A by-election in northern England that should have been routine for the governing Labour Party is instead becoming a test of how fragmented British politics has become.
Voters in the Gorton and Denton constituency of Greater Manchester are set to cast ballots on February 26 after long-serving MP Andrew Gwynne resigned in January.
Eleven candidates are vying for the seat: Sir Oink A-Lot (Official Monster Raving Loony Party); Nick Buckley (Advance UK); Charlotte Cadden (Conservative Party); Dan Clarke (Libertarian Party); Matt Goodwin (Reform UK); Sebastian Moore (Social Democratic Party); Joseph O’Meachair (Rejoin EU Party); Jackie Pearcey (Liberal Democrats); Hannah Spencer (Green Party); Angeliki Stogia (Labour Party); and Hugo Wills (Communist League).
For years, Gorton and Denton was considered a Labour stronghold, but now the party faces a battle amid growing voter dissatisfaction and internal friction.
The lead-up to the vote has been dominated by a high-profile dispute over the selection of Labour’s new candidate after a bid by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to stand as the candidate was blocked, with the party’s leadership choosing Stogia, a local councillor, to defend the seat.
Still, Labour commands loyal support. “[They do a] very good job and we support them,” Khaled Osman, a local supporter, told Al Jazeera. “We appreciate everything they do: the support for refugees, for asylum, and for the people who work hard.”
Not everyone, however, in this diverse and relatively deprived constituency feels that way.
“The sooner Labour’s out of power, the better,” said resident Colin Hensey, pointing to the decline of local services. “Wherever you go, you’re trying to get a doctor’s appointment now. And yet, this is why everybody is going off to the A&E [accident and emergency] because they can’t get local appointments at the surgery. We never had this problem 20, 30 years ago.”
On Labour’s left flank, the Green Party is positioning itself as an alternative, arguing that the governing party has moved away from some the values it once championed.
The far-right Reform UK is also vying for a victory, presenting itself as the anti-system voice – tough on immigration and crime, and openly hostile to what it calls a broken political class.
“I think Labour’s let us down for years,” said Carl Morris, a Reform supporter. “I’ve worked in Denton for 28 years now, and the place is just full of rubbish. People are dumping stuff all over the show. Labour’s done nothing for this town.”
Reporting from Gorton and Denton, Al Jazeera’s Sonia Gallego said every single vote will count in the seemingly tight contest later this month.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has accused Israel of committing an environmental crime after Israeli forces sprayed an unknown substance over southern Lebanese towns, which Beirut described as toxic.
Aoun condemned the Israeli move on Wednesday, saying he ordered government agencies to take all diplomatic and legal measures to “respond to this aggression”, which he said represents a “blatant violation” of Lebanon’s sovereignty.
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“This is an environmental and health crime against Lebanese citizens and their land,” Aoun was quoted as saying by Lebanon’s National News Agency.
He added that the incident is a “continuation of repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon and its people”.
Since Hezbollah and Israel reached a ceasefire agreement in November 2024, Israel has been attacking Lebanon almost daily in breach of the deal.
“These dangerous practices that target agricultural lands and the livelihoods of citizens and threaten their health and environment require the international community and relevant United Nations organisations to assume their responsibilities to stop these attacks,” Aoun said.
UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, had said they were informed on Monday by the Israeli military that it would spray a “non-toxic chemical substance” from the air over areas near the border.
“The [Israeli military] said that peacekeepers should stay away and remain under cover, forcing them to cancel over a dozen activities,” UNIFIL said.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said on Tuesday that UNIFIL suspended its operations for nine hours due to the attack, and the force later worked with the Lebanese army to collect samples of the sprayed substance to be tested for toxicity.
The exact nature of the chemical remains unclear.
“Any activity that may put peacekeepers and civilians at risk is of serious concern,” Dujarric had said on Monday. “We reiterate our call on all parties to fully comply with their obligations under resolution 1701.”
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended a war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, remains the basis of the ceasefire in south Lebanon.
