#News of the world [Pre-intermediate] - By Cate - 01/09/2025

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

No country will remain untouched 😎
No celebrity or politician will remain safe 😅
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Transcript

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

In World News…

Ukraine marked Independence Day with a strong message from President Zelensky. He said Ukraine would keep fighting until its calls for peace are heard. He stressed that Ukrainians must decide their own future. On the same day, Russia accused Ukraine of drone attacks that caused a fire at a nuclear plant. Ukraine called this propaganda. The UN urged both sides to stay careful near nuclear sites. Celebrations in Kyiv brought support from Canada, the UK, Norway, Sweden and King Charles. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and Putin held a summit in Alaska, but peace talks remain stuck.

Business News

Air Canada flight attendants went on strike last week, saying: “unpaid work won’t fly.” Cabin crew are often unpaid during boarding and safety checks, unlike in Europe where salaries cover all duties. The strike disrupted travel but ended with a tentative deal. It includes pay rises and, for the first time, some pay for ground duties. Trade union leaders called it “historic,” though many staff still want more. Experts think this could change the whole industry. Airlines like Delta and American already pay ground time, and with Air Canada joining, pressure is growing for others to follow.

Entertainment

Notting Hill Carnival returned last weekend, drawing nearly a million visitors to West London. The event, running for over 50 years, celebrates Caribbean culture with music, food and colourful parades. The day began with J’ouvert — dancing, paint and powder filling the streets. Floats, costumes, steel bands and reggae sound systems kept the energy high, while food stallsoffered jerk chicken and Caribbean dishes. Security was strong, with 7,000 police and facial recognition technology. Police made 140 arrests. Despite funding difficulties, last-minute council support saved the event. Stars like Usain Bolt joined the crowds at Europe’s biggest street party.

Sport

Daniil Medvedev was knocked out of the US Open in chaotic scenes. Playing France’s Benjamin Bonzi, a photographer walked onto the court during match point. The umpire gave Bonzi a new first serve, and Medvedev exploded in anger. He accused the umpire of “wanting to go home” and hyped up the crowd. Play stopped for six minutes, Bonzi lost focus, and the match turned into a five-set battle. Bonzi eventually won close to 1am. Medvedev smashed his racquet, cried, and even hinted at quitting tennis. The photographer was removed, and Medvedev may now drop from the world’s top 20.

Self-development

When life feels noisy with pressures from work, family, and the world around us it’s easy to forget what really matters. That’s where core values come in. Values are the beliefs that guide our choices, shape our actions, and help us respond when life gets difficult.

Knowing your values doesn’t make life simple, but it gives you a compass. If honesty is one of your values, you are less likely to break it, even under pressure. If creativity matters most, rigid environments will feel draining, while expressive ones will feel energising.

Without clear values, we risk chasing success defined by others — which often leads to stress or emptiness, even if we “achieve” on paper. A helpful exercise is to recall moments when you felt proud and alive, then notice the themes. Those reveal your values. Once you know them, decisions align with who you truly are — creating meaning, peace, and authenticity.

Well, that’s all from NEWS OF THE WORLD for now. I hope you live by your values today, and I’ll talk to you soon! Take care!