$12M SEIZED BY THE TALIBAN

AFGHANISTAN’S central bank said this week that the Taliban had seized more than $12 million in cash and gold from the homes of some former government officials, as a financial crunch threatens one month after the Islamists took back power. Most government employees have yet to return to work – and in many cases salaries had not been paid for months – leaving millions scrambling to make ends meet. Banks have limited withdrawals to the equivalent of $200 (about R2800) a week.