Minister prays at contentious Al-Aqsa mosque compound, igniting controversy in Israel and Palestine
In recent developments, ceasefire negotiations in Gaza have hit a deadlock, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) security cabinet approving a plan for taking control of Gaza City, signalling a possible military escalation rather than a ceasefire agreement.
The visit of Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a highly sensitive disputed holy site in Jerusalem, has further complicated the situation. Ben-Gvir’s visit involved him praying at the compound—an act that challenges the longstanding “status quo” agreement that prohibits Jewish prayer there. Such actions are perceived as provocative by Palestinian and Muslim authorities, raising tensions around a flashpoint location that holds great religious and political significance.
Ben-Gvir has openly criticized the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, calling them “reckless deals” that encourage Hamas, and has urged Netanyahu to halt the talks and adopt a more aggressive military policy against Hamas. In a controversial move, Ben-Gvir called for Israel to conquer the entire Gaza Strip during his prayer at the Temple Mount.
The Israeli government's hardening stance has been met with condemnation from neighbouring countries. Jordan and Saudi Arabia have spoken out against Ben-Gvir's visit, while India remains defiant in the face of US threats over its purchases of Russian oil.
Meanwhile, measles is surging again worldwide due to vaccine skepticism. In London, just 73% of five-year-olds are vaccinated, and Canada has had more cases of measles than the entire US this year, putting it at risk of losing its status of having eliminated the virus. The change is driven by falling vaccination rates: Measles is highly contagious and 95% vaccine coverage is needed to break transmission, but many countries have uptake of 80% or less, with the lowest rates among ethnic minorities.
In other news, the European Union saw an almost tenfold annual increase in reported cases of measles to more than 35,000 in 2024. This surge in measles cases has raised concerns about the effectiveness of vaccination programmes and the need for increased public education and outreach.
In business news, Tesla is giving Elon Musk $29 billion in stock to keep his "energies focused" on the carmaker rather than his sprawling space, AI, and brain-science empire. The crossing from the Horn of Africa to Yemen has become one of the world's busiest and most perilous routes for migrants, with dozens dying after a boat carrying around 150 people capsized off the coast of Yemen.
BP made its 10th oil and gas discovery this year off the coast of Brazil, boosting the British major's efforts to refocus on fossil fuels and shift away from renewables. Saudi Arabia's state oil giant Aramco reported worse-than-expected earnings, with quarterly profit falling for a 10th successive quarter. The company is appealing to the Delaware Supreme Court to reinstate a $29 billion stock package granted to Musk, which could disappear if the court rules against the company.
Defense tech firm Palantir, which has secured millions in US government contracts under President Donald Trump's second term, topped $1 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time. The deal comes amid a broader expansion of defense spending worldwide, with European powers in particular looking to wean themselves off US dependence.
The US awarded a huge contract to a Japanese firm to build advanced warships for Australia's navy, deepening military ties between the two nations. The strategy contrasts with that of Pakistan, which landed a more favourable US tariff rate of 19%, in part because of Trump's interest in the country's oil reserves, but also because Islamabad "didn't ruffle feathers on the geopolitical front," an expert told Nikkei.
Negotiations over a global treaty to curb plastic pollution resume today, but opposition from the US and other oil-producing states has dimmed hopes for success. The Trump administration wants to limit the treaty to waste management, while petrostates such as Saudi Arabia and Russia want voluntary measures rather than binding caps.
In politics, Brazil's Supreme Court put former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest ahead of his trial over an alleged coup plot. The visit of US President Donald Trump to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem has also been a topic of discussion, with the Prime Minister of Israel reiterating his support for the status quo over the Temple Mount, but relying on Ben-Gvir's party to maintain his slim parliamentary majority.
The number of people going hungry worldwide fell by 15 million between 2023 and 2024, with Southern Asia and Latin America seeing particular gains. The turnaround plan announced earlier this year by BP pulled the plug on its 2020 pledge to become a net-zero energy company.
In conclusion, tensions in Gaza continue to escalate, with ceasefire talks at a deadlock and Israeli security decisions leaning toward military action. The visit of Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound has further exacerbated tensions, undermining trust for progress on a political resolution. Meanwhile, measles is surging worldwide due to vaccine skepticism, and the European Union has seen an almost tenfold annual increase in reported cases of measles. In business news, Tesla is giving Elon Musk $29 billion in stock, and BP has made its 10th oil and gas discovery this year. The US has awarded a huge contract to a Japanese firm to build advanced warships for Australia's navy, deepening military ties between the two nations.
The controversies in Israeli politics continue to escalate, with the visit of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound further complicating the general-news situation. Ben-Gvir's actions challenge the ceasefire negotiations and encourage provocative behaviors, as his call for Israel to conquer the entire Gaza Strip during his prayer at the Temple Mount signals his support for crime-and-justice actions.
In the realm of health, measles is experiencing a surge worldwide due to falling vaccination rates, with the European Union seeing an almost tenfold annual increase in reported cases of the disease. This increase in measles cases has raised concerns about the effectiveness of vaccination programs and the need for increased public awareness and education.
