Fuel & Transport Costs: Herat residents report petrol prices jumping to about 76 afghanis per liter, with some drivers doubling fares—pushing people toward public transport and squeezing already-stretched household budgets. Women & Access to Life: UN officials say Afghanistan can’t recover without women’s full participation, urging the Taliban to lift restrictions on girls’ education and women’s work and travel. Humanitarian Pressure: UNDP warns nearly three-quarters of Afghans (about 29 million) can’t meet basic needs, citing poverty, mass returns, and climate shocks—highlighting strain on services and livelihoods. Return Migration: The Taliban says 253 Afghan families (1,279 people) have returned from Pakistan and elsewhere, as Pakistan steps up arrests of undocumented Afghans. Travel Reality Check: An Indian influencer, Sharanya Iyer, shares a two-week trip to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, stressing she avoided “whitewashed” storytelling and pointing to harsh limits on women. Sports & Mobility: Afghanistan cricket mourns fast bowler Shapoor Zadran, who died in India at 38 after treatment for a rare illness—another reminder of how cross-border care shapes Afghan travel. Regional Connectivity: Pakistan’s President Zardari and Kyrgyz President Japarov pledge deeper cooperation, including more direct flights and trade links that could indirectly affect regional travel routes. Security & Borders: Reports say Taliban defense minister Mujahid visited Badakhshan’s Ismaili areas to encourage enlistment, with local elders reportedly rejecting the push.