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The U.S. military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders an attack, two U.S. officials told Reuters, in what could become a far more serious conflict than previously seen between the countries.

The disclosure by the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the planning, raises the stakes for the diplomacy underway between the United States and Iran, Reuters reported. 

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will hold negotiations with Iran on Tuesday in Geneva, with representatives from Oman acting as mediators. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned on Saturday that while Trump's preference was to reach a deal with Tehran, "that’s very hard to do."

Marco Rubio has assured European leaders the US does not plan to abandon the transatlantic alliance, saying its destiny "will always be intertwined" with the continent's, BBC reported. 

The US secretary of state told the Munich Security Conference: "We do not seek to separate, but to revitalise an old friendship and renew the greatest civilisation in human history."

He criticised European immigration, trade and climate policies, but the overall tenor of the closely-watched speech was markedly different to Vice-President JD Vance's at the same event last year, during which he scolded continental leaders, according to BBC. 

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed using a poison developed from a dart frog toxin, the UK and European allies have said, BBC reported. 

Two years on from the death of Navalny at a Siberian penal colony, Britain and its allies have blamed the Kremlin following analysis of material samples found on his body.

Speaking from the Munich Security Conference, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said "only the Russian government had the means, motive and opportunity" to use the poison while Navalny was imprisoned in Russia, according to BBC. 

The Maha Shivaratri festival is being celebrated across the country today. 

The day that falls on Falgun Krishna Chaturdashi, the fourteenth day of the first half of the lunar month of Falgun, is considered the most auspicious for Lord Shiva. 

From early morning, devotees have been taking ritual baths in rivers and ponds, visiting Shiva temples, and offering prayers. 

On the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, the Pashulati Area Development Trust (PADT) has announced that all four gates of Pashupatinath temple have been kept open since 2 am. 

Last year, more than one million devotees visited the Pashupati area on Maha Shivaratri. 

The PADT has announced that this year, three external lines have been arranged for offering worship at Pashupatinath for Maha Shivaratri. 

Japanese authorities say they have seized a Chinese fishing vessel that tried to flee when ordered to stop for an inspection, in a move that may further fuel tensions with Beijing, BBC reported. 

The boat was in Japan's exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki Prefecture in the south-west when it was intercepted and its captain arrested on Thursday, according to the country's fisheries agency.

"The vessel's captain was ordered to stop for an inspection by a fisheries inspector, but the vessel failed to comply and fled," the fisheries agency said, according to BBC. 

A person has been arrested with a pistol and four rounds of bullets from Chandragiri Municipality-2, Nagdhunga on Friday. 

Keyur Puri (30) of Kirtipur Municipality-2, was nabbed with the pistol when carrying out a search on his car (registration number Ba 19 Cha 690), police said. 

He was heading towards Kathmandu from Chitwan. 

Former King Gyanendra Shah returned to Kathmandu from Jhapa on Friday.

A large gathering of pro-monarchy supporters welcomed him at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Durga Prasain, coordinator of the Nation, Nationality, Religion, Culture and Citizen Protection Campaign Nepal, and Kamal Thapa, chair of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, among other supporters assembled at the airport to welcome the former monarch.

Despite issuing restrictions on mass gatherings in and around the airport by the local administration, supporters gathered in considerable numbers.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened around the airport. 

Newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chang MaoMing arrived in Kathmandu on Friday.  

The Chinese Foreign Ministry appointed Chang as the new ambassador following the completion of tenure by his predecessor Chen Song, who recently returned to Beijing. 

Prior to his new assignment, Chang served as deputy director-general of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Department of Asian Affairs.

He landed at Tribhuvan International Airport on Friday morning on an Air China flight. Chinese Embassy officials welcomed him at the Tribhuvan International Airport. 

Chang will take up his diplomatic post after presenting his credentials to President Ram Chandra Paudel.