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Link : https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240508-how-global-companies-handle-political-talk-at-work Amid polarisation, some employers seek to prohibit or rein in political discourse on the clock. Others let it fly. In mid-April, dozens of employees at Google were sacked after staging a sit-in-style protest in the company's California offices, demanding an end to Google's contracts with the Israeli government. Earlier that month, National Public Radio (NPR) suspended senior editor Uri Berliner after he published an essay accusing the news outlet of political bias. (Berliner later resigned.) The New York Times has launched an investigation into its own staff after information leaked pertaining to their coverage of the conflict in Gaza. Similar tensions are simmering in workplaces across the globe, splitting employees and putting pressure on companies to act. "Politics is increasingly something that is not confined anymore to just the political arena," says Edoardo Teso, associate professor of managerial economics and decision sciences at Northwestern University, US, adding that personal opinion can “spill over” into the workplace. As elections take place in dozens of countries this year – including in the UK, the US, India, Pakistan and Belgium – political discussion may well crop up in workplaces around the world, leaving business leaders to determine how this will be handled, and what circumstances cross the line. 'In the wrong place at the wrong time' In 2020, leaders at global software firm Intuit began looking for ways to help employees talk constructively about political matters. They noted an increase in politically charged discussions as Covid-19 broke out, and workers disagreed about healthcare guidance and vaccinations. Following the murder of George Floyd, employees spoke heatedly about race relations. Intuit subsequently put in guardrails for how employees can talk about divisive topics on company channels. "We want you to focus on how you're feeling and how things are affecting you as a person, and less on using our internal channels as a platform for your political views," Intuit's chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, Humera Shahid, tells the BBC of the company’s approach. There are moderators, usually HR or people who lead employee resource groups, who monitor the company's messaging channels to flag "language that could be hurtful or exclude", according to company policy. Posters are asked to take down content that might be incendiary. "We find 99.9% of the time, the intent is very good," says Shahid. "They just don't recognise that they may be causing harm to another employee." Some employers are altogether prohibiting political discussions at work. One of them is the tech company 37Signals, which owns the project-management platform Basecamp. In 2021, CEO Jason Fried asked the company's employees to refrain from political talk in company communication channels. Roughly one-third of Basecamp's employees quit as a result. "It caused a lot of pain for people," says Fried. "I felt bad about that. We anticipated there would be some backlash internally and probably externally, but not quite as much. I think it destabilised the company for a short period of time." Fried says he took the decision because many workers got tired of being pulled into political discussions on the clock. "Some people were like, 'look, I have my opinions, my co-workers have their opinions, but I don't want to debate and discuss world events at work'." Those were the ones who stayed following Fried's announcement. The policy hasn't changed, and Fried stands by his decision from three years ago. "It was the right decision then. It would be the right decision now," he says. "It was a harder decision back then, just given the climate. It was probably one of the best decisions we've ever made. We're far more focused now. There's no conversations that are way off topic, and we're just here to do what we do, which is build project management software. We don't stop for [politics]." The company added its new policy to not only the employee handbook, but also its open job postings. "We respect everyone's right to participate in political expression and activism, but avoid having political debates on our internal communication systems at work. 37signals as a company does not weigh in on politics publicly, outside of topics directly related to our business." Since then, "we've not had a single situation where we had to say something to anybody internally", says Fried. "The people who were very opposed to [the policy] ended up leaving early on, and those who stuck around totally agree with the point of view. It's been pretty much smooth sailing since." GrowthScribe, a small marketing software firm based in the US, also took the decision to blanket ban politics in the workplace. Founder Kartik Ahuja says employee relationships went sour for his team in 2022 when two workers got into a debate about US President Joe Biden. Disagreement turned into name-calling. That's when Ahuja shut down the discourse. "It was happening at the wrong place at the wrong time," he says, adding that such conflict interferes with client work. Ahuja says the policy has been largely well-received and there was no immediate resistance to the initial prohibition on talking politics. But when another argument occurred, like at 37signals, Ahuja added rules to the employee handbook: "Harassment and exclusionary behaviour are unacceptable, including… discussing political parties." 