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World number one Aryna Sabalenka passed her first major test of the Australian Open on Friday, fending off a serious challenge from Anastasia Potapova to reach the fourth round with a tense 7-6(4) 7-6(7) win, Reuters reported. 

At a Grand Slam spiked with geopolitical tension, Potapova played for Austria after a recent nationality switch from Russia, and represented the central European nation with distinction in the early match at Rod Laver Arena.

Seemingly down and out at 4-0 in the second set, the world number 55 broke Sabalenka three times and nudged ahead to 6-5, forcing the Belarusian into a surprising scrap to the finish, according to Reuters. 

AS Roma took a big step towards qualifying for the Europa League last 16 with a 2-0 win over VfB Stuttgart on Thursday, after Aston Villa and Olympique Lyonnais had earlier become the first teams through to the knockout stage, Reuters reported. 

Roma midfielder Niccolo Pisilli slotted in to give his side the lead shortly before halftime and added another in stoppage time to seal the win.

Disturbances in the stands marred many of the evening matches. In France, tensions escalated between Nice fans and Go Ahead Eagles supporters, prompting security forces to intervene for several minutes before order was restored, with Nice ultimately securing a 3-1 win, according to Reuters. 

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro will leave the Premier League side at the end of the season upon the expiry of his contract, the club said on Thursday, Reuters reported. 

The 33-year-old does have a one-year extension option, but the club has chosen not to activate it according to a team source.

United's decision not to extend or renew his contract was made far in advance of Thursday's announcement as part of long-term squad overhaul plans. Casemiro had requested the club confirm his summer departure at this time, according to Reuters. 

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".