Update: 12:45

Scottish FE colleges pledg ed extra £10m
Scotland's enterprise and lifelong learning minister, Iain Gray, has pledged an extra £10 million to help further education colleges buy the latest equipment. He said it was vital for colleges to give students the most realistic experience possible of the jobs they were training for.

Northern Ireland HE merger scuppered
The Northern Ireland Assembly's committee for employment and learning has voted against a proposed merger between Ulster University and the Northern Ireland Hotel and Catering College. A majority of members said the case for merger was "not proven".

Cynical doctors cope best with stress
Cynicism is a positive trait in doctors who use it to cushion themselves against stress and burnout, researchers from University College London said today. On the other hand, high levels of personal accomplishment added to their stress load. The researchers recommended that stress-busting programmes should concentrate on reducing emotional exhaustion, perhaps by lowering workload.