At least four people were killed when a bomb exploded in a busy market area of a southern town, police in Nepal said today.

Nepal’s royal government pledged today to hold municipal elections next month despite a boycott by major parties, disruptive demonstrations, the assassination of a candidate and rebel violence that left 26 dead over the weekend.

NEW rebel violence killed at least 25 people in Nepal yesterday, while political parties continued to defy a government crackdown on protests against King Gyanendra’s direct rule over the Himalayan kingdom.

New rebel violence killed at least 26 people in Nepal today, while political parties continued to defy a government crackdown on protests against King Gyanendra’s direct rule over the Himalayan kingdom.

Schools across northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state were ordered shut today as icy winds and bitter cold claimed eight more lives overnight, bringing the total from a spell of frigid weather to 131, officials said.