Britain bows out of manned missions
Britain will not train astronauts or contribute to manned space missions even if this sets it apart from its European neighbours, science minister Lord Sainsbury said at a meeting of space ministers in Edinburgh today. But Britain will still be at the forefront of space exploration using sophisticated robot craft such as Beagle II .
Peers website to target HE and schools
Higher and further education and the schools sectors are among the targets of a new website to be be launched tomorrow by crossbench peers. The site is designed to give a greater understanding of the non-party peers who constitute almost a quarter of the Lords’ membership.
www.crossbenchpeers.org.uk
Business leaders urged to tackle skills crisis
Adult skills minister John Healey today told business leaders that they needed to do more to tackle the problem of skills shortages in the United Kingdom. Mr Healey was speaking at the City and Guilds national conference at which he launched the Skills in England 2001 report by the Skills Taskforce.
www.skillsbase.gov.uk
Bangladesh sacks 3 v-cs
Bangladesh’s new government has sacked the vice-chancellors of the country’s three universities, who had been appointed by the previous Awami League social democratic government that lost power last month. Several students were reported hurt in a gunfight as rival groups fought for control of dormitories at Dhaka University.
Dogged determination for perfect match
Canine “psychometric tests” are to be introduced by the RSPCA to help dog-lovers find their perfect best friend, it was disclosed today. A system of tests to assess the temperament of dogs and match them to suitable owners has been developed by animal behaviour expert Rebecca Ledger of Brunel University.