#News of the world [Advanced] - By Cate - 27/10/2025

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…

Millions took to the streets across the United States last weekend for the “No Kings” demonstrations – one of the largest protest movements since Donald Trump returned to the White House. The rallies, held in cities including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, were largely peaceful and aimed to challenge what many see as Trump’s growing use of presidential power.

Senator Chris Murphy told crowds in Washington that Americans were standing up for democracy and freedom, not monarchy. At the White House, however, officials dismissed the protests, while Mr Trump posted mocking AI-generated videos of himself wearing a crown.

Despite the carnival atmosphere, the protests reflect serious political divisions. Many Democrats see the rallies as a rallying point for rebuilding their movement after recent defeats – but they remain deeply split over strategy. The demonstrations also come amid a long-running government shutdown, causing widespread hardship.

As ever in politics, the real test will come at the ballot box, with state elections due in November.

Business News

Millions of people around the world were caught off guard last Monday morning when Amazon Web Services — or AWS — went down, disrupting everything from airline bookings and online shopping to mobile banking and coffee orders. The outage, which Amazon says has now been fully resolved, triggered more than 6.5 million reports of problems globally, with over a million from the US and hundreds of thousands from the UK.

The issue originated at one of Amazon’s main data centres in North Virginia and, while experts say there’s no sign of a cyberattack, it shows just how dependent modern life has become on a handful of tech giants. When one of them stumbles, the impact is immediate — and worldwide.

Elon Musk couldn’t resist gloating that his X platform wasn’t affected, using the opportunity to promote its new chat feature. Airlines like United and Delta confirmed brief disruptions, while other platforms — including Snapchat, Roblox and Lloyds Bank — were hit harder.

The incident is a sharp reminder that, however advanced the cloud may be, it’s far from storm-proof.

Entertainment

It was the most spectacular heist at the Louvre since the Mona Lisa’s disappearance in 1911 — a brazen, seven-minute raid on the Apollo Gallery that has left France asking how well its treasures are really protected. Thieves used a hire truck with a hydraulic lift, climbed to the first-floor window, cut their way in and made straight for the display cases holding remnants of the French crown jewels. Eight items were taken — diadems, necklaces, brooches — though one crown was later found damaged nearby.

Officials say alarms worked and staff followed protocol, yet the ease and speed of the job exposed glaring vulnerabilities. These gangs do not steal pictures that can’t be sold; they target jewellery and precious objects that can be broken up and fenced quickly. Recent thefts — raw gold from the Natural History Museum and valuable porcelain from Limoges — suggest criminal networks are growing bolder.

France’s culture ministry already has a security plan, but this raid will intensify pressure for faster action. For the Louvre, long a byword for tight protection, the message is stark: even the greatest museums are not immune.

Sport

Cross-country running and cyclocross could soon become part of the Winter Olympics, with a strong chance of being added to the 2030 Games in France. That’s according to Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, who says the move could mark the biggest shake-up of the Olympics in decades.

Coe has been campaigning for years to bring cross-country back to the Games, and with new IOC president Kirsty Coventry open to change, the timing might finally be right. Plans being discussed would see cross-country and cyclocross events share the same course in the French Alps — a move that Coe says could also give African nations a much-needed presence at the Winter Olympics.

He added that the IOC is considering shifting some indoor sports, like judo, to the winter programme as part of its “fit for the future” reforms. The aim is to make the Olympics more flexible, modern, and appealing to new audiences.

It’s early days yet, but if approved, 2030 could bring a whole new look to the Winter Games.

Self-development

Do you ever feel that some parts of your life are thriving while others are just ticking along — or even falling behind? One great way to see the bigger picture is by using a simple but powerful tool called the Wheel of Life. It helps you take a step back, reflect, and find balance.

Here’s how to do it: take a sheet of paper and draw a large circle. Then, divide it into eight equal segments, like slices of a pie or a pizza. Label each segment with areas that are most important to you right now — for example, work, health, relationships, finances, family, personal growth, fun, rest, etc.

Now, think about how satisfied you feel in each area, using your gut – don’t overthink it. On each segment, place a dot between 1 and 10 — with 10 meaning you’re completely happy, and 1 meaning it needs serious attention. 1 is in the centre of the circle and 10 is on the outer edge. Connect the dots around the wheel.

What do you see? Is your wheel smooth and balanced, or does it have bumps and dents? A balanced wheel means you’re doing well across your life, but an uneven one shows where to focus your energy.

This isn’t about perfection — it’s about awareness. Once you know where the gaps are, you can set small, realistic goals to bring more harmony and satisfaction into your everyday life.

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