Gwadar port provides huge trade opportunity to CARs, Page 2 | NATIONAL Afghanistan: Razak Dawood Page 3 | ECONOMY Press Conference by Pakistan all set to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Region of Xinjiang-related Dawood has said that Gwadar port would provide huge ... sign trilateral railway Issues in Beijing connectivity pact Page 2 | NATIONAL

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Your Gateway to Afghanistan & the Region Monday, December 28, 2020 Issue No. 893 www.heartofasia.af 10 afs Ghani Agrees to Doha for

160 New COVID-19 Next Round of Talks Cases, Global Toll Republic’s negotiation team on Reaches 80M Sunday. Ministry of Public Health reported He said the committee reiterated Sunday, that out of 1,593 samples, 160 its full support for the Republic’s cases have turned positive in the last 24 negotiation team and decided on hours. clear guidelines for the team for the At least 193,706 people have so far been next round of talks. tested in the governmental labs, and Abdullah added that the leadership there still are 7,783 known active cases committee decided that the next in the country. round of peace talks will take place According to the ministry, within 24 in Doha, Qatar. hours, 319 individuals have Recovered from COVID-19, and 12 individuals are President Ghani on December 14 reported dead. said that the next round of the The new cases recorded in Kabul are negotiations should take place in 27, Herat 46, Kandahar One, Nangarhar Afghanistan. He said that “while the 10, Takhar 25, Paktya 11, Baghlan Four, Taliban is claiming that they are on Badghis 10, Wardak Three, Laghman Afghan soil, why aren’t they holding Four, Kunar Four, Panjsher Three, Khost talks on Afghan soil?” Four, Faryab Four, and Nuristan Four. He said the Afghan government is The total number of cases in Afghanistan ready to negotiate with the Taliban is 52,007, Total deaths are 2,170 and the in any area of Afghanistan that the total recoveries are recorded 41,331. President Ghani has agreed to But Omer said that the government Ghani and Abdullah have discussed group chooses. COVID-19 global toll has increased to hold the next round of the peace still maintains its stance that future the second meeting of the 80,421,430 and the dead are reported to The first round of the peace talks more than 1,759,067 according to Johns negotiations in Doha, said Waheed rounds of talks--besides the next leadership of the council and issues was held in Doha. The negotiations Hopkins’ global dashboard. Omer, head of the Office of Public one--be held within Afghanistan. concerning the venue and time of of the Afghan Republic and the and Strategic Affairs of the President, Ghani met with Abdullah Abdullah, the next round of the peace talks, Taliban were in Doha for 94 days adding that the agreement was head of the High Council for it said. during which they agreed on the made based on the suggestion of National Reconciliation, on Sunday Meanwhile, Abdullah in a tweet procedural rules for the talks. the head of the negotiating team at the Presidential Palace to address said that they concluded the joint The negotiation team paused their and the head of the High Council the next round of the peace talks, meeting between the leadership talks for 23 days and agreed to for National Reconciliation. the Palace said in a statement. committee of the council with the resume the talks on Jan. 5. Man Assassinated Afghan Football Team Holds 16 Civilians Killed or in Herat City wounded during past Security sources in Herat province Training Camp in Dubai say a 45-year-old man has been five days: AIHRC Afghanistan’s national football assassinated in the center Herat city. Preliminary findings from the team has begun a six-day training Abdul Ahad Valizada, a spokesman Afghan Independent Human Rights camp to prepare for the 2022 for the Herat Police said that the man Commission (AIHRC) show that World Cup and the 2023 AFC had been killed by two gunmen on between 2 to 9 December there were Asian Cup qualifier matches, 64-meter public road at around 9:30 nine IED & armed attacks in Khost, Afghanistan’s Football Federation a.m. this morning. Kapisa, Kandahar and Kabul – 9 said on Saturday. Valizada also said the attackers had civilians killed and 17 others injured. The team held its first training fled the area after killing the man. He The Human Rights Commission said in on Saturday afternoon in Dubai stressed that a police investigation a statement released on Sunday that with the participation of 10 new has been launched regarding the a number of civilians had been killed players, the federation said. incident. and wounded in separate incidents of In March 2021, Bangladesh will