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The lack of justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta casts a shadow on reporters everywhereThe acquittal of Yorgen Fenech, who was on trial in Malta for involvement in the murder of the journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, is a devastating blow for justice and press freedom. Nine years after her car was blown up, it seems increasingly unlikely that anyone will be held to account for ordering and paying for her death. Mr Fenech’s admissions that he knew about the murder before it happened, and g

Abductions are resurging and may be spreading to new areas – with young children among the victims. A military response alone won’t workEarly last month, Nigeria’s government announced the largest single-day hostage rescue in its history, with the freeing of 300 people who had been taken in raids in two north central states. Celebrations were short-lived. Barely a fortnight later, gunmen abducted up to 600 worshippers from a mosque in Niger state. Nigerians paid kidnappers nearly $6m in ransoms

Venice film festival: Two men, some violence, much freewheeling chat: so far, so standard fare from the Oscar-winning writer-director. But this time the comedy and charm can feel diluted by blood and machismoIt isn’t a Martin McDonagh movie unless you’ve got two morose guys – one old, one not so old – who do nothing all the livelong day but bitch and snipe and quarrel and exchange barbed bromantic dialogue while occasionally going off on a plaintive tangent about nothing at all, incidentally rev

Swap rates rise to three-year high as increase in oil prices leads to fears of higher inflationBusiness live – latest updatesHomeowners in the UK are braced for a jump in mortgage rates, driven by higher inflation and interest rate increase expectations amid turmoil in the global bond markets.UK swap rates, which lenders use to price mortgages, have risen to a three-year high, as this week’s global bond market sell-off ripples through the economy. Continue reading...

Police say two lorries were driven into industrial estate in Runcorn and attached to trailers holding about 800 barrelsThe famous tagline “Guinness is good for you” applies only when the drink is bought and paid for, police have said, after thieves made off with more than 70,000 pints’ worth.Officers believe two lorries were driven into a depot in Runcorn on Monday, each attached to a waiting trailer holding a combined total of about 800 barrels before being driven away. Continue reading...

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A Maltese businessman has been cleared of involvement in the journalist’s death, but his trial revealed the challenges faced by those leading the search for her killersThe conclusion of the longest-running murder trial in Maltese history has left a country in turmoil, and a grieving family still searching for answers.At 7.30pm on Wednesday, gasps and cheers echoed around hall 22 of the courts of justice in Valletta, as a jury pronounced a businessman accused of ordering the murder of the investi

Barrister representing four who smashed drones at Israeli arms factory says ruling of ‘terrorist connection’ led to heftier sentences Palestine Action activists who were the first defendants convicted of property damage whose offending was deemed to have a “terrorist connection” have launched an appeal of “fundamental constitutional importance” against the judge’s finding.Charlotte Head, 30, Leona Kamio, 31, Fatema Rajwani, 22, and Samuel Corner, 24, received lengthy sentences in June for smashi

We round up this year’s winners at awards for achievements that ‘first make people laugh and then make them think’It’s that time of year again: a select group of scientists have been summoned to a ceremony to receive coveted prizes, be showered in paper planes, and leave with a 10tn dollar bill, albeit in the form of a phased-out note from Zimbabwe. It is, of course, the annual Ig Nobel awards.Not to be confused with the more prestigious and career-changing Nobel prizes that will be announced in

Prof Lyla Mehta says the glacial floods and loss of life are a stark reminder that climate disruption is global and highly unequal. Plus letters from Lynda McDonald and Jan BengtssonThe recent glacial collapse and catastrophic floods in Nepal and Tibet are not isolated tragedies (Report, 28 August). They reflect accelerating climate disruption that disproportionately affects the countries and people that are least responsible for global emissions.As climate change intensifies, glaciers around th

