From today's UK papers

£260m scheme shut after system breach
The government abruptly closed down its £260 million flagship training programme after finding a "breach" in a computer system rum by Capita, the publicly quoted services company. The minister responsible told the Financial Times that large amounts of confidential data had got out of the Capita-run system and could be used to make false claims for government grants. (Financial Times)

Bullies face school ban for a single offence
The government is to change the law to crack down on disruptive pupils after internal research showed that bullying is the prime concern of parents, outranking even teaching standards. (Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Independent, Times)

Researchers hit back at animal rights activists
Scientists have started a campaign to publicise the medical benefits of animal research and counter the protests of anti-vivisections. It is fronted by a 16-year-old girl who suffers from cystic fibrosis and diabetes and has to take up to 70 drugs a day, all of them developed and tested on animals, to control her condition and keep her alive. (Times, Guardian)

Food industry calls for reopening of GM debate
A new debate to persuade consumers of the merits of genetically modified crops was called for by executives in the food industry last night who said a "third way" was needed between intensive farming on the one hand and organic methods on the other. (Guardian)

Young European lifestyle survey complete
Two researchers from the Institute of Social and Economic Research based at Essex University have completed a mammoth comparison of the lifestyles of young Europeans that challenges some of our basic assumptions about people - their differences and similarities. The study involved almost 25,000 young people in all 15 EU countries. (Guardian)

Girls targeted in careers drive
IBM and Dell are each set to provide 200 "ambassadors" to visit schools to encourage girls to choose careers in science and engineering. The government programme is designed to boost the numbers if women in the professions with role models, classroom help, awards and competitions. (Financial Times)

Bookshops join Blackwell row
Toby Blackwell will next week take his first step towards forcing a trade sale of Blackwell Publishers by seeking the support of his family bookselling firm to unseat the publishing company's board. The move will come at a board meeting on January 24 when Mr Blackwell will put forward a motion asking the company to support a sale of the academic publisher. (Daily Telegraph)

Jobs set to go at British Museum
Staff at the British Museum have been told to expect job losses as the museum struggles to reduce an impending deficit, which, on current trends, is forecast to reach £5 million by 2003-04. (Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, Independent)

Cambrideg lecturer too old for Harvard
A Cambridge lecturer aged 54 has accused Harvard of ageism after his appointment to a professorship at the university was vetoed on the ground that he was too old. Istvan Hont, a history lecturer at King's College, has been rejected by the new president of Harvard, who said he wanted to bring younger staff into the faculties. (Times)