This comes as the target killings bombings and armed attacks in the host Afghanistan, and Afghanistan and assassinations have recently provinces. will host Oman in the 2022 World increased in Afghanistan provinces. According to the statement, AIHRC Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup considers the killing of civilians qualifier matches. to be forbidden, condemned and Fardin Hakimi, the national team’s Farid Sadat David, a forward, and camp due to ongoing matches in criminalized from the point of view of midfielder, has missed the training Adam Najm, another midfielder, the Poland and India leagues. religious, legal and human rights. camps due to sickness, while Noor were also missed at the camps Anoush Dastgir, coach of According to the Human Rights Hussain, another midfielder, will due to lockdowns in the countries Afghanistan’s national football Commission, perpetrators of war also not attended because he is where they reside. team, has invited ten new players crimes are responsible in every infected with the coronavirus, said Omran Haidary, Sharif Mohammad to the training camps from the situation, time and place. ... P2 the AFF. and Islamuddin will not attend the Afghan Premier League (APL) ... P3 December 28, 2020 Heart of Asia NATIONAL MONDAY 2 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China Press Conference by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang-related Issues in Beijing

In the morning of December 21, 2020, the Ministry steady progress in all undertakings. The sense journalists present here today, we are grateful to right or wrong? of Foreign Affairs of China holds Xinjiang Uygur of fulfillment, happiness and security has been your objective and fact-based reports.Meanwhile, Xu Guixiang: The so called “massive forced Autonomous Region’s 21st Press Conference on the rise across Xinjiang. Firstly, the overall our policy on Xinjiang are wantonly slandered labor”in Xinjiang are lies and fallacies fabricated on Xinjiang-related Issues at the press release situation in Xinjiang is stable. Frequent terrorist by some anti-China forces, media outlets, think by some US and Western anti-China organizations room in Beijing, briefing Chinese and foreign and violent activities have been the thing of past. tanks and politicians. They spread groundless and individuals, and we have exposed it on media on Xinjiang’s situation and answering No single case of violent terrorism has been reports and viciously vilify Xinjiang related issues. many occasions. In real practice, laborers of all their questions. The participants from Xinjiang occurred in Xinjiang for the past four years. The They intend to sow discord in ethnic relations, ethnicities in Xinjiang choose their jobs out of include deputy director-general Xu Guixiang of number of criminal cases, public security cases, disrupt development in Xinjiang and confuse the their free will, and sign labor contracts with and the Publicity Department of CPC Xinjiang Uygur cases of endangering public security and public international community. People of all ethnic receive compensation from companies on the Autonomous Regional Committee, spokesperson safety incidents has fallen significantly. People’s group in Xinjiang firmly oppose it and they are basis of equality and voluntariness according to Ilijan Anayat of the Information Office of Xinjiang hope for peace and stability has been realized. indignant about it! The Labor Law of PRC and relevant regulations. People’s Government, Hatip Obulhasan Secondly, steady and healthy economic growth. Here, I solemnly make it clear that the so called They enjoy full freedom in deciding where to Tursunniyaz of the Jama Mosque in Hotan Stick to the new development philosophy, we Xinjiang-related issues are not at all about work. Thus the alleged “forced labor” thing just City, two graduated trainees Ablajan Ablat and have achieved high quality development of ethnicity, religion, or human rights, instead they doesn’t exist in Xinjiang. Tursunnisa Ali who graduated from a vocational economy. From 2014 to 2019, the GDP in Xinjiang are about anti-violence, anti-terrorism, anti- On September 17, the State Council Information education and training center in Aksu Prefecture rose from 919.59 billion yuan to 1.35 trillion yuan, separatism and deradicalization. These issues Office of the People’s Republic of China issued and Hotan Prefecture respectively, and two with an annual growth rate of 7.2%; the general have been properly handled in Xinjiang based a White Paper on Employment and Labor workers Shirali Mamtimin from Hotan Prefecture public budget revenue rose to 157.77 billion on facts, truth and justice. We resolutely defend Rights in Xinjiang