Kuwait Times 11-10-2017.Qxp Layout 1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MUHARRAM 21, 1439 AH WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2017 Max 39º 32 Pages 150 Fils Established 1961 Min 24º ISSUE NO: 17352 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Foul odor leads to First lady vs first wife: Oil slide weighs heavily on Syria World Cup hopes end 3 discovery of body 8 Melania and Ivana spar 17 MENA growth forecast: IMF 16 in extra-time loss to Australia Zain finalizes telecoms tower deal, first of its kind in region Zain agrees to sell and lease back mobile towers for $165m KUWAIT: Mobile Telecommunications Company KSCP (Zain), Kuwait’s leading mobile operator, yester- day announced that it has entered into definite agree- ments to sell and lease back the passive physical infra- structure of its mobile tower portfolio in Kuwait for $165 million to IHS Holding Limited (IHS), in partner- ship with Towershare Management Limited. The trans- action will result in the formation of a new entity that will acquire and manage Zain’s tower assets in Kuwait, with Zain assuming a minority shareholding in this newly formed entity. The transaction has been approved by Kuwait’s Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA), and is still subject to other regulatory and statutory approvals, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2018. IHS is the largest independent tower operator in Europe, Middle East and Africa by tower count and the third largest independent multinational tower company globally. Zain has more than 1,600 mobile telecommuni- cation towers located in prime and strategic locations Vice-Chairman and Group CEO of Zain Bader Al-Kharafi is seen with Zain, IHS and Towershare Bader Al-Kharafi signs the telecom tower sell and leaseback across Kuwait and this transaction will enable Zain to Management officials. agreement. focus on its core business and customers while acceler- ating Zain’s investments in cutting-edge telecom tech- portfolio further throughout emerging mar- yielding investments for Zain, and at the nologies to help meet growing mobile data demand. kets. The newly formed entity will be same time pave the way for further network Under the terms of the transaction, Zain is selling responsible for maintaining and expanding expansion and tower infrastructure sharing only its passive, physical infrastructure to the new Zain’s tower footprint across Kuwait. Bader Al-Kharafi: Our in Kuwait.” company and will retain its intelligent software, tech- Bader Al-Kharafi, Vice-Chairman and Kharafi added, “I’m very proud of Zain nology and intellectual property with respect to man- Group CEO of Zain said, “This transaction is dedication to explore all team for its professionalism in completing aging its network. set to support Zain’s transformational strate- the first agreement of its kind in the Upon completion, the transaction will be the first gy in becoming a digital lifestyle provider as opportunities and become MENA region. We are confident we have sale and leaseback of telecom towers in the Middle it will optimize operational efficiencies, chosen the right partner in IHS, a compa- East region by a licensed mobile operator, and creates enhance customer experience, and deliver first movers is the key ny that possesses high caliber expertise the first independent tower operator of scale in the greater value for its shareholders. This deal with sound operational experience in region. This transaction is part of IHS’ broader strategy will unlock value that can be more efficiently to our innovation diverse markets. to apply its operational expertise from its international deployed in new technologies and higher Continued on Page 11 Islamist opposition Harbash, Adasani MP Mohammad Hayef Catalan leader steps called yesterday for uni- ty and cooperation trade barbs; Hayef between the government back from declaring and the National warns government Assembly in the wake of outright independence highly tense situation in the region. He said that a By B Izzak lack of cooperation BARCELONA: Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said between the two author- yesterday he had accepted the “mandate of the people” KUWAIT: A tit-for-tat war of words between opposi- ities will strain political for his region’s independence from Spain but suspend- tion MPs Jamaan Al-Harbash and Riyadh Al-Adasani relations and create ten- ed the declaration to allow more time for talks with intensified yesterday, with the two lawmakers hurling sions. Hayef said talks Madrid. In a speech to regional lawmakers in new accusations against each other. The confrontation will be held with the Riyadh Al-Adasani Barcelona, Puigdemont stopped short of declaring an began when Harbash, a leading Islamist MP from the prime minister about the outright split but left the door to secession open, leav- Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM), criticized need to resolve the issue ing some political rivals scratching their heads. “I Adasani for rushing a grilling request against the state of revoked citizenships