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The US is preparing a new aid system for Gaza using private firms, as Israel’s blockade continues into a third month.

Mike Huckabee, US Ambassador to Israel, stated that private contractors will oversee secure distribution centers to distribute food and supplies to more than a million people. He emphasized that Israel will not manage the aid, but instead safeguard the centers perimeters, BBC reported.

UN agencies have opposed the initiative, warning that it may "weaponize" aid. They argue existing mechanisms are effective, noting minimal looting and no theft of WHO medical supplies.

The Trump administration is leading the initiative, which includes a new NGO called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and is seeking financing from Gulf countries ahead of the president's regional visit, according to BBC.

Ukraine's SBU security agency discovered a spying network purportedly operated by Hungarian military intelligence. Two former Ukrainian soldiers were detained for state treason after allegedly leaking military data from the Transcarpathia region, including air defense sites, according to Reuters.

The SBU said the suspects were recruited by a Hungarian intelligence officer, receiving cash and special communication equipment to carry out their activities. It is the first known case of a Hungarian spy network being uncovered in Ukraine, the agency added.

Hungary, a NATO and EU member, denounced the charges as "propaganda" and responded by removing two Ukrainian diplomats from its Budapest mission, Reuters reported.

Ties between Kyiv and Budapest remain strained, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban retaining close links with Russia  and opposing Western military support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war.

WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, is suspending nine routes between Canada and the United States due to falling demand, according to Xinhua.

Austin, Los Angeles, and Chicago are among the destinations affected. The airline stated that it constantly evaluates its network and may return certain routes in the future. The decision comes after a general drop in cross-border travel amid poor Canada-US ties.

Trade tensions and contentious remarks from US President Donald Trump, who has frequently suggested that Canada become the 51st state, have all contributed to the decline. In response, the Canadian government has urged residents to promote domestic travel and expenditure, Xinhua reported.

WestJet is now focusing on expanding its domestic network and enhancing connections to Europe, aligning with shifting travel patterns and national priorities.

The European Union announced plans to impose retaliatory tariffs on certain US imports, including potentially aircraft manufacturer Boeing, if ongoing trade tensions with Washington are not resolved. The action is in response to US President Donald Trump's tariffs on global trading partners, according to Reuters.

The European Commission, which handles trade policy for the EU's 27 members, has also announced that it will take legal action against US tariffs at the World Trade Organization.

"The EU remains committed to negotiated solutions, but we are preparing for all outcomes," added Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Reuters reported.

In early April, the US imposed a 20 percent tariff on EU goods, later pausing the measure for 90 days to allow for negotiations. However, a 10 percent tariff remains in place on EU imports.

President Donald Trump has indicated that tariffs on Chinese goods may soon be reduced, ahead of key trade talks between US and Chinese officials in Switzerland, BBC reported.

“You can’t get any higher. It’s at 145, so we know it’s coming down,” he said, alluding to the current import taxes of up to 145% on Chinese products.The negotiations could be a turning point in the ongoing trade battle.

China's Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying voiced confidence in managing trade tensions, although analysts believe both sides are under mounting economic pressure and willing to negotiate a modest de-escalation, as stated by BBC.

Tilak Bahadur Rana Magar of Udayapur, who spent 30 years carrying heavy loads for a living, is now busy cultivating cardamom. Poverty forced him into labor work from the age of 15, but with the expansion of road networks and the arrival of tractors and mules in villages, his profession became obsolete. As traditional load-carrying work disappeared, Tilak Bahadur transitioned to cardamom farming.

He began by converting around 15 ropanis of land—once overgrown with wild plants like banmara and titepati, where not even maize or millet could grow—into a cardamom farm. With no other source of income, he turned to this crop after learning about it from television programs and friends. Today, Magar is a leading cardamom farmer in his area, and his economic transformation stands as a testament to the power of hard work and persistence. He proudly says that he no longer needs to go abroad to fund his children’s education.

Magar is just one example. Across eastern Nepal, many farmers are now cultivating cardamom as their main crop, turning it into a reliable source of income. What began as a means to cover household expenses has evolved into large-scale commercial farming for many.

The Cardamom Development Center, located in Pandam, Suryodaya Municipality-9 of Ilam district, has played a key role in this transformation. Established on 31 Oct 1976, on 345 ropanis of land, the center began the Cardamom Research and Development Program. In 1982, the districts of Ilam, Panchthar, and Terhathum were officially declared Cardamom Development Zones, and both government and private sectors began promoting its cultivation at scale.

