MANILA: The Philippines will extend a ban on travelers from India and nine other countries to the end of August because of concerns posed by the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, the presidential spokesperson said on Friday.
Authorities in the Philippines are scrambling to contain a jump in coronavirus cases to a four-month high, with infections staying above the 12,000 mark for a second straight day on Thursday, and hospitals in some areas nearing capacity.
The travel ban, which was first imposed on April 27, has been rolled over several times and expanded to include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the coronavirus task force to extend the travel restrictions from Aug. 16 to Aug. 31, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
The Manila capital region, an urban sprawl of 16 cities that is home to 13 million people, remains under a strict lockdown to contain the spread of Delta, while the government ramps up its vaccination drive.
With about 11 percent of the country’s 110 million people fully immunized, millions still remain highly vulnerable to COVID-19, which has killed more than 29,500 in the Southeast Asian country.
As cases surge, more hospitals in the capital region have reported intensive care units, isolation beds and wards were nearing full capacity and some have had to refuse new patients because of a lack of beds and ventilators.
Philippines extends travel ban for Pakistan, nine others over Delta concerns
https://arab.news/na2d4
Philippines extends travel ban for Pakistan, nine others over Delta concerns
- Ban includes India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, UAE, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia
- Authorities in the Philippines are scrambling to contain a jump in coronavirus cases to a four-month high
Pakistan military warns it will not tolerate any ‘malicious interest, political or otherwise’
- Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir chairs 273rd Corps Commanders Conference in Rawalpindi
- Statement follows recently increased tensions between former PM Imran Khan and Pakistan’s military
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top military brass warned on Wednesday it would not tolerate any “malicious interest, political or otherwise,” that undermines national unity and security, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.
The statement was released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) after Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir chaired the 273rd Corps Commanders Conference (CC) at the General Headquarters of the military in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan’s powerful military has been at loggerheads with former prime minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party recently. Earlier this month, Pakistan military’s spokesperson warned during a hard-hitting press conference that Khan’s frequent criticism of the armed forces was becoming a “national security threat,” warning of a severe response.
“The Forum categorically rejected the nexus between terrorism, crime, and vested political interests,” the ISPR said in a statement.
“It resolved that no malicious interest, political or otherwise, aimed at undermining national unity, security and stability would be tolerated, nor would anyone be allowed to create divisions between the Armed Forces and the people of Pakistan.”
The CCC also reviewed Pakistan’s prevailing internal and external security environment, with particular emphasis on evolving threats and operational preparedness, the military’s media wing said.
The commanders paid tribute to the armed forces for conducting several intelligence-based counter-terrorism operations across the country in recent months.
“The participants reaffirmed that all terrorists under the tutelage of Indian sponsors, along with their facilitators and abettors, would be dealt with decisively and without exception,” the statement said.
Pakistan accuses India of supporting militant attacks in its territory, a charge that New Delhi denies.
Khan, who is in jail since August 2023 on charges that he says are politically motivated, has criticized the military since he was ousted from the prime minister’s office via a parliamentary vote in April 2022. Khan blames the military for colluding with his political rivals to orchestrate his ouster, a charge the army denies.
The former prime minister alleges he is being denied basic rights at the prison in Rawalpindi where he is incarcerated at the behest of the military and the government.
Both deny the allegations, with the military specifically saying it does not interfere in political matters.
