![#News of the world [Pre-intermediate] - By Cate - 30/12/2024 Artwork](https://www.buzzsprout.com/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBCUGlxekFjPSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--9ca1ea9a3e018619b2e77a3054eab53b0c3a302a/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdDVG9MWm05eWJXRjBPZ2hxY0djNkUzSmxjMmw2WlY5MGIxOW1hV3hzV3docEFsZ0NhUUpZQW5zR09nbGpjbTl3T2d0alpXNTBjbVU2Q25OaGRtVnlld1k2REhGMVlXeHBkSGxwUVRvUVkyOXNiM1Z5YzNCaFkyVkpJZ2x6Y21kaUJqb0dSVlE9IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJ2YXJpYXRpb24ifX0=--1924d851274c06c8fa0acdfeffb43489fc4a7fcc/Copie%20de%20Grey%20Black%20Modern%20Playful%20Talkshow%20Podcast%20Cover%20.png)
News of the World
Your bite-sized audio to learn English 🇬🇧 News of the World 🌎 Join Cate 👩🏫 every two weeks 🗓 for a 5 to 10 minutes max audio to optimize a downtime ⏱ Two levels, advanced and pre-intermediate ⭐️
News of the World
#News of the world [Pre-intermediate] - By Cate - 30/12/2024
A quick glance at what's happening on Mother Earth 🌍
No country will remain untouched 😎
No celebrity or politician will remain safe 😅
Put on the earphones 🔈
Choose your level - Pre-Intermediate or Advanced ⭐️
Press play ▶️
Improve your English 🔥
Ps: Cate rocks 🤘
Hello, Cate here and welcome back to NEWS OF THE WORLD!
In World News…
The Pelicot trial has deeply impacted France, revealing widespread systemic violence against women and sparking discussions on sexual assault and consent. Dominique Pelicot and 50 other men drugged and raped his then-wife, Gisèle, over a decade. Despite clear evidence, many denied guilt, wrongly thinking Dominique’s consent was enough. Dominique received a 20-year sentence, while others faced lighter penalties, angering the public. Gisèle bravely waived her anonymityto highlight rape culture and inspire change. Her courage has pushed survivors to speak out and demand reforms like consent education and tougher laws. Activists stress this is just the start of tackling sexist violence.
Business News
The EU-Mercosur trade deal has angered French farmers, who fear it threatens their livelihoods. The agreement aims to reduce tariffs and boost trade between the EU and South America, affecting 800 million people. Supporters see it as a step for global free trade, but farmers worry it will flood the EU with cheaper South American beef, chicken, and sugar, undercutting local produce. They argue South American producers face fewer rules on pesticides and labour, creating unfair competition. Struggling to make ends meet, French farmers are protesting, urging France to block the deal and hoping other countries, like Italy, will join them.
Entertainment
Board games are a fun way to improve English while enjoying time with others. Here are some great options:
- Scrabble: Create words from letters on a board to earn points. Playing with a dictionary helps you learn new words and how they connect.
- Taboo: Describe a word without using related “taboo” words, improving creativity and vocabulary by learning synonyms.
- Once Upon a Time: Use storytelling cards to create and change stories, enhancing imagination and language skills.
- Scattergories: List words in specific categories starting with a given letter, learning unique vocabulary.
- Cards Against Humanity: A fun and risqué adult game that makes language learning entertaining.
Enjoy these games and boost your English!
Sport
The Alps and Pyrenees promise a fantastic ski season with excellent early snow conditions. Recent snowfall and cold weather have kept slopes in great shape, with snow machines helping where needed. Resorts in Austria and Italy are fully operational, while heavy snowstorms in the Pyrenees have left over 1m of snow in areas like La Mongie in France. Scandinavian ski areas in Norway, Sweden, and Finland are also open with fresh powder. Even with varying natural snow depths, artificial snow ensures good skiing in spots like the Dolomites. Excitement is high as skiers book trips for an epic season.
Self-development
Time poverty affects 80% of people, leaving them stressed and feeling they lack time for responsibilities or enjoyment. Research shows time stress can harm happiness more than unemployment. Prioritizing time over money leads to greater happiness, better relationships, and job satisfaction. Harvard professor Ashley Whillans recommends three strategies to combat time poverty:
- Finding Time: Analyse how you spend your time and focus on meaningful, joyful, or productive activities.
- Funding Time: Outsource tasks like cleaning or shopping to free up time for fulfilling activities.
- Reframing Time: Shift your mindset to value and appreciate time, cultivating a sense of abundance.
Time poverty is made worse by traps like overworking, tech interruptions, undervaluing time, seeking busyness for status, and avoiding stillness. Overcoming it involves:
- Identifying reasons for time-wasting activities.
- Scheduling breaks to reset between tasks.
- Creating action plans to meet goals.
- Turning off tech notifications to reduce distractions.
- Fully enjoying leisure without focusing on monetary value.
Balancing time and money is key. Decide whether you value time or money more, and manage your time intentionally. By escaping time traps, you can lead a happier, more balanced, and successful life.
Well, that’s all from NEWS OF THE WORLD for now. I hope you have a happy start to 2025, and I’ll talk to you soon! Take care!