The Know Daily - Friday 10th March 2023

_{Friday Edition ∙ Read in 5m 18s ∙ Listening to Diana Ross}

Dear readers,

I hope you’ve all had a great week, and that the snow (and rain/hail/sleet!) hasn’t been too heavy wherever you are. Bad weather always makes me want to curl up with a good book, which is why today’s read - a love letter to our local libraries - is very apt.

Libraries are an incredible public resource and don’t just provide people with free reads but also with a sense of community. I hope that our guide inspires you to dust off your membership card - or take out a new one!

This week, we also marked International Women’s Day - which is why in today’s Weekend Treats, you’ll find five handpicked recs for women-centred content (some of which were suggested by members of our community). That’s once you’ve caught up on the biggest headlines of the week, of course!

Have a great weekend,

Love,

Lynn x
CEO and Co-founder 

POLITICS & GLOBAL AFFAIRS

🫶 International Women’s Day was marked around the world on March 8, with demonstrators in Pakistan and Turkey defying bans on protests to march for gender equality.

❌ The UN Refugee Agency and the European Union have warned the UK government that its controversial new migration bill - aimed at stopping small boats from crossing the Channel - risks violating international law.

🚆 The RMT union has called off planned strike action on the railways to enter pay talks with the government. The Royal College of Nursing and Unite have also suspended their planned industrial action.

CULTURE

🎬 The Edinburgh film festival is set to return this summer in a scaled-down format, following the shock announcement of its closure in October 2022.

🎤 Mae Muller will represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in May - she’ll be singing her track I Wrote A Song, which is about a cheating ex-boyfriend.

🔮 Astrologer and horoscope writer Margaret Lake, best known as Mystic Meg, has died at the age of 80.

WORK & INNOVATION

🩹 Scientists have created the world’s first electric plaster that can be absorbed by the body, speeding the healing of wounds by as much as 30%, according to a new study.

🍽️ Restaurant Group, which owns chains including Wagamama and Frankie & Benny’s, has announced that it will close 35 underperforming restaurants over the next three years.

💄 Sephora opened its flagship new store in Westfield London on Wednesday, with some fans of the French beauty brand queuing for over seven hours to be among the first through its doors.

UPLIFTING STUFF

🇪🇸 Spain’s government has approved a new gender equality law that will promote greater representation of women in business and politics. Certain listed companies will need women to make up 40% of management.

🌊 High seas treaty: After almost 20 years of talks, UN member states have agreed a historic deal to protect marine biodiversity in international waters.

🎨 The National Portrait Gallery will display a mural of 130 women from British history and culture, with the artwork inspired by the album cover for the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - check it out below!

📰 Read: Elena Ferrante’s reading list, where the Italian author - best known for My Brilliant Friend - shares her 40 favourite books written by contemporary women. The list, which spans various countries including Italy, the UK and Austria, also features lesser known authors, meaning you’re guaranteed to find something you’ve not read before.

🎧 Listen to: Hillary Clinton and Cherie Blair on The Story of a Woman, the groundbreaking podcast which is now in its second season. This episode features Anna Stoecklein in conversation with Clinton and Blair about what has been achieved by and for women - and what needs to be done next.

📸 Check out: Still Present, a photojournalism project from AnalogFolk that’s designed to remind the world of the real purpose of IWD. The campaign has collated photographs from past protests around the world to showcase the ongoing struggle for women’s rights and celebrate the determination of those who fought before us.

🎥 Watch: the team’s favourite films from women directors that are currently available on streaming platforms: The Power of the Dog (Jane Campion, Netflix), Tove (Zaida Bergroth, iPlayer), The Macaluso Sisters (Emma Dante, iPlayer), Little Women (Greta Gerwig, Netflix), Stray (Elizabeth Lo, Netflix), The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow, Prime Video).

📚 Organise your books online: After we recommended the Goodreads app in our daily newsletter, several of our wonderful readers wrote in to suggest an independent alternative: The StoryGraph. Founded by software engineer Nadia Odunayo in 2019, initially as a side project, this super aesthetic app has features like content warnings, a really in-depth rating system and can recommend books specifically aligned with your interests.

Our Jobs Board puts your career goals first. How? By highlighting purpose-driven jobs, flexible working options, female-founded environments, and employers that truly champion mental health.

FEATURED JOBS

🎨 Assistant Curator, International Art at Tate Modern 
We’re loving: A day off for your birthday and free access to Tate exhibitions.

🏠 Senior Marketing Analyst, Trusted Housesitters
We’re loving: Really flexible working and occasional team retreats.

💆‍♀️ Category Strategy Manager, John Lewis Partnerships
We’re loving: Money back on tutored courses - and John Lewis vouchers!
 
Currently hiring? Email [email protected] if you'd like to list your role with us.

Trivia answer: C) is the lie - a $1,200 life coaching session was a gift in the 2022 Oscars goodie bag, rather than this year’s selection.

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