SKY NEWS

The war in Gaza has had repercussions across the Middle East - and Iraq is on a knife edge. Sky's Alex Crawford explains what you need to know.

Shadow minister without portfolio, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, says that he accepts the apology of Labour's candidate for Rochdale - Councillor Azhar Ali. Labour's national campaign coordinator Pat McFadden has just been speaking to broadcasters about the party's decision to suspend Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali and withdraw support. It comes after outrage over Mr Ali saying Israel deliberately allowed the Hamas atrocity to take place in order to give it the "green light" to invade Gaza, and "new information" coming to light since. Mr McFadden said Sir Keir Starmer has "taken the tough but necessary decision" to suspend Mr Ali, and confirms that Labour will not be supporting him.

Sky's military analyst Michael Clarke discusses whether Israel and Hamas are likely to agree to a military pause, potentially forestalling Israel's planned ground offensive in Rafah. Israel claims that Rafah, on the Gaza-Egypt border, is home to the last remaining Hamas stronghold in the region and signalled that its forces may soon target the city. An estimated 1.5 million people are sheltering in Rafah and the UK Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, has urged Israel to "stop and think" before taking any further action.

2024 marks the biggest global election year in history with over 60 countries heading to the polls. Sky News takes a look at some of the countries holding elections this year.

A former chief economist at the Bank of England has said he "laments" Labour's decision to axe its pledge to spend £28bn every year until 2023 on green investments. Speaking to Sky's Sophy Ridge, Andy Haldane said the original promise "led the world" in ambition, and would have benefitted Britain - both in achieving its net zero goals and stimulating growth. Mr Haldane added: "The scaling back of our plans in the UK, at the same time as other countries have stepped up their plans, is unfortunate."

World marathon record holder and London Marathon winner Kelvin Kiptum and his coach have died in a car crash, Kenya's former prime minister has said. Kelvin Kiptum had been training in an attempt to run the first official marathon under two hours this April, before going to the Paris Olympics in the summer. But those races will suffer a diminished field after the loss of an extraordinary talent. The 24-year-old will be remembered for how much was achieved so stunningly quickly, so young - and how races he was destined to dominate for years to come will feel his absence.