Brown joins push for euro vote
Chancellor Gordon Brown has reassured cabinet colleagues that he wants to join the euro, as Tony Blair today warns that Britain cannot afford the tragedy of another missed opportunity to influence the shape of Europe. Guardian
Mad idea to allow more faith schools
Labour MP Tony Wright, speaking during education questions in the Commons, said the government should abandon its idea to allow more faith-based schools because it was a "mad idea". He said, "The last thing our society needs at the moment is more schools segregated by religion". Daily Telegraph
Turkish women win equality
Turkish MPs approved a series of revisions to the country's civil code yesterday, formally recognising men and women as equals, 75 years after the code's introduction. Guardian
Human BSE toll as low as 200
The human form of BSE is unlikely to kill more than 200 people in Britain, fewer than twice the number currently diagnosed, British and French scientists say today. Independent , Times
New cypress tree found in Vietnam
Scientists from Kew and Missouri botanical gardens have discovered a new conifer with unusual foliage during a plant hunting expedition in Vietnam. Mature golden Vietnamese cypress trees carry both needle-like firs and scale leaves like cypress trees. Financial Times
Amateur rocketeer on cloud nine
"Nova", the world's first private spacecraft, soared over Morecambe Bay yesterday, bringing forward Briton Steve Bennett's dream of piloting his own rocket into space. The former laboratory technician from Manchester hopes to take the re-useable craft to Africa or Australia for the first independent manned flight next spring. Times , Daily Telegraph