Today's news

OECD study reveals poor English school performance
The Government has dismissed OECD figures showing relatively poor school performance in maths, science and English as “inconclusive” and not comparable with other countries or past years.
The Times , Daily Mail

French culture courses for imams
Interior minister Dominique de Villepin wants to expand on an initiative by the Sorbonne and Assas universities to offer courses in French law and society to imams. Daily Telegraph , Independent , Guardian

Warning on fish stocks
Royal commission chaired by Sir Tom Blundell (professor of chemistry at Cambridge University) reports on the impact of over-fishing on the marine environment.
The Times , Daily Telegraph , Independent , Financial Times , Guardian

Organic milk contains more vital nutrient
Researchers at Aberdeen University found that organic milk has 75 per cent more Omega 3 than non-organic.
Daily Mail

Dyson to argue that dedication outweighs brilliance
The first engineer to deliver the annual Richard Dimbleby Lecture, James Dyson, will say tonight that B-grade students make the best inventors and business people, not the effortlessly brilliant Oxford double firsts who have been feted by Britain for too long.
Guardian

Coca giants unmodified
A toxicologist rejects claims that giant coca plants discovered in Colombia have been genetically modified by drug traffickers.
Guardian

Jarvis sells university accommodation business
The struggling Jarvis company has sold the bidding and management part of its university student accommodation business.
Evening Standard

Why I quit Royal Academy
A former secretary of the Royal Academy says that arcane practices at the institution made it impossible for her to stay.
Independent