'It's part of the dialogue' In some cases, political discussions are unavoidable – even part of the day job. But some say these conversations need governing, too. Quorum, a company that makes software for public-policy professionals, is well-accustomed to this. The firm ­– which has roughly 400 employees across the US, Brazil, Belgium and the Republic of Moldova – gives its employees leeway to talk about political matters and tricky topics on the job. Brook Carlon, Quorum's chief people officer, says because of the company's work, political talk among workers is expected. "Most are very interested in the political environment, how policy happens, how laws are made and what candidates are doing," she says. "It's something that's been part of the dialogue all along." Workers tread lightly in some areas, she says. For instance, conversations tend to be about policy choices rather than endorsements of specific candidates. Yet disagreements do flare. One topic that reached a boiling point is the Israel-Gaza war. Among employees, support for one side of the conflict was seen as wholesale condemnation of the other. The company quickly stepped in to issue rules: be aware of how your statements could be received by someone who doesn't agree with your views; link to a document with a longer opinion so the channels aren't clogged; and if you're unsure about your language, HR can review it. Some employees are more likely to make use of Quorum's open forum. "Our US-based employees are much happier to engage in this dialogue and have these conversations than our team members in Moldova or Brazil," says Carlon. Wider implications Beyond the way political discussions can complicate employee relationships, some researchers have also found that alignment – or misalignment – among workers and leadership can even affect employment decisions. Scholars studying the relationship between employment and politics in Brazilian workplaces showed business owners are more likely to hire people who share their political affiliations. The researchers found that workers who share a political affiliation with an employer are 48% to 72% more likely to be hired than those who don't. They haven't determined exactly why employers discriminate in favour of their co-partisans, though Teso of Northwestern University – one of the working paper's authors – suspects that some employers think that a workplace where employees share similar political beliefs is likely to be a productive one. "This is probably the reason why many firms prohibit talking about politics at work, because they think that may lead to conflict." Though Teso expected to see some favouritism along party lines, he's been surprised how influential politics can be in hiring. Political alignment seems to be a stronger determinant of employment decisions than race or gender, he says. "The magnitude is something [we] didn't expect to find."

Link : https://euroweeklynews.com/2024/05/10/how-to-support-animal-rescue-in-mallorca/ The animal rescue association Peluditos de Son Reus will be celebrating their tenth anniversary this year. To commemorate the occasion, the association is organising a charity dinner at Es Moli des Compte in Establiments on Friday July 5. With limited spaces available, reservations are highly recommended. The organisation is looking for local acts who would like to support the event by performing. Adopt a Pet In addition to the charity dinner, the organisation is hosting a parade at FAN on June 1 from 17.00 to 20.00. The event will feature eight stands featuring different organisations, all aiming to raise funds for rescued animals in need of loving, forever homes. There will be a chance to meet animals who are currently living in foster homes, and to learn more about pet adoption. Lynda Commons Mitchell, President of Peluditos de Son Reus explains – “Today we rescued a 40-day old pup. This little dog was in real danger. Our work is non-stop.” Following the parade, a raffle will take place providing further support for the cause. Businesses and retailers interested in contributing to the raffle are encouraged to contact Peluditos de Son Reus.Animal Welfare Lynda and her team work tirelessly to educate people about animal welfare, giving talks in schools and denouncing pet cruelty. For many years, Lynda’s beloved dog, Sauron, was the organisation’s greatest ambassador. Sadly, Sauron recently passed away; he is much missed by all.For those who would like to attend the charity dinner, support the charity, or help the association with their day-to-day work, Peluditos de Son Reus can be contacted on 601099154.

