MANILA, Philippines — Two Asian countries Laos and Afghanistan have lifted their restrictions on inbound Filipino travelers, says the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The new ruling, however, is subject to flight availability and medical protocols.

The DFA on Monday (Oct. 19) noted that Malaysia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, Tajikistan, and Hong Kong have imposed stricter medical protocols and visa regulations for those who are exempt from entry restrictions.

Mongolia’s borders remain open but inbound travelers in the country are now required to present negative COVID-19 test results and must have all applicable documents to support their visa status.

Japan, on the other hand, has gradually opened up inbound entry for students, dependents and technical interns but still prohibits entry of short-stay travelers, including tourists, the DFA said.

Also, previous information on travel restrictions for other countries and regions remain the same.

“In view of these updates, the DFA reminds the public that information contained in the infographics is subject to change without prior and sufficient public notice,” the agency said.

The DFA reminds travelers that it is always best to check ahead of travel dates with airlines, as well as with relevant Embassies or Consulates before booking a ticket and before departure.

A suicide bomber in eastern Afghanistan killed and wounded at least 50 men on Tuesday (May 12) in an attack on the funeral of a police commander attended by government officials and a member of parliament, officials said.

The Taliban denied responsibility for the attack on the mourners gathered in Khewa district of Nangarhar province on the border with Pakistan.

Islamic State militants are known to operate in the province.

Attaullah Khogayani, a spokesman for the provincial governor said 15 people including Abdullah Malikzai, a member of the provincial council were killed and around 45 others were wounded.

Sohrab Qaderi, a member of Nangarhar’s provincial council, said at least 50 people were killed or wounded. The member of parliament, Hazrat Ali, survived, he said.

Islamic State fighters first appeared in eastern Afghanistan in around 2014 and battle the Taliban as well as government and foreign forces.

The Afghan affiliate of Islamic State, known as Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), after an old name for the region that includes Afghanistan, has carried out some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan over recent years.

Also on Tuesday, unidentified gunmen attacked a hospital in the capital, Kabul, killing at least eight people.

No militant group claimed responsibility for either attack.

(Production: Mohammad Rafiq, Sayed Hassib)

 A Taliban truck bomb killed at least 20 people and wounded 95 when it exploded near a hospital in southern Afghanistan on Thursday (September 19), a provincial official said, with casualties expected to rise as rescuers sift the rubble.

Some of wounded people who were taken to Kandahar Hospital for treatment said the blast occurred in the early morning.

The Taliban, who have been carrying out nearly daily attacks since the collapse of peace talks with the United States this month, said the target was a nearby building of the government’s intelligence department in Qalat, the capital of Zabul province.

The militants wanted to target a training base for Afghanistan’s powerful National Directorate of Security but parked the vehicle laden with explosives outside a hospital gate nearby, said another defense ministry source.

Twenty bodies and 95 wounded people have been evacuated from the blast site, said Haji Atta Jan Haqbayan, a member of the provincial council in Qalat. (REUTERS)

(Production: Ismail Sameem, Hameed Farzad)