Afghan girls to attend US robotics clash after visa U-turn

WASHINGTON: A team of Afghan girls who had been denied visas to attend a Washington robotics competition are now allowed to come, organizers said Wednesday, reports AFP.

US authorities had originally refused access to schoolchildren from a number of Muslim-majority nations to participate in the science contest, decisions that followed implementation of stricter visa policies under President Donald Trump.

But Trump urged a reversal of course following public outcry over the Afghan girls' inability to attend the event, according to US media.

"I am most grateful to the US Government and its State Department for ensuring Afghanistan, as well as Gambia, would be able to join us for this international competition this year," said the president of the First Global organization, Joe Sestak, who noted that teams from Yemen, Libya and Morocco would also attend.

"All 163 teams from 157 countries have gained approval to the United States, including Iran, Sudan, and a team of Syrian refugees," said Sestak, a former US Navy admiral and congressman.

Afghan girls to attend US robotics clash after visa U-turn

WASHINGTON: A team of Afghan girls who had been denied visas to attend a Washington robotics competition are now allowed to come, organizers said Wednesday, reports AFP. US authorities had originally refused access to schoolchildren from a number of Muslim-majority nations to participate in the science contest, decisions that followed implementation of stricter visa policies under President Donald Trump. But Trump urged a reversal of course following public outcry over the Afghan girls inability to attend the event, according to US media. I am most grateful to the US Government and its State Department for ensuring Afghanistan, as well as Gambia, would be able to join us for this international competition this year, said the president of the First Global organization, Joe Sestak, who noted that teams from Yemen, Libya and Morocco would also attend. All 163 teams from 157 countries have gained approval to the United States, including Iran, Sudan, and a team of Syrian refugees, said Sestak, a former US Navy admiral and congressman.