Link : https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/10/cars/hyundai-kia-auto-theft-stolen-cars/index.html CNN — Two Hyundai models and one Kia were the three most-stolen vehicles last year, according to a report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Hyundai Elantra compact cars were stolen more than 48,000 times last year while Hyundai Sonata sedans were stolen almost 43,000 times, according to the report. Kia Optima sedans were stolen more than 30,000 times according to the report, which only counted police-reported thefts. These theft numbers far outstripped those of the fourth most stolen model, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup, one of the best-selling vehicles in America. Silverado pickups were stolen about 24,000 times, according to the report. In all, six of the top 10 most-stolen vehicles in America last year were Hyundai and Kia models. The list included the Kia Soul, Kia Forte, and Kia Sportage. Other vehicles on the list were the Honda Accord, Honda Civic and the Ford F-150 pickup. The NICB reports raw numbers of police-reported thefts that are gathered through the National Crime Information Center. The numbers are not adjusted for the po[CENSORED]tion of a given model on the road so, to a certain extent, some vehicles may be more commonly stolen simply because there are more of them available to steal. Why Hyundai and Kia cars are top targets By the first half of 2023, thefts of older Hyundai and Kia models had increased by 1,000% since 2020, according to a report by the Highway Loss Data Institute early this year. Certain older Hyundai and Kia models made before 2023 are particularly vulnerable to car thieves. Less expensive versions of vehicles such as these cars equipped with turn-key ignitions — as opposed to cars that only require a button press to start – are roughly twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of a similar age, according to the HLDI. These vehicles can lack some of the basic auto theft prevention technologies, such as electronic immobilizers, included in most other vehicles even in those years, according to the HLDI. Electronic immobilizers rely on a computer chip in the car and another in the key that communicate to confirm that the key is authentic and belongs to that vehicle. Techniques to steal these cars spread through social media channels. Hyundai and Kia operate as separate companies in the United States, but Hyundai Motor Group owns a large stake in Kia, and various Hyundai and Kia models share much of their engineering. More recent models from these automakers are less vulnerable to theft. Earlier this year, Hyundai and Kia agreed to a $200 million settlement with as many as 9 million vehicle owners to settle claims that the automakers didn’t do enough to make the vehicles secure. Along with payments for stolen and damaged vehicles, the settlement also included installation of anti-theft software and the costs of other theft-preventative measures. “In response to this situation, Kia continues to take comprehensive action to enhance the security of our vehicles in an effort to prevent criminals from using methods of theft po[CENSORED]rized on social media to break the law and steal or attempt to steal certain vehicle models,” Kia spokesman James Bell said in an emailed statement. More than 1.1 million Kia vehicles nationwide have had anti-theft software installed, according to Kia. The company is also providing free steering wheel locks for vehicles that are not able to accept the anti-theft software. Hyundai said it has retroactively added various anti-theft measures on 1.3 million of its vehicles.

Link : https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2024/ulster-senior-football-championship-final-live-across-bbc-sport-ni Armagh are back in an Ulster Senior Football Championship Final aiming to make up for the heartbreak of a penalty shoot-out defeat to Derry in last year’s encounter. They meet a Donegal side who ended Derry’s reign and managed to overcome Tyrone after extra time in their semi-final. The clash between the two giants of Ulster GAA will be live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two Northern Ireland from 3.30pm this Sunday (May 12). Sarah Mulkerrins presents the action from St Tiernach’s Park, Clones alongside Armagh and Donegal All-Stars, Oisín McConville and Michael Murphy. Thomas Niblock is joined on commentary by eight-time All-Ireland winner with Dublin, Philly McMahon, with Mark Sidebottom joined pitchside by Brendan Devenney and Tyrone legend Owen Mulligan. There will also be live audio coverage on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Foyle. Orla Bannon introduces The Championship from 4pm with Oisín Langan on commentary.

