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s america. s u.k. will head to the polls july 4 after rishi sunak sets the general election date. the white house says it opposes the unilateral recognition of a palestinian state after spain, ireland and norway moved to recognize statehood. and mexico's election campaign has been barred by a cartel violence. -- marred by cartel violence. welcome to world news america. our top story tonight, prime minister sunak has set a general election for july 4. speaking outside 10 downing street in the rain, he recalled his record as finance minister during the pandemic and said in

times of uncertainty, a clear plan is needed and his party was up to the task. >> these uncertain times call for bold action to charter a course to a secure future. you must choose in this election who is prepared to take the bold action necessary to secure a better future for our country and our children. i cannot and will not claim that we have got everything right. no government can. but i am proud of what we have achieved together, the bold actions we have taken, and i am confident about what we can do in the future. >> the leader of the labour party came out shortly after, offering his party's vision. he said after 14 years of a conservative led government the time has come for a change in leadership. >> time and again they pursue

their own interests rather than tackling the issues that affect your family. and if they get another five years, they will feel entitled to carry on exactly as they are. nothing will change. a vote for labor is a vote for stability, economically and politically. politics that treads more lightly on all of our lives. a vote to stop the chaos. >> the labour party is the favorite in the late 80's -- in the latest polls. conservatives have been trailing in the last few years after presiding over political controversy and economic downturn although inflation is cooling off. the election july 4 will not just be a matchup between conservatives on the labour party. also the greens, scottish national party and others. voters in england, wales,

scotland, and northern ireland will elect all members of the house of commons. the party that secures a majority in the comments will form the next government and that party's leader becomes prime minister. let's go to rob watson who is standing by in london. great to see you. this seems to come as a big surprise. why did rishi sunak call this snap election? reporter: absolutely a big surprise to many politicians and political journalists here in westminster and to many i think in his own party. i think the brutal answer to your question is he just decided it was probably as good as it is going to get because although the conservative party are massively behind in opinion polls, i think he probably calculated that after 14 years in office, things could actually get worse and i think the timing is connected to other things, which is better news on

inflation and the economy with the u.k. economy going back into growth but i think that is it. he looked ahead and thought, maybe this is as good as it will get for us. >> give us an idea what happens in the coming weeks. reporter: having covered as many u.s. elections as i have u.k. elections, i can tell you the big difference is campaigns here are much shorter and in many ways more brutal. it the campaign -- but the campaign in the next five weeks, american political scientist said there are three elections, we are on the right track, the devil you know, and we need change. and with rishi sunak, i think they are saying the devil you know. but the labour party will repeat daily is that after 14 years of

conservatives, do you feel better off or do you think it is time for a change. >> given the fact that the conservatives are trailing in the polls, what do they have to do to make up the gap in the coming weeks? reporter: pray for a political miracle. [laughter] if you dig into the opinion polls they suggest sunak and the conservative party are very unpopular, there is a very high dissatisfaction level with the way the party is performing. similar questions are asked by american posters, do you think the country is on the right track, and the figures are shocking. they suggest that this is a country where the mood is very sour and britain has lost its way. so that is what the conservative

party is up against. how to combat that, they will do all they can to plant doubt into the minds of voters about the labour party and its leader. maybe we do not have the best record ever but do you really want to trust them? is it time for change amidst all the global uncertainty? >> fascinating weeks ahead in the u.k., thank you for the analysis. norway, spain, and ireland have announced they will formally recognize a palestinian state starting next week. norway announced first, followed by spain and ireland in a coordinated move. they believe conditions have been met for palestinian statehood under international law and join 140 countries that recognize palestinian statehood. here are the prime ministers of those three countries speaking earlier. >> particularly in a situation of war when many are losing

hope, we have to hold onto a goal of two states for israelis and palestinians as the only thing that can lead to lasting peace. only a two state solution can give stability and hopes for the future for both. >> the time has come to move from words to action, to tell the millions of innocent suffering palestinians that we are with them, there is hope, and to make it clear that no matter how many walls are erected and villages are bombed and illegal sediments are built, the lands and -- illegal settlements are built, the lands of palestinians will continue to live in our hearts. >> each of us will now undertake whatever international steps are necessary to give effect to that decision. i have spoken with a number of other leaders and counterparts and i am confident for the countries will join us in taking this important step in the

coming weeks. >> israel said it would summoned the three countries ambassadors to israel and show them a video from october 7. they recalled their own ambassadors to those countries. spain, norway, and ireland they say have decided to award a gold medal to the hamas murderers and rapists. >> the intention of several countries to recognize a palestinian state is a reward for powell -- reward for terrorism. 80% of palestinians support the october 7 massacre in this people should not be given a country. this will be a terrorist state that will try to repeat the attack from october 7. >> they said they are not in favor of hamas but support peace. the irish prime minister

