VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: July 20, 2020

PAKISTAN
Population in Pakistan continues to grow rapidly: report: DAWN

Pakistan’s total population is estimated at 220.9 million and it is growing rapidly with an annual fertility rate of 3.6 children per couple, says a world population report. The 2020 World Population Data Sheet — released by the US Population Reference Bureau, Washington — also estimates that the world today has a total of 7.8 billion inhabitants. Click here to read....

AFGHANISTAN
Iran Does Not Trust US Intentions for Afghan Peace: Araghchi: TOLO News

A top Iranian diplomat who visited Kabul last week said Iran doubts the US’s will for the peace process in Afghanistan for many reasons, and it sees America’s Afghan presence as “dangerous” and that of a "troublemaker" in the region. Talking to TOLOnews in an exclusive interview, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sayed Abbas Araghchi said the focus should be on the intra-Afghan negotiations, under the current circumstances. Click here to read....

BANGLADESH
Bangladesh reduces multidimensional poverty: Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh has significantly reduced multidimensional poverty and made substantial progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, as 19 million people were lifted out of poverty in the country between 2014 and 2019, according to a UN report. The information was revealed in the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2020 released on Thursday by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI). Click here to read....

MYANMAR
Myanmar holds muted Martyrs' Day tribute to fallen independence heroes: Reuters

Myanmar’s public marked one of the Southeast Asian nation’s darkest moments on Sunday with tributes to slain independence heroes, though the annual Martyrs’ Day gatherings were muted by the coronavirus pandemic due to social distancing measures. Click here to read....

NEPAL
Covid-19 results in massive decline in labour migration numbers, with no immediate hopes of recovery: The Kathmandu Post

The Covid-19-induced lockdown has resulted in a loss of jobs at home, but this is also set to reduce the number of Nepalis going abroad for work, which experts say could hit the country’s economy hard, as it will massively curtail remittance inflows. There has been a huge slump in the number of work permits issued by the government to individuals seeking to go abroad for employment. Click here to read....

SRI LANKA
OICs given one month to process details of 13 wanted underworld activists: Daily Mirror

The Police Department has given a month’s period for all the countrywide station OICs to process details of 13 most wanted underworld activists, who are presently finding refuge in foreign countries and to bring them down in due course by issuing red notices through Interpol. Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon addressing a special news conference at the Police Headquarters yesterday afternoon said that they have identified 13 top most wanted underworld activists remaining on foreign soil evading arrest. Click here to read....

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