This announcement comes a month after Gates pledged to give away 99% of his fortune. Now aged 69, the American billionaire said the funding will be channelled through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has a long history of supporting development efforts on the continent.

Focus on healthcare and nutrition

Gates emphasised the importance of strengthening primary healthcare systems. “What we've learned is that helping the mother be healthy and have great nutrition before she gets pregnant, while she is pregnant, delivers the strongest results,” he said. He also highlighted the critical need for child nutrition in the first four years of life.

In the face of significant aid cuts by the United States government under President Donald Trump ’s "America First" policy, Gates’ commitment offers hope for many African countries. These cuts have affected key programmes, including HIV/AIDS treatment efforts funded by USAID.

A call to embrace artificial intelligence

Gates encouraged young African innovators to think about integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into future healthcare systems. He drew parallels with the way mobile phones transformed banking in Africa and suggested a similar leap could be made in the health sector.

“Africa largely skipped traditional banking, and now you have a chance, as you build your next generation healthcare systems, to think about how AI is built into that,” Gates said. He cited Rwanda’s use of AI-enabled ultrasound technology to detect high-risk pregnancies as a model to follow.

Foundation’s goals and timeline

According to a statement from the Gates Foundation , it will focus on three main areas: ending preventable deaths of mothers and babies, eliminating deadly infectious diseases, and reducing poverty across Africa.

The foundation plans to close its operations after the 20-year period. “At the end of 20 years, the foundation will sunset its operations,” the statement said.

Among those arriving is U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump. Interestingly, Trump's arrival will coincide with the sealing of Pope Francis' coffin. Other heads of state confirmed to attend include French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Hungarian President Viktor Orbán. Notably, both Vladimir Putin from Russia and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will miss the event, as they are subject to outstanding warrants from the International Criminal Court.

As the public prepares to pay their respects, over 90,000 visitors poured into the basilica on Thursday, prompting the Vatican to extend its opening hours late into the night. In a special tribute, a group of poor and homeless individuals will gather around Pope Francis' coffin prior to the funeral.

The late pontiff is to be laid to rest at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, chosen for its proximity to an icon of the Virgin Mary that had always been a source of prayer for him. Following the funeral, the cardinals of the church will not convene to select the next pontiff until at least May 5. Arrivals of cardinals have been ongoing, with an initial meeting of 113 members taking place on Thursday to deliberate church-related matters. They are scheduled for another gathering on Friday, though it appears to be more of an organizational meeting.

Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni commented on the preparations, stating, “We are getting ready, but we still have not entered into the more intense phase. We are in the organizational phase”. The tension and anticipation for both the funeral and the eventual conclave hangs palpably in the air as Rome accommodates those wishing to honor Pope Francis’ legacy.

“My only goal when I was a kid was to go inside the box… the television, I thought it was just a box. I wanted to go inside,” Miles recalled in an exclusive interview with Global South World.

Unlike many child stars, who were pushed into the spotlight by their parents, it was Miles herself who pursued the acting world. “Some of the artists that I've worked with when I was a kid, it was their parents who wanted them to be in the industry. In my case, I am the one who asked my parents to bring me to the auditions,” she shared.

Over the years, Miles evolved from a child star into one of the most influential actors in the Philippines, appearing in movies, and TV shows, and even gracing the covers of magazines. In 2024, she ranked #9 in Global South World's list of the 60 most powerful actors on Instagram in the country. But with fame comes responsibility, something Miles has always taken seriously.

“Being a personality is such a big responsibility for me, especially with the influence,” she explained, acknowledging the weight that comes with being in the public eye.

In March 2023, Miles faced one of the toughest battles of her life: a diagnosis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma, the most common type of thyroid cancer. This diagnosis came after she experienced difficulty breathing and discomfort in her throat, which at first didn’t seem serious.

“I felt dizzy all the time… like someone's grabbing my throat,” she recounted. “I was not aware that it was so serious. I was not aware that it was cancer.” Miles underwent surgery to remove her thyroid glands, a procedure that saved her life but also introduced new challenges.

Following her surgery, Miles faced another battle—depression. The removal of her thyroid glands led to fluctuations in her weight, a sensitive issue for someone working in an industry that emphasises physical appearance.

“I went through depression at the time because my thyroid case affected my weight. In our industry, you have to look presentable all the time. You have to look sexy. You have to look fit to fit into this industry,” she said.

Online comments criticising her weight gain only made things harder. “I've been reading comments that I look like a mom already… was I able to eat and eat,” she revealed. However, with the support of her loved ones, Miles found a way to cope. “With the help of the people around me, especially my partner, I just woke up and I don’t want to care anymore… why do I pressure myself so much with something I really can't control?”

Despite the challenges, 2023 ended on a high note for Miles. She starred in the movie “Family of Two”, a role that earned her the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival.

She also returned to television as a co-host of “Eat Bulaga!”, the Philippines’ longest-running noontime variety show, airing for 45 years.

“I was supposed to be a guest host for a week only. And it’s my second year now,” she said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine hosting a noontime show. It was life-changing for me.”

Miles expressed that her recent project, "Padyak Princess”, was the most memorable because of the responsibility she felt as the titular character. The show revolves around Miles’ character “Princess” who is determined to make the lives of those around her better.

“It's the first time that I was able to have a project that the title of the show was named after my role so it was a big responsibility,” she said.

At 27, with a career that has already spanned two decades, Miles Ocampo is in it for the long haul—exploring different roles as an actress. “I love this industry and I want to work in this industry because I live for the longevity,” she explained.

A career behind the scenes as a scriptwriter could be on the cards when she is not gracing the screens. “One thing that I'm sure of is I really want to write my own screenplay someday,” she disclosed her interest in life behind the scenes.

But for now, her focus remains on acting, using her platform to make a positive impact and trusting in herself.  As Miles put it, “I will just love myself and accept myself because no one will.”

Watch the full interview here :