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Kuwaittimes 28-3-2019.Qxp Layout 1 RAJAB 21, 1440 AH THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 28 Pages Max 27º Min 15 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17793 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Sheikh Nasser eyes $450-650bn Body bags, rats, waste: Disaster Desperate and hiding, collapsed Bautista Agut stuns Djokovic, 416in investments in northern area response turns to VR for training 24 Saudi Oger workers left in limbo 28 Barty topples Kvitova in Miami Minister says 35-day annual leave ‘harmful’ to economy Govt sources defend ‘anti-expat’ laws • Driving license process to go online By B Izzak and A Saleh backed them said they wanted to encourage more nationals to join the pri- Amir attends national operetta KUWAIT: Minister of State for vate sector by increasing labor benefits Economic Affairs Mariam Al-Aqeel said in the sector to ultimately reduce pres- yesterday that amendments to the labor sure on public sector employment. law in the private sector raising annual Representatives of the chamber of com- leave to 35 days are harmful to the merce and industry and the banking national economy and Kuwaiti business- association attended the meeting and men. After the National Assembly passed totally backed the minister’s remarks. the amendments in the first reading more Well-informed government sources than three weeks ago, mainly to increase expressed amazement over opposition to annual leave from 30 to 35 days, the new anti-expat legislations and stressed government, which voted in favor of the that Kuwait can never do without expats, amendments, backtracked and decided who are still greatly needed. “This is noth- to reject the changes. ing more than reorganizing their numbers The rejection came at a meeting of in view of the growing number of Kuwaiti the Assembly’s health and labor commit- graduates awaiting employment and tee attended by the minister, during replacing expats where possible,” the which she explained the “great damage” sources explained, noting that legislations the amendments would inflict on the by the government and the parliament will national economy and on the interests of never be against expats’ rights or living Kuwaiti businessmen, especially small standards. “If such talk refers to imposing businesses. The minister explained that new fees, citizens also pay some of these the workforce that will benefit from the fees,” the sources stressed. amendments “include a small number of “Health fees are collected worldwide Kuwaitis and a large section of others”, a and those paid in Kuwait are the least,” clear reference to the fact that expatri- added the sources, noting that imposing KUWAIT: Performers are seen in front of images of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Crown Prince Sheikh ate employees in the private sector health insurance on visitors is done Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah during a national operetta at Bayan Palace yesterday. — KUNA (See Page 3) greatly outnumber Kuwaitis. around the world. MPs who filed the amendments and Continued on Page 24 Roudhan survives Zain KSA inks $672m tower deal with IHS no-confidence; MPs RIYADH/KUWAIT: Zain Group announced that the board of directors of Zain Saudi Arabia (Zain KSA) against embassies has signed an agreement to sell and lease back the passive physical infrastructure of its mobile tower in residential areas portfolio to IHS Holding Limited (IHS) for SAR 2.52 billion ($672 million). This signing came after Zain By B Izzak KSA announced on Nov 27, 2018 that the board of KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry Khaled directors of the company had approved the offer KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry Khaled Al-Roudhan gestures during a National Assembly from IHS Holding Limited to sell and lease back its Al-Roudhan comfortably defeated a no-confidence session yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat passive towers. It should be noted that the original vote in the Assembly during a special session yesterday. transaction valuation of SAR 2.43 billion has been Only 11 MPs voted for the motion, which if passed revised to SAR 2.52 billion ($672 million). major real estate scam which affected hundreds of would have dismissed the minister, while 37 MPs voted The agreement was signed by Sultan bin Bader Al-Kharafi, Zain Vice-Chairman and Group Kuwaitis, among others. The minister categorically denied against it, renewing their confidence in Roudhan. Only AbdulAziz AlDeghaither, CEO of Zain KSA, and CEO; & Zain KSA Vice-Chairman the allegations and said the scam had begun before he the 49 elected members are allowed to vote on no-con- William Saad, COO of IHS Holding Limited, at the became minister and that he initiated legal action after he fidence motions, as Cabinet ministers are barred from headquarters of Zain KSA in Riyadh. Bader Al- and this evolution is aimed at the operator emerg- assumed office. The two lawmakers insisted during the doing so. One MP was absent. Kharafi, Zain Vice-Chairman and Group CEO; & ing as a more successful digital lifestyle services