Link : https://www.lofficielmalaysia.com/art/are-you-ready-to-embrace-the-boss-24-7-lifestyle Step into the lap of luxury at the exquisite BOSS House Bali, where every moment is tailored for the elite lifestyle. For the launch of its Spring/Summer 2024 collection, fashion brand BOSS marked the occasion with the introduction of BOSS House Bali, a breathtaking villa designed by architect Alexis Dornier. Fusing modern architecture with natural materials, the special venue provides guests with a taste of the 24/7 BOSS lifestyle while embodying a unique sanctuary for those desiring luxury and exclusivity. Embracing the mantra “Feel the Power Within,” the space is designed with an ambience that ignites and fosters creativity and self-exploration. It encapsulates the essence of #BeYourOwnBOSS, promoting a spirit of self-determination, confidence and authenticity. Guests are welcomed into an immersive experience of the BOSS lifestyle at the stunning villa, greeted with a lavish presentation of BOSS The Collection Parfum upon arrival. This luxurious offering allows guests to indulge in BOSS fragrances while enjoying the delightful presence of the resident Dalmatian, stylishly adorned in the brand’s pet accessories. Each of the six exclusive rooms within the villa showcases a curated selection of products from the Spring/Summer 2024 collection. From essential eyewear to bespoke bedding, luxurious bathrobes, towels and branded stationery, BOSS House Bali ensures that guests have everything they need to unwind, recharge and fully immerse themselves in modern luxury. Exclusive access to the rooms is granted until June 15, 2024, for invited guests, and they are only open to the general public for reservation from June 16 to August 31. We highly recommend that you secure your booking and explore your inner BOSS spirit at the inaugural BOSS House Bali, a premier destination of its kind in Southeast Asia.

Link : https://news.sky.com/story/israel-hamas-gaza-latest-ceasefire-rafah-sky-news-live-blog-12978800 Benjamin Netanyahu vows Israelis are ready to "fight with their fingernails" after Joe Biden said he would halt weapon supplies if the country launched a full-scale offensive in Rafah. However, Israel's leader has stopped short of explicitly saying one would be ordered. Israeli singer faces boos at Eurovision rehearsal before large protests in Sweden Despite calls to exclude Israel from this year's Eurovision Song Contest due to the country's deadly war in Gaza, organisers of the event opted to allow the country's participation. As a result, Eden Golan has become a focus for protests, with demonstrators saying they stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The 20-year-old Israeli singer was surrounded by security as she travelled between the hotel and the contest venue in the Swedish city of Malmo on Thursday. Footage on social media showed her being loudly booed while she performed during rehearsals earlier this week, amid shouts of "free Palestine". There was also some applause. Police estimated more than 10,000 people marched through the southern Swedish city yesterday to chants of "Free Palestine" and "Israel is a terror state." Banners accused Eurovision of being complicit in genocide and called for a boycott of the competition. Another protest march is planned for Saturday, hours before Golan competes in the Eurovision final against acts from 25 other countries. Bookmakers say she is likely to finish in the top half of the final competition, decided by a mix of public votes and national music-industry juries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Golan for performing despite "contending with an ugly wave of antisemitism." "So be blessed, and know that when they boo you, we are cheering you on," he said. Gaza aid could grind to a halt within days, UNICEF warns Dwindling food and fuel stocks could force aid operations to grind to a halt within days in Gaza because vital crossings remain shut, forcing hospitals to close down and leading to more malnutrition, United Nations aid agencies have warned today. Humanitarian workers have sounded the alarm this week after Israel closed the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings for aid and people as part of its military operation in Rafah, where more than one million people have been sheltering after fleeing bombardment in other parts of Gaza. "For five days, no fuel and virtually no humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip, and we are scraping the bottom of the barrel," said the UNICEF senior emergency coordinator in the Gaza Strip, Hamish Young. "This is already a huge issue for the po[CENSORED]tion and for all humanitarian actors, but in a matter of days, if not corrected, the lack of fuel could grind humanitarian operations to a halt." Explained: Who are Israel's main weapons suppliers - and who has halted exports? Washington has suspended a shipment of heavy, bunker-busting bombs to Israel - weapons Israeli forces have used in their war against Hamas militants. