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

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

 In World News…

Indonesia has been hit by deadly floods caused by a rare cyclone, leaving more than 500 people dead and hundreds still missing. Around 1.4 million people have been affected. Many areas are cut off, with roads destroyed and bridges washed away.

Survivors say the floodwaters rose extremely fast. Some families have had no food for days, and clean water is running out. Many people also cannot call their relatives because there is no phone signal.

Critics say the government reacted too slowly, though the president says they are doing everything possible. Scientists say climate change is making storms stronger.

Business News

Airbus planes around the world are flying again after a short grounding caused by a software problem. The company found that strong solar radiation could affect computers on A320-family aircraft. Most planes only needed a quick update, but older ones need new computers.

More than 5,000 planes were fixed smoothly, though some flights were delayed. Air France, Jetstar in Australia and a few UK airports saw disruption, but most airlines, including EasyJet and Wizz Air, are now operating normally.

The issue was discovered after a JetBlue flight suddenly lost altitude in October. Older planes needing replacement computers will stay grounded for now.

Entertainment

Anna Wintour has defended Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos after they were announced as main sponsors of the 2026 Met Gala. Some people online criticised the choice, saying it shows that billionaires are gaining too much influence in culture. Others said the money could help better causes.

Wintour said Sánchez Bezos loves fashion and will be a great supporter of the event. Tech companies have sponsored the Met Gala before, including Apple, TikTok and Amazon.

Sánchez Bezos has recently appeared more in the fashion world, from Paris Fashion Week to a Vogue cover. Still, some say the sponsorship looks awkward during redundancies at Condé Nast. What do you think?

Sport

How do sports teams get their names? Many come from local history. For example, Olympique de Marseille uses “Olympique” to reflect the region’s Greek past. In Britain, Wolverhampton Wolves chose an animal that sounds strong and united.

Some teams use geography, like mountains, storms or the sea. Others choose names linked to what the city is known for, such as music or industry.

Fans sometimes help pick the name, although the results can be surprising!

A team name should make people feel proud and connected. Over time it becomes an important part of the club’s identity.

Self-development

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with your mind racing? One small thought suddenly becomes a long list of worries. This happens to many people, especially when life is stressful. Normally, we all wake up for a second during the night, but when we are tense, our mind grabs a worry and keeps us awake.

There are some simple tricks that can help. One is “cognitive shuffling”: choose a word and think of other random words that start with each letter. It distracts the brain. You can also try grounding — noticing what you can feel, hear or smell — or imagine walking through a calm, familiar place. Slow breathing helps too.

If your thoughts feel busy before bed, write them down earlier in the evening. And if you can’t sleep after 20 minutes, get up and do something relaxing until you feel tired again.

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!