which gave a full account of and Paziliya Tursun from Aksu Prefecture. yuan from 128.23 billion yuan, with an annual the achievements of Xinjiang’s stability and Xinjiang’s employment situation, proactive Moderator: Good morning. Welcome to the press growth rate of 5.7%. Continued improvement of development, all ethnic groups’ fundamental employment policies, labor rights protection conference brought to you by Xinjiang Uygur infrastructures. All the regions and prefectures interests, and national security. We will speak the and demonstrable results. All laborers of all Autonomous Region in the Ministry of Foreign in Xinjiang have entered the era of express truth loudly and never give in, and we will firmly ethnicities in Xinjiang work voluntarily according Affairs. ways. Thirdly, people’s life has been greatly rebuke any slander and smear towards Xinjiang. to The Labor Law and The Labor Contract Law. To answer your questions, we are happy to have improved. The annual growth rate of per capita I believe that lies repeated a thousand times are On November 13, employees of ethnic minorities invited deputy director-general Xu Guixiang disposable income of residents in Xinjiang was still lies, for everyone’s eyes are bright. Today, from Hotan, Turpan and other places telling their of the Publicity Department of CPC Xinjiang 9.1%. 1.69 million rural houses and 1.56 million the purpose for us to hold this press conference stories about their experience at workplace or Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee, government-subsidized housing projects in cities on Xinjiang issues is to expose lies and tell the in starting their own businesses at the press spokeswomen Ilijan Anayat of the Information and towns have been constructed. More than truth about Xinjiang to everyone. I hope everyone conferences on Xinjiang related issues. If people Office of Xinjiang People’s Government, Hatip 10 million people have moved to new houses. here will report objectively and rationally and from overseas really care about the employment Obulhasan Tursunniyaz of the Jama Mosque Public service has upgraded continually; social represent an authentic Xinjiang to the world. situation in Xinjiang, they should read the white in Hotan City, two graduated trainees Ablajan security increasingly improved. All the residents Thank you. paper and listen to what these employees said. Ablat and Tursunnisa Ali who graduated from in Xinjiang have access to free physical checkups. Questions raised by foreign media It must be pointed out that all ethnic minority a vocational education and training in Aksu The medical infrastructure in rural and pasturing NBC: 1) In March the ASPI accused international laborers in Xinjiang, who are a part of the labor Prefecture and Hotan Prefecture respectively, area has improved a lot. Standardization for brands including Adidas, Gap and Nike of using force of the country, are free to choose their jobs and two workers Shirali Mamtimin from Hotan clinics in townships and villages reached 100%; Uighur forced labor in their textile supply chains. and each of their rights and benefits is protected Prefecture and Paziliya Tursun from Aksu and 99.7% residents were covered by the basic And recently a report by Washington-based think by law. They have full freedom in deciding where Prefecture, Please introduce your organization medical insurance. Fourthly, decisive results tank the Center for Global Policy cited online to work and what jobs they do. Either working before asking questions. Now, we open the floor have achieved in poverty alleviation. More than government documents as proof that in 2018 in Xinjiang or in other cities, they all enjoy equal for questions. 3 million people were lifted out of poverty under three majority-Uighur regions within Xinjiang rights tobe compensated, to rest, to workplace Xu Guixiang: Friends from the press, good the current poverty line. Poverty was eliminated sent at least 570,000 people to pick cotton as part safety, to social insurance, and to freedom of morning. It’s a great pleasure to communicate in 3666 poverty-stricken villages and 32 towns. of a state-run coercive labor transfer scheme. Will religious belief and to use their ethnic languages Xinjiang-related issues with you. I’ve met some of The absolute poverty issue in Xinjiang has been you welcome foreign media to visit factories and in accordance with law. They work and live in you in Xinjiang. Meanwhile, there are some new solved historically. farms to independently verify if these claims are an pleasant and comfortable environment and friends. I’d like to extend my welcome to you all. The hard-won achievements of stability and accurate or not? 2)In a new book Pope Francis their families back home are free of worries In recent years, the overall situation in Xinjiang development in Xinjiang represent the hard said: “I think often of persecuted peoples: the about them. In recent years, employees of has seen remarkable changes. Xinjiang now work from people of all ethnic groups which Rohingya, the poor Uighurs, the Yazidi.”It was ethnic minorities get steady income through enjoys steady and sound economic growth, have earned supports from visionary people the first time he had called China’s Uighurs a employment. According to incomplete statistics, constant improvement of people’s livelihood and worldwide. It should be further cherished. For persecuted people. Can we say the Pope was the annual per capita income of workers ... P3

European Union... the United States kicked off their Gwadar port provides huge Belgium. The EU has seen some of the inoculation programs with the same trade opportunity to CARs, world’s earliest and hardest-hit virus hot vaccine weeks earlier. spots, including Italy and Spain. As it turned out, some EU immunizations Afghanistan: Razak Dawood Others EU countries, like the Czech began a day early in Germany, Hungary Republic, were spared the worst early and Slovakia. The operator of a German Adviser to Prime Minister on of Gwadar has its own geo- said. He informed that when on only to see their health care systems nursing home where dozens of people Commerce and Investment strategic and economic modalities are finalized by near collapse in the fall. were vaccinated Saturday, including a Abdul Razak Dawood has importance which was the Federal Board of Revenue Altogether, the EU’s 27 nations have 101-year-old woman, said “every day said that Gwadar port would located at the centre of (FBR), ample employment recorded at least 16 million coronavirus that we wait is one day too many.” provide huge opportunities to regional connectivity and a opportunities will be infections and more than 336,000 Each country is deciding on its own who the energy rich Central Asian possible railway link from generated for the locals. deaths — huge numbers that experts will get the first shots. Spain, France and Countries and Afghanistan for Gwadar to Kandhar and other He said development of still agree understate the true toll of Germany, among others, are vowing to regional trade connectivity. parts of Afghanistan. Gwadar Port under China- the pandemic due to missed cases and put the elderly and residents in nursing Talking to APP in an exclusive He said Central Asia via Pakistan Economic Corridors limited testing. homes first. interview here, adviser Abdul Afghanistan can become a (CPEC) would provide more European Commission President Ursula Poland is also prioritizing doctors, Razak Dawood said that key trade and transportation opportunities to establish von der Leyen released a video Saturday nurses and others on the front lines of government was prioritizing route for the entire region. new industries as huge celebrating the vaccine rollout, calling it fighting the virus. The central European the economic integration Razak Dawood said that investment has been pouring “a touching moment of unity.” nation was largely spared the surge to promote regional trade Pakistan was actively in under CPEC and it will also The campaign should ease frustrations that hit Western Europe in the spring, and connect the regional participating in regional provide the shortest possible that were building up, especially in but has seen high daily infections and important trade players with forums of Central Asia route to the goods in transit. Germany, as Britain, Canada and deaths this fall. the deep sea port Gwadar. Economic Cooperation He said that with the Replying to question, he said (CAREC) and Quadrilateral improvement in Trans- that Central Asian Republic Traffic in Transit Agreement shipment facilities at Gwadar, 16 Civilians... them to end the violence. (CARs) are demanding (QTTA) so that maximum the whole dynamics of the The commission called on the In recent days, there has been an to providing them trade benefits could be taken when regional connectivity would government to ensure the rights and increase in IEDs and magnetic facilitation in Gwadar and the Gwadar Port operates at be changed. security of the people. explosions, as well as targeted attacks Bin Qasim sea port for full capacity in near future. The Adviser said that Gwadar The commission also called on the in various parts of the country, including international and regional Government of Afghanistan was at strategic location United Nations, the international Kabul. trade and providing them has requested Pakistan giving China and Central Asia community, religious scholars and On Saturday alone, three early morning the facility of the warehouse. to provide Cross-Stuffing an access to the Gulf Region Islamic countries to use their influence IED explosions rattled Kabul and as a Adviser said Deep Sea Port Facility at Gwadar Port, he and the Middle East. ... P3 to support the human rights of the result at least four people were killed Afghan people and to put pressure on and seven others were wounded. December 28, 2020 Heart of Asia ECONOMY MONDAY 3 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost

Pakistan all set to sign trilateral Exchange Rates railway connectivity pact 77.1 77.2 Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Talking to news channel, Swati minister or the transport minister,” said constituted an important aspect of the 93.5 93.6 Railways Azam Khan Swati has said revealed that the project, which was Swati. He added that the accord had rail linkages. Prime Minister Imran Khan will soon conceived in 2018, included both already been signed by the presidents Speaking on routes which Pakistan sign an agreement for a trilateral passenger and cargo trains going of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. would operate, the minister said, 102.9 103 railway project connecting Pakistan between the three countries. He Swati termed the agreement on project “Pakistan will do its job from Peshawar with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. said the project was made possible the “best news of 2020” for three to Torkham. 478 479 Prime Minister Imran Khan is all set to through a $4.5 billion initiative under countries because of the opportunities Afghanistan and Uzbekistan will sign a letter, which is already signed the auspices of the World Bank. it would provide for transport, trade operate the project beyond Torkham.” 20.85 20.95 by the presidents of Afghanistan “Prime minister will sign the project and cargo.“A whole corridor to Central Swati said both passenger and cargo and Uzbekistan, seeking $4.8b loan in a day or two during the visit of a Asian republics will be opened up,” trains would operate, and emphasised 1030 1040 from the WB for a railway line project delegation from Uzbekistan, which said Swati, highlighting that potential that the project would deploy “high connecting Pakistan with Afghanistan. will include either the deputy prime connections with parts of Russia also speed trains” only. Contact Numbers Gwadar port... Press Conference... on-the-spot investigation in people reached full coverage. Aksu Huafu Color Spinning All the poverty-stricken rural He said that in future, it would be a main Sea-gate for from Xinjiang who are working in Kabul Police -119 the Central Asia. It would also become easy to send other provinces is about 40,000 Co., Ltd.. They said that “the population has been lifted out company operates very well, of poverty by current standards, products from Xinxiang and Central Asian countries to yuan, roughly equal to the per capita disposable income of the employees live and work making the historical extreme Kabul Ambulance - 112 other regions, he said. Replying to another question, he permanent urban residents in happily here, they totally enjoy poverty to an end in Xinjiang. All said that this port was likely to reduce transport time for the places where they work. their rights”, “the employees Uygurs have shared the fruits of Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital goods from Gwadar to Western China and the Central The local people who left their here enjoy comfortable and development and fulfilled their Asian Republics by 60% to 70%. home to work elsewhere in stable lives, and are adequately dream of living inpeaceand 0202301360 Razak Dawood said that all possible steps are being Xinjiang have an annual per provided with working clothes, contentment, which is reflected taken by the Ministry of Commerce, in coordination capita income of 30,000 yuan, food, accommodation and on their faces and rooted in Ata Turk Hospital with other stakeholders, to provide modern facilities much higher than earnings from commuting service and skills their hearts. You can visit cities training.” When it comes to and countrysides in Xinjiang to at Gwadar Port so that goods clearance time may be farming. Where does this forced 0202500312 reduced as per the set international standards. labor come from when all the cotton picking season, I’d like take a look at what we Uygurs Moreover, in the forthcoming Strategic Trade Policy workers and their families are to take you to the cotton field eat and wear and how we live. and to hear what will cotton Come and see whether they Corona call center - 166 Framework (STPF 2020-25) special