Week of November 1–7, 2025
A week that ranged from sporting glory to sudden disaster, from local democracy to global tech controls. Here are five distinct items worth bookmarking from Nov 1–7, 2025.
🏏 1. India wins their first Women’s Cricket World Cup (Nov 2)
India beat South Africa by 52 runs in the final at DY Patil Stadium to lift their maiden Women’s Cricket World Cup trophy on Nov 2. Shafali Verma starred with a rapid 87 and Deepti Sharma took five wickets and was player of the tournament.
Why it matters: This is a landmark moment for women’s cricket in India and for the sport globally — it will boost investment, media attention and youth participation across the subcontinent.
Source: Reuters, BBC Sport
🌍 2. Powerful 6.3 earthquake kills at least 20 in northern Afghanistan (Nov 2)
A magnitude-6.3 quake struck near Mazar-e-Sharif in the Hindu Kush early on Nov 2, killing at least 20 people, injuring hundreds and damaging historic sites and homes. Rescue and aid operations were mobilized amid heavy local impacts.
Why it matters: The quake highlights acute disaster vulnerability in Afghanistan and the need for rapid humanitarian response and resilient rebuilding in earthquake-prone regions.
Source: Al Jazeera, Associated Press
🗳️ 3. Young progressive Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayoral race (Nov 5)
On Nov 5, Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, won the New York City mayoralty, campaigning on housing, transit and bold public services. The victory drew international commentary about urban politics and progressive platforms.
Why it matters: A progressive mayor in the U.S.’s largest city will test ambitious local policy ideas on rent, transit and social services that other cities may emulate or resist.
Source: The Guardian, The New York Times
🔬 4. U.S. moves to block Nvidia sales of certain AI chips to China (reported Nov 7)
U.S. officials signalled steps to block Nvidia from selling scaled-down AI processors to China, a move reported Nov 7 that tightens tech export controls and aims to limit China’s access to advanced AI hardware.
Why it matters: Tightening chip controls re-shapes global AI supply chains, pressures chipmakers’ strategies and raises the geopolitical stakes of technology competition.
Source: Reuters, Financial Times
⚠️ 5. U.N. says October saw record monthly high in settler attacks in West Bank (reported Nov 7)
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on Nov 7 that at least 264 settler attacks against Palestinians occurred in October – the highest monthly total recorded since 2006. The data drew renewed concern about protection and rule-of-law in the occupied territories.
Why it matters: The surge in violence complicates humanitarian access, peace prospects and international diplomacy aimed at reducing civilian harm.
Source: UN OCHA, BBC World Service
Closing thoughts: This week delivered a mix of triumph and tragedy, local democracy and global strategic moves. From India’s sporting high to Afghanistan’s tragedy, from a major U.S. mayoral upset to tightened controls on AI chips, and worrying spikes in on-the-ground violence, the items show how quickly the world’s attention can swing between celebration and crisis. Each of these events, small or large, reshapes how we understand resilience, justice, and progress.
The Rowanwood Chronicles 