#News of the world [Advanced] - By Cate - 29/09/2025

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…

France has formally recognised a Palestinian state, with President Macron announcing the move in New York. He described it as a “necessity” and part of a broader plan for peace and security. France joins the UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal and several smaller European nations in backing Palestinian statehood.

Paris, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, coordinated its push with Saudi Arabia. France’s Foreign Minister called the decision a “categorical rejection” of Hamas and a clear commitment to a two-state solution. Supporters hailed it as a major diplomatic step, symbolically reinforced when the Eiffel Tower lit up with both Israeli and Palestinian flags.

But the move has been strongly condemned by Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu insisted there will never be a Palestinian state west of the River Jordan. The US, Germany and Italy have declined to join France, with Berlin arguing recognition should come at the end of peace talks, not the beginning.

For Macron, this marks both a gamble and a statement of intent: an attempt to revive a dying peace process while reshaping Europe’s voice in the Middle East.

Business News

In the United States, alarm is growing over what many scholars and business leaders see as the erosion of democracy under President Trump. This year alone, Trump has fired the nation’s top economic statistician and a Federal Reserve governor, while his administration has bought stakes in private companies such as Intel and even secured a “golden share” in US Steel. Critics argue this marks an unprecedented level of state control in what was once the world’s leading free-market democracy.

The president has also wielded tariff powers aggressively and turned on the media. Concerns spiked after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which Trump and his allies used to pressure broadcasters. ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show after jokes about Kirk’s murder, with regulators warning Disney and ABC of consequences — a move described by experts as “straight from the autocratic playbook.”

Academics warn that populist governments tend to damage long-term growth, while CEOs privately describe Trump’s approach as both alarming and destabilising. One Yale professor summed it up starkly: “MAGA has gone Maoist, if not Marxist.”

Entertainment

Forget the beach paperback – travellers are now signing up for reading retreats that mix books, place and community. In Florence, one group discussed Sarah Winman’s Still Life inside the trattoria that inspired it, while others have followed in the footsteps of Ian Fleming in Jamaica or Victoria Hislop in Crete.

The concept, pioneered by Paul Wright’s Books in Places in 2023, is simple: read novels in the locations where they’re set. Wright says it makes stories “come alive” when you’ve walked the same streets or tasted the same food as the characters. Demand has soared – from just two trips in 2023 to around 25 this year, many selling out within a day.

Other companies are tailoring the idea. Ladies Who Lit runs women-only retreats with flexible reading and plenty of relaxation, while New York’s Page Break focuses on reading one book aloud, turning strangers into a close-knit circle.

The trend reflects a wider shift in travel: many holidaymakers now choose destinations based on how they can learn or invest in themselves. With literary tourism worth billions, reading retreats offer not only escape but also connection, discovery and new ways of seeing the world.

Sport

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has warned that the global sporting calendar may need to be “re-engineered” to cope with the growing impact of climate change. His comments follow the World Championships in Tokyo, where athletes battled temperatures above 30C and humidity exceeding 90%. Coe suggested endurance events such as the marathon may in future need to be staged separately, at cooler times of the year, to protect competitors. Research by World Athletics found 70% of athletes already say climate change is disrupting their training.

The Championships themselves provided nine days of thrilling action in front of sell-out 60,000 crowds at Japan’s National Stadium, which hosted the Olympics behind closed doors four years ago due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Looking ahead, Coe confirmed the sport will debut a new “Ultimate Championships” in Budapest in 2026, featuring world champions and Diamond League winners competing for a $10m prize pot. Sporting great Usain Bolt hailed it as a “good start” towards ensuring athletics continues to grow.

Self-development

Let’s talk about efficiency. At its simplest, efficiency is about using our time, energy and resources in the smartest way possible to get the results we want. It’s not about working harder or longer, but about working smarter – reducing waste, focusing on priorities, and streamlining how we operate.

In the workplace, efficiency often means improving processes, cutting out unnecessary steps, and making better use of technology. It could be automating routine tasks, setting clearer goals, or making sure meetings have a purpose. The most efficient teams are those where everyone understands what matters most and directs their efforts towards it.

But efficiency isn’t only for work – it’s just as important in our personal lives. Think about how much time we spend scrolling on our phones or juggling too many commitments. Small changes, like planning your day the night before or first thing in the morning, grouping errands together, or setting boundaries around screen time, can make a huge difference. Being efficient at home also creates more space for the things that really matter – whether that’s family, friends, play or rest.

Ultimately, efficiency isn’t about squeezing every last drop out of ourselves. It’s about freeing up time and energy for what matters most and making sure our efforts take us in the direction we want to go.

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