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The US Federal Reserve held interest rates unchanged at 4.25–4.5 percent on Wednesday, resisting pressure from President Trump to lower them. The decision came after a regular policy meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)—the Fed’s rate-setting body, Xinhua reported.

The Fed noted moderate economic growth, strong job market conditions, and slightly elevated inflation. US GDP grew 3 percent in Q2 after a 0.5 percent contraction in Q1, while consumer prices rose 2.7 percent in June, partly due to tariffs.

Two FOMC members supported a rate cut, and one abstained. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said no decision has been made for September and reaffirmed the Fed’s independence from political or fiscal pressures, according to Xinhua.

CPN-UML has allocated responsibilities for the management of its second statute convention to be held in September.

Responsibilities have been entrusted to the central leaders to make the convention a success, informed UML central office secretary Bhishma Adhikari.

According to him, the meeting held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Secretary General Shankar Pokhrel assigned the organizational department to determine the number of representatives for the convention.

Similarly, the responsibility for the management of health has been assigned to Krishna Gopal Shrestha, the head of the Health and Population Department.

Likewise, the responsibility for volunteer mobilization has been assigned to Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, the coordinator of the people's organization, and the management of the secretariat and food has been assigned to Adhikari, the office secretary, it has been informed.

The responsibility for the promotion of the general convention has been given to Rajendra Gautam, the head of the Promotion and Publication Department, while central member Hemraj Rai will handle the welcome dance and various cultural programs.

Central member Binod Shrestha will take charge of transportation and platform management affairs.

Delegates of the general convention will have to arrange their own accommodation, according to the decision. If delegates are unable to arrange accommodation on their own, the relevant district or provincial contact coordination committee shall be responsible for the management.

Leader Lalbabu Pandit has been entrusted with the responsibility of the department for this.

A total of 2,279 delegates have been designated for the party's second statutory general convention, which will take place on September 5-7 at the Sunrise Hall in Godawari, Lalitpur.

Bagmati Province Chief Deepak Prasad Devkota has left for Kathmandu after taking ill all of a sudden.

As a result, the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed ministers scheduled for this afternoon has been postponed.

The oath-taking ceremony has been postponed until further notice; the Office of the Province Chief has stated.

It may be noted that on Wednesday, Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama had appointed Provincial Assembly members Govinda Lamsal as Minister for Internal Affairs and Law, Maya Shrestha as Minister for Youth and Sports, and Geeta Gurung as Minister for Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation and recommended them to the Province Chief for taking oath of office and secrecy, before officially assuming their post.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 800 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 193, 600 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 194, 400 per tola on Wednesday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 2, 270 per tola today.

At least 48 Palestinians were killed and dozens were wounded Wednesday while waiting for food at a crossing in the Gaza Strip, according to a hospital that received the casualties. The latest violence around aid distribution came as the U.S. Mideast envoy was heading to Israel for talks, Associated Press reported.

Israel’s military offensive and blockade have led to the “worst-case scenario of famine” in the coastal territory of some 2 million Palestinians, according to the leading international authority on hunger crises. A breakdown of law and order has seen aid convoys overwhelmed by desperate crowds.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who has led the Trump administration’s efforts to wind down the nearly 22-month war and release hostages taken in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that sparked the fighting, will arrive in Israel on Thursday for talks on the situation in Gaza, according to Associated Press.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday that he had discussed the crisis in Gaza with his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, and reiterated his government's strong support for a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, Reuters reported.

Starmer this week said Britain was prepared to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly in response to growing public anger over the images of starving children in Gaza.

Australia has not yet made a formal decision to recognise Palestine though Albanese supports Israel's right to exist within secure borders and Palestinians' right to demand their own state.

In a statement, Albanese said they agreed on the importance of using international momentum to secure a ceasefire, the release of all Israeli hostages and the acceleration of aid. They also want to ensure militant group Hamas does not play a role in a future Palestinian state, according to Reuters.

Vehicular movement along the Kaligandaki road has been obstructed due to landslides at Gargare and Mulk in Kaligandaki Rural Municipality on Thursday.

Security personnel from the Purtighat Police Post have been mobilized to clear the debris, said Ganga Bahadur Saru, Information Officer at the District Police Office.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil has accused John McNamara, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Colombia, of being responsible for the alleged “kidnapping” of 33 Venezuelan children, according to Xinhua.

In a social media statement, Gil claimed the children were unlawfully separated from their families, calling the act a violation of international law and human rights. He described the situation as “criminal and inhumane,” demanding their immediate and unconditional release.

The accusation comes amid strained relations between Venezuela and the United States. Both countries recently agreed to resume repatriation flights under Venezuela’s Return to the Homeland Plan, Xinhua reported.