#News of the world [Advanced] - By Cate - 19/05/2025

A quick glance at what's happening on Mother Earth 🌍

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Transcript

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

In World News…

More Palestinians have been killed in overnight Israeli air strikes in northern Gaza, according to local medical officials. The attacks, which targeted Jabalia town and refugee camp, came after rocket fire into Israel by a Palestinian armed group. Israel had issued evacuation warnings to the area earlier in the week. The Israeli military is reviewing the reports.

The UN's humanitarian chief accused Israel at the Security Council of imposing inhumane conditions and called for action to prevent genocide. He also criticised plans for aid distribution through private firms, calling it a cover for further displacement. Israel rejected the accusations, blaming the current aid system for supporting Hamas—a claim the UN and Hamas deny.

Across Gaza, there are continued reports of civilian casualties and mass displacement. The UN says 70% of Gaza is either under evacuation orders or in designated no-go zones. Food and fuel shortages have led to the shutdown of all UN-supported bakeries and most community kitchens, with half a million people facing starvation.

Meanwhile, Hamas has released an Israeli-American hostage, raising hopes for a ceasefire. Despite this, Israel’s leadership insists the military offensive will continue, with plans to expand operations to eliminate Hamas.

Business News

Zara, the flagship brand of fashion giant Inditex, is marking its 50th anniversary at a time of growing competitive pressureand shifting consumer habits. Known for its speed and efficiency, Zara has transformed the retail model by keeping much of its production close to home — in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Turkey — allowing it to respond quickly to trends and replenish stores weekly. Over half its clothing is made in these regions, with small production runs even carried out on-site at its headquarters in Galicia.

The company now employs 350 designers from 40 countries, all supported by real-time data from stores worldwide. This feedback loop enables rapid adjustments to stock and design, helping Zara stay aligned with customer demand. Unlike many rivals, it avoids constant discounting, sticking to two main sales a year.

Inditex’s CEO says the business is well-positioned to handle global challenges, including competition from ultra-fast fashion players like Shein, often pronounced Shine, and Temu, thanks to a diversified supply chain across nearly 50 countries. While Shein’s rapid rise highlights a shift in the market, Zara is staying focused on creativity, quality, and adaptability — not just price. As consumer expectations evolve, the company's ability to stay fast, flexible, and reliant remains central to its strategy.

Entertainment

The recent election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV echoed the plot of Conclave, the 2024 Oscar-winning film about the secretive process of choosing a new pope. Just as in the movie, 133 cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel and isolated themselves from the outside world to vote, emerging only once a consensus had been reached. The film, based on Robert Harris’s novel, offered a rare insight into this centuries-old tradition, highlighting its secrecy, intensity, and the political manoeuvring that can take place behind closed doors.

While the Vatican insists the conclave is guided by divine will, the reality involves power struggles, competing ideologies, and strategic alliances. The cardinals are not fully cut off from the world, but the goal is to limit outside influence during deliberations. Much of the real drama often unfolds before the conclave begins, as cardinals build relationships, weigh priorities, and assess potential leaders.

This year’s election was unpredictable, shaped by the diversity of appointees selected by Pope Francis, many from the developing world. While the process may seem archaic, it’s deeply human, shaped by ambition, fear, and conviction.

Sport

One of my trainees was very upset recently. Why? Because even though he is French, he supports Arsenal, and they lost against Paris Saint-Germain! PSG will face Inter Milan in the Champions League final on 31st May, marking the first time since 2004 that no English, Spanish, or German club will be in the final. PSG, who lost in the 2020 final, have rebuilt under Luis Enrique following the departures of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé. This season, Enrique has created a disciplined, high-energy side built around young, hard-working players. PSG’s run includes wins over four English clubs, ending with the semi-final victory over Arsenal. Enrique’s tactical shift away from star power has paid off, with the team described as the most complete and balanced in Europe.

Inter Milan, meanwhile, reached the final after defeating Barcelona in a dramatic semi-final. Inter also knocked out Bayern Munich and have quietly built one of the most consistent teams in Europe. Both PSG and Inter have defied doubters and now challenge the dominance of Europe's traditional elite, proving that strong collective identity and tactical discipline can still shape success at the highest level.

Self-development

Email overload is a growing issue in today’s workplace, especially for CEOs and managers. Constant inbox checking breaks focus, drains productivity, and can lead to burnout. Leaders often spend too much time managing internal emails — time that could be used for strategy, decisions, or team development. And the habits they model, intentionally or not, set the tone across the whole organisation.

To shift this, change has to start at the top. Managers can lead by example, starting with setting clear expectations around emailing. Not everything needs to be an email — quick updates or brainstorming can move to instant messaging or project tools like Slack, Notion or Asana. For shared knowledge, creating a centralised document library helps teams find answers without having to ask — and removes the need for repetitive emails.

Batching email checks is another effective strategy. Rather than reacting to emails as they arrive, set two or three fixed times during the day to check your inbox. This reduces interruptions and allows for deeper, more focused work the rest of the time. Communicate this new norm with your team so they don’t expect instant replies, unless truly urgent.

Other small but impactful shifts include writing clearer subject lines, avoiding long reply-all threads, and turning unresolved email chains into short meetings. A “three-email rule” can help — if a conversation hasn’t moved forward after three exchanges, it’s probably time to talk.

This isn’t just a leadership issue — everyone can contribute by being more intentional about when and why they send emails. But with CEOs leading the way, the impact is greater. Less email clutter means more energy for what really matters: focused work, better decisions, and a more balanced, productive team.

Well, that’s all from NEWS OF THE WORLD for now. I hope you spend less time emailing today, and I’ll talk to you soon! Take care!