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The Karma band is set to launch a new album soon. The album not only marks a musical resurgence but also signifies the band’s dedication to reinventing themselves while staying true to their roots.

The band is gearing up to release a full album, breaking a ten-year hiatus despite intermittently unveiling singles. Known for their dynamic and evolving sound that resonates with the youth, Karma remains committed to preserving the essence of Newari folk music, the Band says.

In the musical odyssey that began over twenty years ago, Karma Band has been seamlessly blending Newari folk melodies with contemporary pop—giving a unique and a distinct musical experience with memorable numbers like—“Hukka Mero”, “Chaina Maile Timro”, “Kaha Hola Gharbar”, “Mauntama”, “Yanimaya” and others.

The current lineup of Karma includes Surendra Man Singh on vocals, Anil Shakya on drums, Firoz Bajracharya and Rigzin Wangyel Lama on guitar, and Ishwar Ghale on bass guitar.

The band’s album launch is supervised and undertaken by ASQ. Talking about the association with ASQ, Surendra Man Singh, Karma’s vocalist says, “There is a synergy that I wanted with our creative side and the disintegration that needed to happen on the managerial front. With ASQ coming in, we can now think of a bigger, better, and organized approach to our compositions also.”

Ashish Parajuli, Chairman of Adi Group and the founder of ASQ, underlines the importance of having a dedicated team for management, says, “Internationally, artist management isn’t just practiced, but is a must—which we take for granted sometimes. But with a band as big as Karma—the stark need of comprehensive artist management has been required, and hence we are here. We will now oversee every creative approach that Karma takes—from song’s release to concerts that will be organized nationally or internationally”.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal  said an investigation will be conducted on the royal massacre that took place in 2001.

Talking to journalists at Simara Airport, Bara on Monday, the Prime Minister said that the royal massacre wherein the dynasty of the then King Birednra was destroyed will be investigated, according to the Prime Minister's secretariat.

The federal democratic republic system has given rights to all, PM Dahal said, adding that no one has the right to stand against the system with conspiracy.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 10.26 points to close at 2,104.72 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 0.86 points to close at 381. 06 points.

A total of 12,322,705-unit shares of 311 companies were traded for Rs 4. 56 billion.

Meanwhile, Union Hydropower Limited was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Garima Debenture, 2085 was the top loser as its price fell by 10.00 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 30 trillion.

Former king Gyanendra Shah took an oblique swipe at the major political parties’ failure to bring peace, stability and progress in the country by saying that unrest is increasing among the general public.

Addressing a program in Birgunj on Saturday, Shah said 15 years have passed since he abdicated the throne, and today “discontent, frustration, worry, and anger are prevalent everywhere.”  

Nepal’s centuries old monarchy ended with Shah as a result of the people’s movement of 2006-07 led by major political parties and the then Maoist rebel group, calling for a republic. Shah’s reign lasted for seven years from 2001 to 2008. 

 Shah claimed that he assumed the responsibility of the head of the state at a time when the country was going through a challenging phase. “Even in such difficult circumstances, I worked to avoid further destruction to the country and maintain the credibility of democracy,” he said, emphasizing the urgent need for unity among all people and groups for the greater good of the country. 

He appealed to everyone to not engage in divisive, sectarian and confrontational politics.

“It must be acknowledged that our country is facing the extreme misfortune of becoming deserted and impoverished everywhere. The time has come to think about putting an end to this situation. Let’s rethink,” he said.

Shah said when he quit the royal duties in 2008 he had stated through the mass media that he wished to live in Nepal for the greater welfare and peace of the country. “I remain steadfast in my commitment,” he said. “The patriotic feelings, nationalism, democratic commitment and active participation in the development and upliftment of the country that I expressed that day still resonate with me today.”

The former king also spoke at length about the misinformation that is being peddled to the general public regarding the 2001 royal massacre in which the monarch of the time, Birendra Shah, his entire family and several other members of the royal family were killed.  

Shah said that it was unjust and unfortunate that he and his family members were being slandered and attacked for the incident that took place on the night of 1 June 2001. 

“There are direct witnesses among us and yet there are many of us who are running behind falsehood and conspiracy. Truth always remains true. The victory of falsehood is never permanent,” he said.

Gyanendra was a ‘dummy king’: Oli 

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has likened former king Gyanendra Shah to a dummy version of a monarch.

“Just like a Brahmin priest prepares a dummy priest by placing a halfa grass over rice grains, Gyanendra is also a dummy version of a king,” Oli told the media on Sunday. 

The UML leader was responding to a speech that Shah gave in Birgunj on Saturday. 

He also claimed that the 2001 royal massacre was a conspiracy, stating that crown prince Dipendra could not have perpetrated the slaughter.   

“Nepalis should not lose their wisdom. Does a person who is supposed to be a king die like that? Could he operate four rifles and a pistol together?” Oli said, rubbishing the findings of the investigation conducted after the incident. 

“There was an investigation, but the national and international situations were different back then. Our then General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal himself was part of the investigation committee, but we recalled him in order not to get involved in the drama,” said Oli.

