TOKYO: Olympic delegations from Pakistan and five South Asian neighbors will be vaccinated before the Tokyo Games, organizers said Friday, as concern rises over the risks of coronavirus variants spreading at the event.
The move affects delegations coming from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Nepal, Tokyo 2020 and the International Olympic Committee said.
The six countries are all subject to Japan's highest level border restrictions, in part because of concern about the so-called Indian variant of the virus.
The IOC said national Olympic committees from the six countries had also agreed to conduct additional testing of delegation members, beyond the two tests within 96 hours of travel to Japan already required under current rules.
Details of the additional testing were not specified.
Tokyo 2020 organizers declined to say whether media and other participants coming from the six countries would have to be vaccinated to enter Japan, saying it was still consulting with the local government.
The IOC has said it expects up to 80 percent of those staying in the Olympic village during the Games to be vaccinated by the time they arrive in Japan.
But organizers are facing strong domestic opposition in Japan to hosting the Games this summer, with most backing further postponement or outright cancellation.
Japan is currently battling a fourth wave of virus infections and the government is extending a state of emergency in Tokyo and other regions until June 20, just over a month before the Games.
South Asian Olympic delegations, including Pakistan, to be vaccinated before Tokyo games
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South Asian Olympic delegations, including Pakistan, to be vaccinated before Tokyo games
- Japan has already subjected South Asian nations, including Pakistan, to strict border restrictions due to the Indian variant of the coronavirus
- Organizers of the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 games are facing strong criticism for not postponing or canceling the event
Pakistan stocks rebound on easing regional tensions, gain over 1,500 points
- The development came after Iran said it was keeping communication channels with Washington open amid cost-of-living protests
- It followed a threat by President Donald Trump last week to intervene militarily if Tehran continued cracking down on protesters
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) edged higher on Tuesday as the benchmark index gained more than 1,500 points, with analysts citing easing regional tensions following signals of potential talks between Iran and the United States (US).
The benchmark KSE-100 index gained 1,567.36 points, or 0.86 percent, to close at 183,951.50 points, compared to the previous close of 182,384.14 points when the market had shed more than 2,000 points, according to PSX data.
Iran has been witnessing public unrest over worsening economic conditions. Around 2,000 people, including security personnel, have been killed in violent protests, Reuters reported, citing an Iranian official.
Tehran said on Monday that it was keeping communication channels with Washington open as US President Donald Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on countries trading with the Islamic republic.
“Stocks showed sharp recovery at PSX after Iran and US signal talks over unrest in Iran,” Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer at Arif Habib Commodities, told Arab News.
“Surging global crude oil prices and speculations ahead of corporate results in the earnings season played a catalyst role in bullish close.”
Najeeb Ahmed Khan Warsi, digital and retail business officer at Al-Habib Capital Market, said the index had seen a three-day bearish streak.
“Geopolitics and global volatility driving downturn, profit-taking and economic concerns weigh in,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistani market research firm Topline Securities said the benchmark index ended the session on a “positive note” on Tuesday.
“Trading interest remained subdued, as total market volumes reached 1,033 million shares, while the value of shares traded stood at Rs62.9 billion,” it said in a daily market review on X.
United Bank Limited (UBL), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Muslim Commercial Bank Limited (MCB), Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK) and Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL) jointly contributed 936 points to the index, according to the research firm.
Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC), Sazgar Engineering Works Limited (SAZEW) and Haleon Pakistan Limited (HALEON) collectively shaved 158 points off the index.
“Bank of Punjab (BOP) led the volume rankings, emerging as the most actively traded stock with 73 million shares,” Topline Securities added.
