New Orleans is bracing itself for the full force of hurricane Gustav only three years after the chaos and devastation of Katrina. We ask storm chaser Reed Timmer if their preparations will be enough this time.
Due to the storm, the president, George Bush, and vice-president, Dick Cheney, will miss the Republican convention in Minneapolis. The Guardian's US election team gives its thoughts on the convention without the top man and on presidential nominee John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as running mate.
A body found at the burned-out home of Christopher Foster has been identified as that of his wife, Jillian. Reporter Gemma Boland gives us the latest on the police investigation.
As doctor and writer Ben Goldacre publishes his book, Bad Science, Alok Jha talks to him about the importance of rooting out quacks and correcting scaremongering misconceptions in the media.
Sir Simon Rattle brings the Berlin Philharmonic to his hometown of Liverpool for the first time. He talked to Ed Vulliamy about why he's looking forward to it so much.
