The World Cup’s Maga makeover

Several countries are boycotting Eurovision after Israel was cleared to compete in the 2026 song contest despite calls for it to be excluded over the war in Gaza. Lucy Hough speaks to our European culture editor, Philip Oltermann – Watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Guardian sportswriter Jonathan Liew on how football went about courting Donald Trump – and how it might regret it when the World Cup comes to the US next summer. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice says allegations of racism from Nigel Farage’s school days are ‘made-up twaddle’. Lucy Hough speaks to investigations correspondent Henry Dyer -- Watch Today in Focus: The Latest on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Three months into his leadership the Green party membership is surging. Randeep Ramesh explains why. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Vladimir Putin has stalled progress on a peace plan for Ukraine being brokered by Donald Trump’s US and has said he is ‘ready for war’ with Europe ‘if it starts one’. Luke Harding speaks to Lucy Hough Watch Today in Focus: The Latest on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Where is Nick Fuentes trying to lead the Republican party? J Oliver Conroy reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Criminal cases in England and Wales where a prison sentence is likely to be less than three years will be heard by a judge, not a jury, under plans from justice secretary David Lammy. Would it help reduce the backlog in courts? Or could it be purely to save money? Alexandra Topping joins Lucy Hough Watch Today in Focus: The Latest on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Geraldine McKelvie reports from the ground at the inaugural Your Party conference, while Peter Walker talks to a number of insiders about the divisions that have beset the party until now. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Keir Starmer has been pushed to defend his chancellor after she was accused of lying in the run-up to the autumn budget. Rachel Reeves is alleged to have misled the public by citing bleak economic forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility to justify tax rises, even though the figures were more positive than she suggested. Lucy Hough is joined by the head of national news, Archie Bland. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Social media videos of women riding motorbike and dancing in the streets in the Islamic Republic have gone viral. But after war, and the crushing of the ‘Women, life, freedom’ movement what is life really like? Deepa Parent reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus