Editor's note

Animals of all kinds are having to adapt to man-made climate change and the challenge is particularly difficult for species that migrate. Because they move between habitats throughout the year, they need to work out how to survive in every place they land – and that can mean changing route.

Barnacle geese are particularly advanced at this practice. In fact, their story of survival is quite remarkable. They were close to extinction in the 1950s, with fewer than 500 of them left. Now they number more like 40,000. Researchers tracked their movements between their winter home in Europe and their summer breeding grounds in the Arctic to find out their secret.

Ethiopia’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, won the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday for his work to promote reconciliation, solidarity and social justice in his own country and in the surrounding region, following decades of conflict with neighbouring Eritrea. You can find out more about his achievements as a national leader, despite a very short time in office, here.

All week, the British public has been encouraged to decide whether they are “Team Coleen” or “Team Rebekah”, as an argument between two celebrities spread into every crevice of the internet. It’s true that this tale of Instagram war provided some light relief from the otherwise pretty miserable news agenda but why so much glee when women are pitted against each other? Many women will testify that their female friendships are some of the most powerful connections in their lives, yet on a societal level, we only seem to be interested in the relationship between two women if they are scrapping with each other.

This week, we’ve also been assessing the fallout from Donald Trump’s decision to abandon the Kurds in Syria and Boris Johnson’s failure to strike a Brexit deal.

Laura Hood

Politics Editor, Assistant Editor

Shutterstock

How barnacle geese adjust their migratory habits in the face of climate change

Thomas Oudman, University of St Andrews

Once they faced extinction, now barnacle geese are thriving and adapting to climate change by finding new feeding grounds.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Alexandros Michailidis/Shutterstock

Abiy Ahmed has won the Nobel Peace Prize: but big challenges still await Ethiopia

Mohammed Girma, University of Pretoria

Abiy Ahmed was awarded the prize for efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.

Best friends forever? Coleen Rooney (left) and Rebekah Vardy in happier times. John Walton/PA Wire/PA Images

What ‘Coleen Rooney vs Rebekah Vardy’ tells us about contemporary gender politics

Jilly Boyce Kay, University of Leicester; Melanie Kennedy, University of Leicester

We might lap up the spectacle of two high-profile women fighting publicly, but when do you ever hear about men having 'cat-fights'?

A fighter from the Syrian Democratic Forces in Baghuz, Syria in March 2019. Ahmed Mardnli/EPA

What Donald Trump’s decision to abandon Kurdish fighters in Syria means for the Kurds, Assad and Russia

Ali Bilgic, Loughborough University

Why the US decision to withdraw troops from northern Syria is so dangerous.

EPA/Clemens Bilan

Why Brexit talks have stalled over Boris Johnson’s plans for the Irish border

Simon Usherwood, University of Surrey

The deal put forward might win the prime minister support at home but Brussels also has to get on board.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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