From today's UK papers

The Guardian

The chief executive of one of the UK's main exam boards quit yesterday after accusations of marking blunders. Christina Townsend left Edexcel following what she described in her resignation letter as a "particularly demanding year".

A university lecturer has produced evidence to support the claim that maths A levels are getting easier. Ken Todd of York University's electronics department analysed the capabilities of hundreds of first-year students over 15 years and found a "severe decline" in the maths proficiency of undergraduates who had the same A-level grades.

The Daily Telegraph

An American professor has been appointed the bin Laden fellow at the Centre for Islamic Studies affiliated to Oxford University.

The Independent

Eighteen suspected animal rights activists were arrested on suspicion of fraud in police raids across England yesterday. These followed the arrest two weeks ago of 11 other people. It is alleged they swindled tens of thousands of pounds from the Department for Education and Skills.

The Daily Mail

When University of Southampton scientists saw it in the woodland, there was a buzz of excitement. With its orange head, furry black body and white tail, it was definitely not a native bee. Bombus hypnorum is the first new bee species of bee to be identified in Britain. It is more commonly found in warmer climates such as southern France.