stressed that hamas is not the palestinian people. meanwhile jake sullivan laid out the position of the u.s. that statehood should come about but not through unilateral recognition. >> each country is entitled to make their own determination but our position is clear. president biden is on record supporting a two state solution but that it should be brought about through direct negotiations to the parties, not unilateral recognition. that is a position we have held consistently and we will communicate it to our partners around the world and see what unfolds. >> the head of the palestinian mission to the u.k. responded to that position in an interview with the bbc. >> when london or washington say they have to come out of negotiation, it means israel has to accept a palestinian statehood. not over a long time and the only way is to enforce

[indiscernible] rather than to offer to netanyahu and fanatics as they have been doing and [indiscernible] actually delivering justice and peace in the middle east and beyond. >> estimates continue the health minister ski in gaza report 62 palestinians killed in the last 24 hours as israel continues their offensive. and rafa -- in rafah the situation is spiraling in the pentagon says no aid has successfully been delivered inside gaza so far for the floating pier they constructed. laura, thank you for joining us. how significant do you think it is that ireland, norway and

spain decided to recognize palestinian statehood? >> in diplomacy, timing is fairy dust and unfortunately the timing is not right. the u.s. and france recognized that. our country supports a two state solution. most do. have you cleared your conscious -- conscience or the way forward? i think the role of guilt is underappreciated here and driving some of this. we all feel horrible seeing the images coming out of gaza but what can you do for constructive results, not just digging, both sides? >> it will not actually change anything on the ground. the u.s. maintains they want a two state solution. but it does not look like netanyahu is interested in that. and on the other site, who would you negotiate with? >> and it feeds this narrative

we standalone. netanyahu is digging in. with icc against him, i see jay bringing a case, the u.s. threatening to withhold arms, he says he will do it and fight with his fingernails, invoking holocaust imagery. i think sullivan was clever today by playing the good cop bad cop with regard to the european declaration. he said, we told you, israel, we told you there was a growing chorus of voices in friendly countries who are calling for statehood. so are we going to see from you more death and destruction, or position and pointed operations we can stand by morally? how you fight this matters. that has been the mantra again and again from the u.s. >> what about the fact that

there seems to be discontent in netanyahu's war cabinet about the fact that there is not a vision for a postwar gaza? does that add pressure to him to change strategy? >> absolutely. for the prime minister today it was like a split screen anxiety dream. you had european friendly nations declaring palestinian statehood and then in his own country let's look the families, the hostages, released the tape today and they asked the prime minister, look into the eyes of these girls, these 19-year-old girl soldier is kidnapped october 7 and for the first time their images are released in graphic horror, bloodied faces, wearing pajamas being dragged out of their beds, found, described as available to make pregnant by the palestinian gunmen taking them.

so the pressure is also but what will it do, to what cause, how can we get to a better place and that is another thing jake sullivan did which was very clever. he was saying, look, everyone is on a train towards two states. why don't you jump on board and get something out of it, hinting towards the megadeal the u.s. has been pushing, normalizing with saudi arabia and we will have peace with a major golf nation. as biden has said to netanyahu in the past, take the win. >> thank you for joining us on world news america. for more on the possible recognition of palestinian statehood i spoke with congressman darren the hood. it he weighed in on the current state visit on the kenyan

president to washington on the growing rivalry between china and the u.s. over influence in africa. i want to start with the news that ireland, norway and spain have announced they will recognize palestinian statehood next week. what is your reaction? >> thank you for having me on today. i think it is a little premature for them to be recognizing the palestinian state. we are still in the middle of a war in gaza. we still have hostages being held. there is no cease-fire. there is ongoing conflict. i think it is way too premature to be recognizing the palestinian statehood. in addition, there are two different elements of the palestinian state. you have the west bank and then the terrorists in gaza. so to recognize them as a state i think is the wrong approach, particularly when our immediate goals should be getting all the hostages back and trying to

reach a cease-fire agreement. >> at the same time you saw two members of netanyahu's war cabinet openly voiced dissent because they say israel and the prime minister in particular has no plan for a postwar gaza. do you think for these countries this is the only way to look to the next step? >> i do not want to judge the internal politics of israel. they have a democracy, a system in place. that will play out how it does appear they have opposition leaders and people who do not agree with every decision just like we do in the u.s. so i would not read too much into that but i will say i think israel has the right to defend itself and to execute the war they are in right now. but that does not mean we should not way and when we need to and give advice. the goal should be getting back all of the hostages safely, is