The advantages of 20mph speed limits are celebrated by Rod King, while John Hopkin says drivers who speed won’t be deterred unless tougher action is taken against themThanks to Christian Wolmar for his insightful article on a 20mph limit and how it would be a good thing for Birmingham (Dear culture-war motorists, look to the future. We’ll all be driving at 20mph soon, 28 August). He is right to identify that the world has changed from when the car was king and we planned our city mobility almost

Readers respond to the Trump administration’s decision to change Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America’I think too much is being made of this (Apple Maps renames Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America’ for US users after Trump order, 2 August). It is common for geographical features straddling borders to receive different names in different jurisdictions.Consider, for example, Lac Léman and the Bodensee, La Manche and Les Îles Malouines. Wales has only recently reclaimed Yr Wyddfa and Bannau Brycheiniog, and for

Museums have countless examples of the common fossils from these Lower Jurassic rocks, says the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre’s Phil DavidsonThe vast majority of the fossils revealed on this rapidly eroding part of the Jurassic Coast hold very little scientific importance and are not in need of protection or recording (Letters, 28 August). Museums around the world have countless examples of the common fossils from these Lower Jurassic rocks, thanks to the efforts of fossil collectors, who sinc

The UN has warned that the El Niño climate phenomenon is ‘supersizing before our eyes’. The event is forecast to be the largest in at least 1,000 years and will almost certainly shatter temperature records. After a summer of record-breaking heatwaves and extreme weather due to global heating, El Niño means 2027 is almost certain to be the hottest year ever recorded. Lucy Hough speaks to environment correspondent Damien Gayle – watch on YouTube Continue reading...

Prolific author campaigned against domestic violence, female genital mutilation, pornography and the Vietnam and Gulf wars‘We badly need to raise our boys more like our girls’: Gloria Steinem – a life in quotesHillary Clinton leads tributes to Gloria Steinem: ‘Her activism was rooted in optimism’Gloria Steinem, the American feminist and journalist whose activism helped push through greater rights for women around the world has died, aged 92.Steinem “passed away peacefully at her home in New York

The PM’s warmth and feelgood policies, such as scrapping VAT on energy bills and a taskforce looking at political donations, offer something rare: hopeOf all the epithets thrown at a new prime minister, “people-pleaser” bounces off Andy Burnham. After all, the polls have him with a favourability rating of +13, making him the only party leader who scores above zero. His manner as he responded to all 125 of his questioners on his first Commons appearance this week had a warmth and empathy that his

Party podcast and social media host Ray Addison fronted films about province where China is accused of genocideReform UK’s top media presenter has worked for a Chinese state propaganda channel within the past year, the Guardian can reveal.Ray Addison, who presents the political party’s in-house podcast and social media campaigns, fronted films about Xinjiang province – where the Chinese government is accused of committing genocide – for state media in September 2025. Continue reading...

Experts say that the smell comes from a chemical compound called 2-nonenal, and it can show up much earlier than one expectsLast week, my mom complained that she’s starting to smell “like an old person”.She had grabbed her favorite sweater and draped it over herself at the movie theater. “It smelled like my grandmother,” she said, almost whispering. “I thought someone must have borrowed the jacket. But it was just me.” Continue reading...

Paris converted tens of thousands of on-street parking spaces into docking stations, fundamentally changing its approach to public spaceAgustin Guilisasti is founder and CEO of the London ebike operator ForestShared ebikes have become a key part of London’s transport network. From Hounslow to Greenwich, it’s rare to step on to the street without seeing one, and they now facilitate millions of journeys every month. Forest recorded 3m rides this July alone, a new high. Demand keeps rising, and ope

Tory leader scents Labour weakness on defence spending and declares it’s 2030 or bustUK politics live – latest updatesThere’s something about Kemi Badenoch making a keynote speech – everything she does comes billed as keynote these days – about defence that makes most normal people a little nervous. Because when Kemi talks about defence, what’s really on her mind is war. Starting one, if possible.Kemi is never happier than when picking a fight. With herself, if no one else is around. You get the