Israel continues to occupy five points within Lebanese territory as it blocks the reconstruction of several border villages that it levelled to the ground, preventing tens of thousands of displaced people from returning to their homes.
The Lebanese government has been pushing to stem Israeli violations through diplomacy to no avail.
In January, Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a complaint to the UN, documenting 2,036 Israeli breaches of the ceasefire in the final three months of 2025.
At the same time, last year, Beirut issued a decree to disarm Hezbollah, which the Iran-allied group has called a “grave” mistake.
The Lebanese party argues that its armed wing is necessary to stop Israel’s expansionism.
Still, Hezbollah, which has been weakened by the 2024 Israeli assault that killed the group’s top leaders, has not responded militarily to the repeated Israeli attacks.
While refusing to give up its weapons, Hezbollah has tacitly agreed to disarmament south of the Litani River by the Israeli border in accordance with UN Resolution 1701. Last month, the Lebanese government said it completed removing Hezbollah’s weapons in that area.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has accused Israel of committing an environmental crime after Israeli forces sprayed an unknown substance over southern Lebanese towns, which Beirut described as toxic.
Aoun condemned the Israeli move on Wednesday, saying he ordered government agencies to take all diplomatic and legal measures to “respond to this aggression”, which he said represents a “blatant violation” of Lebanon’s sovereignty.
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“This is an environmental and health crime against Lebanese citizens and their land,” Aoun was quoted as saying by Lebanon’s National News Agency.
He added that the incident is a “continuation of repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon and its people”.
Since Hezbollah and Israel reached a ceasefire agreement in November 2024, Israel has been attacking Lebanon almost daily in breach of the deal.
“These dangerous practices that target agricultural lands and the livelihoods of citizens and threaten their health and environment require the international community and relevant United Nations organisations to assume their responsibilities to stop these attacks,” Aoun said.
UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, had said they were informed on Monday by the Israeli military that it would spray a “non-toxic chemical substance” from the air over areas near the border.
“The [Israeli military] said that peacekeepers should stay away and remain under cover, forcing them to cancel over a dozen activities,” UNIFIL said.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said on Tuesday that UNIFIL suspended its operations for nine hours due to the attack, and the force later worked with the Lebanese army to collect samples of the sprayed substance to be tested for toxicity.
The exact nature of the chemical remains unclear.
“Any activity that may put peacekeepers and civilians at risk is of serious concern,” Dujarric had said on Monday. “We reiterate our call on all parties to fully comply with their obligations under resolution 1701.”
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended a war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, remains the basis of the ceasefire in south Lebanon.
Israel continues to occupy five points within Lebanese territory as it blocks the reconstruction of several border villages that it levelled to the ground, preventing tens of thousands of displaced people from returning to their homes.
The Lebanese government has been pushing to stem Israeli violations through diplomacy to no avail.
In January, Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a complaint to the UN, documenting 2,036 Israeli breaches of the ceasefire in the final three months of 2025.
At the same time, last year, Beirut issued a decree to disarm Hezbollah, which the Iran-allied group has called a “grave” mistake.
The Lebanese party argues that its armed wing is necessary to stop Israel’s expansionism.
Still, Hezbollah, which has been weakened by the 2024 Israeli assault that killed the group’s top leaders, has not responded militarily to the repeated Israeli attacks.
While refusing to give up its weapons, Hezbollah has tacitly agreed to disarmament south of the Litani River by the Israeli border in accordance with UN Resolution 1701. Last month, the Lebanese government said it completed removing Hezbollah’s weapons in that area.
The tenth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026.
Twenty teams will be competing in 55 matches for the chance to win cricket’s most prestigious T20 trophy.
But cricket is a game with a list of commonly used terms and phrases that might confuse those new to it.
In this illustrated guide, Al Jazeera breaks down cricket lingo and helps you understand the game beloved by nearly two billion people.
What is the aim of the game?
Cricket is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams consisting of 11 players each.
The game is divided into two parts, known as innings.
In the first innings, following a coin toss, the first team bats while the other team bowls and fields.