Cardamom has become a major export commodity. It is estimated that cardamom accounts for 17 to 25 percent of Nepal’s agricultural export income. Nepal reportedly contributes more than 50 percent to the global large cardamom market. India is the primary export destination, but Nepal also exports cardamom to countries like Singapore, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the UAE. In fact, 98 percent of Nepal’s cardamom is exported, with only two percent consumed domestically. Government figures estimate that annual cardamom exports are worth Rs 4bn to Rs 5bn.

This high export value has significantly benefited Nepal’s agricultural sector, helping to reduce the trade deficit and strengthen the national economy. While the eastern region remains the heart of production, cardamom farming is gradually spreading to western districts as well. Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, and Sankhuwasabha in Koshi Province are recognized as key production hubs.

The growing demand has led to a steady rise in the area under cardamom cultivation. Initially confined to a few eastern districts, the crop is now grown in around 42 districts, involving some 67,000 farming households. For many, cardamom is the main source of cash income, improving livelihoods through better employment, education, and healthcare.

One hectare of cardamom farmland can yield between 300 and 600 kilograms of dried pods annually, with market prices ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000 per kilogram—making it a highly profitable crop even for smallholders.

Cardamom is Nepal’s top agricultural export and a significant contributor to foreign exchange earnings. The value chain—from cultivation to processing, packaging, and export—has created jobs at various levels. Local laborers involved in harvesting and drying can earn over Rs 30,000 per month in wages.

As a high-value cash crop, cardamom has become a beacon of hope for farmers in Nepal’s mid-hills and eastern regions. What once began as a subsistence activity has now matured into a fully commercial enterprise, offering not just economic opportunities but also contributing to rural development and national revenue.

Russian President Vladimir Putin led a grand parade in Red Square to commemorate Victory Day, the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's defeat over Nazi Germany.

The event, held under strict security amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, was attended by 27 foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, CNN reported.

Putin addressed troops and international dignitaries, describing Russia's intervention in Ukraine as a continuation of the Soviet fight against fascism. Thousands of soldiers marched alongside new weapons and foreign contingents, including 102 Chinese troops, as Moscow and Beijing's military and political ties strengthened.

Putin and Xi held bilateral discussions ahead of the parade, highlighting their growing partnership. Despite EU reservations, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was the sole EU leader attending. Venezuelan, Serbian, and Vietnamese leaders were also in attendance, according to CNN.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously stated that he could not guarantee the safety of anyone attending the event and encouraged heads of state not to travel to Moscow.

With less than two months remaining in the current fiscal year, the government has managed to spend only 32.78 percent of its allocated capital budget. This chronic underperformance in capital expenditure is not new. Rather, it is part of a concerning pattern that has plagued the national development trajectory for years.

The failure to effectively utilize the capital budget affects Nepal’s economic prospects. In the last fiscal year, only 63.47 percent of the Rs 302bn capital allocation was spent. Worse still, capital spending has averaged around 60 percent over the past four years, a steep decline from the pre-covid average of 70 percent and a sharp fall from highs of over 80 percent in 2017-18. These figures reflect a system that struggles with efficiency, planning and execution.

The consequences of low spending are multifaceted. On the surface, infrastructure development is delayed or left incomplete. More deeply, low capital spending restricts job creation, depresses local economic activities and drives a surge in labor migration. The country’s inability to create sufficient employment opportunities has forced millions to seek work abroad. This clearly shows that the domestic economy is not growing fast or inclusively enough.

The root causes of this underperformance are well known. Bureaucratic delays, poor project readiness and ineffective implementation continue to hit development projects. Moreover, a recurring trend of accelerated spending in the final months of the fiscal year leads to rushed projects and compromised quality, which affects project outcomes and diminishes the long-term value of public investments. While recurrent expenditures are being met at a higher rate, capital spending has remained dismal. This imbalance not only undermines developmental aspirations but also affects fiscal credibility and the government’s ability to deliver on its promises at a time when some sections of society are questioning the relevance of the federal republican system. 

The government must prioritize structural reforms to speed up spending. Streamlining bureaucratic procedures, strengthening project planning and financial oversight and directing funds toward shovel-ready projects are critical steps that it must take. Moreover, enhancing accountability mechanisms will ensure that public resources are used effectively and transparently. Persistent underutilization of capital budgets is not just a fiscal statistic, it is a roadblock to progress. Until this foundational flaw in public expenditure stays, long-term growth will remain elusive, and the dream of a self-reliant, prosperous Nepal will continue to drift further away.