With the death of Pope Francis, the world loses not only a church leader but also a moral compass

AT this moment armed conflicts are taking place on all continents apart from North America and Antarctica. We live in a world in which war has become an accepted fact of life.
Homo sapiens is the only species on the planet that deliberately kills its own in huge numbers —and with the grisliest cruelty. All other animals may battle over territory or to obtain a mate, but they rarely kill; their battles are more ritualistic, simply driving the vanquished away.
They are satisfied with the territory or the mate they have or the food they have gathered, they are not driven to want excess. On the other hand, humans are driven invariably by greed and go to war for more land, food, and wealth than they need. Why?

JOHN GREEN recommends a German comedy that celebrates the old GDR values of solidarity, community and a society not dominated by consumerism

JOHN GREEN welcomes an insider account of the achievements and failures of the transition to democracy in Portugal

Mountains of research show that hardcore material harms children, yet there are still no simple measures in place

Peter Mitchell's photography reveals a poetic relationship with Leeds