Scientists are developing techniques aimed at taming the power of the world’s most devastating storms. The project, backed by funds from Nasa, would involve seeding clouds, coating seas with biodegradable ”slicks” and even beaming microwave radiation from orbiting power stations to slow or even halt hurricanes.

We know, in horrible detail, how it is done. In the case of Ken Bigley, we will soon be able to view the act in video clips on the internet. With the bombing in the Egyptian resort of Taba on Thursday, we know, from eyewitnesses, of the smiles of the suicide bombers as they blew apart holiday-makers. What we are still asking is: ”Why?”

Once Saddam Hussein led a powerful and wealthy state. Now he writes and reads romantic novels. Last week, for the first time, the details of conversations with Saddam were revealed in the final report of the Iraq Survey Group. The report has painted a compelling psychological picture of Saddam in the time before his regime was crushed.

Democratic challenger John Kerry has cemented his recent surge in the United States presidential race opinion polls, with the latest showing him moving into a slight lead over President George Bush. Kerry led the president by 46% to 45% in a tracking poll released on Saturday by respected firm Zogby International.

Earthquake activity has increased at Mount St Helens, but scientists said on Saturday there was no reason to raise the volcano’s alert level. A bubble on the south side of the dome has also risen to at least 100m since scientists first spotted it on September 30 and is now almost as tall as the dome’s 300m summit.