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Ukraine launched a drone attack on Russia on Sunday, forcing a sharp fall in the capacity of a reactor at one of Russia's biggest nuclear power plants and sparking a huge blaze at the major Ust-Luga fuel export terminal, Russian officials said, Reuters reported.

Despite talk of peace by Russia and Ukraine, the deadliest European war since World War Two is continuing along the 2,000 km (1,250 mile) front line accompanied by missile and drone attacks deep into both Russia and Ukraine. 

Russia's defence ministry said at least 95 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted across more than a dozen Russian regions on August 24, the day that Ukraine celebrates its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, according to Reuters.

The economic growth rate has increased and inflation has decreased in the last Fiscal Year 2024/25 as compared to the previous fiscal year.

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) stated this in its report entitled Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation of Nepal (Based on Annual Data (Mid-July 2025 of 2024/25) which was issued today. 

According to the central bank, the economic growth rate for 2024/25 has been estimated to be 4.61 percent. In the previous year the economic growth rate was 3.67 percent.

Agriculture, industry and service sectors are estimated to grow 3.28 percent, 4.53 percent and 4.21 percent respectively. The share of agriculture, industry and service sectors in GDP stands 25.16 percent, 12.83 percent and 62.01 percent respectively in 2024/25.

Gross domestic saving to GDP stands 6.55 percent in 2024/25. Ratio of gross fixed capital formation and gross national saving to GDP stands 24.07 percent and 36.24 percent respectively.

Annual average Inflation remained 4.06 percent in 2024/25. In the previous year annual average inflation was 5.44 percent.

The y-o-y consumer price inflation stood at 2.20 percent in mid-July 2025 compared to 3.57 percent a year ago.

Under the food and beverage category, the annual average consumer price index of vegetable sub-category increased 10.71 percent, ghee and oil 8.72 percent, pulses and legumes 7.90 percent and cereal grains and their products 6.13 percent while the annual average consumer price index of spices decreased 2.62 percent and meat and fish 0.34 percent.

The annual average non-food and services category inflation stood at 3.71 percent in 2024/25 compared to 4.64 percent a year ago. The y-o-y non-food and services category inflation stood at 4.12 percent in mid-July 2025 compared to 3.26 percent a year ago.

The NRB report stated that Balance of Payments remained at a surplus of Rs 594.54 billion compared to a surplus of Rs 502.49 billion last year.

Imports and exports increased 13.3 percent and 81.8 percent respectively. In the previous year, imports and exports decreased 1.2 percent and 3.0 percent respectively.

Remittances increased 19.2 percent in NPR terms and 16.3 percent in USD terms. During mid-June to mid-July 2025 remittance inflows stood at Rs. 189.11 billion, according to the report.

Gross foreign exchange reserves stood at 19.50 billion in USD terms. It is stated that this level of foreign exchange reserve is sufficient to cover merchandise and services imports for 15.4 months.

The broad money (M2) increased 12.5 percent in 2024/25. In the previous year M2 increased 12.9 percent.

Deposits at BFIs increased 12.6 percent amounting to Rs 7, 264 billion while private sector credit increased 8.4 percent amounting to Rs 5. 498 billion in 2024/25.

The installed capacity of electricity increased to 3, 591 Megawatt in 2024/25, which consists of 3, 390 Megawatt from hydroelectricity.

The total number of tourist arrivals increased by 1.7 percent to 1,147,834 in 2024/25.

Thousands of Australians joined pro-Palestinian rallies on Sunday, organisers said, amid strained relations between Israel and Australia following the centre-left government's decision to recognise a Palestinian state, Reuters reported.

More than 40 protests took place across Australia on Sunday, Palestine Action Group said, including large turnouts in state capitals Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. The group said around 350,000 attended the rallies nationwide, including around 50,000 in Brisbane, though police estimated the numbers there at closer to 10,000. Police did not have estimates for crowd sizes in Sydney and Melbourne, according to Reuters.

