Update: 13:00

CBI berates academic prejudice against business
A quarter of Britain's biggest companies believe universities produce too many poor quality graduates who lack "business awareness", a survey by the Confederation of British Industry showed today. Half protested that their biggest problem in establishing links with universities was "poor customer service" from academics. CBI director general Digby Jones said lecturers and students should stop being prejudiced against business.

US troops clear Baghdad University of fighters
US marines were involved in a firefight at Baghdad University on Wednesday and carried out a door-to-door search of university buildings to neutralise Iraqi fighters.

US academic pay rises by 3% average
Average academic pay in the United States rose by 3 per cent in 2002-03 - the sixth of increases, a report released today by the American Association of University Professors says. Its survey of colleges and universities found that average full-time faculty salaries rose from $62,895 to $65,048 (£40,188 to £41,564). But the rate of increase is slowing, and after inflation the average rise was only 0.6 per cent compared with 2.2 percent in 2001-02.