Today's news

Extremists target Oxford dons online  
The home addresses and private phone numbers of Oxford dons and senior Government ministers have been posted on the internet by animal rights extremists. The list was described yesterday by Oxford University as an "invitation to threaten or attack" people conducting ordinary legal activities. It lobbied internet service provider Yahoo to close the site but it was only removed after The Times contacted the company. The website was created by an organisation calling itself Badgers Unknown Anarchist Ventures.
Times

Bank urges pupils to go on to study
The Scottish Executive teamed up with the Royal Bank of Scotland yesterday to launch a new scheme to encourage more youngsters from poorer backgrounds to go on to college or university. A special roadshow will visit more than 140 schools throughout the country with the aim of targeting 17,000 pupils - in particular those from families with no experience of further or higher education. Pupils are given a 30-minute presentation by a recent graduate who tells them how they benefited from further education.
Scotsman

Scientists could 'grow' blood for transfusions
Blood shortages could end within the next five years after scientists at Minnesota University in the US revealed they have "grown" blood from stem cells. Experts say the breakthrough raises the prospect of creating an endless supply of blood - of all types. This could end the need for blood donation and the risk of infection from transmittable diseases.
Daily Mail

Why an apple a day may not keep cancer away
Eating fruit and vegetables does not offer protection against cancer, a major study published yesterday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute concluded. Researchers who analysed results from two surveys involving 100,000 people in the US found that those who ate the most fruit and vegetables had lower rates of heart disease but their "healthy" diets had no effect on the incidence of cancer. Cancer Research UK issued a statement yesterday raising doubts about the accuracy of the study's findings.
Independent

Hawking joins war protest tribute to Iraq dead
Cambridge academic Stephen Hawking last night joined writers, politicians, actors, sports stars, students and peace campaigners in a reading of the names of those who have lost their lives in Iraq since the conflict began. The author of A Brief History of Time read the names of Iraqi civilians who had died and explained why he had come to London to be part of the reading. "The war was based on two lies," he said through his voice synthesiser. Both the claims of weapons of mass destruction and linkage to September 11 had proved untrue. "It has been a tragedy for all the families. If that is not a war crime, what is?"
Guardian

Language howlers fail to amuse A-level examiners
A-Level candidates who think that France was torn apart by noble "fractions" and that an author can take on the role of the "scepticle" are singled out for criticism in an examiners' report being sent to schools. "It was something of a novelty to read that Stalin sent peasants who had misbehaved to Serbia, that Napoleon crossed into Spain via the Philippines," say the examiners. The sloppy use of grammar, punctuation and spelling is singled out for criticism by examiners in history, geography, English, business studies, critical thinking and art. "Some candidates used informal language in their essays, referring to Charles V as 'Philip's dad' or reporting that Luther had 'bad-mouthed' the Pope and the Gestapo 'did over' those who 'bad-mouthed' Hitler," they say.
Daily Telegraph

Living in a box
Students at the Quasar Institute, a design school, have invented a folding cardboard shelter for Rome’s 5,000 to 6,000 homeless people. The lightweight box is constructed without scissors or glue and costs about €12 (£8). It is long enough to lie down in, with a panel for a door. It will be donated to charities.
Times