Today's news

Blair favourite could inherit keys to No 10
Ruth Kelly, the 36-year-old Cabinet Office minister, continued her rapid rise through the ranks when she was appointed last night as Education Secretary, succeeding Charles Clarke. Her promotion is proof that Tony Blair and his Downing St team see her as a potential future Labour leader and Prime Minister.
Daily Telegraph , Guardian , Times , Independent , Financial Times , Daily Mail

Leeds Met to offer cut-price fees
Leeds Metropolitan University became the first institution to announce it would offer discount degrees in an attempt to maintain the diversity of its large student body. (See story in  Times Higher )
Financial Times , Guardian

Closures hit universities
There is a chill wind blowing through the quadrangles of some of our major universities. It has meant a distinct lack of Christmas cheer for many academics and students. Departmental closures have been announced, or proposed, at Cambridge, Exeter and Newcastle, among others. (Jobs cull gathering pace, Times Higher , December 10).
BBC

Google writes its place in history books
The search engine giant has put some sharp business thinking behind the deal struck with top university libraries.
Financial Times

History omitted for New Britons
Historians and education campaigners are angry over the decision to leave British history out of citizenship exams for new immigrants.
Times , Daily Mail