Japanese shares rose to a two-month high on Friday, October 30, after Bank of Japan decided to keep its monetary easing policy steady.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 initially fell on the decision by more than 0.4%.
The index recovered to close up 0.78% at 19,083.1 points.
BoJ’s 2% inflation target was also pushed back by about six months.
While forecasts for economic growth for the year to March 2016 were also lowered to 1.2% from 1.7%.
Japan’s central bank governor Haruhiko Kuroda told reporters on October 30 the inflation target timing had been delayed “largely due to the effect of energy price falls”.
The BoJ’s current stimulus package is designed to give a boost to the world’s third-largest economy.
Private consumption makes up some 60% of Japan’s economic activity, but the country has struggled with deflation, or falling prices, for more than 15 years. Lower prices for goods in Japan have seen consumers hold on to their money in the hope of even lower prices later on.
The stimulus package is designed to encourage lending, which in turn should see consumers spending more.
Earlier on Friday, a string of domestic data showed Japan’s core consumer inflation number had fallen 0.1% in September from a year ago, household spending had fallen 0.4% year-on-year while unemployment had remained steady at 3.4% compared to August.
The data fuelled some speculation the BoJ would make a move. But eight out of nine board members voted in favor of the decision.
At least 15 people have been injured after a Dynamic Airways plane’s engine caught fire as it taxied for take-off from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida.
The Dynamic Airways Boeing 767 was on the runway at Florida airport, preparing for departure to Venezuela.
The left engine, which had been leaking fuel, caught fire.
The passengers and crew were evacuated and the fire extinguished but one person has been left with severe burns.
“The crew followed the emergency procedures, shut down the engine and evacuated the aircraft in order to assure safety to all on board,” Dynamic Airways said in a statement.
Those injured are being treated at Florida Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale.
One person has been “seriously burnt”, according to Mike Jachles of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
The National Transportation Safety Board is sending agents to Fort Lauderdale to investigate the fire.
Dynamic Airways flies between Fort Lauderdale, New York, Venezuela and Guyana.
China has signed a $17 billion deal to buy 130 Airbus jets during German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Beijing.
Angela Merkel met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in the capital.
The contract includes 30 wide-body A330s and 100 narrow-body A320s.
Earlier this year, Airbus agreed to build a new assembly facility in China’s northern port of Tianjin.
Photo Reuters
The European aerospace consortium is engaged in a battle with US-based Boeing for dominance in the growing Chinese market.
“We are grateful to CAS [China Aviation Supplies], one of our longest standing customers, for its continued confidence in Airbus and in the versatile A330 Family as well as the best-selling A320 Family,” said Airbus president Fabrice Bregier in a statement.
In August, Boeing said China was expected to add 6,330 new aircraft to its commercial fleet by 2034.
Allergan has confirmed it has held preliminary talks about a takeover by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.
The Dublin-based Botox-maker said no agreement had been reached and there was “no certainty that these discussions will lead to a transaction”.
Allergan shares were up more than 6% on October 29 trading in New York.
Analysts said Pfizer needed to boost profits and may be looking to escape relatively high US corporate tax rates by moving its headquarters to Dublin.
“Allergan today confirmed that it has been approached by Pfizer Inc. and is in preliminary friendly discussions regarding a potential business combination transaction,” the company said in a statement.
“The company will not comment on speculation regarding the terms of a potential transaction.”
The talks were first reported in the media on October 28.
In 2014, Pfizer made an offer to buy another UK drugs group, AstraZeneca, but Astra rejected the offer, arguing it undervalued the company.
John Pombe Magufuli has won Tanzania’s presidential election with 58% of the vote, the electoral commission says.
His main rival, opposition Ukawa coalition candidate Edward Lowassa has rejected the official results that gave him 40% of the ballots cast.
Edward Lowassa earlier claimed he had won with 62% of the vote.
The elections on October 25 were the most fierce John Magufuli’s governing CCM party faced after 54 years in power.
In Zanzibar, elections for the semi-autonomous archipelago’s parliament and president were annulled on October 28.
