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Bill Gates has pledged to donate $200bn through the Gates Foundation by 2045, after which the foundation will close. The funds will focus on disease eradication, maternal and child health, and poverty reduction, with an annual budget of $10bn, Financial Times reported.

Gates made the announcement amid major US foreign aid cuts led by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which is set to slash nearly 80 percent of USAID programs. Gates accused Musk of contributing to preventable deaths in poor countries.

“The image of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one,” Gates told the Financial Times. He warned that the cuts could reverse decades of progress in global health.

He emphasized that philanthropy cannot replace government help, but he hoped that public priorities would change back to saving lives.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago has been elected as the 267th pope, making history as the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. The 69-year-old will be known as Pope Leo XIV, BBC reported.

He appeared before thousands in St. Peter’s Square Thursday evening, greeting them with the words, “Peace be with you all.” In his first address, delivered in Italian, Leo XIV honored his predecessor Pope Francis and called for a Church “that builds bridges and dialogue.”

“We must show our charity and be in dialogue with love,” he said, as stated by BBC.

Leo XIV was elected by 133 cardinals in just two days of conclave, indicating rapid and widespread support. He is anticipated to continue many of Francis' reforms, with an emphasis on unity and global participation.

The United States has agreed to lower import taxes on a limited number of British vehicles while allowing certain UK steel and aluminum shipments to enter tariff-free. The move provides partial relief to major UK industries harmed by tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, BBC reported.

Despite the agreement, most UK goods will continue to be subject to a 10 percent tariff. No formal agreement was signed, and little specifics have been revealed, leading analysts to believe the accord does not significantly alter pre-existing trade rules.

Speaking at a Jaguar Land Rover factory in the West Midlands, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the accord as a "fantastic platform" that safeguards jobs in critical sectors. He highlighted the strength of the UK-US alliance, as stated by BBC.

President Trump described the deal as a “great” achievement, insisting it would expand further in the future.

Construction work at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground has gained momentum after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli issued a stern directive to complete the delayed floodlight installation and parapet construction within two months. The Prime Minister’s intervention came after it became clear that the projects would not meet the originally set deadline of May 7. 

Oli summoned officials from the Ministry of Urban Development and representatives of the construction companies involved, seeking clarification over the delay. He instructed them to expedite the process and ensure completion by mid-July.

The construction includes a parapet with a 10,000-seat capacity and modern floodlight systems aimed at upgrading the stadium to host day-night international matches. The parapet construction was awarded to BKOI-KCDC-BG JV for Rs 437.7m, while Vision-Ishwari JV was contracted to install the floodlights at a cost of Rs 421.9m.

According to the construction companies, work is now being carried out in full swing, with a commitment to complete the project within the revised timeline.

Earlier, on April 17, Deputy Prime Minister and Urban Development Minister Prakash Man Singh had inspected the site and expressed confidence that the work would be completed on schedule. He also continued monitoring the project closely from the ministry.

Singer Pratap Das has released a new music video titled ‘Soltini Ukhumaai Manparyo’. The song premiered on Tuesday evening on his official YouTube channel. In this duet, Das is joined by singer Shantishree Pariyar. The lyrics were penned by Santosh Sapkota, with music composed by Arjun Sapkota. The video features Anjali Adhikari. Music arrangement, mixing, and mastering were done by HBN Kismat, and the track was recorded at 1DB HD Studio. The video was choreographed and directed by Ramji Lamichhane.

The Delegation of the European Union to Nepal hosted on May 8 an event at Patan Museum in Lalitpur to celebrate Europe Day. Europe Day officially falls on May 9th, and marks the adoption of the Schuman Declaration, which in 1950 laid the foundations of what would later become the European Union. The occasion holds special significance this year as it is 75 years since the signing of the Declaration.

Chief Guest of the event was Vice President of Nepal, Mr. Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav. Other attendees include Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, ministers and other representatives of the government of Nepal, diplomats including ambassadors of EU Member States, civil society, the private sector, media, as well as youth participants, and various other friends and partners of the European Union. The program featured a presentation on a youth-centered environmental campaign, reflecting the European Union’s commitment to sustainability and youth engagement in Nepal.

In her remarks,  Veronique Lorenzo, Ambassador of the European Union to Nepal, stated: “Nepal is a trusted partner of the European Union. Through our Global Gateway initiative, we support Nepal’s prosperity agenda, working together with EU Member States and European Development Finance Institutions.” The Ambassador said: “As global challenges grow, so does the EU’s determination to remain a reliable, consistent, and principled partner.”The Europe Day celebration underlined shared values and the ongoing collaboration between the European Union and Nepal, EU said in a press statement.

Nepal has reaffirmed its solidarity in the fight against terrorism, as it condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India, which killed several innocent tourists, including a Nepali national. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, the Government of Nepal expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the April 22 attack. 

Nepal recalled standing in solidarity with India during the tragic period, united in grief and suffering. Reiterating its firm stance, Nepal described the assault as a “barbaric terrorist attack” and underlined its unwavering commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms. “Nepal stands together with all in the fight against terrorism,” the statement said.

The Ministry emphasized that Nepal, in line with its principled foreign policy, would not allow any inimical forces to exploit its territory to harm neighboring countries. Urging restraint from all sides, Nepal called for the de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan and stressed its dedication to promoting lasting peace and regional stability in South Asia.

The National Security Council reviewed the current international situation, various security challenges and implications that may arise in Nepal due to the recent developments between India and Pakistan.

Secretary at the Ministry of Defence and Member Secretary of the Council, Rameshwor Dangal, said that a meeting of the Council held on Wednesday discussed the situation arising out of the development and adopting appropriate strategy to deal with the situation in the coming days.

The 38th meeting of the Council chaired by Prime Minister and Council Chairman KP Sharma Oli was attended by members of the Council, the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, the Home Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Defence Minister, the Chief Secretary, the Chief of the Army Staff and the Defence Secretary.

The meeting was held at the Council Secretariat in Singha Durbar.