The batting team should try to score the highest number of runs in the allotted time, while the bowling team has to try to prevent them from scoring.
The bowling team has dedicated bowlers, while the remaining players, spread across the ground, try to prevent the batters from scoring runs as well as catch the ball to get the batters out.
In the second innings, the bowling team now gets a turn to bat and try to score more runs than their opposition.
The team with the highest number of runs at the end of the day wins the game.
What does T20 mean?
There are three different formats in cricket, each with its own duration and rules.
Each format has its own defined set of “overs”.
An “over” consists of six deliveries by the bowler.
In a T20 match, which usually lasts three to four hours, each team is given 20 overs (120 balls) to score the most number of runs. This format of the game is designed to be shorter and faster-paced, which provides more excitement for spectators.
A One Day International (ODI) match typically lasts about seven to eight hours. Each team is given a total of 300 deliveries, which are divided into 50 overs, to score the most number of runs.
A Test match is the longest and oldest format of the game, played over a maximum of five days. It is considered a test of endurance and skill. Each day has a minimum of 90 overs. Both teams have two innings each.
The cricket field and pitch
Cricket is played in a large, oval-shaped field, typically about 150 metres (164 yards) in diameter at its widest point and surrounded by a boundary rope.
In the centre of the field is the pitch, a rectangular area about 20 metres long (22 yards) and 3 metres (3.3 yards) wide, where most of the action takes place.
At each end of the pitch are three wooden sticks known as wickets or stumps, with two bails atop them.
The batter stands in front of these wickets inside a specified area known as the batting crease. It is from there that he or she will strike the incoming ball from the bowler.
During the match, the batting team will actually have two players on the field, one on either end of the pitch, to take turns in hitting the ball.
The bowling team, meanwhile, will have all 11 players scattered throughout the field to minimise the number of runs their opponents can score.
Some of the most common positions are shown below:
How are runs scored?
The aim for the batters is to score as many runs as possible by hitting the ball in the gaps between the fielders or over the boundary rope.
To score a run, the batter needs to hit the ball and then, together with their batting partner, run to the opposite side of the pitch before the fielder returns the ball; otherwise, they can be run out.
A single run is scored when both batters safely complete one run, a two-run when they complete two runs, and so on.
If a batter hits the ball along the ground and it reaches the boundary rope, then four runs are awarded.
To signal that four runs have been scored, the umpire moves his right hand from one side to the other, repeatedly waving it back and forth horizontally.
Umpire Paul Reiffel (R) signals four runs during a Test match between West Indies and India [Randy Brooks/AFP]
The maximum, six runs, is scored when the batter hits the ball directly over the boundary before it bounces. This shot is the most rewarding but also among the riskiest, due to the chances of getting bowled or caught.
To signal a six, the umpire will raise both hands above his head, which the fans will often imitate.
Umpire Michael Gough (R) signals for six runs during a One Day International cricket match between Zimbabwe and Ireland [Jekesai Njikizana/AFP]
How does a player get ‘out’?
There are several ways to get a batter out, with each out referred to as “losing a wicket”.
Since cricket is played with pairs of batsmen, when 10 players from the batting team are dismissed, their innings concludes, and the sum of the runs they scored sets the target score for the bowling team.
The most common ways of getting a player out include:
Bowled: This happens if the batter misses the ball, and it goes on to hit the wicket.
Caught: A batter is caught out when they hit the ball and a fielder catches it before it touches the ground.
Run-Out: A run-out happens when the fielding team throws the ball at the wicket while the batter is trying to score a run and before they can reach the opposite side of the pitch.
LBW (Leg Before Wicket): This decision depends on various factors, but in a nutshell, a batter can be given out LBW if the ball hits their legs while they are standing in front of the wicket, thus preventing the wicket from being hit.
To signal an “out”, the umpire who is standing in the middle of the field will raise his index finger to signify that a batter has been dismissed.
This gesture is often referred to as the umpire having “raised the finger” or “given the finger”.
