#News of the world [Advanced] - By Cate - 05/01/2026

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…

Social media played a key role in the rise of Mamdani, New York City’s new mayor, who surprised many by winning on a wave of short, playful online videos. From jumping into icy water to walking the length of Manhattan, his posts mixed humour with serious messages about rent, food prices and daily life in the city.

This approach connected especially well with younger voters, many of whom spend hours scrolling on their phones and feel disconnected from traditional politics. By appearing visible, authentic and joyful, the new mayor built a strong sense of trust and momentum during the campaign.

Now sworn into office, his challenge has changed. Governing a city is slower and more complex than making viral videos. Decisions involve compromise, budgets and working with political opponents, including a hostile national government.

Experts say the risk is that supporters who loved the energy of the campaign may become frustrated if online content doesn’t reflect the realities of power. The real test will be whether the new mayor can use social media not just to win elections, but to explain decisions and keep people engaged in everyday city politics.

Business News

How would you feel if you couldn’t send a Christmas card or a handwritten birthday note anymore? That’s now the reality in Denmark, which has become the first country to completely stop delivering letters.

After centuries of postal history, the national postal service has decided that letters are no longer essential or financially viable. Letter volumes have collapsed as people switched to emails, messaging apps and online government services. Parcels will still be delivered — online shopping isn’t going anywhere — but traditional mail has officially reached the end of the line.

Denmark is one of the most digital countries in the world, so the change makes sense on paper. Most official communication already happens online, and many people haven’t posted a letter in years. But the decision has also sparked nostalgia. Old red postboxes have been snapped up as souvenirs, and many people are realising how symbolic letters still feel.

There are also concerns about those who struggle with digital life, especially older people. While technology makes communication faster, the quiet loss of letters reminds us that convenience sometimes comes at an emotional cost.

Entertainment

Brigitte Bardot has died, aged 91. She was one of the most powerful symbols of freedom, beauty and rebellion in 20th-century France. Rising to fame in the 1950s and 60s, she transformed cinema with a bold, natural sensuality that challenged social rules and censorship. Her image influenced fashion, film and attitudes towards women, making her an international star and a cultural icon.

But Bardot’s life took an unexpected turn. At just 39, she walked away from the film world entirely, choosing a very different mission. She devoted the rest of her life to defending animals, using her fame to campaign against hunting, cruelty and exploitation. This second chapter earned her admiration from supporters around the world.

At the same time, she remained a deeply divisive figure. Her outspoken opinions and controversial statements shocked many and damaged her public image, especially later in life. Loved and criticised in equal measure, Bardot never tried to please everyone.

She leaves behind a complex legacy: a woman who changed cinema forever, rejected fame at its height, and lived fiercely according to her own rules.

Sport

This winter, many people have noticed something missing: snow. Across the Alps, warmer winters are shortening ski seasons and putting the future of mountain resorts at risk. In Switzerland, one resort is trying to respond rather than deny the problem.

Laax, one of the country’s largest winter sports destinations, has turned sustainability into a central mission. Scientists warn that Switzerland is warming about twice as fast as the global average, bringing less snowfall and more extreme weather. Faced with that reality, Laax has invested heavily in reducing its environmental impact.

Buildings run on renewable energy, electric vehicles replace petrol ones, and ski equipment is repaired rather than thrown away. Biodiversity is also a priority, with gardens and green walls designed to support insects and wildlife. Even the ski lifts are changing: a new on-demand gondola system only runs when needed, cutting energy use dramatically.

Laax is also working with other resorts worldwide to share ideas and solutions. The message is clear: winter tourism must adapt if it wants to survive.

Self-development

It’s a new year, and “New Year, New You” messages are everywhere. Gyms, diets, fresh starts. But most resolutions don’t survive January, not because we lack willpower, but because we set goals in a way our brains can’t actually work with.

Instead of pressure statements like “lose weight” or “change career”, try being intentional. Think of goal-setting as a conversation between your conscious and unconscious mind. Your conscious brain sets the direction: it’s the goal setter. Your unconscious brain then knows what to notice, what opportunities to look for, and what behaviours to support: it’s the goal getter.

Start by asking: what’s working in my life, what’s draining me, and where am I running on autopilot? Focus on direction and experience, not a fixed outcome. For example, rather than “I must lose weight”, try “I want to feel more energised and comfortable in my body, and I’m learning what supports that.”

Use flexible language. Avoid “always” and “never”. Life isn’t all-or-nothing, and neither is change. Plan for setbacks too because slipping up isn’t failure; it’s part of the process. Curiosity works better than criticism.

Make change easier by stacking habits. Attach a new behaviour to something you already do. And keep goals positive and purposeful — saving for something exciting, moving toward more meaning, not just away from discomfort.

This year, don’t chase perfection. Set intentions your whole brain can work with.

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