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KATHMANDU — Prime Minister Balendra Shah has publicly expressed feelings of isolation in running the government, delivering a veiled critique of the non-cooperation from his own party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).

In a reflective Facebook post on Friday night, Shah urged the public to stay patient while hinting at internal political struggles.

"It will take some time for the right time to come. It may be delayed, but it won't be wrong. Don't panic," Shah wrote. "Sometimes reality can be different from what is heard and seen, and sometimes one has to fight alone. This is not the first time."

The Prime Minister’s remarks come at a time of mounting pressure on the government. On Friday, lawmakers from both opposition parties and the ruling coalition raised sharp concerns in Parliament over governance issues, including a widespread market shortage of LP gas.

Addressing the parliamentary criticism in a separate social media update on Saturday morning, Shah detailed the progress made by key state-owned enterprises over the past four months. He claimed that solid efforts are underway to reform loss-making and closed national industries.

Despite these updates, Shah’s candid posts underscore deep-seated tensions between the executive leadership and RSP lawmakers, signaling a growing disconnect within the ruling apparatus.

Lawmakers from the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) are becoming increasingly vocal in their criticism of the government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah. During parliamentary proceedings, several ruling party lawmakers highlighted the hardships faced by ordinary citizens and urged the government to make its presence felt through more effective governance. In the early months of the administration, RSP lawmakers largely refrained from criticizing the government and instead defended its policies. However, they consistently raised public concerns, including shortages of cooking gas, the lack of chemical fertilizers, and the difficulties faced by farmers and laborers.

RSP lawmaker Manish Jha, who was reportedly denied both government and party positions, has adopted a more critical stance toward the administration. Speaking in Parliament, Jha said the government has failed to effectively manage state affairs. He emphasized that, to ensure good governance, protect democracy, and safeguard the Constitution, the government should make public trust in the state and confidence in the nation its guiding principles.

The government is also expected to face increasing street protests in the coming months. Teachers have already announced nationwide demonstrations. Manpower agencies are also planning protests to pressure the government to address their demands. Victims of microfinance institutions and cooperative fraud are already on the streets, as there has been little progress in returning their deposits. Likewise, squatters are organizing protests to press for their demands.

Meanwhile, the number of Rohingya refugees in Nepal continues to rise. According to the latest data from Nepal Police, a total of 526 Rohingya refugees have entered Nepal through the southern border. The actual number may be higher, as media reports suggest that more refugees continue to cross into the country. A few days ago, Nepal Police Chief Dan Bahadur Karki stated that the number of refugees from other countries has also increased, raising fresh concerns about border management and regulation.

As Nepali Congress leader and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is expected to return to Nepal next week, speculation has emerged that he could be arrested in connection with a money laundering case, despite there being no indication that he is personally involved. Another significant development is that Deuba, who has largely remained silent on the party's internal rift, is expected to align himself with one faction by attending a meeting called by the anti-establishment group within the party.

Lawmakers from across party lines have continued to demand that Prime Minister Shah address Parliament directly. They argue that the Prime Minister should participate in a parliamentary question-and-answer session and apologize for his remarks regarding border encroachment. However, the Prime Minister has indicated that he prefers to communicate through official statements rather than engage in parliamentary debates.

Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs say preparations are underway to appoint ambassadors to 21 vacant diplomatic posts. However, balancing the interests of the ruling parties, the government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Prime Minister's Office has proven difficult. Earlier, the government issued a public call for ambassadorial applications, attracting around 3,000 applicants. Speaking in Parliament, lawmaker Khusbu Oli urged the government to ensure transparency throughout the appointment process. The government should demonstrate that it is selecting qualified candidates from the pool of applicants rather than relying on political patronage, as has often been alleged in the past. This may be one of the reasons for the prolonged delay in making the appointments.

The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), or CPN-UML, also appears to be facing an internal stalemate. Senior leaders have been calling for changes in the party leadership, including replacing the party chairman. An internal task force has reportedly recommended that K. P. Sharma Oli step down from the party's top position. However, Oli has shown no intention of relinquishing the leadership, leaving many party activities at a standstill.

Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also announced that preparations are underway to close Nepali embassies in Brazil, Denmark, and South Africa, as well as the Consulates General in San Francisco and Chengdu, China. Critics argue that this is not a prudent decision, as Nepal should maintain diplomatic representation in these strategically important locations. Foreign policy observers have warned that closing these missions would reduce Nepal's diplomatic engagement at a time when the country should be expanding its international presence.

Editor: Kamal Dev Bhattarai

The School of Business and Management at Thames International College, in collaboration with the Management Club, is set to organize Thames Business GAB Fest 2026 from August 10 to 14, 2026. The five-day event aims to foster entrepreneurial thinking, leadership, creativity, communication, and practical business skills among students through a series of competitions, interactive activities, and expert-led sessions.

A major highlight of the festival will be a panel discussion titled "Reimagining Nepal: Leadership, Reforms & Economic Prosperity," scheduled for Friday, August 14, at the Thames Auditorium.

