Fifth World Circus Day, Kabul Afghanistan, 20 April 2014

 Dressed in colourful costumes, the students of Afghanistan’s circus school today demonstrated their skills in gymnastic, juggling and traditional dance during an event organized to mark the World Circus Day in Kabul today. The Day is celebrated around the third Saturday of April every year, aimed to spread the message of peace, health and landmine awareness in Afghanistan, said one of the trainers of Afghan Educational Children Circus (AECC), Ahmed Nazari. Simultaneous performances were also held in Kabul, Herat, Nangarhar, Balkh and Bamyan provinces. AECC has been organizing various activities in Afghanistan since 2002 to promote peace and raise awareness on a number of social issues through circus performances. Promoting peace and reconciliation is one of the key priorities of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which was established in 2002 and got its mandate renewed last month by the UN Security Council for another year. 

AFGHANS VOTE IN HISTORIC POLLS

 Afghans are voting today in the country's landmark presidential and provincial councils' election to elect the country's new political leadership and shape the future of their homeland. Afghan men and women are making a long queue at the Zarghuna Girl High school in Kabul to cast their votes in the favour of their favourit candidates, Afghans thronged to polling stations across the country as doors opened at 7:00 a.m. this morning. Voters are casting ballots to elect the country’s successor to President Hamid Karzai and members of 34 Provincial Councils.