In Sydney, organiser Josh Lees said Australians were out in force to "demand an end to this genocide in Gaza and to demand that our government sanction Israel" as rallygoers, many with Palestinian flags, chanted "free, free Palestine".

Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the umbrella group for Australia's Jews, told Sky New television that the rallies created "an unsafe environment and shouldn't be happening".

Syria's first parliamentary election under its new Islamist administration, scheduled for September, will not include the southern province of Sweida and two other provinces due to security concerns, the electoral commission said on Saturday, Reuters reported.

Hundreds of people were reported killed in July in clashes in Sweida pitting Druze fighters against Sunni Bedouin tribes, and government forces were sent to the city to quell the unrest.

Israel intervened with airstrikes to prevent what it said were mass killings of Druze by government troops.

The Druze are a minority offshoot of Islam with followers in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Sweida is predominantly Druze but is also home to Sunni tribes, and there is longstanding tension between the communities over land and other resources, according to Reuters.

Batsman Cheteshwar Pujara announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket on Sunday, bringing to an end an international sporting career that spanned over a decade, AFP reported.

Pujara has played in 103 Tests and five ODIs in his international career, last featuring for India in the World Test Championship 2023 final against Australia.

The batter made his Test debut for India in 2010 and throughout his playing journey racked up 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60, according to AFP.

On Sunday, the 37-year-old said he was hanging up his boots, noting that "all good things must come to an end".

A delegation led by Vice President of Vietnam, Vo Thi Anh Xuan, held a meeting with Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav on Sunday. 

The Vietnamese Vice President arrived in Kathmandu on a three-day visit to Nepal at the friendly invitation of Vice President Yadav on Saturday.

During the meeting held today, they discussed the matters of religious similarities as well as immense potentials of religious and cultural tourism in both countries.  

They also exchanged views on the issue of bilateral, regional and international concern, shared Joint-Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prakash Adhikari. 

The two Vice Presidents talked about the bilateral relationship between Nepal and Vietnam, which is based on friendship, goodwill and respect of sovereignty, and is moving ahead with a shared vision in the international forum. 

On the occasion, an understanding has been reached between the two countries to exchange ministry and different level visits. They also discussed that Nepal could learn from Vietnam as the latter is a country having high-economic growth rate as well as possibility of investment, added Adhikari. 

Bilateral trade, investment, digital technology and people-to-people relations were also discussed between them. 

This visit, the first ever highest-level visit to Nepal from Vietnam, coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Vietnam. 

Israeli planes and tanks pounded the eastern and northern outskirts of Gaza City overnight Saturday to Sunday, destroying buildings and homes, residents said, as Israeli leaders vowed to press on with a planned offensive on the city, Reuters reported.

Witnesses reported the sound of explosions non-stop overnight in the areas of Zeitoun and Shejaia, while tanks shelled houses and roads in the nearby Sabra neighbourhood and several buildings were blown up in the northern town of Jabalia.

The Israeli military said on Sunday that its forces have returned to combat in the Jabalia area in recent days, to dismantle militant tunnels and strengthen control of the area, according to Reuters.

It added that the operation there "enables the expansion of combat into additional areas and prevents Hamas terrorists from returning to operate in these areas."

U.S. protectionism is undermining agricultural cooperation with China, Beijing's ambassador to Washington said, warning that farmers should not bear the price of the trade war between the world's two largest economies, Reuters reported.

"It goes without saying that protectionism is rampant, casting a shadow over China-U.S. agricultural cooperation," said Xie Feng, according to the transcript of a speech published by the Chinese embassy on Saturday.

Agriculture has emerged as a major point of contention between China and the U.S. as the superpowers are locked in a tariff war launched by President Donald Trump.

China in March slapped levies of up to 15% on $21 billion worth of American agricultural and food products in retaliation for sweeping U.S. tariffs. Washington and Beijing this month extended a trucefor 90 days, staving off triple-digit duties on each other's goods, according to Reuters.