Monthly News Digest (May)

人鱼不游泳

EDUCATION

International students take centre stage: a student from Malaysia studying at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has been crowned International Student of the Year 2004 by the British Council, after she overcame disability to shine in the UK. Yi Duan Ho’s inspirational story was one of over 2300 entries received by the British Council for the second International Student Awards. The Awards recognised overseas students who have achieved personal ambiti##被过滤##, enjoyed new experiences, learnt new skills or made an important contribution to their institution or community since coming to the UK. Over 2300 students, representing 145 nationalities, entered the Awards, by writing letters, as if to friends or family back home, describing their experiences of life in the UK. (Source: British Council Press Release, April 27 2004. For further information see: www.educationuk.org/shine/news.htm)

Volunteers ‘graduate’ from Birmingham: a group of high-achieving African Caribbean boys have ‘graduated’ from the University of Birmingham after successfully completing a year-long learning programme introducing them to higher education. More than 30 students took part in the course which ran every Saturday and gave them the opportunity to develop the key skills required to achieve a university education. The scheme covered subjects such as personal development, English, Mathematics, Science and IT. (Source: Press Release from the University of Birmingham, April 18 2004.)

Schools to teach UK’s six main religi##被过滤##: new government guidelines mean that children in the UK will begin to learn about all of the world’s principal religi##被过滤## from the age of five. By the time they have finished compulsory education they should have learnt about the six main religi##被过滤## represented in the UK – Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism and Sikhism – in addition to religious traditi##被过滤## such as Jainism, Zoroastrianism and the Baha’i Faith. (Source: The Independent, April 27 2004. For further information see: www.qca.org.uk/news/2586_7140.html)

Expansion in China: the UK is Europe’s largest investor in China and the education sector has been quick to follow the general trend by expanding overseas. Nottingham University announced a £40 million project to build a purpose-built campus in Ningbo earlier in the year. The London School of Economics is also set to take its summer schools to China for the very first time and it will run them in conjunction with Peking University. Expansion is not confined to universities. London-based independent school, Dulwich College, is set to open Dulwich College International in Shanghai in August. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has also completed a three-day visit to the UK to strengthen ties between the two countries, building on Tony Blair’s visit to China in 2003. (Source: www.bbc.co.uk, May 11 2004.)

Expansion plans for Cambridge: Cambridge University is drawing up detailed plans for the most significant expansion in its 800-year history with a billion-pound development on the outskirts of the city, including up to three new colleges. The project is the result of plans to increase student numbers by 25 per cent to over 20,000 and double its staff by 2025. (Source: The Guardian, May 5 2004. For further information see: www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/press/dpp/2004050403)

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人鱼不游泳

ARTS, CULTURE AND SPORT

George Michael dominates airwaves: pop star George Michael has been named the most-played artist on UK radio over the last 20 years. Data for the standings was compiled from more than 600 radio stati##被过滤## across the country. Sir Elton John and Robbie Williams took second and third place while other UK stars in the top ten included Simply Red star Mick Hucknall and Sir Paul McCartney. (Source: www.bbc.co.uk, April 28 2004.)

Orange Award shortlist: the £30,000 Orange Prize for women’s writing will be contested by six writers, including one first-time novelist, an author whose last work was published 23 years ago and two veterans. The UK’s Rose Tremain has been shortlisted for her eleventh novel, “The Colour”, a historical novel set in the 19^th century New Zealand gold rush. The winner will be announced on June 8 2004. (Source: The Independent, April 27 2004. For further information see: www.orangeprize.co.uk)

Oasis to rock with Ringo’s son: Manchester band Oasis have never made a secret of the fact that The Beatles were one of their major musical influences. The group, who are set to share a stage with Sir Paul McCartney for the first time in June, have now recruited the son of a former Beatle. Zak Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, will make his debut on drums for the group in front of 120,000 fans at the Glastonbury Festival. (Source: The Times, May 5 2004.)

National Gallery brings Tolstoy’s landscapes to the UK: the paintings of the sublime landscapes which inspired Leo Tolstoy to become a writer are to be put on show at the National Gallery in London as part of the UK’s biggest Russian exhibition. “Russian Landscape in the Age of Tolstoy” features 70 works by 15 artists, dating from 1820 to the 20^th century. Many are being shown outside of Russia for the first time. (Source: The Independent, May 11 2004. For further information see: www.nationalgallery.org.uk)

150-tonne statue set for unveiling: the UK’s tallest steel sculpture will be assembled by engineers in Manchester. A total of 180 tapering spikes of varying width and length will be fitted together in a complex starburst pattern on top of a giant matrix of five legs before being raised 184 feet above the ground. The artwork has been titled “B of the Bang” and will stand beside the City of Manchester Stadium to commemorate the success of the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The “B of the Bang” looks like an exploding firework on stilts and has been designed to symbolise the burst of energy as athletes respond to the starter’s pistol. The £1.4 million sculpture, which will lean at an alarming 30 degree angle, represents an extraordinary feat of engineering and preparatory work has already begun at the site to make way for 750 tonnes of foundati##被过滤##. (Source: The Times, May 13 2004. For further information see: http://www.bofthebang.com/)

UK savours the taste of success: more than a quarter of the world’s best restaurants were adjudged to be in the UK in the recent ‘Restaurant’ magazine awards. The list was voted for by an international panel of 300 restaurateurs, chefs, critics and journalists. The UK’s highest-ranking entry was the second placed ”Fat Duck” in Bray, south east England, which wowed judges with signat