World watch

Haifa

A German non-Jew has been appointed Haifa University's chairman of governors despite opposition from some members of the senate. Manfred Lanstein is president of the Israel-Germany Friendship Society anda former German finance minister.

Harare

The Zimbabwean government is considering a 2,500 per cent increase in fees for students at state universities from August, according to the Zimbabwe Standard . Vice-chancellors have recommended that fees rise to up to ZM$70,000 (£900) a year.

Prague

English has taken over from German and Russian as the preferred first foreign language among students in the Czech Republic, according to a survey.

Lima

The newly elected rector of Peru's Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Manuel Burga Díaz, has promised to restore democracy to the university. He said his election marked the end of authoritarianism under the Fujimori dictatorship.

Ndjamena

The government in Chad has ordered troops on to the university campus in the capital to prevent students from carrying out their threat to render the country ungovernable.

Armenia

Five Colombian students from the Universidad del Quind!o who entered a cemetery without permission to shoot a film for a journalism course were arrested on charges of holding satanic rites but were later released.