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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has laid emphasis on making efforts for eradicating leprosy more dynamic and effective under the Healthy Nepal Campaign.

Addressing the inaugural session of 'Nepal Leprosy Conference' organized by the Ministry of Health and Population and different organizations today, Prime Minister Oli argued, "Though the number of leprosy patients below one in 10,000 people each in Nepal is considered as the indicator of success, we will not be satisfied until it is completely eradicated."

He expressed the belief that we could stay healthy if we adopt a lifestyle paying special attention to diet and care.

Recalling that he was kept on the cold floor in prison during the Panchayat period and tortured, PM Oli said that it was due to this that his kidneys failed.

Prime Minister Oli said that the government would amend the law to prevent discrimination against the leprosy patients and the government would make necessary facilitation to prevent the spread of the disease.

He stressed on the need of providing regular treatment for infectious diseases like leprosy in the form of awareness.

The Prime Minister drew the attention of the Ministry of Health and Population to spread awareness for the prevention of leprosy through mass communication and information technology with the message that no disease should be concealed.

The New York Times reports that President Donald Trump plans on announcing a trade agreement with the United Kingdom on Thursday. It would be the first since his massive tariffs went into force.

Trump teased the agreement on Truth Social on Wednesday, calling it a "MAJOR TRADE DEAL" with a "HIGHLY RESPECTED" country, but did not mention the United Kingdom by name.

The deal's final status is unknown, but it comes amid investor concern about growing trade tensions. The IMF recently lower its global growth prediction for 2025 from 3.3% to 2.8%, citing trade uncertainty, according to The New York Times.

Talks between the United States and China are also scheduled to resume this weekend in Switzerland.

Ukraine is starting to consider a shift away from the U.S. dollar, possibly linking its currency more closely to the euro amid the splintering of global trade and its growing ties to Europe, Central Bank Gov. Andriy Pyshnyi said, Reuters reported.

Potential accession to the European Union, a "strengthening of the EU's role in ensuring our defense capabilities, greater volatility in global markets, and the probability of global-trade fragmentation," are forcing the central bank to review whether the euro should be the reference currency for Ukraine's hryvnia instead of the dollar, Pyshnyi said in emailed remarks.

"This work is complex and requires high-quality, versatile preparation," Pyshnyi added, in the most direct comments by a Ukrainian official on a possible shift.

The dollar dominates international trade and accounts for the majority of global reserves. Major economies including Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong peg their currencies to the dollar, according to Reuters.

Greece and Egypt announced a strategic alliance on Wednesday to improve political coordination and regional stability in the midst of the Gaza conflict, Reuters reported.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met in Athens for the inaugural Supreme Cooperation Council, calling for an urgent cease-fire in Gaza and humanitarian aid access.  Mitsotakis supported an Arab-led Gaza rehabilitation plan following the ceasefire.

Migration was also a topic of discussion, with increasing arrivals from Egypt and Afghanistan putting a burden on Greek islands.  Despite putting an end to irregular migration in 2016, Egypt continues to be a major concern. 

As stated by the Reuters, EU recently pledged €7.4bn to Egypt to stem migrant flows and labeled it a “safe country” for returns, despite rights criticisms.