RAMADAN 15, 1440 AH MONDAY, MAY 20, 2019 28 Pages Max 37º Min 27º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17837 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwait firemen free child Boeing acknowledges flaw in Green triple-double fuels 3 stuck in washing machine 24 737 MAX simulator software 28 Warriors’ comeback win IMSAK 03:13 Fajr 03:23 Dhur 11:44 Asr 15:20 Magrib 18:36 Isha 20:04 Saudi calls for urgent Arab talks over Iran-US tensions Saudi Arabia ‘does not want war but is ready to defend itself’ RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has called for emergency Four ships including two Saudi oil tankers were regional talks to discuss mounting Gulf tensions, saying damaged in mysterious sabotage attacks last week off Qatar Amir in Kuwait yesterday that it does not want war with Iran but is the UAE’s Fujairah, near the Strait of Hormuz-a vital ready to defend itself. King Salman invited Gulf leaders maritime route for oil exports which Iran has threat- and Arab League member states to two emergency ened to close in the event of a war. That incident was summits in Makkah on May 30 to discuss recent followed by drone strikes Tuesday by Yemen’s Iran- “aggressions and their consequences”, the kingdom’s aligned rebels on a major Saudi oil pipeline built as an official SPA news agency reported Saturday. alternative export route if the Strait of Hormuz were The announcement came days after mysterious sab- to be closed. otage attacks against several tankers in highly sensitive Jubeir said the UAE was leading the probe into the Gulf waters and drone attacks on a crude pipeline by damaged oil tankers, but added that “we have some Iran-aligned Yemen rebels, which Riyadh claimed were indications and we will make the announcements once carried out on Iranian orders. the investigations are completed”. The Emirates has The United States has also deployed an aircraft car- said three Western countries-the US, France and rier and bombers to the Gulf over alleged threats from Norway-would also be part of the investigation, along Iran. Saudi Arabia’s minister of state for foreign affairs, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Neither of the two Gulf Adel Al-Jubeir, said yesterday his country does not states, both close allies of the United States, have given want to go to war with Iran but would defend itself. details on the exact nature of the ship attacks. Saudi Arabia “does not want a war, is not looking for it Despite international skepticism, the US government and will do everything to prevent it,” he said. has cited increasing threats from Iran, a long-time ene- “But at the same time, if the other side chooses war, my of both the US and its regional allies, including Israel the kingdom will respond with strength and determina- and Saudi Arabia. SPA said yesterday that Crown Prince tion to defend itself and its interests.” The kingdom’s Mohammed bin Salman had spoken with US Secretary regional allies welcomed the Saudi invitation. The of State Mike Pompeo about enhancing security in the KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday held an iftar (fast-breaking) UAE’s foreign ministry said the current “critical circum- region. The US has already strengthened its military banquet in the honor of Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani and his accompanying delegation. stances” require a unified Arab and Gulf stance. The presence in the region, deploying several of strategic B- Qatar’s Amir arrived in Kuwait in a fraternal visit to congratulate His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al- meetings will be a “significant opportunity for the 52 bombers in response to alleged Iranian threats. US Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on the holy month of Ramadan. — KUNA countries of the region to achieve their aspirations for President Donald Trump last week predicted that Iran establishing peace and stability,” it said. would “soon” want to negotiate. — AFP the weeks and months to come”, he said. The weakening prices. Russian Energy Minister Saudi recommends Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Alexander Novak told reporters that different Countries, of which Saudi Arabia is de facto options were available for the output deal, leader, would have more data at its next including a rise in production in the second ‘gently’ driving oil meeting in late June to help it reach the best half of the year. The energy minister of the decision on output, Falih said. United Arab Emirates, Suhail Al-Mazrouei, down inventories “It is critical that we don’t make hasty said oil producers were capable of filling any decisions - given the conflicting data, the gap in the oil market and that relaxing supply JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister complexity involved, and the evolving situa- cuts was not “the right decision”. Khalid Al-Falih said yesterday he recom- tion,” he said, describing the outlook as “quite Mazrouei said