grilling and yesterday that the minister did not refute the Roudhan was grilled last week by MPs Al-Humaidi Al- Zain KSA Vice-Chairman said: “Zain KSA is trans- provider and delivering additional shareholder allegations, while the minister’s supporters said he had Subaei and Mubarak Al-Hajraf over allegations of finan- forming financially, operationally, and strategically, value.” (See Page 11) started key reforms and should be encouraged. cial and administrative violations and failure to prevent a Continued on Page 24 Modi declares India ‘space US Golan move superpower’ as satellite downed stymies Arabs, NEW DELHI: India said yesterday it “This is a proud moment for India,” the may boost Iran destroyed a low-orbiting satellite in a prime minister added, in his first televised missile test that proved the nation was national address since late 2016. “India CAIRO: The US move on the Golan has left fractious among the world’s most advanced space has registered its name in the list of space Arab nations scrambling for a united response to a powers. In a rare address to the nation superpowers. Until now, only three coun- decision taken by a key ally, which may only end up just weeks out from a national election, tries had achieved this feat.” It comes a benefiting Iran, analysts said. Angry reactions have Prime Minister Narendra Modi said month after Indian and Pakistani fighter poured in from Arab capitals after US President Donald India had joined the United States, jets engaged in a dogfight over the dis- Trump on Monday formally announced US recognition Russia and China in accomplishing the puted border in Kashmir - a serious mili- of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. But the feat. A missile fired from a testing facility tary escalation between the nuclear- seemingly united front is only a veneer masking the in Odisha, eastern India, downed the armed rivals. An Indian jet was shot down deep dilemma for Arab governments left trying to deal satellite at around 300 km in “a difficult and a pilot captured by Pakistan, which with Washington’s “fait accompli”, analysts said. operation” that lasted around three min- had launched retaliatory air raids after NEW DELHI: A man watches Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to Those Arab states who are “allies of the United utes, Modi said. Continued on Page 24 the nation on a local news channel yesterday. — AFP States are the most embarrassed because they have gone to great lengths to get closer to Donald Trump,” said Karim Bitar, senior fellow at the Paris-based ing Kuwaiti and British royals, film star Institute for International and Strategic Affairs. Some Amir says Qatar Johnny Depp, former French president Arab countries, including regional powerhouse and Iran Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni, foe Saudi Arabia, have been cozying up to Washington, Jose Mourinho and Victoria Beckham. hoping to influence a long-awaited Middle East peace ‘stronger’ as he “Qatar has become much stronger plan due to be presented in the coming months. since June 2017,” said the amir. “The citi- But with the Trump administration shredding long- opens museum zens have defended the dignity and the accepted regional conventions, Arab allies are left in an truth, with the consequences of increasingly humiliating position. “It is rather Iran and its DOHA: Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin strengthening the country.” Saudi allies who feel comfortable in the idea that nothing can be Hamad Al-Thani said yesterday his coun- Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and expected from this American administration,” added Bitar. Indeed Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday try had become “stronger” since the start Bahrain cut ties with Qatar in June 2017 denounced Trump’s move as tantamount to “colonialism”, of a Gulf diplomatic crisis almost two over accusations it supports terrorism something that is “unprecedented in the present century”. years ago, as he formally opened the and is seeking closer ties with Saudi With Arab states long fractured, Tehran has increas- country’s national museum. He made the Arabia’s regional rival, Iran. Qatar rejects comment during a speech at a glittering DOHA: Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani poses for a group pic- ingly sought to spread its influence in the region. While all the charges and says the dispute is an most Arab governments have shunned Syrian President ceremony in Doha to open the estimated ture with children during the official opening ceremony of the National attack on its sovereignty. Bashar Al-Assad over the country’s devastating civil $434 million building, with guests includ- Museum of Qatar yesterday. — AFP Continued on Page 24 Continued on Page 24 2 Local Thursday, March 28, 2019 Amir hosts Kuwaiti officials, Italian Defense Minister at Bayan Palace Amir lauded Kuwaitis’ devotion to philanthropy since old times KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with the visiting Italian Minister of Defense His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- Elisabetta Trenta.
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