VIF Neighborhood News Digest: February 27, 2020

PAKISTAN

Pakistan confirms first two cases of coronavirus, govt. says 'no need to panic': Dawn
February 27, 2020

Pakistan on Wednesday confirmed its first two cases of the novel coronavirus as the epidemic continued its march beyond China — the source of the outbreak. "I can confirm first two cases of coronavirus in Pakistan. Both cases are being taken care of according to clinical standard protocols & both of them are stable," said Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza via a tweet on Wednesday evening. Click here to read... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

1 Case of Coronavirus, 14 Others Test Negative: Tolo
February 27, 2020

The Ministry of Public Health said Wednesday that of the 15 suspected cases of coronavirus from Herat, Ghor and Kabul provinces, only one was positive, in Herat, and the 14 other cases came back negative after tests in Kabul. “The number of incidents is not increasing and is under control, but that does not mean that the number of incidents will not increase, because we have to be careful--and those who travel to Iran and come back when they find symptoms--we called them suspects,” said Public Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz. Click here to read... [3]

BANGLADESH

ILFSL scam: SC upholds order to seize bank accounts of PK Halder, 19 others: Dhaka Tribune
February 27, 2020

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a High Court order to seize bank accounts and passports of 20 people, including Prashanta Kumar Halder, for their involvement in embezzling money of International Leasing and Financial Services Limited (ILFSL). Prashanta Kumar Halder, also known as PK Halder, is the former managing director of NRB Global Bank and Reliance Finance Limited. Click here to read... [4]

MYANMAR

Govt. reveals 58 national development projects in project bank: Myanmar Times
February 27, 2020

The government revealed 58 national development projects during the launch of its online project bank website yesterday. Announced last year, the Myanmar Project Bank is an interactive web-based platform designed to highlight investment projects in line with the implementation of the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP) for 2018-2030. It can be found on www.projectbank.gov.mm [5]. Click here to read... [6]

NEPAL

Oli and Dahal’s struggle to wrest control of party plays out over Bamdev Gautam: The Kathmandu Post
February 27, 2020

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s rejection of the party Secretariat’s decision to recommend Bamdev Gautam for the National Assembly draws new battle lines in a drawn-out power struggle with Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Hours after a Secretariat meeting of the Nepal Communist Party on Wednesday decided to send Vice-chair Gautam to the National Assembly, party Chair Oli said that he would not nominate Gautam to the Upper House, as the push and pull between Oli and Dahal, the other chair, continues. Click here to read... [7]

Sri Lanka

Sajith invites Ranil, UNP to join SJB: Daily Mirror
February 27, 2020

Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa today said he had invited UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to join the Samagi Jana Balawegaya together with his party. Mr. Premadasa told a press conference that he had met Mr. Wickremesinghe together with Samagi Jana Balawegaya General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and invited him and the UNP to join the alliance and to participate in the launch of the new alliance at Nelum Pokuna on March 2 2020. Click here to read... [8]

CHINA

China firmly opposes Pompeo's groundless accusation of COVID-19 control: spokesperson: Xinhuanet
February 27, 2020

China on Wednesday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's groundless accusation against the country's novel coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention and control work, and urged the U.S. side to give up ideological bias, and stop undermining China-U.S. mutual trust and cooperation. Click here to read... [9]

Xi chairs leadership meeting on COVID-19 control, makes donation: People’s Daily
February 27, 2020

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Click here to read... [10]