Regional
Electoral staff necessarily to be sacked
The executive office on Thursday said that president Ghani will issue a decree for the creation electoral reforms commissions in the near future.
Spokesman of the executive office is said to consider the brining changes in electoral commission’s leadership 100 percent and warned that no election will be held without sacking electoral staffs.
The government of national unity takes its first steps to sack electoral staff over alleged fraud and brining reforms in electoral institutions.
The executive office accepts that still different views exist between President and the chief of executive officer but emphasizes that holding a transparent election would be disastrous and impossible without changing the leadership of electoral bodies.
Deputy of spokesman of executive office, Jawid Faisal said, “Works completed for the creation of electoral reforms commissions and we are waiting for president’s decree in the coming days.”
Sources close to the chief of executive officer, Abdullah Abdullah said that the formation of electoral reforms commission will not take much of time.
“The list of staffs for electoral reforms commissions has finalized by the executive office and the commission will be created soon.” said sources close to CEO.
In the meantime, the observing electoral institutions called on assignment of the leadership of electoral reforms commission to civil society and emphasized that if electoral system not reform in the coming days, the current government will also fall apart.
Jandad Spin Ghar, head of Afghanistan election watch said, “Civil activists shall constitute one third of the members of the electoral reforms commission.”
Reforming the electoral system was one the basic agreements made in the government of national unity.
Reported by Fawad Naseri
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed on Friday that it shot down a US F-35 fighter jet in central parts of the country, Iranian media reported.
Due to the destruction of the aircraft, the fate of the pilot remains unknown, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported, citing a statement by the IRGC.
This marks the second time Iran claimed it shot down a US F-35 amid the ongoing escalation since Feb. 28.
The US has not responded to the report as yet.
Iran had previously announced on March 19 that it had shot down a US F-35, a claim rejected by Washington.
Tehran also claimed on Thursday to have downed an Israeli F-16 jet.
Tensions in the region have remained high following a wave of US and Israeli airstrikes launched on February 28. Iranian sources say the strikes have resulted in more than 1,300 deaths, including senior leadership figures.
In response, Iran has carried out drone and missile attacks targeting Israel as well as locations in Jordan, Iraq, and several Gulf states hosting US military facilities. The ongoing exchanges have led to casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to regional air traffic and global markets.
Regional
Kuwait’s Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery hit by drones, fires break out
The Kuwaiti army earlier said air defenses were currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said its Mina al-Ahmadi refinery was hit by drones early on Friday, setting off fires at operating units, according to the state news agency, but no injuries were reported.
The Kuwaiti army earlier said air defenses were currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation in a statement said they are monitoring and tracking air quality in the areas surrounding the refinery, and no negative environmental impacts have been recorded so far as a result of the attack.
Emergency and firefighting teams are working to contain the fires and prevent their spread, the company said. No injuries were reported in the attack.
Dubai-based airline Emirates’ website said on Wednesday that Iranian nationals were not allowed to enter or transit the United Arab Emirates.
The website of another carrier, Flydubai, said Iranian nationals holding a UAE “Golden Visa” were exempt and permitted to enter and transit the country, Reuters reported.
The restrictions come amid heightened tensions between Iran and Gulf states.
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