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

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…

France has officially recognised a Palestinian state at the United Nations in New York. President Emmanuel Macron said the step was a “necessity” and part of a plan for peace. France was joined by the UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal and several smaller European countries.

The French government stressed this was not support for Hamas, but a commitment to a two-state solution. The Eiffel Tower was lit up with both Israeli and Palestinian flags to mark the moment.

Israel rejected the move, with Prime Minister Netanyahu saying there will never be a Palestinian state west of the River Jordan.

Business News

Democracy in the United States is under fresh scrutiny, with critics warning of serious erosion under President Donald Trump. This year he has fired senior economic officials, undermined the Federal Reserve’s independence, and pushed state control into private companies like Intel and US Steel.

Concerns deepened after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Following jokes about Kirk’s death, Trump’s regulators pressured Disney and ABC, leading to Jimmy Kimmel’s show being suspended — behaviour academics say mirrors autocratic regimes.

Business leaders remain largely silent in public, but privately they admit deep apprehension. As one observer said: “MAGA has gone Maoist.”

Entertainment

More travellers are choosing reading retreats instead of beach holidays. These trips mix books, place and community. For example, in Florence, readers discussed Sarah Winman’s Still Life in the trattoria that inspired the story.

Books in Places, started in 2023, takes people to read novels where they are set – from Crete to Jamaica. Other groups, like Ladies Who Lit, offer women-only retreats with time to relax and read, while New York’s Page Break focuses on reading aloud together.

The trend is growing fast, as many holidaymakers now want trips that bring learning, connection and fresh experiences.

Sport

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe says the global sports calendar may need to change because of climate change. At the World Championships in Tokyo, athletes faced very high heat and humidity, making events like the marathon dangerous. Coe said endurance races might need to be held at cooler times of the year.

Even with the difficult conditions, the Championships drew large crowds and produced some outstanding performances across track and field. Coe said the sport is in good health but must adapt to protect athletes.

In 2026, a new “Ultimate Championships” will launch, offering a $10m prize fund.

Self-development

Let’s talk about efficiency. Efficiency means getting good results without wasting time, energy, or resources. It’s not about working harder or longer hours – it’s about working smarter.

At work, being efficient can mean improving the way we do tasks. That might be using technology to save time, setting clear goals, or reducing unnecessary meetings. When everyone knows what really matters and focuses on that, the whole team achieves more with less effort.

In daily life, efficiency is just as useful. Many of us lose hours scrolling on our phones or trying to do too many things at once. Simple habits like planning tomorrow before you go to bed, doing errands in one trip, or limiting screen time can make life feel easier.

Efficiency isn’t about rushing or overworking. It’s about freeing time and energy for the things you care about – whether that’s family, friends, rest or play.

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!