From a politicised World Cup draw to a major Hollywood merger and a diplomatic fuel offer, here are the five biggest stories you missed on Friday 5th December 2025. Read the full briefing now.
Iran will boycott the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington DC after the US granted visas to only four delegation members, excluding the football federation president. FIFA is investigating.
Donald Trump is set to receive the newly created FIFA Peace Prize at the World Cup draw ceremony in Washington D.C. Read the full story on this controversial diplomatic move.
FBI Director Kash Patel is accused of pressuring his girlfriend's elite SWAT security team to chauffeur her drunk friends. The FBI and singer Alexis Wilkins deny the allegations. Read the full report.
Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia withdraw from Eurovision 2025 over Israel's participation. Explore the historical context and potential impact on the song contest's future.
Exclusive: US Attorney General Pam Bondi instructs agencies to investigate Antifa groups for potential tax violations, escalating Trump's domestic terrorism crackdown. Read the full story.
American-born Canada football manager Jesse Marsch condemns Donald Trump's 'unsettling' rhetoric ahead of the 2026 World Cup draw. Read his full rebuke here.
Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor's 'Dreamers', a queer immigrant love story, offers a poignant look at asylum from within. In cinemas now.
A Harvard Law School professor will voluntarily return to Brazil after admitting to firing an air rifle outside a Boston synagogue. Read the full story on the legal and immigration consequences.
Rebwar Hamad, convicted of terrorism in Italy, has been sentenced to over two years for illegally entering the UK by small boat. Read the full details of the case.
Nigel Farage insists a Thailand-based crypto billionaire 'wants nothing' for his record £9m Reform UK donation, sparking outrage and calls for urgent political funding reform. Share your views.
The Guardian's 2025 charity appeal, themed 'hope', partners with five UK charities tackling division and hate through community work. Discover their vital missions and how to support.
Right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro argues the 'double tap' boat strike story is a Democratic distraction, claiming voters care more about the cost of living. Read the full analysis.
Barnet Trading Standards officers have seized over £3 million worth of illegal tobacco, cigarettes, and vapes in a major crackdown across north London. Read about the raids and arrests.
Benton County's 287(g) agreement with ICE has led to over 450 arrests in 2025, creating widespread fear in immigrant communities. Explore the impact of expanding local-federal immigration enforcement.
A new poll reveals most Americans want Pete Hegseth sacked after a controversial missile strike in the Caribbean. Discover the details and political fallout.
UK ministers aim to finalise a time-limited youth mobility scheme with the EU by 2026, allowing tens of thousands to live and work abroad. Read the latest on Brexit reset negotiations.
Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister has called on the Prime Minister to extend grace periods for post-Brexit rules on vet medicines and cars, warning of market disruption. Read the latest from the British-Irish Council.
President Trump has appointed a new architect for his privately funded $300 million White House ballroom after disagreements over the project's massive 90,000-square-foot scale. Discover the details and political backlash.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin defends Ireland's withdrawal from Eurovision 2026 over Israel's participation, calling it a stand with journalists killed in Gaza. Read the full story.
Norway announces a major defence purchase of two new submarines and long-range missiles to monitor Russian naval activity in the North Atlantic. Read the full analysis.
Virginia's House Speaker announces potential congressional map redraw to secure a 10-1 Democratic majority, framing it as a direct response to Donald Trump's tactics. Read the full story.
Shocking footage shows two men dressed as Father Christmas fighting in a Baku supermarket. The festive brawl, over a 'mafia-style' turf war, sent fruit flying. Read the full story.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin defends Ireland's Eurovision boycott as an act of solidarity with journalists killed in Gaza. Northern Ireland's leaders are divided on the move. Read the full story.
A new US national security document, signed by Donald Trump, warns of Europe's 'civilisational erasure' and urges cultivating resistance to EU policies. Read the full analysis.
Sarah Armstrong says her husband Jonathan died from stress of the Post Office Horizon scandal before receiving full compensation. Read the family's fight for justice.
Sweden's SVT will participate in Eurovision 2026, rejecting a boycott over Israel's inclusion. Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, and Slovenia withdraw. Read the full story on the contest's political rift.
Survivors launch petition to strip ex-police chief Norman Bettison of his knighthood after a report found he would have faced gross negligence charges over the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss debuts a YouTube talkshow, interviewing figures like Nigel Farage. Explore her post-Downing Street media strategy and its political implications.
Reality TV star Georgia Harrison opens up about receiving her MBE from Prince William, sharing the heartwarming and humorous details of their exchange at Windsor Castle. Read her full story.