focus has been satisfied with the arrangement of transferred employment? farmers say. are going through the so called accorded to Trade facilitation, Economic Infrastructure It has proved that Xinjiang’s Ilijan Anayat: Labeling Uygurs “persecution” or not. Development, Transhipment and Development of policies and practices as “a persecuted people “has EFE: 1) Recently, about how Economic Corridors (CPEC and CAREC) so that overall concerning employment and job no support of facts or evidence. many trainees in the “re- policy environment could be improved in general and security comply with Chinese China is home to 56 ethnic education camp” in Xinjiang? regional connectivity should be increased in particular, Constitution and relevant laws, groups, Uygurs are an equal Is the number of trainees over he informed. conform to international labor member of the Chinese nation. one million? 2) Evidence showed Responding to a question on Pak- Afghanistan, and human rights standards, The Chinese Constitution and that there’s hardly anyone in the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), he said that in 2015, and support the will of all theLaw on Regional Ethnic mosques in Xinjiang because Shigal Pakistan shared a draft Pak-Afghan Preferential Trade ethnic groups to live a better Autonomy prescribe that “all many surveillance equipment English Academy Agreement (PTA) with Afghanistan. life. These policies and practices ethnic groups in China are equal is near the gate of the mosque, and the state protects the lawful people who goes to mosque Subsequently, Afghanistan has shared its comments on can withstand any test . Ignoring Xinjiang’s tremendous efforts in rights and interests of ethnic will be penalized. Is this true? In draft PTA and its request list and offer lists in November, guaranteeing human rights and minorities.” People of all ethnic Xinjiang, is there corresponding 2019 and June 2020, he added. promoting employment of all groups in Xinjiang including penalty to people who goes to Easy Razak Dawood said the work on Afghanistan’s Request ethnic groups, some people in Uygurs enjoy equal legal status, mosques, conducts Islamic List has been undertaken by Ministry of Commerce, the US and Western countries the right to vote and to stand religious activities in public or English in consultation with government sector stakeholders violate the basic labor rights of for election, and all other in private? including Ministry of Industries, Ministry of National the people of all ethnic groups rights, such as to participate Ilijan Anayat: We havefirmly Learning Food Security and Research and FBR, as well as private in Xinjiang under the banner in the administration of state emphasizedfor many times affairs, freedom of religious that there has been no so- sector. of human rights by hyping Western Street of He said that during his recent visit to Kabul in November, their false claims of so-called belief, to receive education, called “re-education camps” Kabul University Close to Dehbori Park. the two sides decided to form a Technical Negotiation “forced labor” in the region. to use and develop their own in Xinjiang. The vocational spoken and written languages, education and training centers Committee (TNC) to start negotiations on PTA. Their acts amount to a denial of the fact that the local people in and to preserve their traditional legally established in Xinjiang +93 (0) 789 98 9696 The ministry of Commerce has notified its TNC and Xinjiang enjoy the right to work, cultures and customs. were actually schools with the requested the Afghan side to follow suit, so that first [email protected] aspire to move out of poverty Meanwhile, all ethnic groups character of deradicalization, meeting of TNC may be held. and backwardness and are in Xinjiang enjoy full rights to which were no different in Shigal English Academy working towards that goal. Their subsistence and development. essence from the “community attempts defy people wishes. Xinjiang allocates 70% of the corrections” enforced in the www.shigal.edu.af Afghan Football... When talking about “cotton general annual fiscal revenue US, the DDP (Desistance and who distinguished themselves in the 9th season, which picking”, years before, when to guarantee and improve the Disengagement Programme) in was held in 2020. it came to the harvest season, people’s livelihoods through the UK, and the deradicalization “These players can shine during this training camp and many workers from Provinces an array of benefiting-people centers in France, all being have the opportunity to wear the national team jersey of Henan, Sichuan, Gansu projects in employment, conducive attempt and culture, education and medical