A hurricane has been raging off the coast of America; a typhoon is causing havoc in Japan; the first autumn breezes are wafting through the north of England. Where does all this wind come from?

NEWS FROM THE NORTH SHORE

NEWS FROM THE NORTH SHORE

Rell Sunn, surfer: born Makaha, Oahu 1950; married Dave Parmenter (one daughter); died Makaha 2 January 1998.

Fear of flying in the United States was fuelled further yesterday after aviation authorities in Oakland, California, revealed that the computerised air traffic control system covering the Pacific collapsed for no less than 16 hours earlier this week.

For many people, listening to performance poetry may be the equivalent of root-canal work. But Jem Rolls aims to change that perception with a high-quality line-up, including Stacy Makishi, and Kevin Jollie and his Singing Dad

Best Discovery

NEWS FROM THE NORTH SHORE

Whales die if they hit the beach, surfers die if they don't; otherwise, their reasons for wintering in the Pacific are the same.

NEWS FROM THE NORTH SHORE

Stars close to our own also have planets orbiting them, British and American scientists have discovered. It may mean our place in the universe is less special - but it also increases the chances of finding life out there. Charles Arthur, Science Editor, on the latest findings from a new telescope.

An unlikely alliance between a Hawaiian writer with a penchant for vegetables and a former actor from Manchester is redefining the slippery notion of performance poetry

In the first of a weekly series from Hawaii, where the giant Pacific swells have been made even more explosive by El Nino, Andy Martin (above) eyes the $50,000 prize-money for the person who rides this winter's biggest wave

Karl Crompton won the lottery. He has been nice to his mum and dad, bought the flash toys and been on the flash holidays. But life lacks the challenge it had when he was an assistant manager at Comet. And it'd be nice to buy a round now and again.