Today's news

Britain may have to fund EU students
The Government could face extra education bills if a French student wins his legal battle in Europe for a maintenance grant to study in London. The prospect came a step closer yesterday when a European Court judge backed Dany Bidar's claim that the London borough of Ealing's refusal to give him funding, because he was not "settled" in Britain, breached his rights as an EU citizen. Confirmation in a final EU court verdict next year could open the way for more claims. The Department for Education and Skills said the opinion was not binding at this stage. It would study the case, it added.
Times, Daily Telegraph

Tories' cash incentive to study untrendy subjects
Ten thousand students who study unfashionable but vital subjects, such as chemistry, physics, engineering and foreign languages, would be offered £2,000 towards their costs under a Tory plan to save under-subscribed university courses. The proposal will be announced today by Michael Howard, the Conservative leader, in a speech on higher education at Cambridge University. Under the plan, students would be able to apply for a £2,000 bursary on graduation. The Student Loan Trust, which the Tories would set up, would deduct the sum from what they owe. Students without debt could keep the cash.
Daily Telegraph

Oxford inquiry on abuse of monkey
An allegation of animal abuse at Oxford University has been investigated by police after a monkey was apparently kept alive, in pain, after an experiment. Details have emerged days after the university was granted an injunction against protesters who halted the construction of an animal testing centre. The Crown Prosecution Service decided that there were insufficient grounds to proceed with a prosecution. This is thought to be the first police investigation into an issue of animal welfare at the university.
Times

'Star Trek' spaceship enters the gateway to the Moon
A European spacecraft powered by a Star Trek-style thruster has flown through the "Lagrangian point", putting it on course to reach the Moon on Monday. Smart-1 , a washing machine-sized probe, has fired its revolutionary ion engine to reach a point at which it can be captured by the Moon’s gravity. An X-ray spectrometer built mainly by British scientists will disclose what elements exist on the Moon.
Times, Guardian

Last bid to keep Macclesfield Psalter
Celebrities and academics have thrown their weight behind a last-ditch effort to raise £1 million from the public to prevent one of Britain's finest illuminated manuscripts from being sold to the Getty Museum in America. The Macclesfield Psalter , a 252-page, richly illustrated volume of psalms and prayers made in East Anglia around 1320, was sold to the Getty at auction for £1 million in June. The Government said yesterday that it would block an export licence one more time for three months to give campaigners a final chance to match the price and keep it in Britain.
Daily Telegraph

Sawyer wins university post
Former Labour Party Secretary Lord Sawyer is to become the chancellor of the University of Teesside.
Daily Telegraph