Photo Reuters
Zanzibar’s election chief Jecha Salum Jecha said the poll had been marred by gross irregularities, including rigging and physical fights between rival election commissioners.
CCM supporters have been celebrating John Magufuli’s victory outside the party’s headquarters in Tanzania’s main city, Dar es Salaam.
Incumbent President Jakaya Kikwete, who is standing down after two terms in office, retweeted a CCM photo of John Magufuli and the accompanying words: “Our next Commander-in-Chief, Dr. John Pombe Magufuli, the President-elect of The United Republic of Tanzania.”
EU observers said that the elections were “generally well organized” but “with insufficient efforts at transparency from the election administrations”.
Teams from the African Union and southern African regional body SADC said that the vote had largely been “free and fair”, despite all groups raising concerns over the subsequent annulment of Zanzibar’s local elections.
According to the Department of Commerce, the US gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annualized pace of 1.5% in Q3 of 2015, down from a rate of 3.9% in Q2.
The slowdown was partly due to companies running down stockpiles of goods in their warehouses.
On October 28, the Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged and said the economy was expanding at a “moderate” pace.
Low oil prices have hit American energy companies so far this year.
However, lower fuel prices have been good news for consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity.
Consumer spending grew at 3.2% in Q3, down from 3.6% in the second but still a strong reading.
Analysts said that the running down of warehouse stockpiles in Q3 was likely to be a temporary effect and they expected growth to accelerate again in Q4.
For several months there has been intense debate about when the Fed will raise interest rates, and now the focus is on its last meeting of the year in December.
The Fed has said in past statements that it expects to raise rates in 2015, and that labor market participation, inflation and the global economy would be the key factors in its decision.
In its latest statement on October 28, the Fed said: “In determining whether it will be appropriate to raise the target range at its next meeting, the committee will assess progress – both realized and expected – toward its objectives of maximum employment and 2% inflation.”
However, the Fed dropped comments, which had been used in the previous month’s statement, that weaknesses in the global economy could affect the US.
Financial markets interpreted this as a sign that the Fed might be more likely to raise rates in December.
Germany’s biggest bank, Deutsche Bank, has announced a 15,000 job cuts after a €6 billion loss in Q3 of 2015.
The bank said it would cut 9,000 full-time jobs and 6,000 contractor roles.
Deutsche Bank is also planning to sell businesses employing 20,000 people over the next two years.
By 2018, “we expect to see the benefits of our hard work and potentially be in the midst of a powerful turn-around,” said John Cryan, co-chief executive.
The cuts represent just less than 15% of the firm’s total workforce.
Deutsche Bank’s shares fell 5.5% in Frankfurt trading on October 29.
The bank is trying to cut €3.8 billion of annual costs as European banks struggle with sluggish economic growth in their home markets and stricter regulation.
In times of low growth, reducing costs through job cuts is seen as a way to improve profits.
Deutsche Bank also plans to spin off Postbank with a stock market listing and sell its 20% stake in China’s Hua Xia Bank.
It has also said it will stop dividend payments for 2015 and 2016.
John Cryan told a news conference that the bank faced “hard decisions” as it was restructured.
“We must reduce Deutsche Bank’s complexity,” he added.
Deutsche Bank said it would close businesses in Malta, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Finland, Peru, Uruguay, Denmark, Norway, and New Zealand. Some branches in Germany would close as well, John Cryan said.
The third-quarter loss was caused by more than €5.8 billion of charges in write downs and legal expenses at its investment bank and on assets it wants to sell, as well as higher litigation charges.
Of the 9,000 full-time job cuts, about 4,000 will take place in Germany.
Deutsche Bank employed 98,000 people as of the end of 2014, according to its annual report.
After more than three decades, China has ended its one-child policy, the state-run Xinhua news agency reports.
The Chinese couples will now be allowed to have two children, it said, citing a statement from the Communist Party.
The controversial policy was introduced nationally in 1979, to slow the population growth rate.
It is estimated to have prevented about 400 million births. However, concerns at China’s ageing population led to pressure for change.
Couples who violated the one-child policy faced a variety of punishments, from fines and the loss of employment to forced abortions.
