Universities 'on the cheap' will fail students
Extra financial help for poorer students is no substitute for more money for the universities for teaching and research, MPs and peers told the government yesterday. ( Guardian , Daily Telegraph , Daily Mail )
Blair's scientific troubleshooter to tackle BSE fiasco
Tony Blair's chief scientific adviser has been asked to sort out the mess caused by the BSE in sheep fiasco. The appointment of David King over the head of the Department of Rural Affairs is a major blow to Margaret Beckett. ( Daily Mail )
Big drop in crime
The chance of becoming a victim of a criminal offence is at its lowest level in two decades after a 12 per cent fall in the crime rate last year, according to the British Crime Survey. ( Independent , Guardian , Financial Times , Times )
Axed skills scheme 'will be replaced'
The government was accused yesterday of abandoning a major scheme aimed at improving the basic skills of millions of people. But Estelle Morris, the education secretary, gave assurances that a further scheme would be introduced as a replacement. ( Daily Telegraph )
Breast cancer does run in the family
Women are nearly twice as likely to contract breast cancer if they have a mother, sister or daughter who has fallen victim to the disease, according to a landmark study published by Oxford University today. ( Independent , Daily Telegraph , Times )
Extinct 'super-croc' was as big as a bus
It not only walked with dinosaurs, it ate them as well. The bones of an extinct species of crocodile that grew to the length of a London bus, weighed as much as a small whale and was armed with a set of 6ft jaws has been unearthed from an African desert. ( Independent , Daily Telegraph , Guardian , Daily Mail )
Nine-to-five doesn't suit body clock
The standard nine-to-five day is not suited to a person's natural sleeping pattern, says a survey. Most employees are probably not fully alert in the middle of the day and ought to be taking a nap according to research by The Sleep Council. ( Daily Telegraph , Guardian )