⚡️ A bonus episode from SEND7: World News in 7 minutes. Monday 20th October, 2025

Hi there, Alastair here. As a special surprise bonus episode, Stephen from a podcast called Send 7 has kindly offered to give you some news in English to kickstart your week. So if you like the sound of practising your English by listening to world news every day, then search in your podcast app for Send 7. Simple English news daily.

Good morning! This is Send 7 World News in 7 Minutes. I'm Stephen Devin Czensi. Today is Monday the 20th of October 2025. Starting in Europe today, in France, thieves stole approximately nine pieces of jewelry yesterday from the Louvre, the most visited museum in the world.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the jewellery of being of incalculable value. The items include jewellery belonging to the last Queen of France, Maria Amalia, wife of King Louis Philippe I, and also Marie-Louise, the wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. A crown, which belonged to Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, was found broken

outside the museum where the robbers escaped. Local media says that after the museum opened yesterday morning, the thieves climbed a ladder and smashed a window, took items, and then escaped on motorbikes, all within seven minutes. At the time of recording this podcast, the thieves have not been found. In Romania, an explosion in an apartment building has killed at least three

people and injured 13. Authorities have said that the explosion may have been caused by a gas leak. In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Sir Kier Stammer has criticised a decision made by Aston Villa Football Club and Birmingham Police that supporters of the Israeli football team Makhabi Tel Aviv would not be allowed to attend a game between Aston Villa and Makhabi Tel Aviv

in November. Aston Villa and local authorities described the presence of Makabi fans as creating a high-risk situation, particularly after violence at a game in the Netherlands last November. Stammer said that the decision was anti-Semitic and said that the police need to make sure All football fans can enjoy watching football.

In Birmingham, about 30% of people are Muslim. However, close to the Aston Villa stadium, more than half of people are Muslim. America's In Peru, there have been large protests over the last few days against the new president, Jose Gerry, who was sworn in as president

just 10 days ago after the removal of Dina Boloarte, one protester has been killed and many have been injured. In the United States, organisers of the No Kings protests this weekend have said that at events across the country, almost 7 million people attended, which would be about 2%

of the US population. The protests focus on the perceived authoritarianism and corruption of President Donald Trump. There were many speakers, including the left-wing Senator Bernie Sanders. No, President Trump, we don't want you or any other king to rule us.

Thank you very much, but we will maintain our democratic form of society. We rejected the divine right of kings in the 1770s. We will not accept the divine right of oligarchs today." Africa

In Madagascar, military leader Colonel Michael Randriana-Rena has been sworn in as president after he led a coup d'etat against President Andri Rajalina last week, after three weeks of protests. In an inauguration speech, Rangriana Reena thanked the Gen Z protesters and said that his first priority would be to address water and power shortages which triggered

the protests. In Namibia, an outbreak of Mpox has been declared in the city of Swakopmund. Mpox, also known as monkeypox is spread through physical contact and causes severe illness, including liquid filled spots, although it doesn't often kill people. Outbreaks can be difficult to control

because people often spread it before they have symptoms. Asia In Palestine, the United Nations have said that 560 tonnes of food are now entering Gaza every day. UN spokesperson Abir Etefa said that this was progress but it is still not

all that is needed. This weekend, both Israel and Hamas accused each other of breaking the ceasefire. According to Al Jazeera, 11 Palestinians were killed yesterday by Israeli attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that Israel had launched air strikes in southern Gaza after its soldiers had been attacked by Hamas.

In Bangladesh, a fire at a storage area of Dhaka International Airport on Saturday may may have caused $1 billion worth of damage according to the Bangladesh Manufacturers and Exporters Association. In India, the World Health Organization has issued a warning against three children's

cough syrups after at least 24 deaths have been connected to the cough syrups over the last month. Between 2022 and 2023, over 140 children in Africa and Asia were killed by contaminated cough syrup produced in India.

Since then, higher standards of testing have applied for cough syrups that will be exported, but not those used within India. India has given factories until the end of this year to upgrade their facilities to WHO standards.

have also been arrests of some producers. And also in India and some other countries, Diwali started this weekend and continues until Wednesday. In Hinduism, Diwali is the festival of the victory of light over darkness. Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists also celebrate Diwali with some variations. People often celebrate Diwali with bright lights, candles,

lanterns, fireworks, dancing, and feasts. A big thank you to Bernd in Germany, Chris in Belgium, and Paula in Poland for becoming our newest supporters. If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help to support us and have access to all of our transcripts, vocabulary lists, worksheets and world news quizzes, you can become a supporter at Send7.org. Tomorrow you'll be with

Nile Moore. Have a great day!