Over time, the policy has been relaxed in some provinces, as demographers and sociologists raised concerns about rising social costs and falling worker numbers.
In rural areas, families were allowed to have two children if the first was a girl.
Other exceptions included ethnic minorities and – since 2013 – couples where at least one was a single child.
Campaigners say the policy led to forced abortions, female infanticide, and the under-reporting of female births.
The decision to allow families to have two children was designed “to improve the balanced development of population” and to deal with an aging population, according to the statement from the Community Party’s Central Committee carried by the official Xinhua News Agency on October 29.
Currently about 30% of China’s population is over the age of 50.
Correspondents say that despite the relaxation of the rules, many couples may opt to only have one child, as one-child families have become the social norm.
The announcement comes on the final day of a summit of the Chinese Communist Party’s policy-making Central Committee, known as the fifth plenum.
The Chinese Communist Party is also set to announce growth targets and its next five year plan.
Paul Ryan has been elected as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Hesitant to run at first, the Republican from Wisconsin eventually gained support of the majority of Republicans in Congress to succeed John Boehner of Ohio for the job.
Photo Reuters
Paul Ryan, 45, was Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s running mate in the 2012 election.
He has helped determine budget and tax policy in Congress and said he only wanted the job to unify Republicans.
In his new position, Paul Ryan will be second in line to the presidency only behind the vice-president.
Among other responsibilities, the speaker acts as presiding officer over the House for administrative and business matters.
Raif Badawi has been awarded this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
The European Parliament supports human rights through the annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, established in 1988. The prize is awarded to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the fight for human rights across the globe, drawing attention to human rights violations as well as supporting the laureates and their cause.
Raif Badawi, 31, is a Saudi Arabian blogger, writer and activist and the creator of the website Free Saudi Liberals, an online platform for political and religious debate. Reportedly, his website hosted material criticizing senior religious figures and Raif Badawi suggested that the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University had become a den for terrorists.
In 2012, Raif Badawi was arrested on charge of insulting Islam and indicted on several charges including apostasy.
In 2013, he was sentenced to 10 years in jail and 1,000 lashes.
The first 50 lashes were administered before hundreds of spectators on January 9, 2015. Subsequent sets have been postponed in the face of international condemnation and Raif Badawi’s dire state of health. Having received death threats, his wife and three children fled to Canada. His sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in June 2015 and he remains in jail.
European Parliament President Martin Schulz urged King Salman of Saudi Arabia to free the blogger, so he can accept the prize.
Earlier this month Raif Badawi also won the Pen Pinter Prize for championing free speech.
In June 2015, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court upheld Raif Badawi’s verdict despite a foreign outcry.
Martin Schulz told a packed European Parliament assembly in Strasbourg, France: “This man, who is an extremely good man, an exemplary man, has had imposed on him one of the most gruesome penalties.
“I call on the Saudi king to immediately free him. Relations depend on human rights being respected by our partners… they are not only not being respected but are being trodden underfoot.”
Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the European Parliament’s Liberal bloc, said: “The European Parliament has sent today a strong political and humanitarian message to Saudi Arabian authorities.”
Raif Badawi’s wife Ensaf Haidar, now living Canada with their children, said the award was a “message of hope and courage”.
“I thank the European Parliament,” Ensaf Haidar told AFP news agency.
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded by the European Parliament to individuals or organizations for their contribution to the fight for human rights and democracy.
The prize is named after the Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov.
Raif Badawi was one of three nominees for this year’s prize along with assassinated Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov and the Venezuelan opposition movement Mesa de la Unidad Democratica.
Previous winners include Nelson Mandela, Myanmar activist Aung San Suu Kyi and Pakistani education campaigner Malala Yousafzai.
Most people fail to realize just how hard it can be to keep a home in good shape. There are a number of things that a homeowner will have to keep a check on in order to ensure their residence is safe. Taking the time to inspect a home for issues will be more than worth it in the end. The electrical parts of a home are among the most essential and the most potentially harmful. Taking proper precautions when it comes to a home’s electricity, like hiring an electrical contractor Anaheim, can pay off. The following are some of the things that a homeowner will have to think about when trying to keep their home free of electrical issues.