proactive exploration for in the future,” said Dastgir. came to Xinjiang by train, they were called “cotton picking care. In terms of employment, preventive counterterrorism The training camp will continue until December 30 in contingents”. Local workers in a dynamic mechanism has and deradicalization, complying Dubai. Xinjiang also voluntarily went been put in place to ensure with the principals and spirits of WAYGAL Printing Co. to cotton producing areas to at least one member of zero- United Nations Global Counter- help the picking. They worked employment families get terrorism Strategy and other If You Can Think It, together and cared about each employed. In terms of education, anti-terrorism resolutions. We Can ink it. other, building strong bond of we are pushing for integrative The white paper Vocational friendship. Picking cotton is development of rural-urban Education and training centers Chief Editor : M. Hamid Hamdard totally the farmers’ voluntary education and the enrollment in Xinjiang issued by the State Reporters: Safiullah Nasary, Shafiq Amirzay, choice: a month-long work can rate of schooling children in Council Information Office of bring them about 10,000 yuan of compulsory education hovers the People’s Republic of China Jawad Temori & Hameedullah Hamidi income. Isn’t it a wise decision? at 99.9%. Nine-year compulsory expounded in detail the urgent education covers the whole needs, legislative authority, Graphic & Design: Arman As you mentioned about “visit factories and farms”, we have region, while southern Xinjiang teaching content, management Phone: +93-202502100 - +93-777989696 no problem with as long as enjoys 3-year free preschool measures and remarkable the factories and farms agree. education and 12-year free results of education and training Website: www.heartofasia.af Xinjiang is an open area, we elementary education. In terms efforts. On August 24, 2020, CCTV Email: [email protected] welcome friends from all over of health and medical care, released a special document the worldto visit Xinjiang and free physical examination has on this matter named Lies and Address: Behind Rahman Baba High School learn about the real situation become popularized to all Truth: Vocational Education - Opposite to 3rd District, on the spot. In October this year, residents in Xinjiang, with the and training in Xinjiang, vividly there were 20 Arab ambassador participation rates of basic presenting to the public the Kabul - Afghanistan to China and envoys of the medical insurance, old-age real stories and scenes in the Print: Waygal Printing .Co - +93 - 202512626 League of Arab States in China pension and major illness centers. visited Xinjiang and conducted insurance for impoverished Continue December 28, 2020 WORLD MONDAY Heart of Asia 4 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost European Union nations kick off mass COVID-19 vaccinations European Union nations officially kicked off responsibility toward the collective whole,” a coordinated effort Sunday to give COVID-19 Claudia Alivernini, a 29-year-old Spallanzani vaccinations to some of the most vulnerable nurse, said on the eve of being the first to among their nearly 450 million people, receive the shot in Italy, which has Europe’s marking a moment of hope in the continent’s worth virus toll at more than 71,000 dead. battle against the worst public health crisis Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza, in a century. speaking outside the hospital, said the Shots were administered Sunday morning coordinated EU rollout was a sign of hope for to health care workers, the elderly and some the continent, but that people still cannot let leading politicians to reassure the public that down their guard for several months more. the vaccinations are safe. “We still have difficult months ahead,” he In Prague, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said. “It’s a beautiful day, but we still need to received his shot at dawn and asserted: exercise caution ... this vaccine is the true path “There’s nothing to worry about.” In Rome, five to close out this difficult season.” doctors and nurses wearing white scrubs sat in The vaccines, developed by Germany’s a semi-circle at Rome’s Spallanzani infectious BioNTech and American drugmaker Pfizer, diseases hospital to receive their doses. started arriving in super-cold containers at “Getting vaccinated is an act of love and EU hospitals on Friday from a factory in ... 