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There is a possibility of light rain and snowfall with thunder and lightning at a few places in the mountainous region of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces, and at one or two places in the mountainous regions of the remaining provinces today.

Light rain with thunder and lightning is also likely at one or two places in the hilly regions of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division. In addition, mist is likely during the morning hours at some places in the Tarai. 

The weather in the mountainous Himalayan region of the country will be generally cloudy today and partly cloudy in the Hilly. The weather in the Tarai region will remain mainly fair.

Later tonight, haze is likely at a few places in the Tarai region. 

Weather in the mountainous region of Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali Provinces will be generally cloudy. 

Similarly, weather in the hilly region of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces, along with the remaining mountainous region, will be partly cloudy, while it will be mainly fair in the remaining region. 

In addition, there is a possibility of light rain and snowfall with thunder and lightning at one or two places in the mountainous region of Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali Provinces.

Meteorological Analysis by the Division states that at present there is some influence of westerly winds in the country.

The Election Commission has clarified vehicles carrying essentials including drinking water, milk, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, and petroleum products do not require a permit to operate on the day of the election to  the House of Representatives. 

The Commission has stated that Vehicle Permit Procedures, 2082 notes that the vehicles used for telecommunication services, drinking water, electricity, and sewage maintenance, and hospital service (for the movement of hospital doctors and health workers from home to hospital and from hospital to home) will not require a permit to operate on March 5.

Meanwhile, the Commission has recommended to the Government of Nepal to make arrangements so that such vehicles are used only by the concerned users and do not carry unrelated passengers.

In addition, no pass is required for vehicles carrying passengers traveling to and from the airport for international and domestic air services.  

Similarly, vehicles carrying pregnant women, women who are unable to walk, women carrying their own children, women with disabilities, physically challenged people, senior citizen voters who are unable to walk, and one of their helpers will also be able to operate without restrictions.

Vehicles of diplomatic missions with the number plate marked 'CD', vehicles used by observers holding observer identity cards issued by the Commission (only at the places mentioned in the identity cards), vehicles used for monitoring and supervision by the National Human Rights Commission, and vehicles of media persons with press passes will be able to operate smoothly.

Similarly, an integrated vehicle movement desk with representatives from the Election Commission, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the District Administration Office, Kathmandu has been established on the Election Commission premises to oversee arrangements related to vehicle operation on Election Day. 

The District Administration Offices, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur are issuing vehicle passes from the same desk.

A luxury hotel in Dubai was hit as Iran launched strikes across the region in retaliation for a "massive" and ongoing attack against it by the US and Israel, BBC reported. 

Video verified by the BBC shows a fire raging at Fairmont The Palm Hotel. Thick black smoke rises into the sky.

Dubai authorities said that four people were injured in a blaze at a building in the Palm Jumeirah area, and that the fire was brought under control. The statement did not go into further detail on the incident.

British planes "are in the sky" in the Middle East "to protect our people, our interests and our allies," Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said, BBC reported. 

In a pre-recorded statement televised on Saturday afternoon, Starmer said protections for British bases and personnel had been stepped up to their highest level.

The US and Israel launched strikes across multiple Iranian cities including capital Tehran on Saturday morning, after negotiations to limit Iran's nuclear programme ended without an agreement. The UK did not participate in the strikes, according to BBC.

Earlier, the PM released a statement along with the leaders of France and Germany, calling for Iran to "refrain from indiscriminate military strikes".

At least 20 people have been killed and others injured after a Bolivian air force cargo plane crashed in the western city of El Alto, the country's authorities say, BBC reported. 

The incident happened at 18:15 local time (22:15 GMT) on Friday as the plane was arriving at El Alto's airport from the city of Santa Cruz, aviation officials said. It reportedly skidded off the runway and hit nearby vehicles.

The defence ministry later confirmed its C-130 Hercules was involved and that it had been transporting banknotes to the Central Bank of Bolivia. There were eight people aboard the plane, the air force commander said, according to BBC. 

Global airlines suspendedflights across the Middle East on Saturday after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, plunging the region into a renewed military confrontation, Reuters reported. 

Flight maps showed the airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel and Bahrain virtually empty as Israel said it struck Iran and the U.S. military initiated a series of strikes against targets in the country. Iran retaliated with a salvo of missiles.

Airlines have cancelled almost 40% of flights to Israel and 6.7% of flights to the broader region on Saturday, according to preliminary Cirium data, according to Reuters. 

Iranian forces say they have struck a US naval base in Bahrain, as Iran launched strikes across the region in retaliation for a "massive" and ongoing attack against it by the US and Israel, BBC reported. 

Huge plumes of black smoke were seen rising from an area near the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain. The extent of any damage is unclear and the US has not commented. 

Elsewhere across the region, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait - all home to US military bases - said they have intercepted missiles in their air space, according to BBC. 

The Election Commission (EC) has said the entire preparations for the voting to take place under the House of Representatives (HoR) on March 5 has been over. 

The EC shared this in a weekly press meet on Friday.

EC Joint Secretary and Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said ballot papers, ballot boxes and other election logistics have been already transported to all 77 districts. 

Similarly, voter education program is underway at all 6,743 wards of 753 local levels.  

The programs being facilitated by volunteers will conclude on February 29. Employees and security forces assigned for the election duties have started departing for the respective stations. 

The government and the local levels have been already requested to facilitate in assuring spaces for establishing the polling centres. Such centers are to be established at schools, health institutions and ward offices. 

The EC had already taken decisions regarding election security, the operation of essential services, and the facilitation, coordination and management of election and voting procedures.