Watch Out For Moisture
The first thing that a homeowner will need to be aware of when trying to avoid electrical problems is moisture. Most homeowners make use of extension cords for a variety of different things. Letting moisture get into these cords can cause a variety of dangerous issues. The best thing to do with an extension cord is to roll it up when not in use to reduce the chance of moisture getting in it. Taking this type of precaution will more than pay off in the end.
Photo source: glenrougehomes.com
Pay Attention to a Home’s Breakers
When trying to keep a home free of repair issues, a homeowner will need to pay attention to the condition of their breaker box. Having a breaker box that is out of date can cause a variety of electrical problems. The best way to keep a check on a breaker box is by having it inspected on a regular basis. The professionals will be able to let a homeowner know when it is time to get rid of their breaker box. Hiring professionals to inspect a breaker box is a great way to get the peace of mind a homeowner needs.
Checking the Dryer Ducts in a Home
The next thing that a homeowner will need to do when trying to keep the electrical elements of their home safe is to check their dryer ducts cleaned. Over time, the lint that comes out of a dryer will begin to clog up the vent and can become a big hazard. Not checking and cleaning the vent on a regular basis can start a fire that will be very hard to put out.
Finding the right electricians to help keep a home’s electrical system in check is vital. Researching each of electricians in the area will make the hiring process much easier. Hiring a company, like accurateelectricalservices.com, can make it easy to keep a home in good shape.
Over the next three weeks, Christmas lights across the UK will be switched on before a plethora of excited and enthusiastic families. We will also see a host of famous celebrities perform the deed, with Telford’s local authorities having arguably achieved the biggest coup by signing pop star and reality television sensation Peter Andre.
While you are unlikely to hire a celebrity to turn on your own Christmas lights, however, some households go above and beyond in order to create a truly festive spectacle in their homes. Lighting is a crucial part of this, as it can illuminate a garden space and elevate it above the standard winter scene.
What should you look for in your christmas lights?
Photo source: www.designrulz.com
With this in mind, exactly what features should you look for in your outdoor Christmas lights? Consider the following:
The type of fitting that you want
Not all outdoor Christmas lights are made equal, and while some are small and affordable others are far larger and can cost a considerable sum of money. Those with smaller gardens will probably be more interested in the type of decorative light chains that can adorn trees and pathways, while larger home-owners will be looking to invest in statement fittings that create a significant wow factor. Regardless of this, the key is to understand these differences and target a viable product.
Prioritise LED Fittings
The next step is to ensure that you buy LED fittings, as these are cost-effect and minimise the amount of energy that you consume during the festive season. We are now in the fifth generation of LED fittings, and the range has evolved through the ages to create a diverse selection of designs that also offer style, variety and artistic value to home-owners. Given that you want your outdoor lights to create a visual spectacle without costing huge amounts of money to operate, LED fittings such as the ones displayed here are worth their weight in gold.
Photo source: www.reddilight.co.uk
A Focal Point for your design
Even if you lack the space or financial resources to invest in large statement pieces for your Christmas light arrangement, you will still need a focal point for the design. Illuminated Christmas trees provide a relevant example, as they are strikingly beautiful and provide a strong and eye-catching source of light. This can be surrounded by light chains and even alternatively coloured bulbs, creating a logical layout and design that suits your garden space.
Area rugs are an often underutilized aspect of home decor. Even today, it remains one of the most dramatic ways you can change the look and feel of a room. Understanding that it’s more than simply an accessory is one of the first steps to understanding how to successfully incorporate them into your own home.
Understanding Its Role
The purpose of an area rug isn’t just to look good, it should also set boundaries and create order within the room. This is why choosing the size is so important. People are often surprised at the prices of larger examples, but remember that your savings will be worthless if the rug isn’t right for the space. In the living room, the general rule of thumb is that it should be large enough so at least the front legs of the furniture are on it. In the bedroom, you want to be able to feel the rug on your feet when you get out of bed so around two feet beyond the bed on each side a good starting point.