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A look at the world Turkish defense chief UN hails prisoner swap Number of visits Turkish soldiers between Libyan gov’t, coronavirus cases in Libya Haftar top 3M in Russia Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi The total number of people who have been Akar together with top military officials on exposed to the novel coronavirus in Russia Sunday visited the Turkish troops deployed exceeded 3 million on Saturday. in Libya. According to the country’s emergency Hulusi Akar, who visited the Libya Task task force, 29,258 people tested positive Group Command, addressed the troops for COVID-19 over the past day, taking the and said the Turkish Armed Forces has been overall count to 3.02 million and active going through a busy period. cases to 541,299. Akar said the armed forces that discharge Over the same period, recoveries grew by duties for the security of 83 million people 28,185 to reach over 2.42 million, while 567 in Turkey also do their best to contribute to new fatalities raised the death toll in the the security of all friendly countries such as country to 54,266.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Saturday hailed the success of implementing a prisoner exchange between the Libyan government and eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar. “UNSMIL welcomes the remarkable success registered…by the exchange of prisoners from both sides under the supervision of the Joint Military Commission (5+5),” the mission said on Twitter. On Friday, a prisoner exchange of 48 prisoners was implemented between the Libyan government and the Haftar militia in Ash Shurayf area, 417 km to the south The COVID-19 spread in Russia has Libya, Azerbaijan and the Turkish Republic from the capital Tripoli. skyrocketed since September, with the of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). UNSMIL also praised efforts of the tribal country reaching the 1 million mark on “The main problem in Libya is the coup sheikhs and elders which contributed to Sept. 1, and 2 million on Nov. 19. leader [Khalifa] Haftar and his supporters, achieving the swap. To slow down the spread, the authorities and that’s where the problem stems,” A Libyan security officer said 33 prisoners launched a vaccination campaign with he said, emphasizing that the legitimate from Haftar’s militia were released in Russian Sputnik V vaccine, developed by English Academy government in Libya is the Government exchange for 15 soldiers from the Libyan the Gamaleya Research Center. of National Accord (GNA) that was formed army, under the supervision of the (5+5) At first, the vaccine was authorized for under a UN initiative. Libyan Joint Military Commission. people aged between 18 and 60. Highlighting that Haftar was responsible for On Oct. 23, the UN announced a permanent But, the Russian Health Ministry on Easy the bloodshed in Libya, Akar said: “Killer cease-fire agreement between Libya’s Saturday granted permission for the use Haftar and his supporters will be seen as warring rivals during its facilitated 5+5 of vaccine for people above 60 after the English legitimate targets everywhere, if Turkish Libyan Joint Military Commission talks in Gamaleya Research Center announced it Learning elements are attacked.” Geneva. had completed the trials on people of this Libya has been torn by a civil war since the Libya has been torn by civil war since the age group. ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in On Friday, the Gamaleya Research Center ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in Western Street of 2011. announced it had completed the trials on 2011. Kabul University Close to The GNA was founded in 2015 under a UN- Based in the capital Tripoli and currently people over 60 and on Saturday the Russian Dehbori Park. led agreement, but efforts for a long-term led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, Health Ministry granted permission for the settlement failed due to a military offensive the Government of National Accord was use of vaccine for this age group. +93 (0) 789 98 9696 by forces loyal to Haftar. He launched an founded in 2015 under a UN-led agreement. Sputnik V vaccine is to be administered onslaught on the capital Tripoli in April 2019 But efforts for a long-term political through two injections and can be [email protected] but was pushed back. settlement have failed due to a military combined with other antigens, including A cease-fire was agreed on in late October, offensive by militias loyal to Haftar. those used against the flu. Shigal English Academy and negotiations for an interim setup Al-Sarraj’s government has been battling Currently, Russia’s overall case tally is the before presidential and parliamentary Haftar’s militias since April 2019 in a conflict fourth highest in the world, behind the US, www.shigal.edu.af elections on Dec. 24, 2021 are continuing. that has claimed thousands of lives. India, and Brazil.