Universities face a “high wire act” this week in the lecturers’ pay dispute, the unions involved said. The National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education and the Association of University Teachers said they were willing to sit down with institutions to thrash out a deal. But they have rejected a 12.6 per cent offer.

The University and Colleges Employers’ Association said they should accept the offer.

MRSA spread

More than 230 children have caught the MRSA bug while staying in Scottish hospitals since 2003, figures show. It is usually associated with adult units, intensive care units and old people’s homes. Professor Hugh Pennington, an infection expert at Aberdeen University, said: “These figures seem on the high side.”

Taking the rap

DMX, the American rapper turned Hollywood actor, has accepted a police caution after he was arrested at Heathrow airport for abusing cabin crew. The 35-year-old — real name Earl Simmons — apparently refused to fasten his seatbelt properly as his aircraft made its final approach, and then launched into a tirade.

Muslim deprivation

Muslims are more likely than other religious minorities to be unemployed and live in poor housing, research has found. Half of Muslims aged over 25 are not in the formal labour market, according to the government-commissioned study. One in three Muslims in England lives in the most deprived areas.

Cup final death

A West Ham fan died in the Millennium Stadium during the FA Cup Final. The 60-year-old football supporter from London was at the match in Cardiff with his two sons when he collapsed in his seat with a heart attack. Another fan who suffered a heart attack at the stadium was being treated in hospital.

Eyesight hopes

Injured nerve fibres that connect the eye to the brain can be regenerated using a newly identified protein, scientists say. The discovery could lead to the reversal of blindness caused by glaucoma, tumours or traumatic injury, a team from Boston, Massachusetts, write in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

Exam grade boost

Pupils’ GCSE results improved dramatically after they were given fish oil supplements. The 184 students at Fleetwood Sports College, in Lancashire, which has a high proportion of children with behavioural problems, took omega-3 fish oil for 12 weeks. On average they exceeded their predicted results by one grade.

Soprano stars in epic walk

Singers, instrumentalists and senior figures from the opera world gathered at the London Coliseum yesterday to cheer the British soprano Kathryn Harries as she set off down St Martin’s Lane on a sponsored walk to Cardiff, Leeds and back to the capital — with fundraising concerts en route.

The 600-mile Opera Walk will raise money for the Benevolent Funds of English National Opera and Welsh National Opera, which support those who previously worked for the companies and have fallen on hard times.

£5m drug arrests

Five people, including three from Portugal, were being questioned over a drugs seizure of more than £5 million worth of cocaine. Dyfed-Powys Police said a multi-agency operation led to arrests on and around the Pembrokeshire coast. The five suspects have been transferred to police stations in the north west of England. Two people are from the area.

Mob attacks cars

A taxi driver and two police officers were among five people injured when youths went on the rampage in North Belfast. Breeze blocks and bricks were thrown at their cars, smashing windows, during the early-morning attack on the Shore Road. A 29-year-old man was arrested for riotous behaviour, police said.

Fire stops trains

Thousands of rail passengers faced delays after a rubbish fire closed one of the busiest lines in southeast England. Eurostar suspended all services to and from London Waterloo. Suburban services in Kent were also affected by the fire near Bromley South station. It was feared that gas canisters in 50 tonnes of burning refuse could explode.

Listening record

Audiences for the BBC World Service have reached a record level, figures show. It now attracts 163 million listeners a week, up from 149 million last year. The previous record was 153 million listeners in 2001. Audience figures have significantly increased in Nigeria, Indonesia, Kenya, India and Nepal.

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