Reeves criticises budget leaks and says income tax decision taken ‘in partnership’ with PM

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.

British MPs have expressed concerns that the US is adopting extreme rightwing tropes reminiscent of the 1930s, warning of potential interference in European democracies. This follows Donald Trump’s national security strategy, which suggests Europe faces 'civilisational erasure' and promotes support for patriotic European parties.

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.

Leaders from the 'coalition of the willing' nations, including Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, are set to hold a video call to discuss a peace plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, coinciding with a pivotal moment in U.S. efforts to negotiate a resolution. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to present a revised peace proposal to U.S. negotiators prior to this call.

Keir Starmer has called for urgent amendments to human rights laws in Europe, specifically targeting the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), to allow member states to implement stricter border controls. This proposal aims to combat the rising influence of far-right populism across the continent, but has faced significant backlash from various campaigners and Labour MPs who fear it may lead to the abandonment of vulnerable populations and further stigmatization of refugees.