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has said attacks from Israel have killed nearly 35,000 Palestinians. Israel responded after Hamas launched its 7 October attack - which Israel said killed at least 1,100 people. Joe Biden also publicly warned Israel for the first time that the US would withhold arms supplies if Israeli forces carry out a threatened assault on the city of Rafah, given this could endanger the lives of hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians there. The US has long been by far the largest arms supplier to its closest Middle East ally, followed by Germany - whose strong support for Israel reflects in part atonement for the Nazi Holocaust - and Italy. Two countries, Canada and the Netherlands, have halted arms shipments to Israel this year over concerns they could be used in ways violating international humanitarian law - causing civilian casualties and destruction of residential areas - in Gaza. Most of Gaza's dead from Israeli bombardments and ground offensives have been civilians, international rights groups say. Israel claims it does not target civilians, accusing Hamas militants of hiding among them, which the militants deny. Here are some details of Israel's key weapons suppliers. United States The suspended arms delivery to Israel consisted of 1,800 2,000-pound (907-kg) bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs worth tens of millions of dollars, according to US officials. The decision arose amid concerns about the "end-use of the 2,000-pound bombs and the impact they could have in dense urban settings (like Rafah)...," one US official said. However, billions of dollars worth of US arms remain in the pipeline for Israel, including tank rounds and munitions that convert dumb bombs into precision weapons, although the approval process has slowed, senator Jim Risch, top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said yesterday. US secretary of state Antony Blinken has stopped short of concluding in a pending, highly critical report to Congress on Israel's conduct in Gaza that it has violated the terms for its use of US weapons, it has been reported (see 8.03 post) In 2016 the US and Israel signed a third 10-year Memorandum of Understanding covering the 2018-2028 period providing for $38bn (£30bn) in military aid, $33bn (£26bn) in grants to buy military equipment and $5bn (£4bn) for missile defence systems. Germany German defence export approvals for Israel rose nearly tenfold to €326.5m (£281m) in 2023 compared with 2022 as Berlin treated permit requests as a priority after the 7 October attacks that triggered the war. However, since the start of this year, as international criticism of Israel's war in Gaza mounted, the German government appears to have approved considerably fewer exports of war weapons to Israel. Deliveries worth just €32,449 (£28,000) have so far been allowed, the economics ministry said on 10 April in response to a query in parliament from a left-wing lawmaker. Italy A foreign ministry source told Reuters yesterday that Italy had halted new export approvals since the start of the Gaza war. "Everything stopped. And the last orders were delivered in November," the source said. Under Italian law, arms exports are banned to countries that are waging war and those deemed to be violating international human rights. Britain Britain is not one of Israel's bigger suppliers. Unlike the US, Britain's government does not give arms directly to Israel but rather licences for companies to sell - often components into US supply chains, such as for F-35 jets. Last year, the UK granted export licences to sell at least £42m of defence equipment to Israel - mainly munitions, unmanned air vehicles, small arms ammunition and components for aircraft, helicopters, and assault rifles. Some left-wing opposition parties have called on the government to revoke the export licences in the face of Gaza's soaring death toll, and to publish the legal advice used to reach the assessment that arms exports could continue A low point': UK government condemned for refusing to halt arms sales to Israel As we have been reporting here today, the US has warned Israel it will stop supplying heavy arms if the country presses ahead with its plan to launch a full-scale offensive in Rafah. However, despite that move from Israel's strongest ally, the UK has resisted calls to follow suit in withholding the sale of weaponry, with foreign secretary Lord Cameron saying: "We do not have a UK government supply of weapons to Israel, we have a number of licences, and I think our defence exports to Israel are responsible for significantly less than 1% of their total. "That is a big difference." That stance has been the focus of significant criticism, with Green Party MP Caroline Lucas saying on X that the government "turning their backs on the mass suffering of innocent people" in Gaza was "a low point". Palestinians despair amid destruction after Israeli settler attacks in West Bank Last month, the Palestinian health ministry reported at least 485 people had been killed and 4,900 others injured in attacks by Israeli army forces and illegal settlers in the occupied West Bank since last October. More than 