the UAE did not want to see mended “gently” driving oil inventories down foggy” due in part to a trade dispute between a rise in inventories that could lead to a price at a time of plentiful global supplies and that the United States and China. “But I want to collapse and that OPEC would act wisely to OPEC would not make hasty decisions about assure you that our group has always done maintain sustainable market balance. “As UAE output ahead of a June meeting. “Overall, the the right thing in the interests of both con- we see that the job is not done yet, there is market is in a delicate situation,” Falih told sumers and producers; and we will continue still a period of time to look at the supply and reporters before a ministerial panel meeting to do so,” he added. demand and we don’t see any need to alter of top OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, OPEC, Russia and other non-OPEC pro- the agreement in the meantime,” he said. US including Saudi Arabia and Russia. ducers, an alliance known as OPEC+, agreed crude inventories rose unexpectedly last While there is concern about supply dis- to reduce output by 1.2 million barrels per week to their highest since September 2017, JEDDAH: (Left to right) Nigerian Energy Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikw, Russian Energy ruptions, inventories are rising and the market day (bpd) from Jan 1 for six months, a deal while gasoline stockpiles decreased more Minister Alexander Novak, and Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih arrive to should see a “comfortable supply situation in designed to stop inventories building up and Continued on Page 24 the one-day OPEC+ group meeting in the Saudi city of Jeddah yesterday. — AFP Basra “unacceptable and unjustified”. Exxon did not Ramadan Kareem Iraq slams Exxon confirm the withdrawal. “We are closely monitoring. As News in brief a matter of practice, we don’t share specifics related to operational staffing at our facilities,” a spokeswoman Saudi to tax e-cigarettes for evacuating its said. “ExxonMobil has programs and measures in place Roll up your sleeves to provide security to protect its people, operations DUBAI: Saudi Arabia has imposed a special tax on staff amid tension and facilities. We are committed to ensuring the safety electronic cigarettes and sugary drinks, extending of our employees and contractors at all of our facilities similar taxes introduced in 2017 as it seeks to reduce a budget deficit caused by low oil prices. The General By Hassan Twaha Bwambale around the world,” she added. BAGHDAD: Iraq yesterday slammed as “political” a Authority of Zakat and Tax said a 100% tax would decision by US energy giant ExxonMobil to evacuate On Wednesday the United States ordered the evacu- be levied on electronic cigarettes and products used rom the Islamic perspective, according to Al- staff from a southern oil field after Washington ordered ation of non-emergency staff from its Baghdad embassy Imam Al-Menawi, laziness means inadver- in them, and a 50% tax on sugared drinks. Saudi personnel to quit its Baghdad embassy. “The temporary and Arbil consulate, citing an “imminent” threat from Arabia, the Arab world’s largest economy, already tence, negligence and carelessness in doing F withdrawal of employees has nothing to do with securi- Iranian-linked armed groups in Iraq. It came 10 days had a 100% tax on cigarettes and tobacco products, things that are imperative where activeness is ty in southern Iraqi oil fields or any threats,” Oil after the Pentagon deployed an aircraft carrier task force a 100% tax on energy drinks and a 50% on fizzy mandatory. This kind of negligence is dispraised and Minister Thamer Al-Ghadban said. “The reasons are and B-52 bombers to the Gulf to fend off an unspecified drinks. — Reuters disparaged. (Al-Tawfeeq 281) Al-Imam Al-Raghib political and probably linked to tensions in the region,” alleged plot by Tehran to attack US forces or allies. Both said, “Whoever gets accustomed to being lazy and he added in a statement released by the oil ministry. the US and Iran are key allies of Shiite-majority Iraq, and indolent and decides to lean towards luxury and rest Ghadban called the move to pull out staff from the Baghdad has been under pressure from Washington to Ozil dines with Erdogan most of the time, will eventually lose that rest and West Qorna oil field west of the southern port city of limit ties with its Shiite-ruled neighbor. — AFP luxury as a consequence, and will pay a high price.” ANKARA: Arsenal’s German midfielder Mesut Ozil For example, if someone does a sedentary work dined with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan where he rarely moves, time will come when he will during a Ramadan iftar meal in Istanbul late Saturday, contract some preventable diseases as a result of his is the mosque, why do you wear white, why do women a move likely to cause a backlash after previous meet- inactivity, which will cost him money, effort and time.