Royal couple back

KATHMANDU: Crown Prince Paras and Crown Princess Himani returned to Nepal on Monday after completing their tour of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of France and the United Arab Emirates. According to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the royal couple’s tour of the three countries was successful. — HNS

NSP, RPP to merge

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Samata Party (Samajbadi) that had earlier split from the Nepal Samata Party (NSP) is merging with the Home Minister Kamal Thapa-led Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) on Tuesday, an RPP leader said. “They (Samajbadi) will hand over their party flag to RPP chairman Thapa and announce their merger at a function on Tuesday,” RPP party office secretary Sushil Shrestha said. — HNS

Music album released

KATHMANDU: Prakash Jung Karki released a solo music album on Monday amid a function in the capital. Karki has penned the lyrics of the eight songs in the album, while singers Yam Baral, Sapana Sri, Ramkrishna Dhakal, Pawal Chamling Rai, Sworupraj Acharya, Satyakala Rai, Shiva Pariyar and Rajesh Payal Rai have lent their voices for his songs. Mahesh Khadka is the music composer of the album.— HNS

PIL on Kumaris

KATHMANDU: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday seeking its consent for the continuation of the custom of Kumaris in Newari culture. A group of 31 persons, including Dr Chunda Bajracharya, filed the petition in respo-nse to another petition filed by advocate Pundevi Maharjan challenging the practice of appointing minor girls as Kumaris a few months ago. — HNS

US embassy gesture

KIRTIPUR: The American embassy has provided 500 books worth Rs 1.5 million to various campuses of Nepal. The books were handed over at the TU English Education Central Department to representatives of the campuses by co-director of the American Centre, Laura Lucas.— RSS