The Know Daily - Friday 6 October 2023

_{Read in 5m 24s ∙ Listening to Amaria}

Dear readers,

When I proposed to my boyfriend in October last year, it was with the proviso that we would have a very, very long engagement. But as the months went by and Instagram’s algorithm kicked into action, I found myself increasingly imagining what our big day might look like.

We’re now knee-deep in the “joys” of wedding planning - with six months to go until lift off. My partner and I have been employing a rather scientific make-it-up-as-you-go-along approach as we slowly tick off the items on our (very) long to-do list, from booking a band to finding something - anything! - appropriate to wear.

At times, it can all feel a bit overwhelming - so I reached out to a handful of newlywed friends and asked them to share some advice. I hope their insights, which I’ve pulled together in our latest guide, prove helpful to anyone else in the same boat or about to embark on this, shall we say, exhilarating journey!

In this edition, you’ll also find our usual roundup of the week’s biggest headlines, culture recs from the team, our Friday quiz and more.

Have a great weekend,

Kate
Editor-in-Chief

POLITICS & GLOBAL AFFAIRS

🇺🇸 Joe Biden approved the building of a new section of border wall between southern Texas and Mexico. In 2020, the US president promised he would break with the Trump-era border wall policy if elected.

🌡️ Last month was the warmest September on record globally, new data has shown. This year is now on track to become the hottest ever recorded.

🚆 UK PM Rishi Sunak announced the axing of HS2’s Birmingham to Manchester link, following weeks of speculation over the future of the high-speed rail line.

CULTURE

🎀 A Barbie exhibition is set to open at the Design Museum in London next year, marking the 65th anniversary of the world-famous doll.

⚽ FIFA said on Wednesday that it had lifted Russia’s ban from international football by allowing its under-17 teams to take part in tournaments.

🎭 The Mean Girls musical will be staged in London for the first time next June. The news was announced on 3 October (IYKYK 👀).

WORK & INNOVATION

🤖 Female-founded AI startups secured just 2% of all funding deals in the UK over the past decade, a government-backed body found.

📱 Meta is looking to introduce ad-free subscription plans for Instagram and Facebook users in the EU, Reuters reported this week.

☕ Beanless coffee was launched by a Seattle-based startup. It uses “superfoods and plant-based waste ingredients” to mimic coffee’s molecular structure and slash the drink’s carbon footprint.

UPLIFTING STUFF

🇲🇺 Mauritius decriminalised same-sex relations after the country’s Supreme Court overturned a colonial-era law.

🪸 An alliance of nations pledged on Tuesday to raise $12 billion to protect coral reefs from threats such as pollution and overfishing.

🐢 Turtle populations in Cyprus have been thriving as a result of conservation efforts, which have included supervising nesting beaches and searching for turtle tracks.

📰 Read: Ever wondered what it would be like to live with the national treasure Miriam Margolyes? Well, the actor’s two housemates have dished the dirt to i news.

 🤗 Read: The latest Quarterly Hug - it’s our exclusive email for friends of The Know and is packed full of recs, discount codes and behind-the-scenes content. Make our day by becoming a friend here.

🎧 Listen to: The Gift, a new BBC podcast in which host Jenny Kleeman speaks to the people whose lives were changed forever by taking a DNA test. It’s a moving and often surprising listen that’s all about identity, belonging and the secrets we keep.

📺 Watch: The Old Oak (out in cinemas now), Beckham (Netflix), Bargain (Paramount+), Desperately Seeking Soulmate (Prime Video).

🎨 Do: Create your own t-shirt at this comprehensive screen printing workshop run by experienced fabric printer Sarah. Or, if you’re not based in London and fancy giving screen printing a try, Cass Art is selling a reasonably priced at-home kit for beginners.

We list jobs with qualities we know our readers are looking for: purpose-driven opportunities, flexible and female-founded environments, and employers who champion mental health.

Our top jobs include roles at meal kit provider Gousto, department store Selfridges and ActionAid UK - the charity supporting women and girls around the world.
 
Want to reach 200,000 women with your latest roles? Email [email protected] if you’d like to list a job with us.

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The Know is an independent media company on a mission to help everyone start their day feeling informed and hopeful. Our daily newsletter features the top stories broken down without jargon, uplifting news and hand-picked recs. We only recommend things we genuinely love but sometimes we make money out of the links we share. This directly supports keeping our journalism free for all.

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