The on-field umpire signals an out for Australia’s Pat Cummins before the decision is overturned following a review [Andrew Boyers/Reuters]
How do you read the score?
To follow the score in cricket, you need to look at three numbers.
The first is the number of runs a team has scored – the higher the number, the better.
The second indicates the number of “outs” or “wickets”. Once 10 players are out, their batting innings come to an end.
The third is the number of overs that have been bowled.
Combined, a score may look like this: 109-5 (10 overs)
This means that 109 runs have been scored, 5 players are out, and 10 overs have been completed.
(Al Jazeera)
Typically, teams make anywhere from 100 to 250 runs during a T20 match. A score of 100 is considered low to defend, while 250 runs is usually very strong.
The highest score in international T20 cricket was between Zimbabwe and The Gambia in 2024.
Zimbabwe batted first and scored a huge 344-4 in their 20 overs. In response, The Gambia only managed 54 runs before losing all 10 of their wickets.
The tenth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026.
Twenty teams will be competing in 55 matches for the chance to win cricket’s most prestigious T20 trophy.
But cricket is a game with a list of commonly used terms and phrases that might confuse those new to it.
In this illustrated guide, Al Jazeera breaks down cricket lingo and helps you understand the game beloved by nearly two billion people.
What is the aim of the game?
Cricket is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams consisting of 11 players each.
The game is divided into two parts, known as innings.
In the first innings, following a coin toss, the first team bats while the other team bowls and fields.
The batting team should try to score the highest number of runs in the allotted time, while the bowling team has to try to prevent them from scoring.
The bowling team has dedicated bowlers, while the remaining players, spread across the ground, try to prevent the batters from scoring runs as well as catch the ball to get the batters out.
In the second innings, the bowling team now gets a turn to bat and try to score more runs than their opposition.
The team with the highest number of runs at the end of the day wins the game.
What does T20 mean?
There are three different formats in cricket, each with its own duration and rules.
Each format has its own defined set of “overs”.
An “over” consists of six deliveries by the bowler.
In a T20 match, which usually lasts three to four hours, each team is given 20 overs (120 balls) to score the most number of runs. This format of the game is designed to be shorter and faster-paced, which provides more excitement for spectators.
A One Day International (ODI) match typically lasts about seven to eight hours. Each team is given a total of 300 deliveries, which are divided into 50 overs, to score the most number of runs.
A Test match is the longest and oldest format of the game, played over a maximum of five days. It is considered a test of endurance and skill. Each day has a minimum of 90 overs. Both teams have two innings each.
The cricket field and pitch
Cricket is played in a large, oval-shaped field, typically about 150 metres (164 yards) in diameter at its widest point and surrounded by a boundary rope.
In the centre of the field is the pitch, a rectangular area about 20 metres long (22 yards) and 3 metres (3.3 yards) wide, where most of the action takes place.
At each end of the pitch are three wooden sticks known as wickets or stumps, with two bails atop them.
The batter stands in front of these wickets inside a specified area known as the batting crease. It is from there that he or she will strike the incoming ball from the bowler.
During the match, the batting team will actually have two players on the field, one on either end of the pitch, to take turns in hitting the ball.
The bowling team, meanwhile, will have all 11 players scattered throughout the field to minimise the number of runs their opponents can score.
Some of the most common positions are shown below:
How are runs scored?
The aim for the batters is to score as many runs as possible by hitting the ball in the gaps between the fielders or over the boundary rope.
To score a run, the batter needs to hit the ball and then, together with their batting partner, run to the opposite side of the pitch before the fielder returns the ball; otherwise, they can be run out.
A single run is scored when both batters safely complete one run, a two-run when they complete two runs, and so on.
If a batter hits the ball along the ground and it reaches the boundary rope, then four runs are awarded.
To signal that four runs have been scored, the umpire moves his right hand from one side to the other, repeatedly waving it back and forth horizontally.
