The Know Daily - Wednesday 7 June 2023

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The number of pine martens in Northern Ireland has nearly doubled since 2017, according to a new survey. The weasel-like creatures are extremely rare in the UK due to hunting and habitat loss, but Ulster Wildlife said pine martens are now undergoing a “phenomenal resurgence”. It’s also hoped that their growing number will boost the red squirrel population - a double win!

🇺🇦 Ukraine latest

The UN has said that the scale of the disaster caused by the destruction of a major dam in southern Ukraine yesterday is still unclear, but warned that the attack will have “grave and far-reaching consequences for thousands of people”.

What’s the story?
Addressing the UN Security Council late last night, UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said that thousands were facing “the loss of homes, food, safe water and livelihoods” after the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam caused widespread flooding.

Ukrainian officials have said that over 40,000 people are at risk from flooding on both sides of the Dnipro river (around 17,000 in the Ukrainian-held west and 25,000 in the Russian-occupied east).

“Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the blast, with US intelligence suggesting Moscow is the culprit,” reported Sky News.

Why is the dam so significant?
Given its position downstream from the huge Kakhovka reservoir, the dam “provides much needed water to farmers and residents, as well as to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant”, explained the BBC. The International Atomic Energy Agency has stressed that there is “no immediate nuclear safety risk” for the plant.

The dam is also a vital channel carrying water south to the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

The Geneva Conventions explicitly ban war-time attacks on “installations containing dangerous forces” such as dams due to the risk posed to civilians, said Reuters. This means that the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam could be investigated as a possible war crime.

What have the two sides said?
Russia has claimed that Ukraine carried out the attack to deprive Crimea of fresh water. Meanwhile, Ukraine has accused Russia of deliberately blowing up the dam to halt the country’s long-awaited counter-offensive.

In a video address yesterday evening, President Zelenskyy struck a defiant tone. “We will still liberate all our land,” he said.

 💸 No strings attached

Thirty people in England will be given £1,600 a month to spend as they wish - whether they choose to work or not - in the country’s first trial of a universal basic income (UBI).

What’s a universal basic income?
It pretty much does what it says on the tin. “It’s a guaranteed income for everybody in society, designed to cover people’s basic needs and create a minimum income floor,” explained Sky News.

“The concept of a universal basic income is not a new one,” added The Times. “The current cost of living crisis, however, has led to more serious discussions about whether it should be implemented.”

How will the trial work?
In the small-scale pilot, run by think tank Autonomy, 30 participants will be monitored to understand the effect that the monthly lump sum has on their wellbeing. A control group, who will not be paid the basic income, will also be recruited.

Two places in England have been picked for the trial - central Jarrow in South Tyneside and East Finchley in London - and the participants will be randomly selected from a pool of volunteers, with 20% of the places allocated to people with disabilities.

What are the arguments for and against a UBI?
Advocates argue that it can provide a level of economic security to everyone. “With the decades ahead set to be full of economic shocks due to climate change and new forms of automation, basic income is going to be a crucial part of securing livelihoods in the future,” said Autonomy’s director of research.

But on the flip side, giving everyone a UBI is expensive. “Critics also argue it would de-incentivise people from working and direct money to people who don’t need it, diverting support from the most needy,” pointed out Sky News.

What’s the bigger picture?
Similar schemes are currently underway elsewhere. The Welsh government is trialling a basic income pilot of £1,280 for young people leaving care, and has said that it will report its findings once the trial has concluded.

What do you think about the UBI scheme? We’d love to know - hit reply to share your thoughts.

👩‍⚕️ Wegovy pilot: Some obese patients in England may soon be offered weight-loss injections by their GPs as part of a new £40m pilot scheme. But experts have warned that so-called skinny jabs are not a quick fix.

⚖️ Harry in court: The Duke of Sussex is set to face a second day of questioning at the High Court after first taking the stand on Tuesday. He gave almost five hours of evidence yesterday, during which he described the UK government as being at “rock bottom”. Read a recap here.

📈 Inflation leaderboard: Britain will have the highest inflation of any major developed economy this year but should hopefully avoid recession, the OECD - an economic organisation made up of 38 countries - has warned.

❌ Shell ads banned: The oil and gas giant has had a TV advert, poster and YouTube ad banned by the Advertising Standards Authority for misleading claims about how clean its overall energy production is, given the firm’s more polluting work with fossil fuels.

🧘 And… breathe: Gentle yoga can cut the risk of cancer returning in patients and may improve survival odds, new research has found. The study, which has not been peer-assessed, also found that walking for 30 minutes a day can help reduce fatigue in cancer patients.

Trivia answer: B) Moths - new research has found that the insects are responsible for about a third of all the stops made by pollinators at flowers.

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