical information system. Police said earlier it had asked the ministry to impose a temporary ban on drones around the court and adjacent areas spanning 1.85 kilometers until the end of this month.

Agencies via Xinhua