The discussion will bring together prominent professionals and industry leaders to explore Nepal's evolving leadership landscape, institutional reforms, economic opportunities, and strategies for achieving long-term economic prosperity.

The panelists include Bhuban Kandel, former Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank; Amul Baidya, Head of Marketing at Golchha Group; Bhawani Rana, former President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI); and Dr. Manu Karki, CEO of Eco Sathi Nepal and Founder of Aama Surakshya Nepal. 

According to college, the discussion will offer students valuable insights into Nepal's economic development, entrepreneurship, governance, and the complementary roles of the public and private sectors. Participants will also have the opportunity to interact directly with experienced professionals and gain practical perspectives beyond the classroom.

In addition to the panel discussion, the festival will feature a variety of competitions and learning activities, including an Ad Making Competition, Hot Seat Challenge, Case Study Competition, Tag the Brand, interactive business games, surprise activities, plenary sessions led by industry experts, and exhibitions showcasing innovative ideas, creative projects, and entrepreneurial initiatives.

Outstanding participants will receive attractive prizes and rewards, while the event will also provide networking opportunities with peers, faculty members, entrepreneurs, and business leaders.

The organizers believe that Thames Business GAB Fest 2026 will serve as a platform to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry practice by encouraging students to think critically, collaborate effectively, and apply business concepts in real-world scenarios.

With its blend of competitions, discussions, exhibitions, and professional engagement, the festival is expected to provide an enriching experience for aspiring entrepreneurs, future business leaders, and students eager to expand their knowledge and skills beyond the classroom.

Last rites of climber Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta), who died in the Broad Peak avalanche in Pakistan last week, were performed at Swayambhu today.

Home Minister Sudhan Gurung and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Khadak Raj Poudel, reached Swayambhu and paid tribute to the late Gurung by draping him a national flag.

President of the Nepali Congress, Gagan Kumar Thapa, also paid tribute by tucking the Nepali Congress party flag on Gurung's body.

Earlier, Gurung’s body was taken to Swayambhu with a funeral cortege. 

President of the Nepal National Mountaineering Guides Association, Tulsingh Gurung, said that the body of mountaineer Gurung was cremated as per Gurung rituals today. 

The late Gurung is survived by his father, mother, wife, a son and a sister. 

His body was brought to Kathmandu in the Qatar Airways on Thursday. 

Ten mountaineers including Gurung had died while climbing the Broad Peak in Pakistan last week. 

More than 500 Rohingya refugees have illegally entered Nepal due to the open border and lack of technology-based security surveillance. 

Spokesperson of Nepal Police Headquarters, Abinarayan Kafle, shared that such a number of Rohingya people have entered Nepal via the Nepal-India border in different periods.

According to police, there are 526 Rohingya people-- 162 male, 148 female and 216 children - in Nepal. 

They have been found residing in Kapan, Lasuntar and Ram Mandir in Kathmandu and Sunakothi area in Lalitpur. 

Kafle mentioned that security personnel deputed at border areas have been directed to stop such persons entering Nepal.  

At a news conference organized at the Police Headquarters today, he opined, "Problem has surfaced to identify Rohingya refugees due to similar appearance to Nepalis and due to open border and lack of technology-based security surveillance." 

Special surveillance has been increased to stop illegal entry of foreign nationals, he argued.

Meanwhile, the  police spokesperson mentioned that police personnel have been kept on high-alert to minimize possible losses from natural disaster, adding around 10,000 police personnel have been kept on standby for disaster preparedness and its response. 

He clarified that activities are underway in coordination with bodies concerned to resume services affected due to disaster as soon as possible. 

Five bodies have been found at the base camp of Yalung Ri peak in Dolakha.

The District Police Office, Dolakha, said that the five bodies recovered from the Yalung Ri base camp are believed to be of those climbers who went missing after an avalanche on November 3, 2025.

Seven climbers—two Nepalis and five foreigners—were caught in the avalanche while climbing Yalung Ri on November 3, 2025. 

Two Nepali climbers, Mere Karki of Mapya Dudhkoshi Rural Municipality-5, Solukhumbu and Padam Tamang of Gaurishankar Rural Municipality-9, Dolakha, were found dead shortly after the incident.

The remaining five climbers—two from Italy, one from Canada, one from France, and one from Germany—had been missing since the avalanche.

The five bodies recovered from the base camp are believed to be of those missing after the avalanche. 

Their identities have not yet been officially confirmed.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will sign a ​joint defence agreement in Mecca on Friday, sources with knowledge of the matter said, amid regional turmoil with Gulf states coming under fire from Iran after it was attacked by the U.S. and Israel, Reuters reported. 

While the pact further cements a burgeoning grouping of major Sunni Muslim powers allied with the United States, there was no immediate clarity on each state's commitments or how it might affect the wider crisis in the Middle East.

At least seven people have died in Thailand after a teenage boy shot his grandparents and some schoolteachers, BBC reported. 

More than 30 others are injured, with nine in a serious condition, PM Anutin Charnvirakul says. 

Authorities say the suspected shooter, 14, is also dead, with Charnvirakul telling reporters the attack was "well prepared"with "clear steps and clear goals," according to BBC.