As Colombia approaches presidential elections next year, the US decision to decertify the country in the war on drugs plays into the hands of its allies on the political right, writes NICK MacWILLIAM

THE warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of pending environmental disaster made for sobering reading.
They should cause everyone to take stock, especially the parents and grandparents: what sort of a hellish future is being created for our children and grandchildren?
The danger of floods and heatwaves is becoming ever more real, yet the world continues largely to continue with business as usual.

PAUL DONOVAN recommends three new books that explore the human relationship with nature

PAUL DONOVAN recommends an excellent stage adaptation of Stephen King’s classic portrayal of the the injustice of the US prison system

Labour councillor PAUL DONOVAN wonders why the right-wing party gets so much more media attention than it seems to merit