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US President Donald Trump has applauded Robert Francis Prevost's election as the first American pope, calling it a "great honour" for the country. The 69-year-old Chicago native will be referred to as Pope Leo XIV.

Pope Leo studied near Philadelphia and later worked as a missionary in Peru. His unprecedented appointment has sparked admiration from political leaders across the United States, BBC reported.

With the US being home to the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, congratulations poured in following the announcement.

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.

When the skies opened last year, Nepal wasn’t ready. Heavy rain washed away roads and homes, and triggered landslides in many parts of the country. Main highways were rendered impassable, leaving passengers stranded for hours. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) has warned that this year’s monsoon is expected to bring heavier-than-normal rainfall across Nepal. 

According to meteorologist Ujjwal Upadhaya, pre-monsoon rainfall from May to mid-June this year is expected to be average but if the heat intensifies, there will be rainfall across the country, especially in the hilly regions. 

Generally, in the first week of May, a low-pressure system activates throughout the country, bringing light rainfall, helping keep the temperatures from rising significantly. During the second and third weeks (May 7–20), the rainfall system weakens, resulting in a rise in temperature, and in the fourth week, rainfall will return, helping control the heat. 

“The first and second weeks of June are expected to bring a mix of heat and rain, especially in the hilly areas. However, in the Tarai region, rainfall will be low, and the heat will be intense,” said Upadhaya. This year the monsoon is expected to arrive in the third week of June, and the rainfall is estimated to be 5 percent above average. Eastern Nepal (Mechi, Koshi, Sagarmatha) is expected to receive 5–10 percent more rainfall, central Nepal (Janakpur, Bagmati, Narayani, Gandaki, and Lumbini) 4–6 percent more, and western and far-western regions are expected to receive average rainfall. 

As the areas that were damaged by floods and landslides last year are yet to be reconstructed, they remain at risk of further damage. It is crucial that the concerned authorities pay due attention.

Communities at risk

For many there is no escaping the devastation that monsoon brings year after year. Ask Priyanka Devi, a resident of Jagati, Bhaktapur. Every monsoon her family-run scrap warehouse gets flooded by the nearby Hanumante river. “Over time the water level in the river has risen to the point that it is now almost level with the road,” said Devi.

The family has installed a makeshift barrier to protect their warehouse from flooding, but they are not sure if the structure will hold. “We hope the rains don’t get worse this year,” added Devi.

For Salina Tamang, a resident of Suryabinayak, last year’s monsoon was a painful experience when floodwaters entered her store. Locals have expanded the river’s width to stop it from breaching the banks, but Tamang remains cautious.  “I just hope it won’t be bad this time,” she said.  

But Durga Gurung doubts the flood prevention measures launched by the locals will work. “Water levels here can rise as high as six feet. The only way to stay safe is to clear the ground floor and move upstairs until the floodwaters recede,” she said.

The country’s highways are equally vulnerable to monsoon-related disasters. BP Highway and Prithvi Highway—two vital roads linking Kathmandu to the rest of the country—suffered severe damage during last year’s monsoon. While the Department of Roads (DoR) claims that restoration efforts are ongoing, significant challenges remain.

Unsafe highways 

The BP Highway (Banepa-Sindhuli-Bardibas), in particular, has seen little progress. Nearly five months after devastating floods and landslides from the Roshi Khola and Sunkoshi rivers hit the Khurkot-Dhulikhel section, reconstruction work has yet to gather pace. Temporary tracks and diversions have been built to allow passage of vehicles, but they could be destroyed in an event of heavy rainfall. This highway is a vital corridor, handling more than 10,000 vehicles daily and serving as the fastest connection between eastern Nepal, the central Tarai, and Kathmandu. 

Rajan Dahal, a lawmaker from Sindhuli, has urged the government to build a durable alternative route before the monsoon arrives.  

Arjun Prasad Aryal, deputy director general at the Department of Roads, said that temporary restoration work on the BP Highway is progressing and is expected to be completed by June. As for restoring the damaged highway sections, he said the department is still in the process of finalizing the contractor.  Regarding the Prithvi Highway, Aryal said that the repair works are progressing alongside the highway widening project from Mugling to Pokhara. “Construction is ongoing without interruption, and we plan to continue the work even during the rainy season,” he said.

For the safety of passengers, the government is also planning to issue travel restrictions along the flood- and landslide-prone areas. 

Relief and preparedness 

Ram Bahadur KC, spokesperson and Information Officer at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), said that families affected by the monsoon-related disasters have already received government aid. He also noted that reconstruction and relief efforts are still underway in several areas.
As for preparedness, he said the government will soon come up with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework.  “We are also identifying vulnerable communities, where we plan to run safety and awareness campaigns tailored to their needs and concerns,” said KC. He also added that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has also been coordinating with the Armed Police Force and local governments to conduct disaster response drills and strengthen safety and preparedness.

Highlighting the growing role of technology in disaster preparedness, KC said that early warning systems have been installed in 49 locations across the country. “These systems can make a real difference. We saw fewer casualties last monsoon because of the warning systems,” he said.

According to the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal (DRR), floods have already affected 62 families between April and 7 May this year. As the country braces for impact, experts say individuals must also prepare. They recommend preparing an emergency kit with essentials such as flashlights, batteries, medicine, dry food, drinking water, and first-aid supplies. Avoiding risk-prone areas, like riverbanks, hillsides, and active construction sites, and checking the road road condition before traveling can also save lives. This year’s monsoon will be a test of our infrastructure, our preparedness, and our collective resolve to learn from past failures.