really an american once, and trying to simmer down the tension and get to a cease-fire. >> do you think that is israel's instrument -- israel's interest at the moment? we seen a growing rift between biden and netanyahu. >> you have to let israel, they are the ones on the ground, they are the ones that were attacked indiscriminately and barbaric lee october 7, they are the ones who have to defend their own land. so you have to give them an opportunity to make those decisions and i think they will do that in a democratic fashion. that is the nature of their government and i think you have to let them make those decisions. >> i want to ask you about china. you are on the china committee in the house of representatives and the president of kenya is on a three day state visit and kenya is a key american ally in the region but russia and china have been steadily building

their footprint across africa. what worries you about china's influence in africa? >> we welcome the kenyan president to the united states, it is a wonderful time to have him here and a great opportunity for us to talk about the bilateral relationship with kenya. it spans 60 years. we have had a strong economic and cultural relationship with kenya and they are one of our partners when it comes to east africa and the entire continent. as we look at building other relationships and africa i think we should look at the example of kenya. obviously there is strategic competition between the chinese party and russia and the united states. kenya has a democracy. they stand for the rule of law and believe in freedom of speech and those are principles that china and russia do not abide by

and ones that america relates to. it does not mean it is a perfect system but we ought to highlight that relationship, that is partly why the president is here this weekend we ought to embrace it. >> at the same time china at the moment is kenya's biggest creditor. we know the president is looking for debt relief. how can the u.s. convince kenya it is a better partner than china? >> i think you have to look at the lack of success with much of the belton road. looking at the promises that were made, the ccp it was their number one initiative with third world countries, much of it has failed. they make all these promises, they will use local labor, it will be a top product produced, whether it is infrastructure or an economic promise or a new

soccer stadium, but in the end when one of the countries may be cannot make the payments, a default and so then china owns it. so i think there has been a mixed record when it comes to belton road and i think it is highlighted in kenya. there are a number of examples there of what was promised to them by the ccp has not come to fruition. it also i think is pivotal that we be more engaged on the continent, through the state department or other means, we have to continue to be engaged. i know the imf and world bank we work closely with can play an important role in the academic -- economic development of kenya and other countries. >> we have to leave it there but thank you so much for joining us on bbc news. mexico is coming to the end of the most violent election campaign in their modern history.

candidates and politicians have been murdered or threatened in the run-up to the vote as the powerful drug part -- drug cartels put their stamp on the election. tuesday 12 bodies were discovered in acapulco in the latest explosion of violence. our correspondent reports. reporter: another grisly discovery in the violent streets of acapulco. in 24 hours, police found 12 bodies scattered around the city and not a night goes by without murder. in this most brutal election, scores of candidates have been in the firing line, even a local candidate for city mayor was murdered. cynthia, who stands as a local opposition candidate in place of her murdered friend, knows the risks of running for office. of course i am afraid, i am scared one day i will leave my house and never come home, she says.

but politics is the only way we have to raise our voice. political violence by drug cartels is not new in mexico but the extent of the problem in this campaign has shocked even seasoned politicians. names have been removed from the ballots by the bullet which means some voters will have to choose someone that best serves the needs of organized crime. violence scans the political spectrum. candidates in the governing party are the most affected. macedonian is likely to be reelected as governor. he denies that the security strategy has failed. >> [speaking spanish]

reporter: voters have had a tough year. eight months ago they were battered by a hurricane and the damage is still evident across of a cocoa -- across acapulco. her mother and brother were killed in a landslide. she is grateful for the government response but she says security will also influence her vote. we cannot go out without fear, even if you are not looking for trouble, you could be in the wrong place at the wrong time she says. voters will soon choose the people to lead mexico in the coming six years but whoever wins in acapulco, the endless war with cartels will continue, posing a deadly risk to politicians and the electorate alike. >> let's take a quick look at

some other headlines. a ceremony was held in the capital of iran to commemorate the late president who died in a halep -- a helicopter crash sunday. his coffin and those of the seven others who died were killed through -- carried through the streets of tehran after prayers. this marks the three days of the funeral ceremonies that will be held for him. a tennessee judge has blocked the planned option of graceland. it's been at the center of a dispute between elvis's granddaughter and a company who says the office failed to repay a loan. remember you can always find more on the days news on bbc.com/news or you can always download our app to find the latest analysis on headlines from our correspondence from around the world. thank you so much for watching world news america. stay with bbc

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geoff: good evening. i'm geoff bennett. amna: and i'm amna nawaz. on the "newshour" tonight -- a deadly tornado devastates an iowa town, killing multiple residents and injuring many more. geoff: democratic lawmakers call