“The first son of the king becomes the next king. But when the first son, the second son and even the daughter of the king are dead, the monarchy ends right there,” he said. “It was the weakness of the government at that time to coronate Gyanendra as the king.”

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has underlined the need of developing Nepal as a hub for higher education.

In his address to the ninth Senate of the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences here today, the Prime Minister said he is clear that Nepal should be established as a hub for higher studies.

On the occasion, the PM said he is happy to hear that Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS) is welcoming students from outside the country.  

He also expressed his hope that the Academy will gain new height ahead and it is rendering direct health services to the citizens of geographically backward communities in the Karnali and Far Western provinces.  "In addition to this, it has contributed to the production of a skilled health workforce."

"The KAHS is significantly working with a full sense of responsibility and preparedness in each health crisis either it was COVID-19 crisis, or during the earthquake," he said.

According to the Prime Minister, it is the responsibility of KAHS to further strengthen the quality of its services, making it wider accessible. The graduates of KAHS should be additionally competitive and skilled who could serve the nation with a high sense of integrity.

Stating that the Academy had significantly made great strides in recent years, PM Dahal expressed his confidence that the Academy would take serious initiatives for innovation-based studies, research and invention.

Karnali should take special initiatives for medicine production

Addressing the Senate of the Academy, PM Dahal suggested that the Academy should take special initiatives in medicine production by optimally utilizing the natural resources and heritages.

He also directed the Academy to undertake necessary homework for medicine production. Lauding the Academy for delivering well in spite of resource constraints, the PM pledged his support to the plan to tap the tremendous potential of Karnali in the coming days.

"There are problems such as inconvenience of roads, lack of skilled doctors and technicians which have created challenges in production of skilled human resources and service delivery. Appropriate initiatives will be taken by the government to address it in coming days," the Head of the Government said.

Stating that he was aware about the concerns and demands of the doctors, technicians and staff at the Academy, PM Dahal assured, "I assure you that your demands will be addressed gradually."

Nepal has asked Russia to send back hundreds of Nepali nationals who were recruited to fight against Ukraine and repatriate the bodies of those who died in the conflict, Nepal’s top diplomat said Thursday.

The Russian army is estimated to have recruited more than 200 Nepali nationals to fight in Ukraine and at least 14 of them have died there, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud said in an interview with The Associated Press.

“We have asked Russia to immediately stop the recruitment of Nepali nationals in their army, immediately return those who are already serving in the army, repatriate the bodies of those killed, and treat and return those who were wounded in the fighting,” Saud said.

Nepal is also seeking monetary compensation from Russia for the families of those Nepali nationals who were killed in the fighting, Saud said.

Among the 14 confirmed killed Nepali nationals, Russia has said it is in possession of 12 bodies. Most Nepali people want the bodies of their deceased relatives to be cremated following religious rituals.

“We have information that five of our citizens who fought on behalf of the Russians are being held captive by the Ukraine side. We are asking the Russian side to take initiatives to get them freed,” Saud said.

Russian officials have not commented on the recruitment of foreign nationals for military service in Ukraine, but media reports have said that along with Nepal the Russian military has recruited some people from Cuba.

Russian law allows foreign nationals to enlist in its army after they sign a contract with the Defense Ministry.

In September, Cuban authorities arrested 17 people in connection with what they said was a network to recruit Cuban nationals to fight for Russia in Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that speeds up a path to Russian citizenship for foreigners who enlist in the country’s military as Moscow tries to replenish its troops in Ukraine by various methods, including the recruitment of migrants.

Ukraine is also believed to have hired some Nepalis to fight as soldiers, but Saud said he did not have more information on this.

Nepal’s government has banned its citizens from traveling to Russia or Ukraine for employment, saying many have been recruited by the Russian army to fight in the conflict in Ukraine.

Tens of thousands of Nepalis go abroad in search of work each year and are required to get a permit from the government before leaving the country for employment.

Saud met with Russian officials on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement conference in Uganda earlier this month and discussed the issues with them.

For centuries, Nepali nationals were recruited by the British army to fight as famed Gurkha soldiers and later by India when it gained independence from Britain. That arrangement was made in 1816 after signing a treaty between Nepal and Britain.  AP

The price of gold has increased by Rs 300 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 118, 300 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 118, 000 per tola.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 117, 750 per tola. It was traded at Rs 117, 450 per tola.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 5 and is being traded at Rs 1,405 per tola today.

The weather this morning is cloudy in the hilly areas while clear in the rest of the area of the country. This is due to the partial effect of westerly winds in Nepal.

Meanwhile, most of the Tarai region of the country is covered by fog, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Weather Forecasting Division. The weather will remain partly cloudy to mostly clear in the hilly areas of the country this afternoon. However, there is a possibility of light snowfall in some places of high hills and mountain areas of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Karnali provinces.

Later tonight, the weather will be partly cloudy in hilly areas and mainly clear in the rest of the areas.

Daily life, health, transportation and air services may be affected as most of the places in the Tarai will be covered by fog today, says the Department.