mcdonald's is taking back control of all its restaurants in israel. it's buying back 225 outlets from the franchise operator — a company called, alonya. the brand faced a boycott after the franchisee gave away thousands of free meals to israeli soldiers. sales in the region have slumped since the israel—hamas conflict began in october. let's cross over to new york now and speak to our north america business correspondent michelle fleury. why is mcdonald's doing this? i think you have to go back to the start of this conflict, october seven, after that alonya which owns the mcdonald's franchise in israel, said they would give free meals to many israeli soldiers. that sparked a boycott on the company. whether thatis a boycott on the company. whether that is related to this decision it is impossible to know. but they are ending a 30 year relationship in which essentially this franchisee

has built up mcdonald's' reputation and the business in israel and now they are potting ways. if i could just read you a bit of the statement, mcdonald said we thank alonya group limited for building mcdonald's' business and brand and it goes on to say mcdonald's remains committed to the israeli market and maintaining a positive relationship with its customers in the market. that's crucial because it has lots of stores and 5000 employees. they have been told they will be kept on, that they will be taken over by mcdonald's. we have heard from the ceo in the past who is said that there was boycotts in response to that decision to give free meals out, certainly in many muslim countries ranging from malaysia to jordan and other parts of the world, that has had an impact on the bottom line and the ceo said he thought i would continue essentially until the war is over. so this is a chance to kind of hit something of a reset and

we will have to see where it goes from here. we will have to see where it goes from here-— we will have to see where it goes from here. ., ., ., ., , , from here. how damaging has this been for mcdonald's, _ from here. how damaging has this been for mcdonald's, do _ from here. how damaging has this been for mcdonald's, do you - from here. how damaging has this | been for mcdonald's, do you think? well, i mean, it's definitely taken a bite out of their profits and it's worth pointing out they are not the only american big corporation that had this problem, starbucks is another has faced boycotts as a result of the war in israel and gaza. so it definitely has bitten into their profits. but it is unclear what happens going forward and whether there is a plan may be to try and find another franchise owner in the future, or whether they want to just keep the stores for themselves going forward. i think it is probably too early to tell and we have to wait for the next conference cool with investors from the company to try and find out a bit more clarity. to try and find out a bit more clari . �* ., , ., , to try and find out a bit more clari .�* ., ., to try and find out a bit more clari . �* ., , ., , ., ., clarity. another story i wanted to touch on with _ clarity. another story i wanted to touch on with you, _ clarity. another story i wanted to touch on with you, we _ clarity. another story i wanted to touch on with you, we have - clarity. another story i wanted to touch on with you, we have had i clarity. another story i wanted to - touch on with you, we have had some strong numbers onjobs touch on with you, we have had some strong numbers on jobs out of the us, haven't we? strong numbers on “obs out of the us, haven't we?— strong numbers on “obs out of the us, haven't we? yes, we have. this was a huge — us, haven't we? yes, we have. this was a huge surprise. _ us, haven't we? yes, we have. this was a huge surprise. people - us, haven't we? yes, we have. this was a huge surprise. people were . was a huge surprise. people were expecting signs that the job market was still strong but weakening. that

was still strong but weakening. that was not what happened. if you look at data for march, 303,000 jobs were created by american employers. that was way above the 200 and something thousand we expected from economists. the employment rate, 3.8%, i think that shows that kind of labour market which has been the engine of so much of america's economic growth in the last kind of several months continues to be a driver. the question is, is it a bit too hot in that sort of goldilocks sense for the federal reserve, america's central bank, as it weighs up america's central bank, as it weighs up where it stands in its battle against inflation.— up where it stands in its battle auainst inflation. ~ ., ., ~' against inflation. what do you think is drivin: against inflation. what do you think is driving all — against inflation. what do you think is driving all of _ against inflation. what do you think is driving all of this _ against inflation. what do you think is driving all of this surprise - is driving all of this surprise growth injobs?— is driving all of this surprise growth in jobs? is driving all of this surprise urowth in “obs? ~ ,, growth in “obs? welcome you look under growth injobs? welcome you look under the hood _ growth injobs? welcome you look under the hood and _ growth injobs? welcome you look under the hood and most - growth injobs? welcome you look under the hood and most of - growth injobs? welcome you look under the hood and most of the i growth in jobs? welcome you look| under the hood and most of the job creation came from things like governmentjobs. but there was also a huge amount in construction. so that sort of seems to suggest that some of the infrastructure spending

from some of the biden administration's policies is perhaps having an impact there. you're also seeing growth in the service sector. but there we are talking about lower paid jobs, serverjobs, but there we are talking about lower paidjobs, serverjobs, restaurants, paid jobs, server jobs, restaurants, retail, paidjobs, serverjobs, restaurants, retail, where perhaps the pay isn't as high. so i think across the board you are seeing pretty steady growth, but in the private sector, certainly in the server side, it tends to be lower paid jobs. at this point, though, it does seem to be pretty broad and i think because of that this is a positive sign.— this is a positive sign. sorry to “um in, this is a positive sign. sorry to jump in. we — this is a positive sign. sorry to jump in, we have _ this is a positive sign. sorry to jump in, we have to _ this is a positive sign. sorry to jump in, we have to cross - this is a positive sign. sorry to jump in, we have to cross to l this is a positive sign. sorry to l jump in, we have to cross to the this is a positive sign. sorry to - jump in, we have to cross to the un where the secretary general of the un is talking about gaza. and shifting blame, denying internationaljournalists entry into gazais internationaljournalists entry into gaza is allowing this —— disinformation and false narratives to flourish. the communitarian workers killed in this conflict and pledged to remember their commitment and sacrifice. following this week's

appalling killing of seven humanitarian workers from world central kitchen, the israeli government has acknowledged mistakes and announced some disciplinary measures. but the essential problem is not who made the mistakes, it is the military strategy and procedures in place that allow for those mistakes to multiply time and time again. fixing those failures requires an independent investigation and meaningful and measurable changes on the ground. in the aftermath of this tragedy, the united nations was also informed by the israeli government of its intention to allow a substantial increase in humanitarian aid distributed in gaza. i sincerely hope that these announced intentions are effectively and quickly materialised because the situation in gaza is absolutely desperate. dramatic humanitarian conditions

require a quantum leap in the delivery of life—saving aid, a true paradigms shift. i repeat my urgent appeals for a community no immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, the protection of civilians and delivery of humanitarian aid unimpeded. last week the security council cold for just that and in december the council demanded the acceleration of delivery of life—saving aid under a un mechanism. all these demands must be permitted. —— called forjust that. failure would be unforgivable. six months on we are at the brink of mass starvation, regional conflagration, of a total loss of faith in global standards and norms. it is time to step back from the brink, to silence the guns, to ease the horrible suffering and to stop the horrible suffering and to stop the potential famine before the horrible suffering and to stop the potentialfamine before it is too late. thank you.

the potential famine before it is too late. thank you.— the potential famine before it is too late. thank you. thank you, mr secretary-general. _ too late. thank you. thank you, mr secretary-general. you _ too late. thank you. thank you, mr secretary-general. you have - too late. thank you. thank you, mr secretary-general. you have said l secretary—general. you have said there _ secretary—general. you have said there should be an independent investigation. what can the united nations do to promote _ what can the united nations do to promote such an investigation? well, it is uppishly — promote such an investigation? well, it is uppishly for _ promote such an investigation? well, it is uppishly for the _ promote such an investigation? -ii it is uppishly for the government of israel to accept the possibility of that independent investigation because the investigation can only work with the cooperation of the israeli authorities. but as i said, the question is not only the specific incidents. 196 humanitarian workers have been killed and we want to know why each one of them was killed. ., ~ to know why each one of them was killed. . ~ , ., to know why each one of them was killed. . ~ ,, ~ killed. thank you, mr secretary-general. . killed. thank you, mr . secretary-general. from killed. thank you, mr - secretary-general. from al killed. thank you, mr _ secretary-general. from aljazeera secretary—general. from al jazeera english _ secretary—general. from aljazeera english. the israeli government seems — english. the israeli government seems to— english. the israeli government seems to indicate that they would only open— seems to indicate that they would only open the erez crossing temporarily. are you satisfied with that? _ temporarily. are you satisfied with that? we— temporarily. are you satisfied with that? ~ ., �* ~ ., temporarily. are you satisfied with that? ., �* ~ ., , temporarily. are you satisfied with that? ., �* ~ ., y ., temporarily. are you satisfied with