More Than an Afterthought
Area rugs often come as an afterthought in the design process. If a designer has done a bad job tying together a space, they often think that by adding a rug into the equation they can better bring everything together. The truth is that an area rug should actually be one of the first things you consider when designing the layout of a room. After all, it’s likely the largest piece in the entire space so it deserves your full attention. Deciding what you want at the last minute also means that you risk spending months searching for the perfect fit.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Neutral colors like beige, creams, and grays are very popular amongst people buying area rugs because they fear that something with more character could be obstructed by their furniture. The trick is to match the rug with the kind of furniture surrounding it. If you’re using a patterned motif, look for something with a geometrical pattern like those available here. This means that the overall design won’t be blocked by the furniture covering it. Similarly, if you’re using a rug with an image on it, make sure that a piece of furniture isn’t obscuring the most interesting part of that design. Place it underneath lighter furniture with a slender frame, or perhaps a glass surface.
When used correctly, area rugs are an incredibly useful device in interior design. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different approaches until you find the one that’s right for you.
British scientists have announced that Olaparib, the first drug that targets precise genetic mutations in prostate cancer, has been shown to be effective in a “milestone” trial.
The study, at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, took place on 49 men with untreatable cancer.
Olaparib had low overall success, but slowed tumor growth in 88% of patients with specific DNA mutations.
Cancer Research UK said the trial was exciting.
Olaparib, the first marketed drug to tackle inherited cancer mutations, was licensed in 2014 for women with ovarian cancer who have faulty BRCA genes.
The future of cancer medicine is treating cancers by their mutated DNA rather than what part of the body they are in.
The breast cancer drug Herceptin is already used only in patients with specific mutations. Olaparib targets mutations that change the way DNA is repaired.
The trial results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed the drug worked in 14 out of 16 men with such mutations.
Levels of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), which is produced by tumors, was more than halved and there were also significant falls in the number of prostate cancer cells detected in the blood and in the size of secondary tumors.
Patients responded to the drug for between six months and nearly a year and a half.
Prostate cancer is the fifth most deadly type of cancer in men.
However, a larger clinical trial is needed before doctors can say if the drug extends life expectancy.
Women’s rights campaigner Bidhya Devi Bhandari has become Nepal’s first female president.
Nepal’s parliament has elected Bidhya Devi Bhandari in a move hailed as a milestone.
Bidhya Devi Bhandari, 54, is the second person to hold the mainly ceremonial role.
She is currently the vice-chair of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist).
Bidhya Devi Bhandari was defense minister from 2009 to 2011. As president, she has promised to champion minority and women’s rights in Nepal.
Photo One India
Earlier this month, Nepal’s parliament chose its new prime minister, KP Sharma Oli.
Bidhya Devi Bhandari replaces Ram Baran Yadav, who was Nepal’s first elected president in 2008 after Nepal abolished its monarchy.
Her election comes shortly after Nepal put in place its new constitution in September aimed at stabilizing the country, but which ended up sparking deadly violence, killing at least 40 people.
The constitution defines Nepal as a secular republic divided into seven federal provinces.
However, ethnic groups in southern Nepal want more territory and rights for ethnic federal states.
Bidhya Devi Bhandari was born on June 19, 1961, in Manebhanjyang of Bhojpur in Nepal.
She joined student politics at an early age and later got married to a fellow Communist, Madan Bhandari.
Bidhya Devi Bhandari led demonstrations against the former King Gyanendra in 2006, ending his authoritarian rule and restoring democracy.
Republican frontrunners Donald Trump and Ben Carson, with no political experience, were under attack from the start of the third GOP presidential debate in Colorado.
Ohio Governor John Kasich condemned their “fantasy tax plans” and added: “We can’t elect someone who doesn’t know how to do the job.”
Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who has edged past Donald Trump in the latest national polls, had a quiet night in Boulder.
His tax proposal, which is based on biblical tithes, was decried by John Kasich, who also dismissed Donald Trump’s plan to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants and build a wall on the Mexico border.
Political friendships were strained by some of the testy exchanges, notably one between former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Florida Senator Marco Rubio.
Jeb Bush urged Marco Rubio, once his protégé, to resign from the Senate because of his poor voting record.
