#News of the world [Advanced] - By Cate - 02/02/2026

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

No country will remain untouched 😎
No celebrity or politician will remain safe 😅
Put on the earphones  🔈
Press play ▶️
Improve your English 🔥

Ps: Cate rocks 🤘

Transcript

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

In World News…

International diplomacy had another plot twist last week — this time starring the US, Canada, and something called the “Board of Peace.”

The organisation, created by President Donald Trump and chaired by him for life — which already raises a few eyebrows — was meant to act as a new global body for resolving conflicts, a little like the United Nations but with a membership fee of around one billion dollars.

Canada had politely agreed to join, but not to pay. Shortly after, its invitation was publicly withdrawn by Trump on social media, in a very modern take on foreign policy.

European leaders have also shown enthusiasm levels just above “thanks, but no thanks,” raising concerns about how the board would work and whether it clashes with existing international institutions. France has called it incompatible with its commitments, Spain has declined altogether, and the UK remains cautious — especially about Russia’s involvement.

Trump and Canada’s prime minister exchanged not-so-subtle verbal jabs, following Mark Carney’s Davos speech, for which he received a standing ovation.

The Board of Peace doesn’t seem to be creating a lot of peace…

Business News

At this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, global leaders were meant to be focused on geopolitics and trade tensions. Instead, one unexpected detail stole the spotlight — the sunglasses worn by French President Emmanuel Macron.

The reflective aviator-style shades sparked jokes, memes, and plenty of speculation online. But beyond the humour, they delivered priceless exposure for a small luxury eyewear brand, Maison Henry Jullien, which hand-makes glasses in eastern France. The company is owned by Italian group iVision Tech and produces around a thousand of the featured model each year.

Once the glasses were identified, interest exploded. Opticians contacted the firm, its website briefly crashed, and global attention landed on a business many consumers had never heard of before. The model Macron wore sells for around €660 and is crafted using traditional gold-bonding techniques, positioning it firmly in the luxury market.

It’s a reminder that in today’s media-driven world, a single high-profile appearance can create enormous brand value — sometimes more powerful than any advertising campaign.

Entertainment

For a few glorious hours last week, the internet forgot about world news and focused on one far more serious issue: Beckham family drama.

Brooklyn Beckham — now Brooklyn Peltz Beckham — stunned fans by posting a mini Instagram saga accusing his famous parents, David and Victoria, of planting stories in the media and putting on a “perfect family” act online. He even announced he didn’t want to reconcile with his family.

Naturally, social media went wild.

After years of glossy football trophies, fashion campaigns and Netflix documentaries showing the Beckhams as Britain’s most polished power couple, the cracks suddenly felt very real — and very juicy.

Brooklyn’s frustration seems to have been building for years. He’s jumped from modelling to photography, to coffee-making, to launching hot sauces and trying life as a celebrity chef — never quite settling into one clear path. Add rumours of tension around his lavish wedding to Nicola Peltz, including whispers about dress drama and family disagreements, and the picture becomes clearer.

Behind the designer smiles, it seems this famous family has been quietly falling apart — proving that even global icons can struggle with messy, very human problems.

Sport

The rugby Six Nations will soon be underway, and most of the attention is exactly where you’d expect it.

France arrive as defending champions, Ireland are desperate to reclaim the title they’ve owned recently, and England roll in on a long winning streak looking very pleased with themselves.

And then there’s Scotland… quietly slipping in through the side door.

On paper, they may have the strongest squad they’ve ever had. In reality, few are betting on them after a tricky autumn of frustrating losses. The last couple of tournaments ended with Scotland stuck in the middle of the table — flashes of brilliance followed by classic rugby heartbreak.

But being ignored might actually suit them.

With the pressure firmly on the big three, Scotland can play the role they know best: dangerous outsiders with nothing to lose. Their clubs have been winning, more players are getting international recognition, and belief is slowly building.

Will they lift the trophy? Maybe not. But when Scotland are underestimated, they tend to cause a little chaos — and for fans across Britain, France and Italy, that’s usually when the fun starts.

Self-development

Today’s focus is on resilience. Resilience isn’t about being tough all the time — it’s about learning how to adapt, recover, and keep moving forward when life gets messy, uncertain, or overwhelming. And let’s face it, the world feels pretty intense right now.

At a personal level, resilience starts with small habits. Getting enough sleep, moving your body, and taking short mental breaks all help your nervous system reset. Journaling after a tough day, limiting constant news scrolling, and reminding yourself what you can control also builds emotional strength over time.

At work, resilience grows through connection. Checking in with colleagues, asking for help instead of struggling silently, and creating realistic deadlines reduce burnout. Teams that talk openly about challenges — instead of pretending everything’s fine — bounce back faster. Even something as simple as a weekly “what went well” moment can shift morale.

When facing global stress — economic uncertainty, conflict, climate worries — it helps to focus on constructive action. Donate, volunteer, learn, vote, or simply support people around you. Turning anxiety into purposeful action restores a sense of control.

Resilience doesn’t mean avoiding hardship. It means building the tools to meet it — with flexibility, support, and self-compassion — so you don’t just survive tough times, you grow stronger through them.

What can you do this week to build your resilience?

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