Umpire Paul Reiffel (R) signals four runs during a Test match between West Indies and India [Randy Brooks/AFP]
The maximum, six runs, is scored when the batter hits the ball directly over the boundary before it bounces. This shot is the most rewarding but also among the riskiest, due to the chances of getting bowled or caught.
To signal a six, the umpire will raise both hands above his head, which the fans will often imitate.
Umpire Michael Gough (R) signals for six runs during a One Day International cricket match between Zimbabwe and Ireland [Jekesai Njikizana/AFP]
How does a player get ‘out’?
There are several ways to get a batter out, with each out referred to as “losing a wicket”.
Since cricket is played with pairs of batsmen, when 10 players from the batting team are dismissed, their innings concludes, and the sum of the runs they scored sets the target score for the bowling team.
The most common ways of getting a player out include:
Bowled: This happens if the batter misses the ball, and it goes on to hit the wicket.
Caught: A batter is caught out when they hit the ball and a fielder catches it before it touches the ground.
Run-Out: A run-out happens when the fielding team throws the ball at the wicket while the batter is trying to score a run and before they can reach the opposite side of the pitch.
LBW (Leg Before Wicket): This decision depends on various factors, but in a nutshell, a batter can be given out LBW if the ball hits their legs while they are standing in front of the wicket, thus preventing the wicket from being hit.
To signal an “out”, the umpire who is standing in the middle of the field will raise his index finger to signify that a batter has been dismissed.
This gesture is often referred to as the umpire having “raised the finger” or “given the finger”.
The on-field umpire signals an out for Australia’s Pat Cummins before the decision is overturned following a review [Andrew Boyers/Reuters]
How do you read the score?
To follow the score in cricket, you need to look at three numbers.
The first is the number of runs a team has scored – the higher the number, the better.
The second indicates the number of “outs” or “wickets”. Once 10 players are out, their batting innings come to an end.
The third is the number of overs that have been bowled.
Combined, a score may look like this: 109-5 (10 overs)
This means that 109 runs have been scored, 5 players are out, and 10 overs have been completed.
(Al Jazeera)
Typically, teams make anywhere from 100 to 250 runs during a T20 match. A score of 100 is considered low to defend, while 250 runs is usually very strong.
The highest score in international T20 cricket was between Zimbabwe and The Gambia in 2024.
Zimbabwe batted first and scored a huge 344-4 in their 20 overs. In response, The Gambia only managed 54 runs before losing all 10 of their wickets.
Agents from the divisive United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency will have no operational role in the Winter Olympics, Italy’s interior minister has said days before the Milan-Cortina Games open.
ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which is a separate investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from the department carrying out the US immigration crackdown, will operate within US diplomatic missions only and “are not operational agents” and “have no executive function”, Matteo Piantedosi told the Italian Parliament on Wednesday.
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He said the outrage over the HSI presence, including the Milan mayor’s warning that they were not welcome in the city during the February 6-22 Winter Games, was “completely unfounded”.
“ICE does not and will never be able to carry out operational police activities on our national territory,” Piantedosi said.
The minister aimed to clarify the news of the contentious deployment of ICE agents, which prompted protests in the Italian metropolis.
“Security and public order are ensured exclusively by our police forces,” he said.
“During the Milan-Cortina Games, the members of this agency will be engaged solely in analysis and information exchange with the Italian authorities,” he added.
“The presence of personnel linked to the ICE agency is certainly not a sudden and unilateral initiative to undermine our national sovereignty, as some have portrayed, but rather compliance with a legally binding international agreement entered into by Italy.”
Last week, the US agency said it will support the “Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and host nation to vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organisations”.
Following the announcement, Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said ICE would not be welcome in his city.
“This is a militia that kills … It’s clear that they are not welcome in Milan. There’s no doubt about it. Can’t we just say no to [US President Donald] Trump for once?” he said in an interview with RTL 102.5 radio.
ICE said its operations in Italy are separate from the immigration crackdown ordered by Trump in the US.
The Italian interior minister confirmed that the agency’s role would be limited.
“We will not see anything on national territory that resembles what has been seen in the media in the United States,” Piantedosi said.
