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Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Russia from May 7 to 10 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat, the Kremlin has announced. He will meet with President Vladimir Putin to strengthen strategic ties and sign bilateral agreements, Reuters reported.

Leaders from Brazil, Serbia, and Slovakia are also expected. Putin suggested a three-day ceasefire with Ukraine around May 9 Victory Day, but Ukrainian President Zelensky insisted on a 30-day truce, citing security concerns for visiting dignitaries. Zelensky also accused China of sending weapons to Russia, as stated by Reuters.

In a state media documentary, Putin hailed ties with China as "deep-seated" and "truly strategic".

Portugal's caretaker government has revealed plans to remove some 18,000 unauthorized migrants, a decision that has sparked strong condemnation ahead of the country's scheduled general election on May 18, Firstpost reported.

Minister of the Presidency Antonio Leitao Amaro stated that 4,500 migrants will receive warnings giving them 20 days to leave voluntarily. He declared the current deportation system inadequate and in need of revision.

The announcement comes after the center-right government fell after a no-confidence vote in March, prompting new elections, as stated by the Firstpost.

Australia's Labor government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has won a second term, with projections indicating a larger majority in parliament.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers stated that the government will prioritise dealing with the consequences from the US-China trade war, which has rattled global markets, Reuters reported.

Labor gained momentum as the opposition advocated public sector cuts and a return to full-time office employment, which were heavily criticized and compared to Trump-era policies. US President Donald Trump's latest tariffs have also raised voter concerns about economic stability, according to Reuters.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton lost his seat as voters moved their attention from inflation to larger economic and trade issues.

Seventy-eight-year-old Malgodami Badi never had the chance to attend school—not as a child, nor as a teenager. She had no desire to study, nor did anyone ever encourage her to do so. A resident of Shreegaun in Dangisharan Rural Municipality-6, Dang, she spent most of her life engaged in household chores. But today, not a single girl in her family, community, or among her relatives is out of school. In fact, girls in the Badi community now enjoy 100 percent access to education. “We didn’t know how to study, but now everyone goes to school,” she said.

Nirmal Nepali, a leader of the Badi community and a human rights activist, recalls that the community only began accessing education after the Education Act was passed in 1971. “We feel like the first students from the Badi community. We started going to school in 1978/79,” said Nepali, who is also a teacher. “Initially, just one or two of us went to school. Gradually, the message spread that the whole community should pursue education. Now, all children in the Badi community—especially girls—have 100 percent school access.”

Similarly, 70-year-old Suntali Kusunda from the endangered Kusunda community has never been to school. Illiterate and unable to recognize letters, she is now committed to ensuring her children are educated. “Reading and writing is difficult in the Kusunda community,” said 68-year-old Birma Kusunda. “I didn’t learn the alphabet, but I have educated my children up to secondary level.”

Until 20 to 25 years ago, Kusunda girls received no formal education. Today, however, most girls in this small community—consisting of 170 people in 36 households—are in school. Around 15 to 20 Kusunda girls have completed secondary education. According to Dhan Bahadur Kusunda, president of the Kusunda Society, political changes have helped raise awareness. “With increased awareness, our people now say that girls must be educated,” he said. Depending on their economic condition, Kusunda children now attend both government and private schools. “I’m 59 and have never seen a school from the inside. But all four of my children are studying, though they have yet to find jobs,” he added.

With these political and social shifts, girls are now actively participating in education, and the demographic makeup of schools has transformed over the years. Data shows that the retention rate of girls in schools is now higher than that of boys, and classrooms today have more girls than ever before. “Earlier, there used to be just two to four girls in a class—now, most of our classrooms are full of girls,” said teacher Dharmaraj Poudel.

In Lumbini Province, the changes in school enrollment levels have been especially notable. From basic to secondary levels, there are more female students than male students in public schools. “This is a pillar of change,” said Lumbini’s Minister for Social Development, Janamjaya Timilsina. He credits state policies aimed at ensuring no one is left behind in school education for this shift. “A few years ago, there were obstacles for girls’ education, but now those issues are largely resolved. This progress is essential for education reform,” he said.

National data up to grade 10 also supports this trend: there are 2,522,049 female students compared to 2,422,969 male students—a gap of nearly 100,000. Experts say this growth in girls’ education is driven by evolving social attitudes and the erosion of traditional barriers.

“The number of girls in public schools has surged over the past 10 years,” said Bhagwat Poudel, principal of Tulsipur Secondary School Center. “Fifteen years ago, you’d see more boys in classrooms. Now, it’s the opposite. Many factors have contributed to this shift.”

Parents’ attitudes have also changed significantly. “Even families from marginalized communities now believe their children should be educated, and they are sending them to school,” he added.

In 2004, there were 17 percent more male students than female students in Nepal. By 2024, that trend had reversed, with female students slightly outnumbering male students. However, a subtle disparity persists: while girls are often enrolled in public schools, boys are more frequently sent to private institutions. Ironically, the dropout rate among boys is now higher, with fewer boys than girls appearing for the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) in 2024.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed Minister of State for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Kham Bahadur Garbuja on Sunday.

The oath taking ceremony was held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar this afternoon.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, members of the Council of Ministers, high-ranking government officials and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

President Ram Chandra Paudel had, on the recommendation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, appointed Nepali Congress lawmaker Garbuja to the post of Minister of State on April 30.

The Indian government has unexpectedly dismissed Krishnamurthy Subramanian from his position on the IMF board, six months before his term was supposed to finish. This decision comes only days before a critical IMF board meeting to approve a $1.3bn climate resilience loan for Pakistan, Firstpost reported.

According to government sources, Subramanian's departure was due to his questioning of IMF figures, which occurred amid continuing conflicts between him and the institution. In addition, the former chief economic adviser is facing allegations of misconduct related to his book promotion.

The government has not yet named a replacement, though Finance Secretary Ajay Seth, who is set to retire in June, is being considered. Subramanian, who began his IMF post in November 2022, was appointed for a three-year tenure, as stated by the Firstpost.

The position, which represents India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka at the IMF, is now vacant, with Harischandra Pahath Kumbure Gedara listed as the alternate director.

US President Donald Trump has faced criticism from Catholic groups for posting an AI-generated image of himself dressed as Pope Francis immediately after his death on April 21.

The New York State Catholic Conference accused Trump of mocking the faith, while the Vatican declined to comment. The post came only days after Trump joked, "I'd like to be Pope", BBC reported.

The debate arose as the Church prepares for the conclave to elect the next pontiff.

The number of foreign tourists visiting Mustang district has increased impressively in the recent months.

As of April in 2025, a total of 51,896 tourists arrived in Mustang district, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Office in Jomsom shared.

Chief of the ACAP Office in Jomsom, Rajesh Gupta, said that altogether 8,745 visitors from the SAARC member states and 43,151 visitors from other countries visited Mustang district in the first four months of the year 2025.

According to Gupta, the visitors' number increased by 36.6 percent in the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period of 2024. Last year, 37,974 foreigners visited Mustang during January to April. 

Hotelier Suraj Gurung, said the foreigners visit Mustang district being lured from its natural, historical, religious, cultural and social beauties.

Also, the tourists from India arrive here to pay homage to the holy shrine Muktinath Temple, a revered holy site both by Hindus and Buddhists.