World

WESTWOOD—On October 31, the UCLA faculty voted in favor of making a one quarter-long diversity course a degree requirement for students of all majors. The initiative, which passed amongst UCLA faculty by a margin of 332 to 303, will become university policy if approved by both the Academic Senate’s Legislative Assembly and the Academic Senate’s Undergraduate Council. If passed, the degree requirement...

WESTWOOD—According to US News & World Reports inaugural Best Global University rankings, UCLA stands as the No. 8 university worldwide and the No. 2 public institution behind rival University of California Berkeley. The rankings, covering 500 universities across 49 different countries, are based upon an institution's influence in both the academic and research communities. UC Berkeley, only ranked behind Harvard and...

  HOLLYWOOD—Fashion designer Oscar de la Renta died after battling cancer for several years on Monday, October 20 at his residence in Kent, Connecticut. He was 82. Oscar has designed clothing for many celebrities including Emily Blunt, Jessica Alba, Tina Fey, Sarah Jessica Parker, and most recently designed the wedding dress for actor George Clooney’s bride, Amal Alamuddin. Kenneth Cole, another famous...

CALIFORNIA—The U. S. Geological Survey deemed Sunday's 6.0 earthquake as the biggest earthquake to hit Napa Valley California since the Loma Prieta quake nearly 25 years ago. According to a USGS press release, the earthquake hit the northern San Francisco Bay area around 3:20 a.m. and “appears to have ruptured on or just west of mapped traces of the West...

LOS ANGELES—The “Ice Bucket Challenge” has gone viral on various social media outlets in the past few weeks. Participants of the challenge film themselves pouring a bucket of ice water on over heads and then nominate others with 24 hours to complete the challenge. If the person who is nominated doesn't accept the challenge they are to make a donation...

IRAQ—The Iraqi Shiite cleric, Al-Sistani declared a call for the people to fight the ISIS. Many people have accepted the call since Al-Sistani is a highly regarded cleric in Iraq to defend their home and prevent terrorists from raping and slaughtering people. The ISIS is a terrorist group that has taken over the western sphere of Iraq. The terrorist group...

UNITED STATES—The literary world is in mourning as author and poet, Maya Angelou passed away at the age of 86 on Wednesday, May 28. The news was confirmed Wednesday morning by Mayor Allen Jones of Winston-Salem, who confirmed Angelou’s death to a local news station in North Carolina. She posted her last tweet on May 23 stating, “Listen to yourself...

SOUTH AFRICA―Former South African President Nelson Mandela died on Thursday, December 5. He was 95 years-old. The anti-apartheid figure succumbed to his failing health in his home in Johannesburg. The current president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, confirmed the death of the elder statesman in an address to the nation. “He is now resting,” said President Zuma. “He is now at...

  LONDON—On Tuesday, July 23, Kate Middleton and Prince William walked down  the steps of the Lindo Wing in St. Mary's Hospital carrying their new baby boy. All eyes stared at the door, after it was announced on the royal easel board yesterday that they welcomed a beautiful baby boy who would be the 22nd Century King of England. The two...

ROME, ITALY—James Gandolfini, best known as Tony Soprano from HBO’s “The Sopranos,” died of a sudden heart attack in Italy on Wednesday, June 19. He was in Rome on vacation with his son at the time. The actor was 51. Many celebrities have commented on the loss. Governor Chris Christie ofNew Jerseywrote on his Twitter account “a huge fan” of...