#News of the world [Advanced] - By Cate - 18/05/2026

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

No country will remain untouched 😎
No celebrity or politician will remain safe 😅
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Transcript

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

In World News…

Health officials are closely monitoring a hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, currently docked in Tenerife.

An American and a French passenger who returned home after leaving the ship have both tested positive. A second American passenger also showed mild symptoms.

More than 90 passengers have been repatriated from the vessel, while dozens of passengers and crew remain on board as authorities coordinate further departures.

So far, three passengers — a Dutch couple and a German woman — have died after travelling on the ship.

Hantaviruses are usually carried by rodents. Health officials believe some passengers may have been exposed in South America before boarding. Symptoms can include fever, extreme fatigue, muscle pain, stomach problems and shortness of breath.

The World Health Organization says the risk of a wider outbreak remains low, although tracing and isolation measures are continuing.

Officials stress that human-to-human transmission is rare, but the incident highlights how quickly health concerns can spread across international travel.

Business News

Apple has named John Ternus as its next chief executive, replacing Tim Cook after 15 years at the helm.

Ternus, who has spent 25 years at Apple and currently leads hardware engineering, will take over on 1st September. Cook will become executive chairman and support the transition.

Cook became chief executive in 2011 after Steve Jobs stepped down and he didn’t come from a product or hardware background. During his leadership, Apple became one of the world’s most valuable companies, reaching a market value of $1 trillion in 2018 and around $4 trillion today.

Ternus has helped shape many of Apple’s biggest products, including the iPhone, iPad, AirPods and Apple Watch. He also oversaw the shift of Mac computers from Intel chips to Apple’s own silicon.

Analysts say the appointment could signal a stronger focus on product innovation. Apple has recently faced criticism for moving slowly in artificial intelligence.

The big question now is whether Apple can find its next breakthrough beyond the iPhone.

Entertainment

Co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have reached a settlement in the legal dispute that followed the filming of It Ends With Us.

The agreement came just two weeks before a planned trial in which both actors were expected to testify.

The case began in 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni of harassment, sexual misconduct and leading a campaign to damage her reputation during production. Baldoni denied the allegations and filed a counter-claim.

The legal battle drew major attention because it revealed private messages, emails and behind-the-scenes tensions involving some of Hollywood’s biggest names.

In a joint statement, both sides said the film remains a source of pride and that raising awareness around domestic violence remains an important shared goal.

They also said concerns raised during the process deserved to be heard and reaffirmed support for workplaces free from inappropriate behaviour.

The settlement brings a dramatic chapter to a close, allowing everyone involved to move forward. If you haven’t seen the film, I recommend it.

Sport

Pressure in sport is not only about what happens on the court. Right now, one of the biggest conversations ahead of French Open in Paris is about fairness, value and the pressure athletes carry behind the scenes.

Several top players, including Jannik Sinner, have raised concerns about prize money and how tournament revenues are shared. Players will receive less than 15% of the tournament revenue, not the 22% they have demanded, which is actually a decrease compared to 2024.

The issue is not simply about earnings. It is about feeling respected and recognised for the pressure, preparation and performance that elite sport demands.

Fans often see the match itself — the big points, the celebrations and the trophies. What we don’t always see are the expectations, scrutiny and constant demands that come before players even step onto court.

That makes this more than a tennis story.

It’s a reminder that performance is not only about talent. It’s also about environment, support and whether people feel valued when the pressure is highest.

Self-development

In Transactional Analysis, there’s a useful idea called drivers. These are patterns we all carry, usually formed early in life. Most of the time they sit quietly in the background. But when stress arises, one or two often become stronger and start running the show.

Be Strong says: don’t show emotion, cope alone, keep going. At work, that might mean carrying too much and never asking for help.

Try Hard pushes us to keep pushing. Effort becomes the goal. You may spend hours working but still feel you haven’t really finished.

Be Perfect wants everything exactly right. It can lead to overchecking, overthinking, or delaying action because the outcome doesn’t feel good enough.

Hurry Up creates urgency. You rush conversations, decisions and deadlines, even when speed isn’t needed.

Please Others focuses on approval. You say yes when you mean no, avoid conflict, and put other people’s needs ahead of your own.

The inner message often sounds like “I’m only OK if I’m strong, perfect, fast, helpful, or always trying.”

A helpful shift is noticing the driver without obeying it. Pause and ask: “What does this situation really need?”

Sometimes the healthiest response is asking for support, setting boundaries, slowing down, or accepting ‘good enough’.

Which driver shows up most often for you? How might tackling it improve your life and relationships?

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