The Daily: August 21

We scour the news so as you don't have to...

The Hills alive again with the Sound of Andrews?

After traumatic surgery fifteen years ago, Julie Andrews was left with what was believed to be irreparable damage to her vocal cords. But there is now renewed hope that the Sound of Music star may sing again. US Scientists are in the process of developing artificial vocal cords – and hope to have the treatment available as early as next year. The pioneering research, supported and funded in part by 76-year-old Andrews at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology sees biogel injected. It then vibrates in the voice box replicating a real vocal cord.

Condoleezza Rice to tee off with the men

Home to the world-renowned Masters Golf Tournament, Augusta National Golf Club has made history by admitting its first ever female member. The former US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice’s appointment has ended an 80-year exclusion of women from the famous club. Whilst women have been permitted to play the course previously and been allowed to dine, formal membership had remained elusive. Rice alongside, Darla Moore, the second female member had confessed that they are both “delighted and honoured”.

Posh and Becks win at the Edinburgh Fringe

This year, the Dave Award for the funniest joke of the Fringe Festival went to Stewart Francis. Francis, a Canadian famed for his one-liners appeared twice in the list of the top ten jokes. Clinching his award however was the simple, “You know who really gives Kids a bad name? Posh and Becks.” If this didn’t tickle your funny bone, jostling for position was Tim Vine with, “Last night me and my girlfriend watched three DVDs back to back. Luckily I was the one facing the telly”second, and Will Marsh, “"I was raised as an only child, which really annoyed my sister” in third.

Paralympic fever

Britain is on the cusp of hosting the first ever sold out Paralympics, with just 200,000 tickets left to sell. Tickets for the more popular sports such as equestrian events, swimming and athletics were snapped up in under 40 minutes. Team GB’s paralympians have been set an ambitious target in excess of 100 medals in comparison to the 65 set for the London Olympics a few weeks ago. The Paralympics will start on August 29 and run until the September 9.

Lifetime Achievement Award for Williams

The Classic Brit Awards set to take place in October at the Royal Albert Hall, will see John Williams acknowledged with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The Octogenarian is already highly decorated, boasting five Oscars, four Golden Globes, seven Baftas and 21 Grammy Awards. His scores have transcended generations providing the backing for some of the most iconic films of the last 20 years, including Jaws, Star Wars and War Horse. Behind Walt Disney, Williams is the second most nominated person ever for Academy Awards.