KUWAIT CITY // A senior Iranian military official yesterday denied allegations that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps established a spy cell in Kuwait while some the country's parliamentarians questioned the government's silence on the issue and demanded action against Iran.
The local newspaper Al Qabas reported on Saturday that security forces had arrested at least seven men for their involvement in a spy cell that was gathering information about Kuwaiti and US targets for the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), quoting high-ranking security sources.
Confessions from the suspects have indicated the involvement of six Kuwaitis and two stateless citizens who work in the country's military, and one Lebanese suspect still on the run, the newspaper reported yesterday.
The reports about the IRGC's involvement in espionage in Kuwait is an attempt by "the Zionist media and its proxies" to spread a "phobia" against the organisation, its head of public relations, General Ramezan Sharif, told Fars News Agency. The Iranian embassy strongly denied any link to the alleged cell.
Security forces discovered maps, sophisticated communications equipment and more than US$250,000 (Dh918,224) after raiding a leader of the alleged cell's house, the newspaper reported on Saturday. It said the accused confessed to trying to recruit new members who were sympathetic to the ideas of the IRGC.
Members of the group had visited Iran under the pretext of medical treatment, tourism and visiting religious sites, the report said.
The Kuwaiti government has made no official statement, which has sparked intense media interest in Kuwait, and yesterday in parliament, the speaker of the house, Jassim al Kharafi, urged it to do so, because "comment can be made after the whole picture has emerged".
Other MPs were not so reticent. Mohammed Hayef, an Islamist parliamentarian, called on the government to cancel all of its agreements and end diplomatic relations with Iran.
Speaking on behalf of the Reform and Development Bloc, a coalition of four Islamist MPs, Faisal al Muslim said the government's silence over the issue is surprising and the security force's discovery of the network demonstrates that Iran continues to represent a threat to the countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council.
The minister for state for National Assembly affairs, Mohammed al Busairi, said he regretted the media's handling of an issue related to the security of the state, which includes details of things that are "not well established".
jcalderwood@thenational.ae
Correction: This article has been altered to reflect that Jassim al Kharafi, urged the Kuwait government to make a statement, because "comment can be made after the whole picture has emerged".
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
RACE CARD
4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m
5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m
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Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai,
HBKU Press