The organizers of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest have once more shared a preview of some of the Highly Commended images in this year’s competition.

Note, some photos involve animal deaths. https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2024/08/wildlife-photographer-year-2024-highly-commended/679646/

#12: A stoat in the snow:

From Fix the News, how Colombia ended its sixty-year civil war: https://fixthenews.com/p/how-to-end-a-war-lessons-from-nobel. 4,300 words:

Everyone thought peace was impossible. All my predecessors failed. But when we began planning very carefully, learning from other peace processes, what worked and what didn’t, we were able to create the necessary conditions for success.

And I think this is a lesson for the rest of the world. In the past 15 years, it is the only peace process in which the UN, which is now under fire, was instrumental and effective. At the beginning of this century, Colombia was considered a failed state. Eighteen years later, it was the country in Latin America with the best indicators in poverty reduction, inequality reduction, environmental conservation, and job creation. The lesson of how this can be done from a position of real difficulty is one that other countries can use. It is possible, through leadership and perseverance.

And a pic from my collection:

Need I say more?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2025/mar/21/week-in-wildlife-march-hares-a-dreaming-dormouse-and-the-first-chicks-of-spring.

And good news from Fix the News:

Mexico City changes bullfighting rules to preserve the spectacle but save the bulls: The biggest bullfighting city in the largest bullfighting country in the world is making a change to its centuries-old custom: from now on bullfighters will only be allowed to use capes (no swords!) and fights will be capped at 15 minutes. The shift is designed to protect the bulls while retaining the spectacle (and livelihoods!) of those that rely on the games. Mexico News Daily