【新闻英语】2014 Feb 24

CHINA DAILY Math teachers lauded in Shanghai A delegation of UK experts led by British Education Minister Elizabeth Truss are set to visit to Shanghai schools today to learn about the city's teaching methods, especially in math. Students from Shanghai topped the 2012 Program for International Student Assessment for math. Britain came in 26th. British authorities say the visit is the latest step in the government's drive to raise the standard of math education at British schools. GLOBAL TIMES School accreditation list China's Ministry of Education has published a list of over 10-thousand overseas higher education institutes in 44 countries which are accredited by China. The ministry hopes the list will better to prevent Chinese students from being cheated by bogus institutes. It is expected that half a million Chinese students will be studying abroad by the end of this year. BEIJING NEWS Stricter ticket identity checks People who book train tickets online will have to set up an account and get their identities registered on the official website starting this coming month. Those who fail to pass the identity check after registration will be unable to book a ticket. The tighter restrictions come after several people flaunted their online tickets booked through psudonymns, such as "Qingfeng Baozi" and other trendy names. BEIJING MORNING POST Party cadres to take lead in smog problem The anti-smog commission here in Beijing has issued a circular requiring all party members to take the lead in battling this city's smog problems. Under the new rules, government vehciles are going to be restricted from use. The smog currently enshrowding the city is expected to continue into later this week. BEIJING TIMES Naked marathon Nearly 200 running enthusiasts from across the country have gathered around the Olympic forest park in northern Beijing to take part in a naked marathon. The event, dubbed 'naked swine running', has seen people dressed only in their underwear run amid the cold and smog. Participants say they hope the activity will promote the notion of a healthier lifestyle and greener environment in the city. SOUTH CHINA METROPOLITAN DAILY TV host's grievances against medical workers Wang Mudi, a host on a provincial TV station in Guangdong, has come under fire following a posting on his Sina Weibo account about his dissatisfaction with medical workers at a local hostipal. His posting suggested he wanted to cut certian nurses with a knife' because of their arrogance. SHANGHAI DAILY Salt tide worst on record in Shanghai Shanghai's Water Authority says about 2 million people have so far been affected by this year's salt tide. The effects of the tide had been felt for the last 20 days, the longest run in Shanghai's history. Authorities say the situation is likely to continue into next month. Salt tides usually occur between October and March, as lower water levels in the Yangtze River allow salty water from the ocean to move upstream.