#News of the world [Pre-intermediate] - By Cate - 16/03/2026

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…

European leaders are reacting carefully around the US after its strikes on Iran. Many are offering cautious support while trying to avoid making the situation worse.

Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has taken a very different approach. He strongly criticised the strikes and refused to allow US forces to use Spanish bases.

That angered US president Donald Trump, who threatened trade action against Spain.

Meanwhile, the UK’s Keir Starmer has also landed on the “naughty step” after initially refusing US requests to use British bases.

The situation shows how difficult it is for European leaders to balance relations with Washington while responding to a rapidly changing international crisis.

Business News

Chocolate lovers may have noticed their favourite treats getting smaller or more expensive. Many products have seen both price rises and size reductions in recent years.

Industry data suggests chocolate prices have increased by more than 18%, while some products have shrunk by up to 20%.

Manufacturers say the reason is rising ingredient costs, especially cocoa and milk. Poor harvests caused by extreme weather have pushed cocoa prices up, while dairy farmers are facing higher fuel and feed costs.

Some companies are also adjusting recipes to save money — a trend known as “skimpflation”. For shoppers, it means paying more but sometimes getting less chocolate.

Entertainment

Singer Britney Spears has been arrested in California on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Police say her car was reported driving erratically at high speed before officers pulled it over. Spears was the only person in the vehicle and reportedly showed signs of impairment. She completed field sobriety tests and was arrested, before later being released while the investigation continues.

A representative said the situation was “unfortunate” and that Spears plans to cooperate with authorities.

The incident has renewed attention on her turbulent public past, including legal problems in the late 2000s and the conservatorship that controlled her finances and life for 13 years.

Sport

A few episodes ago I said Scotland could be the dangerous outsiders in this year’s Six Nations. By the time you hear this, the winner will already be known, but at the time of recording, Scotland have put themselves right in the mix.

It didn’t look likely after they lost their opening match to Italy. But since then, they have turned things around dramatically.

They beat England again, fought back to defeat Wales, and then produced a brilliant performance to score seven tries and beat France.

Now Scotland head to Dublin for the final match of the tournament, with the title still possible — if they can beat Ireland.

Self-development

A helpful self-development idea is understanding how you learn best.

Many people prefer one of three learning styles.

Visual learners prefer to see information. Diagrams, written notes, and charts can help them understand ideas quickly.

Auditory learners learn best through listening and discussion. Talking ideas through, explaining concepts aloud, or listening to podcasts can make learning easier.

Kinaesthetic learners prefer learning by doing. They remember things better when they practise, experiment, or apply ideas in real situations.

Most people are a mix of these styles, but usually one stands out.

Once you understand your own style, you can use it to your advantage — for example by turning notes into diagrams, discussing ideas with others, or practising new skills straight away.

It can also help when supporting colleagues.

A good question to ask yourself is: when you finally understood something, how did you learn it?

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