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The Weather Forecasting Division has forecasted changes in weather conditions in various parts of the country today stating that the country is currently under partial influence of westerly winds. 

This afternoon it will generally be cloudy in the Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces, while partial clouds are expected in the hilly regions of the remaining provinces. 

Most parts of the Tarai are expected to have mainly fair weather. 

Some areas of Sudurpashchim Province may experience moderate rain, and light snowfall is possible in some high mountainous areas of Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces. 

Similarly, tonight it is expected to be generally cloudy in Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim Provinces, while partial clouds are forecasted in the remaining regions. 

Some areas of Lumbini, Karnali, Sudurpashchim, as well as parts of Gandaki Province, are likely to experience moderate rain with thunderstorms. 

Likewise, there is a possibility of moderate snowfall with thunderstorms in some high hilly and mountainous regions of Gandaki, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim Provinces. 

The Division has urged one and all to adopt precautionary measures with the possible impacts of weather changes on daily life, tourism and health services as well as air and surface travels. 

The Election Commission (EC) has stated that candidates filing nomination for the elections to the House of Representatives (HOR) member can withdraw their names by 1 pm today. . 

According to the election schedule, the candidates can withdraw their candidacy from 10 am to 1 pm today. 

Likewise, the final name list of candidates will be published from 1 pm to 3  pm today itself. 

The EC informed that the candidates will be provided with election symbols from 4 pm to 7 pm today. 

According to the election schedule towards the first-past-the-post, the deadline for filing complaints against nominations was set for January 21 from 10 am to 3 pm. 

On the same day from 3 pm until 5 pm, the nomination papers and complaints were scrutinized; decisions were made, and the list of candidates was published. 

A total of 3,486 candidates have filed their nominations across 165 constituencies nationwide. 

Nomination filing was completed simultaneously across the country on January 20. 

The House of Representatives election is scheduled for  March 5. 

Out of total 275 members of the HoR, 110 will be elected through the proportional representation system and 165 through the FPTP election system.

France says it has seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean suspected of being part of Russia's sanction-busting "shadow fleet", BBC reported. 

French President Emmanuel Macron said the tanker, named the Grinch, was "subject to international sanctions and suspected of flying a false flag".

The French navy, with the assistance of allies including the UK, boarded the vessel on Thursday morning between Spain and Morocco. French maritime authorities said that a search of the vessel had "confirmed the doubts as to the regularity of the flag".

The United Nations (UN) says it will take over management of a camp in north-eastern Syria holding holding thousands of people with alleged links to the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), BBC reported. 

It comes after Kurdish-led forces that had been running the camp withdrew in the face of an advance by Syrian government forces, triggering unrest that forced aid agencies to suspend operations.

Residents were reported to have rushed camp perimeters in an apparent attempt to escape, prompting unrest and looting, according to BBC. 

Donald Trump has sparked fresh outrage in the UK after saying Nato troops stayed "a little off the front lines" during the war in Afghanistan, BBC reported. 

Labour MP Emily Thornberry, the chair of the foreign affairs committee, called it an "absolute insult" to the 457 British service personnel killed in the conflict, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "How dare he question their sacrifice?"

Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who served in Afghanistan, said it was "sad to see our nation's sacrifice, and that of our Nato partners, held so cheaply".

The US has unveiled its plans for a "New Gaza" that would see the devastated Palestinian territory rebuilt from scratch, BBC reported. 

Slides showed dozens of skyscrapers stretching along the Mediterranean coast and housing estates in the Rafah area, while a map outlining the phased development of new residential, agricultural and industrial areas for the 2.1 million population.

They were presented during a signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos for President Donald Trump's new Board of Peace, which is tasked with ending the two-year war between Israel and Hamas and overseeing reconstruction, according to BBC. 

The Election Commission (EC) has scrapped the nomination of Resham Chaudhary for the House of Representatives (HoR) election from Kailali constituency-1 following an investigation into a complaint filed against him.

However, the complaints lodged against the HoR election candidates from constituency-2 of Sunsari, constituency-1 of Rautahat, and constituency-2 of Bhaktapur lacked sufficient claims, assistant spokesperson at the Election Commission, Kul Bahadur GC, says. . 

Similarly, a complaint registered in Rautahat district was rejected on Wednesday. 

The EC conducted an investigation into the complaints from 3 pm on Wednesday, which concluded at 5 pm on Thursday.

The Election Commission is publishing the list of the candidates under the first-past-the-post shortly. 

The Government of Nepal has heightened alertness nationwide to prevent the possible entry of the Nipah virus, following its recent spread in India’s neighbouring state of West Bengal.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Prakash Budhathoki, said the government has put adequate preventive measures in place. 

Health screenings have been initiated for passengers arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport, as well as at major border points with India.

“We have intensified surveillance particularly at border points in Koshi Province. Similar health checks have also been ordered at other border crossings,” Dr Budhathoki said.

Warning of the virus’s severity, he said Nipah infection can lead to fatal outcomes if not treated promptly. According to him, the mortality rate among infected patients ranges between 30 and 33 percent.

The Nipah virus primarily spreads through infected bats and pigs and can also be transmitted from person to person.