Page 5 - Al-Rashed Newsletter January 2021

KUWAIT & IRAQ
KUWAIT NEWS

COVID-19: 35,000 vaccinated in Kuwait in one month
Since Kuwait launched its COVID-19 vaccination campaign a month ago,
around 35,000 people have received the jab, local media reported.
Currently, out of the four million citizens and residents that make up
Kuwait’s population, only 0.875 per cent are vaccinated. Compared to its
neighbouring GCC countries, Kuwait is the slowest country in terms of
vaccination.Those that are being given priority are the elderly, people with
chronic illnesses and frontline and health workers. Around 70 per cent of
health workers have received the vaccine. Kuwait so far is only
administrating the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and has received three batches
over the past month.

Kuwait emir reappoints prime minister to form new cabinet
Kuwait’s emir reappointed Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah as prime
minister on Sunday and tasked him with choosing ministers for a new
government.Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah last Monday accepted
the government’s resignation, led by Sheikh Sabah.The resignation came
“due to the current developments in the relationship between the National
Assembly (parliament) and the government,” state news agency KUNA
reported on Sunday.

Kuwait forecasts hefty $39bn budget deficit for 2021-22
Kuwait is facing yet another massive budget deficit for the coming fiscal
year, in large part due to the lingering impact that the Covid-19 pandemic is
having on its economy and on oil prices. A budget bill, which was approved
by Kuwait's caretaker cabinet, projects a deficit of 12.1bn Kuwaiti dinar
($39.9bn) for the fiscal year starting on 1 April. That would represent the
eighth consecutive year that Kuwait has posted a deficit, albeit one that is
some 14pc smaller than the KD14bn forecast for the current fiscal year.

IRAQ NEWS

Iraq approves Paris climate accord
Iraq’s President Barham Salih approved the parliament’s September vote to
accede to the Paris Agreement, an international treaty to combat global
“GREAT LEADERS warming. As one of the last of the 197 signatory countries to ratify the deal,
ARE IN THE the move signifies Baghdad’s intent to transition from heavy dependence on
oil to more renewable energy sources. Iraq’s oil production has nearly
CONSTRUCTION, NOT doubled over the past decade and accounts for 99% of exports and more
THE DEMOLITION than 90% of central government revenue.

BUSINESS. THEY
Iraq population passes 40 million
BUILD PEOPLE UP.” Iraq has announced its population exceeded 40 million people in 2020, its

- BRIGETTE HYACINTH planning ministry said on Wednesday.The population of Iraq reached
40,150,000, with 50.5 per cent men and 49.5 per cent women. The working
age population, from 15-64 years, was the highest among the age groups,
reaching 56.5 per cent of the total population, followed by 0-14, which
constituted 40.4 per cent, while those aged 65 years and over made up
just3.1 per cent of the total.

Source: Gulfnews.com, Arabnews.com, Al-monitor.com, argusmedia.com