News of the World

#News of the world [Advanced] - By Cate - 30/06/2025

‱ Smart & Rudy

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

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

 In World News


Last weekend, the U.S. joined the Iran-Israel conflict, launching precision airstrikes — “Operation Midnight Hammer”— against three Iranian nuclear facilities. President Trump hailed the attacks as a “spectacular military success,” claiming the sites were “totally obliterated”. Expert assessments vary: while some confirm heavy damage, others warn that Iran likely hid its enriched uranium elsewhere before the strikes.

Trump even mused about “regime change,” asking on social media, “Why wouldn’t there be a regime change?”. But top officials - including Vice President JD Vance — insisted the goal remains strictly to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions, not topple its government.

For now, both Iran and the US are looking to de-escalate, and an Israel-Iran ceasefire is holding.

Meanwhile Putin has called the attacks “unprovoked aggression”, something he knows much about. 

In short: the strikes succeeded tactically but leave big questions unanswered, like how much nuclear material was destroyed, Iran’s next move, and whether “regime change” was ever a serious intention.

 

Business News

Tesla’s robotaxi dream has edged closer to reality. Last weekend, the company rolled out a small fleet of self-driving vehicles in Austin, Texas, giving paid rides to a handful of analysts and influencers. The catch? There was still a human safety driver in the car. It’s an early-stage pilot — low-key, but a clear sign of Tesla’s intent to enter the growing driverlesstaxi market.

Elon Musk called it the “culmination of a decade of hard work” by Tesla’s in-house AI and chip teams. But competition is fierce. Waymo and Zoox are already operating in multiple US cities, and Uber is expanding trials globally with Chinese partners.

Tesla’s hope is that its existing vehicle fleet, cheaper camera-based tech, and vast driving data will help it catch up. But questions remain — especially around the safety and readiness of its Full Self-Driving software, which is under regulatory scrutiny.

For now, Tesla has joined the game. But whether it can lead — or even keep up — will depend on execution, not just ambition.


Entertainment

Apparently, there’s a feud in the Beckham family that’s been quietly simmering. It all seems to centre around Victoria and Nicola Peltz, Brooklyn Beckham’s wife. Rumours of tension kicked off around their 2022 wedding, with everything from clashing over the dress to whispers of control behind the scenes. Both families have denied any drama, but insiders keep saying otherwise — and fans have noticed how rarely Victoria and Nicola are pictured together.

Now, the spotlight’s back on after Nicola posted a cryptic TikTok with the caption “Family isn’t always blood,” sparking fresh speculation. Meanwhile, some say David Beckham is frustrated with Brooklyn’s lack of career direction and his perceived detachment from the family brand.

It could all be just noise. But it raises a broader point about navigating family dynamics when fame, money, and strong personalities are involved. Behind the glam, there are still relationships that require effort, boundaries, and maybe a bit of distance. Whether it’s a real rift or media mischief, there’s more going on than meets the eye.

 

Sport

Every June in my city, Florence, something completely ridiculous — and completely traditional — takes over the city: Calcio Storico Fiorentino. It’s part football, part rugby, part bare-knuckle brawl, and it dates back to the 1500s. The rules? Basically there aren’t any.

Each team fields 27 players, dressed in Renaissance costumes, whose main objective is to get the ball into the opposing goal. How they do that is
 flexible. Punching, dragging, pinning people to the ground — it’s all fair game. You’ll often see half the team scrapping in a dust cloud while someone quietly trots off to score.

There are no substitutions, no referees in the modern sense, and very few teeth left by the end. But the crowds love it, and so do the players — not because it’s logical, but because it’s Florence, and tradition wins.

It’s violent, outdated, and entirely unnecessary — which is probably why it’s still going strong. Call it heritage. Call it chaos. Either way, calcio storico is less a sport and more a very public test of pain tolerance dressed up as civic pride.

 

Self-development

Do you have a dream you want to make happen? Maybe you should make an action board - a tool that turns dreams intoplans. Action boards aren't about wishful thinking. They're about choosing what you want, committing to it, and moving towards it. Maybe it’s a new job, better health, a creative project, a new home, more peace in your life.

Start by flipping through magazines or scrolling online. Don’t overthink — just cut out or print anything that feels right or sparks something in you: a place, a mood, a career, a lifestyle. The act of physically cutting and sticking them down matters because glue equals commitment.

Science backs this up. When you focus on something visually, your brain starts to filter the world through that lens. Ever decided you wanted a red car, then suddenly you saw them everywhere? That’s your brain prioritising what matters to you. An action board trains your focus in the same way.

Place your board somewhere you’ll see it daily. Don’t just glance — look. Imagine. Connect with what you’ve chosen and ask yourself: “What’s one step I can take today towards this?” You’ll be amazed at what starts shifting.

This is about more than dreams — it’s a nudge to take action, a reminder of where you're going. Manifestation isn’t about sitting cross-legged and hoping the universe delivers. It’s about clarity, consistency, and action.

 

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