Update: 12:30

Non-EU overseas students in UK FE double
The number of students from non-EU countries attending further education colleges in the United Kingdom nearly doubled over five years, lifelong learning Minister Margaret Hodge told the House of Commons yesterday. In 1996-97, 25,102 students took up full-time courses in UK colleges. By 2000-01, the figure had risen to 46,609.

Conifers threaten unique British flora and fauna
Britain is on the brink of throwing away the chance to save unique communities of plants, animals and fungi that are trying to survive in ancient woods planted with dense conifers, the Woodland Trust said today. The trust unveiled a study by Oxford University's Woodland Institute into the ecological and economic implications of restoring planted ancient woods.

Oestrogen does affect male fertility
Scientists have found the first direct evidence that environmental chemicals that mimic the female sex hormone oestrogen affect male fertilit. Lynn Fraser, from King's College London, led researchers who investigated the affects of three environmental oestrogens and one natural oestrogen on the final stage of sperm development.

Budget debacle closes Tennessee colleges
All of Tennessee's public colleges, including six universities and 12 community colleges, will shut down tomorrow after state legislators failed to meet a deadline to set a budget. The separate seven-campus University of Tennessee system is likely to follow suit or postpone summer academic programmes. Some activities regarded as essential, including administration, animal care, maintenance of research projects, and security, are protected by temporary emergency legislation.

Indonesian students take to the streets
Student demonstraors returned to the streets of Jakarta after MPs rejected an investigation into the affairs of the speaker of the Indonesian parliament, who is on trial accused of embezzling state funds. About 300 attempted to enter parliament but were held back by police who fired water cannon on the protesters.