340 attacks were reported on healthcare facilities and workers in the occupied territory during the same period, a ministry statement said. Hamas, which carried out the 7 October attacks, is not in charge in the West Bank and no hostages are being held there. There are regular clashes and riots in the West Bank aggravated by Israeli settlers both threatening and inflicting violence on Palestinians if they do not give up their land - which has been condemned by even the strongest international supporters of Israel, like the US. A report from The Associated Press this morning reveals the depth of despair and helplessness felt by Palestinians in the territory in the face of this violence. It details charred homes and cars dotting the hilltop village of Duma. The head of the village council said the trail of wreckage along Duma's main road was the aftermath of a three-hour attack in mid-April that left 15 homes damaged by arson and six residents injured by bullets. It was one of nearly 800 settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October, according to the UN. The burned remains in Duma also highlight the village's limited resources to clean up and rebuild, let alone defend itself from future incursions, which seem inevitable as gun-toting settlers patrol the area roughly 20 miles north of Jerusalem. "We as the village of Duma... do not have the power to defend ourselves," said Suleiman Dawabsha, chairman of the village council for this community of more than 2,000 people. The rampage on 13 April echoed a similar event that took place almost a decade ago. In 2015, three Palestinians from Duma were killed, including an 18 month-old baby, after settlers fire-bombed a home there. Of the nearly 500 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank, according to the health ministry based in Ramallah, the overwhelming majority have been shot dead by soldiers. Palestinians in the West Bank have killed nine Israelis, including five soldiers, since 7 October, according to UN data. Israeli human rights groups blame the far-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu for fuelling settler violence by promoting an ideology of total Israeli supremacy in the West Bank. These groups say the Israeli army doesn't do enough to stop the violence, and even facilitates it in some cases by offering the settlers protection. The Israeli army said it tries to protect everyone living in the West Bank and that complaints about soldiers are investigated. In Duma, Ibrahim Dawabsha, a truck driver and father of four, said most of his family hid in the kitchen as settlers launched firebombs and set part of their home ablaze. "My daughter was at her uncle's house, there was no one there," he said. "What they [might] do to her I don't know." Spain, Ireland and other EU countries 'to recognise Palestinian state this month' As reported here a little earlier, the UN General Assembly is due to vote today on a resolution that would grant new "rights and privileges" to Palestine and call on the Security Council to "favourably" reconsider its request to become the 194th member of the United Nations. And ahead of that vote European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Spain, Ireland and other EU member countries planned to recognise a Palestinian state on 21 May 21. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in March that Spain and Ireland, along with Slovenia and Malta, had agreed to take the first steps towards recognition of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, seeing a two-state solution as essential for lasting peace. Asked on local Spanish radio station RNE if 21 May was when Spain, Ireland and other EU countries would recognise a Palestinian state, Mr Borrell said yes, mentioning Slovenia as well. "This is a symbolic act of a political nature," he said. "More than a state, it recognises the will for that state to exist." He added that Belgium and other countries would probably follow. Previously, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares had said the decision on recognition had been made, although he did not give a date. The Conservative government has resisted calls for the UK to recognise a Palestinian state, although foreign secretary David Cameron has said this could potentially happen before Israeli-Palestinian talks on a two-state solution concluded. He said in February that official recognition "can’t come at the start of the process, but it doesn't have to be the very end of the process." US warns Israel it will hand Hamas a strategic victory if it launches Rafah assault The United States has warned Israel that it will hand a strategic victory to Hamas if it carries out plans for an all-out assault on Rafah. The warning came as Joe Biden said he would pause more offensive military assistance to Israel if it pushed ahead with the operation in a city where more than one million civilians are sheltering, after being forced to flee from other parts of Gaza. "Our view is any kind of major Rafah ground operation would actually strengthen Hamas's hands at the negotiating table, not