assume the mandate of the people for Catalonia to minister for Cabinet affairs. Adasani responded by lash- before the start of the become an independent republic,” he said. ing out at Harbash and his group, and charged that they next Assembly term on But the 54-year-old asked the Catalan parliament to were collaborating with the prime minister to protect Oct 24. The government “suspend the effects of the independence declaration him from political questioning. had pledged to return to initiate dialogue in the coming weeks”. The central Harbash replied yesterday by calling on Adasani to citizenships that were government fired back, with a spokesman rejecting review his position and accused him of deliberately withdrawn more than what Madrid termed Catalonia’s “tacit” independence misleading people. He also charged that Adasani was three years ago from declaration. Political leaders in Catalonia, Spain and part of a concerted attack against the ICM and opposition figures. Europe have come out against an independence decla- BARCELONA: Catalan regional government president Islamists. Harbash also said that he did not oppose the Hayef said that law- ration, concerned over the country’s biggest upheaval Carles Puigdemont (right) acknowledges applause at the grilling against the minister, but Adasani “normally makers do not aim at since its transition to democracy in the 1970s. Catalan regional parliament yesterday. — AFP changes facts against his rivals”. straining relations with EU nations are watching developments closely amid The lawmaker also denied that he nor his group the government and that Jamaan Al-Harbash concern that Catalan independence could put further was expecting more,” said 66-year-old Pere Valldeneu. made any secret deals with the prime minister and the the political detente law- pressure on the bloc still dealing with the fallout from Merce Hernandez, a 35-year-old architect, said: “I am government, adding the understanding over the revoked makers pledged before Britain’s shock decision to leave. Police deployed en very emotional, this is a historic day. I’m satisfied.” citizenships was public and known to all. Harbash also the Amir is still standing and had continued for a long masse around the regional parliament, blocking public Madrid has repeatedly said it would not negotiate on warned the government against backing down in the cit- period, which is sufficient to resolve the issue of the cit- access to a park that houses the building as crowds Catalonia’s independence. “We call on Puigdemont not izenship agreement, saying that MPs will resort to “oth- izenships. The lawmaker however warned the govern- watched the session on giant screens, waving Catalan to do anything irreversible, not to pursue a path of no er methods”. He called on MPs to coordinate their polit- ment against not fulfilling its pledges, adding that fail- flags and some brandishing signs reading “democracy”. return and not to make any unilateral independence ical agenda. But Adasani did not like Harbash’s com- ure to resolve the citizenship issue means that the gov- Reaction among those who had hoped to witness a declaration,” government spokesman Inigo Mendez de ments, and warned that his response will come soon in a ernment is not cooperating, and in this case, MPs have historic moment for a region deeply-divided over inde- Vigo told reporters earlier yesterday. “grilling of the prime minister”. pledged to hold the government to account. pendence was mixed. “In essence we’re happy but I Continued on Page 11 marginal laborers rupees ($3) to go back home,” said Khan, now a police Marginal workers overburden the Indian child brides informer. “The men came with old, used bridal clothes, soaps local market by and nightgowns for the girl they would marry. Most marriages seeking job oppor- were ‘time pass’,” Khan told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. face axe; degree tunities all the time. sold in ‘package Police in the southern Indian city, a hub for tech compa- Sabeeh stressed nies, last month busted a racket involving wealthy men from needed for iqama that these decisions deals’ to Gulf men Gulf states such as Oman and UAE “marrying” teenage were meant to pro- Muslim girls in Hyderabad for the duration of their stay in KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs and Labor tect expat workers HYDERABAD, India: For years, Haji Khan - a lanky man in India. At the time of the marriage, the men signed postdated and Minister of State for Economic Development from being exploit- his thirties - moved inconspicuously in the bylanes of divorce documents, to be delivered to the brides after their Hind Al-Sabeeh told Al-Anbaa daily that expat ed. She noted that Hyderabad’s Old City, scouring the streets for child brides new husbands had left the country. university degree holders will have to provide the new measures for older men visiting from Gulf states, pocketing about The marriages were performed by a Muslim officiant, or their attested original certificates to renew their will also target 10,000 rupees ($150) for each girl.