The media were also in the firing line – Texas Senator Ted Cruz got the night’s biggest applause when he attacked the hosts, CNBC for stirring confrontation.
“The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don’t trust the media. This is not a cage match.”
The hostility against CNBC continued after the debate when Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus complained about the “gotcha questions”.
The four lowest-polling Republican candidates squared off in an early debate.
Lindsey Graham, a senator from South Carolina, got the most laughs, especially when he said Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders “went to the Soviet Union on his honeymoon and I don’t think he ever came back”.
Primary voting begins in February in Iowa, 10 months before the US goes to the polls to vote for its new president.
Google has announced it is on course to have enough internet-beaming balloons in the stratosphere to form a ring over part of the world in 2016.
The declaration coincides with the announcement that three of Indonesia’s mobile networks intend to start testing Project Loon’s transmissions in 2016.
Sri Lanka previously signed a separate agreement signaling its wish to be another participant in the giant helium balloon-based scheme.
Google first revealed its super pressure balloon plan in June 2013, when about 30 of the inflatable plastic “envelopes” were launched from New Zealand.
Beneath each lighter-than-air balloon are hung: two radio transceivers to receive and send data streams, plus a third back-up radio; a flight computer and GPS location tracker; an altitude control system, which is used to move the balloon up and down to find winds that will take it in the desired direction; solar panels to power all the gear.
Photo Google
Because each balloon only provides connectivity to a ground area 25 miles in diameter below it, the initial ring will be limited to a relatively small part of the planet as it circles a section of the Southern Hemisphere.
Super pressure balloons are made out of tightly sealed plastic capable of containing highly pressurized lighter-than-air gases.
The aim is to keep the volume of the balloon relatively stable, even if there are changes in temperature.
This allows them to stay aloft longer and be better at maintaining a specific altitude than balloons which stretch and contract.
In particular, it avoids the problem of balloons descending at night when their gases cool.
The concept was first developed for the US Air Force in the 1950s using a stretched polyester film called Mylar.
The effort resulted in the GHOST (global horizontal sounding technique) program which launched superpressure balloons from Christchurch, New Zealand, to gather wind and temperature data over remote regions of the planet.
Over the following decade, 88 balloons were launched, the longest staying aloft for 744 days.
More recently, NASA has experimented with the technology and suggested superpressure balloons could one day be deployed into Mars’s atmosphere.
Google suggests that Project Loon would be a cheaper solution than installing fiber optic cables or building mobile phone masts across all of Indonesia’s islands, which contain jungles and mountains.
The advantage of a balloon-based system over satellites is that it should ultimately be cheaper to maintain – at least, if all the technological challenges can be overcome.
Google is, however, considering other options.
It is also pursuing a separate effort codenamed Titan, which aims to use solar-paneled drones to provide the internet to unconnected parts of the world.
Facebook is also developing a similar drone-based scheme.
According to a UN investigator’s report, as many as 50,000 North Koreans have been sent abroad to work in conditions that amount to “forced labor”.
Marzuki Darusman said workers earn very little, are underfed and are sometimes forced to work up to 20-hour days.
The special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea also said in his report that employers pay “significantly higher amounts” directly to the North Korean government.
The majority of the workers are in China and Russia, mainly in the mining, textile and construction industries.
Marzuki Darusman also listed countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
He said the companies who hire North Korean workers “become complicit in an unacceptable system of forced labor”.
The workers are providing a source of hard currency to a country in a “really tight financial and economic situation”.
Marzuki Darusman estimated that North Korea was earning $1.2 billion-$2.3 billion from the foreign worker system every year.
Since 2006, North Korea has been under international sanction for its nuclear weapons tests resulting in a shortage of foreign currency.
George Lucas has donated $10 million to the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, the same place he graduated from nearly 50 years ago.
The gift – the largest single donation for student support in the school’s history – will establish The George Lucas Foundation Endowed Student Support Fund for Diversity which will provide financial support for African American and Hispanic students enrolled at the School.
The Star Wars creator said Hispanic and African-American storytellers were underrepresented in the entertainment industry.
