IMF and World Bank Resume Ties with Venezuela, Opening Door to Billions in Funding 
Strait of Hormuz: why even neutral and distant countries like Switzerland can’t escape the fallout 
China Navigates Diplomatic Tightrope Between Iran Peace Efforts and Trump Summit 
Trump Nominates Dr. Erica Schwartz as New CDC Director 
Myanmar Grants Amnesty to Over 4,000 Prisoners Under New President Min Aung Hlaing 
U.S. Weapons Delays to Europe Amid Ongoing Iran Conflict 
Trump Pushes for Lebanon-Israel Dialogue Amid Renewed Hezbollah Conflict 
Peru Election 2025: Vote Count Delays Spark Calls to Remove Electoral Chief 
Iran Reopens Strait of Hormuz Amid Fragile Ceasefire and Ongoing Nuclear Tensions 
Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Attempting to Block Hawaii's Climate Case Against Oil Giants 
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to Exit Federal Government at End of May 
Russia Launches Deadly Missile and Drone Strikes Across Ukraine, Killing Three Including a Child 
Chile's Kast Unveils 40-Point Economic Reform Package to Boost Growth 
U.S. Senate Blocks Resolutions to Halt $450 Million Weapons Sale to Israel 
South Korea Denies U.S. Intelligence Restrictions Over North Korea Nuclear Site Disclosure 
Trump Administration Moves to Deport Iranian Academic Yousof Azizi Over Alleged Visa Fraud 
U.S. and Philippines to Build 4,000-Acre Tech Hub Under Pax Silica Initiative 
The Taliban clarified its policy regarding Afghans who plan on traveling overseas. The insurgent group’s spokesman said that those who have legal documents would be allowed to travel abroad.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted the clarification of the policy on Twitter, backtracking on the previous announcement that there would be restrictions on Afghans traveling overseas. Mujahid clarified that those who have the correct legal documents would be allowed to travel abroad. Mujahid added that the policy was aimed to address concerns over Afghans leaving the country without legal documentation or are traveling with smugglers.
“Our countrymen who have legal documents can travel abroad,” said Mujahid.
The clarification was sought by the US State Department and the UK’s Charge d’Affairs from Mujahid’s comments at a news conference Sunday that led to the concerns the Taliban may be restricting travel on Afghans. The concerns cited that the restrictions may hinder ongoing evacuation efforts for those who still wish to flee Afghanistan.
Mujahid’s initial comments said that the restrictions would apply to Afghans who cooperated with the NATO and US forces. The UK has since welcomed the clarification.
“Welcome clarification by Taliban spokesperson that Afghans with the right documents can still travel out of Afghanistan,” tweeted Charge d’Affaires of the UK Mission to Afghanistan Hugo Shorter. “We expect that unchanged rules mean that there is no new requirement for women leaving Afghanistan to be accompanied by a male guardian.”
Mujahid also said Sunday that women could not travel abroad without being accompanied by a male guardian.
Meanwhile, the executive board of the World Bank has approved $1 billion in funds from a frozen Afghanistan trust fund to finance the needed education, agriculture, health, and family programs of the country. The plan will bypass the sanctioned Taliban officials by disbursing the money through UN agencies and international aid groups.
This would provide a major boost to the efforts in tackling the worsening humanitarian and economic crisis that Afghanistan is facing. The trust fund was frozen back in August when the insurgent group regained control of Afghanistan at the heels of the military withdrawals of the US and the West.
