The Know Daily - Thursday 7 December 2023

_{Read in 5m 14s ∙ Listening to Laura Misch}

Conservationists have discovered two wild-born kiwi chicks in New Zealand’s capital - the first such find in more than a century. The births come just a year after the country’s iconic national bird was reintroduced to Wellington, as part of a wider plan to boost the species’ numbers and ensure their long-term survival. 

📝 Boris Johnson at the Covid inquiry

Former PM Boris Johnson is facing a second day of questioning over his handling of the pandemic.

First things first - what’s the Covid inquiry looking at?
The independent public inquiry, which is expected to run until at least 2026, was set up to “examine the UK’s response to and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic” and “learn lessons for the future”. 

The second round of public hearings is currently taking place, focusing on the government’s response to the pandemic and how ministers made key decisions. Last week, several senior UK politicians - including Michael Gove and Matt Hancock - appeared before the inquiry. Yesterday, it was Johnson’s turn.

The inquiry had already heard from “government officials and advisers, academic experts and representatives of bereaved families”, said the BBC, with much of the evidence “extremely critical” of the way the former PM and other senior ministers made decisions.

So what was said yesterday?
Johnson began with an apology, stating he was sorry for “the pain and the loss” caused by the pandemic. He acknowledged that his government “may have made mistakes” that added to the hurt, and took personal responsibility for all decisions made by the government.

He also defended the culture in No. 10 at the time after it was branded “toxic” by other witnesses and rejected accusations that he had shown poor leadership.

“The most surprising part of Boris Johnson’s first session was not anything he said, but his tone, which was uncharacteristically deliberate and restrained,” said The Guardian.

Politico has more analysis of the day’s biggest moments here.

What’s happening today?
Johnson is expected to give another full day of evidence. “Expect to hear about the decisions that led up to the second winter lockdown in 2020, Partygate, and Dominic Cummings’ trip to Barnard castle,” said The Guardian.