Photo USC
Student support will be split equally between male and female students, who will be known as George Lucas Scholars or Mellody Hobson Scholars. The first recipients will be awarded for the fall of 2016.
In addition to the Lucas Family Foundation’s fund, the School of Cinematic Arts has recently received a number of endowment gifts specifically earmarked for student support including: the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Fund for Student Support, the Shriram Family Graduate Student Support Fund, and the Kelly & Ron Meyer Family Fund for Student Support.
George Lucas previously donated around $175 million in 2006, some of which was used to rebuild the film school.
The director is awaiting a vote by Chicago’s City Council on his plans to build a 300,000 square foot Museum of Narrative Art beside Lake Michigan.
Halle Berry has announced that she and Olivier Martinez are to divorce.
The actress filed a divorce petition under a pseudonym while the French actor filed his own petition, with both citing irreconcilable differences.
Photo Getty Images
Halle Berry and Olivier Matinez – who have a 2-year-old son together – released a joint statement announcing the divorce on October 27.
“We move forward with love and respect for one another and the shared focus of what is best for our son,” they said.
“We wish each other nothing but happiness in life and we hope that you respect our and, most importantly, our children’s privacy as we go through this difficult period.”
Halle Berry was previously married to baseball player David Justice and soul singer Eric Benet.
FIFA has confirmed that seven candidates will stand in its presidential election on February 26, 2016.
The candidates are:
Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, 39, president of the Jordan Football Association
Musa Bility, 48, president of the Liberian Football Association
Jerome Champagne, 57, former FIFA executive
Gianni Infantino, 45, UEFA’s general secretary
Michel Platini, 60, is UEFA president and FIFA vice-president
Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, 49, Asian Football Confederation president
Tokyo Sexwale, 62, former South Africa’s government minister
Trinidadian ex-soccer player David Nakhid was not included on the list, despite saying he had submitted his candidacy.
The election is to find a successor to the suspended Sepp Blatter, who is under criminal investigation.
Sepp Blatter, 79, announced he would be stepping down in June, with world soccer’s governing body at the centre of a corruption scandal.
Michel Platini, the head of European soccer’s governing body, is also suspended, but FIFA’s electoral committee says it may allow him to stand if his ban ends before the election date.
FIFA and Swiss prosecutors are investigating reports that a 2 million euros payment was made in 2011 for work Michel Platini did as Sepp Blatter’s adviser.
Both Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter deny any wrongdoing and are appealing against their 90-day bans.
Under FIFA electoral rules, all candidates had to obtain the written backing of five soccer associations.
For many homes in urban environments, floor space is a luxury. This circumstance often means that the dining table is one of the first pieces of furniture that has to be sacrificed. This means that mealtimes have become more casual affairs, often spent in front of the TV or at a kitchen counter turned breakfast nook.
This is a shame because a dining room setting is perfect for giving families the opportunity to spend more time with each other or as a place to entertain guests. Fortunately, there are a number of options available that can facilitate a full sized eating area, even in a small living space.
Photo Source: workersalsa.blogspot.com
Drop-Leaf Tables
The classic drop-leaf table actually date back all the way to sixteenth century England. It has a fixed section in the center and a two hinged parts, commonly known as the “leaves,” on either side. On some pieces the leaves are supported by legs that swing out from the center rather than by the bracket. These are known as gateleg tables and they’re ideal for those living in smaller spaces that can’t accommodate a permanent dining area. The subtle design turns what appears to be a simple storage compartment into a practical and comfortable seating arrangement for two to four people.
Circular Designs
For those who need something larger, a circular design like the famous Braun Woodline, created by French designer Philippe Braun may be just what you’re looking for. This extendable table is the perfect implementation of what practical furniture should provide. Rather than having to own pieces of varying sizes to fit the number of guests, this table can adapt to your needs instead. It starts off as a small round table for four, though it’s easily expandable to seat eight or more by using a simple drawer mechanism. There are three sizes that seat up to 16, if necessary.
