#News of the world [Advanced] - By Cate - 08/12/2025

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…

Indonesia is facing a devastating humanitarian crisis after rare cyclone-driven floods left more than 500 people dead and another 500 missing. The disaster has affected around 1.4 million people across three provinces. Many communities remain cut off, reachable only on foot or by motorbike, as bridges have collapsed and roads are buried in mud and debris.

Survivors describe the floods as unlike anything they have seen, with the water coming “like a tsunami.” People are still waiting for news of those missing as excavators search through metres of mud. Thousands have not eaten for days, with some areas reporting severe food shortages and no access to clean water. 

Communication is also difficult, with people walking long distances just to find a signal. Anger is growing toward the government’s response, with critics arguing that authorities were unprepared and slow to deliver aid. The President says the government is doing all it can.

Experts warn that climate change is increasing the intensity of storms across the region.

Business News

Thousands of Airbus planes are now returning to normal service after being briefly grounded because of a rare safety concern: solar radiation interfering with onboard computers. Airbus, based in France, said around 6,000 aircraft were affected. Most only needed a quick software update, but about 900 older planes require a full computer replacement.

The French Transport Minister said more than 5,000 aircraft were updated smoothly, with fewer than 100 still waiting. The Airbus CEO apologised for delays and said teams were working as quickly as possible.

The situation caused some disruption, especially on Saturday morning. Air France saw delays and cancellations at Charles de Gaulle, while American Airlines and Delta reported limited impact. In the UK, airlines worked overnight, preventing major problems.

EasyJet and Wizz Air completed their updates, while in Australia, Jetstar cancelled 90 flights. Air New Zealand also grounded planes temporarily but has now resumed service.

The issue was discovered after a JetBlue flight in October suddenly lost altitude. Airbus traced it to radiation corrupting altitude-calculation software. Older planes needing new computers remain grounded until parts are available.

Entertainment

Anna Wintour has defended the decision to name Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos as lead sponsors of the 2026 Met Gala, following strong criticism on social media. Wintour described Lauren as a “great lover of fashion” and said she would be a “wonderful asset to the museum and the event.”

Their sponsorship announcement prompted backlash, with critics claiming it reflects growing billionaire influence over cultural institutions and arguing that the money could be better used elsewhere. Some online commenters said they do not belong in the world of art and fashion, regardless of their wealth.

However, big-tech sponsorship is not new to the Met Gala: past backers include TikTok, Instagram, Apple, and Amazon itself. Jeff Bezos even served as an honorary chair in 2012.

Many see the move as part of Lauren’s increasing presence in fashion. She has appeared at Paris Fashion Week, featured on the cover of Vogue US, and her Earth Fund recently partnered with the CFDA to support sustainability. Still, the timing of Condé Nast’s financial struggles and layoffs has made the optics particularly sensitive this year. What do you think?

Sport

Have you ever wondered how sports teams get their names? There’s usually a fun story behind them. Many teams choose names linked to local history or traditions. Take Olympique de Marseille — “Olympique” reflects the ancient Greek heritage of the region. Please excuse my pronunciation!

Animals are another popular source of inspiration, especially ones that sound strong or powerful. In the UK, for example, you have the Wolves in Wolverhampton, a name that immediately creates an image of strength and teamwork.

Geography also plays a part. If a city is near to the sea or mountains, teams often choose names related to waves, storms or local landscapes. Team names can even celebrate what a city is famous for, like industry, music or science.

And sometimes fans get involved through competitions, although results can be… unpredictable. That’s why clubs choose carefully these days.

In the end, a team name isn’t just a label — it’s something that brings people together. It creates pride, identity and a strong sense of belonging, becoming a real symbol of the team’s culture.

Self-development

Have you ever gone to bed early, feeling very proud of yourself… only to bolt awake at 3am with your brain acting like it’s had six coffees? One minute you’re dreaming, the next you’re worrying about that awkward comment you made, the state of the world, your job, the future... It turns out this is incredibly common. We all wake briefly during the night, but when we’re stressed, instead of drifting back off, our minds latch onto a worry and suddenly we’re wide awake.

And nighttime really is the perfect stage for overthinking. All the daytime distractions disappear, the “thinking” part of the brain winds down, and the “alarm system” wakes up. The perfect storm!

So what can you do? There are a few tricks people swear by. One is something called cognitive shuffling: pick a random word and think of unrelated words that start with each letter. It’s bizarre, but it mimics the messy thoughts you get as you fall asleep. Others prefer grounding techniques — noticing what you can feel, smell or hear — or imagining a peaceful, familiar place like an old flat or your favourite coffee shop.

Breathing exercises help too, and some people like to jot thoughts down before bed so the brain doesn’t save everything for 3am. And if you’re still awake after about 20 minutes, get up and do something soothing. It helps your brain stop associating your bed with stress.

Well, that’s all from NEWS OF THE WORLD for now. I hope you set yourself up for a good night’s sleep today, and I’ll talk to you soon! Take care!