that? ~ ., y ., ~ ., that? we don't know yet what kind of measures will — that? we don't know yet what kind of measures will be _ that? we don't know yet what kind of measures will be announced - that? we don't know yet what kind ofj measures will be announced entirely. it is obvious that as i said it is not enough to have scattered measures. we need a paradigms shift. we will see if it comes and after that we will pronounce ourselves. thank you. mr secretary—general, we have grown— thank you. mr secretary—general, we have grown accustomed to straight talk without fear or favour in this united _ talk without fear or favour in this united nations of antonio guterres. on united nations of antonio guterres. 0“ the _ united nations of antonio guterres. on the 25th of march there was the endorsement of the council with the absieniion— endorsement of the council with the abstention of the united states. we had a _ abstention of the united states. we had a statement from high officials in the _ had a statement from high officials in the united states including the national— in the united states including the national security council and the white _ national security council and the white house that this resolution is non—binding. this really concerned millions— non—binding. this really concerned millions of— non—binding. this really concerned millions of people in my region. can

you out— millions of people in my region. can you put the — millions of people in my region. can you put the matter to lay? and please — you put the matter to lay? and please clarify to us whether the security— please clarify to us whether the security council resolutions are binding — security council resolutions are binding or— security council resolutions are binding or non—binding? and another point, _ binding or non—binding? and another point, today— binding or non—binding? and another point, today israel has fired two low level— point, today israel has fired two low level officers and reprimanded some _ low level officers and reprimanded some high officers for the bombing of the _ some high officers for the bombing of the world central kitchen. is that enough?— of the world central kitchen. is that enou~h? ~ , ., ., that enough? well, first of all, the secretary-general _ that enough? well, first of all, the secretary-general guided - that enough? well, first of all, the secretary-general guided by - that enough? well, first of all, the secretary-general guided by the i secretary—general guided by the charter the charter is clear in article 25. please read article 25 and you will be perfectly aware of the nature of the resolutions of the security council. and the second, as i said, the question is not only to know if some mistakes were committed

and who committed them, the question is the system that allows those mistakes to happen time and time again. and it is the change of that system that is required, which implies a change in the strategy and the procedures that the military are using in gaza. thank you. mr secretary—general, what is your tool of last _ secretary—general, what is your tool of last resort? secretary-general, what is your tool of last resort?_ of last resort? studio: that was antonio guterres, _ of last resort? studio: that was antonio guterres, the _ of last resort? studio: that was antonio guterres, the head - of last resort? studio: that was antonio guterres, the head of i of last resort? studio: that was| antonio guterres, the head of the un, talking about the humanitarian situation in gaza, talking about the report that has been made by the israeli government into that incident in which seven aid workers were killed. now i think we are going to move on with the latest in business news. we are going to be talking about flexible working which is a right that has now been

implement it on the first day of employment here in the uk. we have been speaking to victoria usher who runs a pr agency called gingermay. as a working mum, it is absolutely imperative to have flexible working and i was put in an impossible situation of having to choose between being a parent and having a career. and i was actually made to go back to work to meetings after three weeks and then go back to work full—time after six weeks, which is absolutely impossible. it's a very difficult situation. and we know that working parents really do want to develop that career and they want to have that career trajectory. so in our business, we make sure that is literally baked in from day one. and because of that we have incredibly loyal staff, they stay for an incredibly long time. so it's a proven recipe.

viktoria usher. this is what the markets are doing. not looking very hopeful at all, that's all down to the strong jobs growth out of the us which means interest rates could be cut later than people expected. that's it from me. the sport today is next. thank you forjoining us.

hello from the bbc sport centre. i'm tanya arnold. we start with formula 1, where bad weather wreaked havoc with the second practice session of the day. on—and—off rain meant the track was unsuitable for both dry and wet tyres. mclaren's oscar piastri topped the session, but was among just three drivers able to set lap times on slick tyres. mercedes saw a big improvement in performance, with both george russell and lewis hamilton setting times less than half a second off the pace

in the earlier session. the best session that we have had this year, the best car has felt this year so far so it felt really positive and i was really excited cos this is a circuit that every driver loves to drive. the last couple of years we have had a really difficult balance, a difficult car and a difficult balance to drive here, and given the difficult last few races we have had, great work has been done this past week and we seem to have hit the ground in a sweeter spot. qualifying for the women's european championship is under way and later the defending champions england start their campaign at home to sweden. sarina wiegman's side have a very tough group with two other of the world's top six teams in there in france and sweden. only two will go through automatically and weigman knows history will count for nothing. that was then. that was a great moment,

but we all move on. there have been lots of things happen in between that period —