Photo Source: hometone.com
Foldaway Solutions
We often hear that the best kind of design is invisible and only apparent to us when we need it. If this is truly the case, then fully foldaway solutions that use a drop-down mechanism to sit flush inside are the pinnacle of well-designed extendable. The best examples of these are e to match seamlessly into the rest of the décor before seemingly appearing from nowhere. This seems to be the approach that Russian designer Oleg Trofimov is replicating with his incredible space saving apartment, that employs numerous foldaway, hidden furniture, sliding walls to make up for the immediate size restrictions.
Take a look here to see some more examples of what’s available and let us know about your own solutions in the comments below.
Afghans and Pakistanis made homeless by this week’s earthquake could die from exposure, aid workers have warned.
There is an urgent need for tents and blankets for those forced to spend a second night outdoors, they said.
Children are especially at risk of succumbing to the extreme cold.
Thousands spent last night in near-freezing temperatures, reluctant to go back inside for fear of aftershocks, Pakistani media reported.
At least 360 people are known to have died in both countries, but officials are warning the number will rise, particularly in Afghanistan.
The UN children’s fund said a combination of intense cold and insecurity were cutting off some communities.
Remote and mountainous quake-affected areas have been hit by heavy rain and snow for the past two days, according to a UNICEF statement.
Photo Reuters
“Communication is poor and access difficult due to the tough terrain and security operations,” the statement says.
The earthquake’s epicenter was in the Afghan province of Badakhshan, where it damaged many of the province’s scarce roads, officials say.
Providing aid by air will be one of the most effective ways of reaching those in dire need, they say, but such operations are unlikely to start for many days – until survey teams on foot are able to visit the affected areas and report on the damage.
The Pakistani town closest to the epicenter is Chitral, but it also shook buildings in the capital, Islamabad, and in Peshawar.
The tremor lasted for up to 45 seconds early on October 26, creating cracks in walls across a wide region and leading to electricity blackouts.
Officials say more than 1,600 people in Pakistan were injured in the quake, and more than 4,000 homes destroyed.
The worst-hit area was the picturesque Swat Valley and areas around Dir, Malakand and Shangla towns in the mountains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Though relief is getting through to displaced people, Pakistani media reported that at least 5,000 villagers in the remote Kalash Valley remained homeless and charities could not reach them.
Many people remain trapped under piles of rubble, with officials warning that the death toll was set to rise.
In Afghanistan, the quake destroyed more than 7,600 homes, a statement from President Ashraf Ghani’s office said. He has ordered the military to make themselves available for the relief effort.
Taliban rebels urged Afghans “not to hold back in providing shelter, food and medical supplies'” to quake victims and said their fighters would help the relief effort.
Ben Carson has knocked Donald Trump off top spot in the Republican presidential campaign.
The retired neurosurgeon takes a narrow lead in a New York Times/CBS News poll, ousting Donald Trump who has led the pack for nearly four months.
The news comes on the eve of the third TV debate for Republican contenders.
The next-ranked candidates are Marco Rubio (8%), Jeb Bush and Carly Fiorina (7% each) but they are a long way behind.
Conservative Ben Carson, who has expressed extreme views on a range of issues, has 26% of Republican primary voter support, according to the telephone poll of 575 voters.
The 64-year-old lead of 4% over Donald Trump is well within the 6% margin of error.
Photo Getty Images
Florida Senator Marco Rubio has 8% support and the rest closely follow behind him.
Donald Trump has turned his fire to Ben Carson in recent days, attacking him as “low energy” and questioning his Seventh Day Adventist faith.
The two will meet on the stage at Boulder, Colorado, at the Republican debate on October 28.
Primary voting begins in February in Iowa, where Ben Carson also leads the polls.
Ben Carson was criticized this week for comparing abortion to slavery.
The retired doctor has said President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform was “the worst thing” since slavery and that the US government is acting like Nazi Germany.
He also asserted that being gay is a choice, Muslims aren’t qualified to seek the US presidency, the Holocaust could have been prevented if persecuted Europeans owned more guns and – just a few days ago – that the US government should cut off funding to universities that are found to exhibit “extreme political bias”.
Ben Carson’s comments on abortion have set off yet another cycle of outrage from the left – a reaction that he will likely wear as a badge of honor.
