From today's UK papers

Papers lost in latest exam row
The row about exam board incompetence continued last night as the head teacher of an independent boys' school blamed government interference for the loss of 30 GCSE and A-level papers. Magdalen College School, Oxford, requested the return of 106 scripts last September. The exam board, Oxford Cambridge RSA, eventually admitted that 30 papers were missing. (Daily Telegraph)

Report highlights effects of 24-hour economy
Britain is developing an unstoppable 24-hour economy that is reinvigorating city centres but causing widespread alcohol-related problems for local residents, a report by the Local Government Association claims today. (Financial Times)

City of London richest area in Europe
The City of London is the most prosperous area in the European Union and generates more wealth than any other region in the 15-nation block, outstripping Frankfurt and Paris comfortably, a league table released by the European Commission showed yesterday. (Guardian)

Numbers of online households surge
The number of people going online for the first time continued to surge last year, taking the proportion of British households connected to the internet to 45 per cent. According to figures released yesterday by Oftel, the telecoms regulator, there are now 11 million homes connected to the web, compared with 7.5 million a year ago. (Financial Times)

Miscarriage link to rogue gene
Women having recurrent or late miscarriages might have a defected gene predisposing them to blood clots, says research from Imperial College London. The mutation in the factor v leiden gene is believed to cause clotting in blood vessels in the placenta, increasing the risk of miscarriage. (Daily Telegraph)

Bitter ICA chief seeks head of rival
The director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts - long the hotbed of avant-garde rebellion - last night called for the sacking of its colourful chairman, Ivan Massow, for daring to accuse the art establishment of "disappearing up its own arse". (Guardian)

Council punctuates apostrophe misuse
Nottingham city council has "declared war" on the misuse of the apostrophe. The move is a blow against the growing abuse of the humble punctuation mark. (Financial Times)