January 4, 2023

*) Calls for UNSC meeting over Al Aqsa Mosque The United Arab Emirates and China have called for a UN Security Council meeting after Israel’s national security minister entered the Al Aqsa complex in occupied East Jerusalem. Itamar Ben-Gvir’s move drew fierce condemnation across the world as the move was seen as a provocation that could exacerbate tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. Sitting on a site sacred to Muslims, Jews and Christians, Al Aqsa is a symbol of Palestinian resistance and a primary flashpoint in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Calm is upheld in the site by a sensitive status quo agreement that is regularly bypassed by Israelis visiting the mosque and praying there despite not being allowed to. *) Germany delays emissions goals Short-term measures to ensure energy security following Russia's Ukraine offensive have left Germany behind schedule in its bid to become carbon-neutral by 2045. Data from a climate think tank showed that Germany's carbon dioxide emissions held steady in 2022 as higher use of oil and coal nullified the reductions in emissions through energy savings. Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions were around 761 million tonnes last year, missing a target of 756 million tonnes, despite the country’s renewable energy boom. *) McCarthy's bid for House speaker to continue Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become the US House speaker has continued despite losing in multiple rounds of voting that threw the new GOP majority into chaos. He won no more than 203 votes in three rounds of voting, losing as many as 20 Republicans from his slim 222-seat majority. But McCarthy said Trump wanted him to stay in the race and told him to bring an end to the House Republican chaos and pull the party together. *) Rail workers continue to strike in UK UK rail workers with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers will continue to strike in an ongoing dispute over pay. After a break on Thursday, another 48-hour strike will be staged on Friday and Saturday. The demonstrations