Israel's," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. "We believe that they have put an enormous amount of pressure on Hamas and that there are better ways to go after what is left of Hamas in Rafah than a major ground operation." He warned more civilian deaths in Rafah from an Israeli offensive would give more ammunition to Hamas's "twisted narrative" about Israel. Talks in Cairo aimed at securing a six-week ceasefire to allow for the release of some hostages and a surge of food and aid to civilians in Gaza are continuing, Mr Kirby added. But CIA director Bill Burns and other delegations to the talks left Egypt yesterday without a deal. It was reported that Hamas formally accepted a ceasefire deal that would see it release all the remaining hostages in exchange for the war ending. However, Israel said its core demands were not met in the proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, and that it would not agree to a full withdrawal of its forces or a permanent ceasefire. UN to vote on resolution to grant new 'rights and privileges' to Palestine The UN General Assembly is expected to vote today on a resolution that would grant new "rights and privileges" to Palestine and call on the Security Council to "favourably" reconsider its request to become the 194th member of the United Nations. The United States vetoed a widely backed council resolution last month that would have paved the way for full UN membership for Palestine, a goal the Palestinians have long sought and Israel has worked to prevent. US deputy ambassador Robert Wood made clear yesterday that the Biden administration was opposed to the assembly resolution. Under the UN Charter, prospective members must be "peace-loving," and the Security Council must recommend their admission to the General Assembly for final approval. Palestine became a UN non-member observer state in 2012. "We've been very clear from the beginning there is a process for obtaining full membership in the United Nations, and this effort by some of the Arab countries and the Palestinians is to try to go around that," Mr Wood said yesterday. "We have said from the beginning the best way to ensure Palestinian full membership in the UN is to do that through negotiations with Israel. That remains our position." But unlike the Security Council, there are no vetoes in the 193-member General Assembly and the resolution is expected to be approved by a large majority, according to three Western diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations were private. The draft resolution "determines" that a state of Palestine is qualified for membership - dropping the original language that in the General Assembly's judgement it is "a peace-loving state." It therefore recommends that the Security Council reconsider its request "favourably." 'An outrageous development': Israeli extremists set fire to HQ of UN agency for Palestinian refugees The UN's agency for Palestinian refugees has temporarily closed its East Jerusalem headquarters after "Israeli extremists" set fire to the perimeter following weeks of repeated attacks. Philippe Lazzarini, the agency's head, said in a post on X: "This evening, Israeli residents set fire twice to the perimeter of the UNRWA Headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem. "This took place while UNRWA and other UN Agencies’ staff were on the compound. While there were no casualties among our staff, the fire caused extensive damage to the outdoor areas. "The UNRWA headquarters has on its grounds a petrol and diesel station for the Agency's fleet of cars. "Our director with the help of other staff had to put out the fire themselves as it took the Israeli fire extinguishers and police a while before they turned up. A crowd accompanied by armed men were witnessed outside the compound chanting 'Burn down the United Nations'." "While there were no casualties among our staff, the fire caused extensive damage to the outdoor areas," he added, saying that UNRWA staff had put out the fire themselves. It followed two months of "Israeli extremists staging protests outside the UNRWA compound", he said. He described Thursday's arson attempts as "an outrageous development". "Once again, the lives of UN staff were at a serious risk," he said. Satellite images show speed and scale of Rafah evacuation Sky News analysis of satellite imagery has shown that hundreds of tents in Rafah have been removed as Palestinians flee the city, including areas far outside the official evacuation zone. Israel has officially ordered around 100,000 residents of eastern Rafah to flee to al Mawasi. Analysis indicates suggests that the number fleeing the area may be larger than this. The evacuation order was first published at 7.51am local time on Monday. Airstrikes followed, with ground operations beginning that evening. By Tuesday morning, Israel had captured the Rafah border crossing. Images taken on Sunday evening show an estimated 321 tents in camps near the crossing. By Tuesday morning, however, there were just 62 - a decrease of 81%. Read the full story below:

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