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An activist group in Morocco has called on the government to prevent the passage of the Japanese-owned cargo ship, Vertom Odette, through its territorial waters over suspicion it is carrying weapons bound for Israel.
The commercial ship, which is sailing under the flag of Luxembourg, left India on April 18 and is set to arrive at the Spanish port of Cartagena on Wednesday, the Moroccan Front to Support Palestine and Against Normalisation said.
Ships sailing east from the Atlantic must pass through the Strait of Gibraltar, separating Spain and Morocco, to enter the Mediterranean.
In a letter to Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhnoush, the group expressed concern that the Vertom Odette is carrying a shipment of ammunition and weapons for Israel and called on the government to act swiftly to prevent what it described as the implication of Morocco "in war crimes".
"The aim of this letter is to avoid the involvement of Moroccan authorities, before the eyes of the world and international law, in accusations relating to complicity in committing war crimes and crimes against humanity,” the letter read.
"The International Court of Justice’s recent decision stated that the occupying state must desist and be careful not to commit any act of genocide against the Palestinians. This decision makes every government that supplies Israel with weapons vulnerable to accusation of complicity in this genocide."
Hundreds have shared online posts urging authorities to take all necessary measures to prevent the Vertom Odette ship from entering Moroccan waters and to ensure it does not reach Israel.
Dozens of activists with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in Luxembourg staged a sit-in outside their country’s Foreign Ministry headquarters on Monday to demand their government prohibits the ship from sailing under the country's flag.
“The Vertom Odette, currently headed to the Spanish port of Cartagena, must be stopped and searched – and all countries have the duty to stop arms deliveries to Israel, including in transit and by ships under their flag,” BDS said in a post on X.
On May 21, Spain refused to give permission for the Israel-bound Danish ship Marianne Danica to dock at Cartagena, after reports it was carrying 26.8 tonnes of explosives, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported.
Activists believe that due to the similarity in the two ships' routes, it is likely the Vertom Odette is also carries a shipment of explosives to Israel.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
INFO
What: DP World Tour Championship
When: November 21-24
Where: Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
