#News of the world [Advanced] - By Cate - 24/03/2025

A quick glance at what's happening on Mother Earth 🌍

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Transcript

Hello, Cate here and welcome back to NEWS OF THE WORLD!

In World News…

The Trump administration’s push for a month-long, unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine yielded little beyond symbolic gestures. They requested a full halt to attacks but received a prisoner swap, vague promises of talks, and a loosely definedpause on strikes against “energy infrastructure.”

The White House described this as covering “energy and infrastructure” broadly, but Russia limited it to power grids and gas supplies — a low-cost concession for Moscow. For Ukraine, this deal came with a significant downside: Kyiv must stop targeting Russian oil refineries, which have inflicted major economic damage by disrupting Moscow’s key revenue source — hydrocarbon exports to China and India.

Russia also demanded an end to Western aid and intelligence support for Ukraine, packaged as part of future “working groups” — a diplomatic term often signaling delay and inaction. While energy attacks paused, Russian airstrikes on other targets resumed almost immediately.

In reality, Russia offered just enough to avoid an outright rejection while maintaining the upper hand. Trump’s first major diplomatic effort with Putin yielded little of substance, reinforcing the Kremlin’s control over the pace of negotiations. What Trump does next — push for more, accept further compromises, or back off — will be critical to Ukraine’s position and the broader trajectory of the war.

Business News

The resurgence of "Made in Canada" reflects a growing shift toward reshoring — the process of bringing manufacturing and supply chains back home — driven by US tariffs and global disruptions. Canadian businesses, initially responding with patriotism and consumer support, now face strategic decisions about sourcing and operations.

Businesses across various sectors are adapting by promoting domestically made products while reassessing long-standinginternational supplier relationships. Some manufacturers are seizing the opportunity to expand local production, aiming to create more value from Canada’s raw materials and reduce reliance on foreign processing. This shift not only supports smaller companies struggling to compete with overseas producers but also promotes fair wages and reduces the environmental impact of long-distance shipping.

Sandra Pupatello, a Canadian business leader and former trade minister, has underscored the importance of supply chain resilience, citing pandemic export restrictions as a wake-up call. The goal is to ensure Canada isn’t left vulnerable in future crises.

However, reshoring faces considerable obstacles. The car industry’s deeply integrated cross-border supply chains would require substantial investment to reconfigure, and economists advocate focusing on sectors where Canada holds a competitive edge, such as renewable energy and metal processing.

For now, Canadian businesses are navigating uncertainty — balancing patriotism, economic reality, and the evolving global trade landscape.

Entertainment

Meghan’s back — this time, not with royal revelations or tearful interviews, but with… jam. Yes, With Love, Meghan is part cooking show, part lifestyle tutorial, and mostly an infomercial for her new brand, As Ever.

We’re treated to scenes of Meghan in a sun-drenched, suspiciously perfect kitchen, making focaccia, doughnuts, and Korean fried chicken — all while looking effortlessly radiant. Friends drop by too, because of course they do. Mindy Kaling jokes about heavy saucepans, celebrity chef Roy Choi appears for a casual chat, and there’s even a designer or two on hand, just to keep things relatable.

The real star, though? Meghan’s raspberry jam — lovingly displayed in "keepsake packaging." Apparently, celebrity pals got numbered jars, leading them to wonder where they ranked in the jam hierarchy. Meghan reserved jar number one for her mum because, well, that’s "the right thing to do."

We also get Meghan arranging flowers, wrapping gifts, and, bizarrely, beekeeping — because what lifestyle brand is complete without honey? Harry pops up briefly at the end, offering congratulations before vanishing back into the California sunset.

It’s upbeat, aspirational, and impossibly polished — more product launch than programme. But hey, at least the jam looks nice.

Sport

This year’s rugby Six Nations concluded with France emerging as dominant champions, showcasing an impressive attacking game with a record 30 tries across five matches. England secured second place after a commanding 10-try victory over Wales in Cardiff, marking a shift to a more aggressive attacking strategy.

Wales, however, endured a disastrous campaign, culminating in a 68-17 defeat — their heaviest in Six Nations history — and a second Wooden Spoon in a row. Former captain Sam Warburton has called for major structural changes, including reducing the number of Welsh regions to concentrate talent and improve performance.

Ireland’s hopes of a third consecutive title ended with a heavy defeat to France, and despite finishing third with four wins, their campaign lacked momentum. With three seasoned internationals retiring, the team now faces a significant transition period.

Scotland showed promise with some standout performances, but ultimately finished fourth. Their talented backline struggled without the forward power seen in teams like France and England.

Italy showed signs of progress, pushing both Ireland and Scotland close — a sign that they’re no longer content with the Wooden Spoon role of past tournaments.

As the dust settles, France look ahead with confidence, England show signs of resurgence, Ireland face a rebuilding phase, and Wales are left searching for a way forward.

Self-development

Last time we looked at the importance of trusting our gut and today we’re going to discuss ways to develop our intuition. Intuition isn’t some mystical gift — it’s a skill that can be sharpened. It’s your brain processing patterns and experiences faster than your conscious mind can catch up. The key is learning to tune into it.

·       First, start by paying attention to your body’s signals. Often, your gut reaction is physical — a tight chest, a sense of ease, or a nagging discomfort. Instead of brushing these off, pause and reflect. Ask yourself, “What is this feeling trying to tell me?”

·       Next, give your mind space to wander. In a world full of notifications and endless to-do lists, our brains rarely get a quiet moment. Yet intuition often speaks in the quiet. Whether it’s through walks, journaling, or even a few minutes of mindful breathing, creating mental stillness helps those instinctive insights surface. Let yourself be bored!

·       Another powerful tool is reflection. After making decisions — big or small — take time to review how they turned out. Was your gut feeling right? If not, what threw you off? Over time, this helps you recognise which instincts are worth trusting and which may be influenced by fear or bias.

·       Finally, feed your intuition with knowledge and experience. The more you immerse yourself in a subject — whether it’s your job, a hobby, or even understanding people — the better your subconscious becomes at recognising patterns. That’s why experts often seem to "just know" what to do.

Developing intuition isn’t about abandoning logic. It’s about blending both — using your instincts as a guide and your reasoning to back them up. Trusting your gut becomes far easier when you know it’s grounded in experience and self-awareness.

Well, that’s all from NEWS OF THE WORLD for now. I hope you give your mind some quiet time today, and I’ll talk to you soon! Take care!