See you in March? Debate in New Zealand over extremely long summer break

The Labour government is facing criticism from leading organizations regarding its approach to developing a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, with accusations of a chaotic and haphazard process that some claim is worse than the previous Conservative administration. Ministers are preparing for a series of policy announcements ahead of the long-awaited plan's release next week.

Malak A Tantesh, the former Gaza correspondent for The Guardian, received significant recognition at the British Journalism Awards, where she was awarded the title of new journalist of the year and the Marie Colvin award for outstanding up-and-coming journalists. Her reporting included her personal experiences during the recent ceasefire in January, which was particularly notable given the restrictions faced by many journalists in the region.

Historian Mary Beard will chair the 2026 Booker Prize judging panel, which includes Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, novelist Patricia Lockwood, poet Raymond Antrobus, and Guardian Saturday magazine editor Rebecca Liu. The panel is tasked with identifying the standout work of fiction for the upcoming year.

The Guardian's picture editors have curated a selection of striking photographs, including images of fighting antelopes set against the backdrop of a Brazilian sunset, showcasing the beauty and drama of nature. This collection highlights the power of visual storytelling in capturing significant moments from around the world.

In a landmark ruling, a Montana judge found in favor of 16 youth plaintiffs in the case Held v Montana, determining that state officials violated their constitutional rights by promoting fossil fuels. The Montana Supreme Court upheld this decision in late 2024, but recent state laws contradict the ruling, prompting the plaintiffs to seek enforcement from the court.

Australia has revealed the most complained about advertisements for 2025, with concerns primarily centered around themes of sex, nudity, violence, and health and safety. Among the ads that drew significant complaints are those depicting cars driving through a zombie neighborhood and children engaging in inappropriate behavior. The assessment was based on 5,000 complaints reviewed by the advertising watchdog.