Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Morocco's Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has faced criticism in Parliament over his government's response to the war in Gaza, amid calls to cancel the Mawazine music festival this year in solidarity with the Palestinian enclave.
The issue was raised by the opposition Justice and Development bloc, whose MP Abdellah Bouanou said Morocco must act “to contribute to stopping this [Gaza] genocide by any means”.
“As the head of the government of the Moroccan state, you must contribute in any way to stopping this genocide,” Mr Bouanou said on Monday, in comments directed at Mr Akhannouch. “Until now, we have not heard you talk about the issue.”
Moroccans have staged protests against the war since it began in October, with protesters urging the government to take a more proactive position and to review the 2020 pact establishing ties with Israel.
Activists have called for the Mawazine festival to be cancelled out of respect for those killed and injured in Gaza.
Campaigns have been launched on Instagram and Facebook with hashtags such as #BoycottMawazine and #DoNotDanceOnTheirWounds in a bid to stop the festival from going ahead.
Mr Bouanou urged Mr Akhannouch to “relieve us of the embarrassment that Morocco is dancing on the wounds of its Palestinian brothers”.
The Prime Minister denied that Morocco was ignoring what was happening in Gaza and said his government was taking part in efforts to stop the war.
“Moroccans do not dance to the suffering of our Palestinian brothers and are compassionate with what is happening in Gaza,” Mr Akhannouch said.
“The government is working under the leadership of His Majesty, King Mohamed VI, and as soon as I leave this session, I will head to Amman to attend a meeting on Gaza.”
Fatima Ezzahra Bouraymi, a university student in Casablanca, said she was shocked the Mawazine Festival was set to go ahead.
“It does not make sense for a festival to take place while our brothers and sisters are dying. It is an embarrassment,” she told The National.
Mawazine draws some of music's biggest performers. After being suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival returns this year with a line-up that includes Mohamed Ramadan, Haifa Wehbe, Kylie Minogue and Calvin Harris.
“If Mawazine is to take place, it needs to bring artists that support Palestine and who will carry the Palestinian flag. We do not want big artists such as Nicki Minaj or Beyonce who have never spoken up against the war," Ms Bouraymi added.
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Dubai World Cup prize money
Group 1 (Purebred Arabian) 2000m Dubai Kahayla Classic - $750,000
Group 2 1,600m(Dirt) Godolphin Mile - $750,000
Group 2 3,200m (Turf) Dubai Gold Cup – $750,000
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Group 2 1,900m(Dirt) UAE Derby – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Dirt) Dubai Golden Shaheen – $1,500,000
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Group 1 2,410m (Turf) Dubai Sheema Classic – $5,000,000
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6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes Listed (PA) | Dh175,000 | 1,900m
7.05pm: Maiden for 2-year-old fillies (TB) | Dh165,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: The Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) | Dh265,000 | 1,600m
8.15pm: Maiden for 2-year-old colts (TB) | Dh165,000 | 1,600m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) | Dh265,000 | 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh190,000 | 1,200m
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From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
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Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
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Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV
Power: 360bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh282,870
On sale: now
RESULT
Wolves 1 (Traore 67')
Tottenham 2 (Moura 8', Vertonghen 90 1')
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Tomorrow 2021
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The%20Kitchen
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
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Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
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THREE
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The five pillars of Islam
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
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Sly%20Cooper%20and%20the%20Thievius%20Raccoonus
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
