Ministers accused of grants u-turn
The government was accused of presiding over a "mess" last night after it dropped plans to reintroduce maintenance grants of £3,800 a year for all students, weeks after floating the proposals at the Labour Party conference. Graduates could be forced to pay market rates of interest on their student loans under proposals drawn up after a Whitehall dispute over the future of university funding. ( Independent )
Labour MPs join outcry against terror bill
Four Labour MPs voted against the government's emergency anti-terrorism laws last night. Home Office minister David Blunkett faced a barrage of complaints from Labour and opposition MPs about the speed of the government's sweeping legislation to crack down on international terrorism. ( Times , Financial Times , Guardian )
Smallpox vaccine in anti-cancer test
A modified version of the smallpox vaccine could be used to fight cervical cancer, researchers said yesterday. A trial is taking place at Llandough Hospital and the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff to investigate whether the vaccine will stimulate the production of killer cells to destroy the human papilloma virus, which is responsible for most, if not all, cervical cancer. ( Daily Telegraph , Guardian )
Johns Hopkins halts researcher's drug trials
A scientist at John Hopkins University in the United States has been stopped from carrying out drug trials on humans after testing an unapproved drug. Dr Ru Chih Huang lost her status as a senior researcher after the university ruled that she did not carry out the appropriate tests on animals first and had not sought its approval. ( Guardian Education )
Paper prizes
Outside the awarding of prizes, scientists view citation rates by peers as the top research accolade. ( Guardian Education )
Government meets GSCE target early
Half of all 16-year-olds achieved five GCSEs at Grade C or better this summer, reaching a government target a year early, official figures from the Department for Education and Skills will show today. ( Guardian Education )