Italian court suspends ERC-funded monkey study Researchers warn country is among the most hostile in Europe to experiments involving animals, and restrictions could get even tighter By David Matthews 5 February
Cummings ‘winning battle’ for new Arpa to be outside UKRI Debate over status of new agency for ‘high-risk, high-payoff research’ is non-issue compared with its direction and leadership, others suggest By John Morgan 5 February
Adam Rutherford: taking on racism with the help of genetics Despite its tainted origins, genetics provides many of the essential tools for challenging racist thinking, argues UCL fellow and science broadcaster By Matthew Reisz 5 February
Swansea rejects two appeals against sackings but v-c case ongoing Fallout over claims related to a £200 million development project continues By John Morgan 4 February
China influence scandal rocks Berlin university Contract reveals the Free University of Berlin is bound by Chinese law, which critics fear gives Beijing influence over teaching content By David Matthews 4 February
Philosophers clash over race science paper Furore over Oxford doctoral student’s journal article reignites debate over the limits of free speech By Jack Grove 4 February
Moscow university tightens political speech rules after protests Academics and students at the Higher School of Economics forbidden from disclosing affiliation when engaging in politics By David Matthews 4 February
Union calls 14-day strike in UK pay and pensions dispute Walkouts to escalate over February and March By Anna McKie 3 February
‘Bridging’ funding between grants could help cut gender pay gap Bristol deal also gives greater recognition to ‘good citizenship’ in promotion process and is seen as model for sector By Anna McKie 3 February
Who will succeed Mark Walport at UKRI? What challenges lie ahead? The hunt for a new UK research supremo continues, apparently after the shortlisted candidates failed to pass muster By Jack Grove 3 February
AI courses ‘vulnerable’ to post-Brexit downturn in EU recruitment Data suggest the subject has one of the highest shares of students from other EU nations in UK universities By Simon Baker 3 February
The assault on Spain’s public universities must end The appointment of Manuel Castells as the country’s universities minister signals a change in fortune, says José Martinez-Sierra By José Martinez-Sierra 3 February
