The Know Daily - Tuesday 8 July 2025

_{Read in 4m 32s ∙ Listening to Sam Fender ∙}

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Farming and fashion are coming together through a growing field-to-wardrobe movement. Natural fibres like wool, hemp and cotton are now being grown in ways that restore soil and cut emissions, plus champion local heritage crafts. With farmers and brands teaming up across the UK, it’s a fresh, sustainable approach to “reimagine British fashion from the soil up”.

👻 The “ghostworking” trend

Ghostworking is the latest term making waves in the modern workplace as more people consider ways to manage burnout. 

So what is ghostworking?
It’s when employees maintain the appearance of working without actually doing the job. That might mean answering the occasional email, being “active” online, or showing up to meetings – while actually focusing on something else entirely (like job-hunting, side gigs, or nothing at all). 

How’d we get here?
The rise of remote and hybrid work has reshaped how many of us engage with our jobs. With greater flexibility and fewer in-person check-ins, the focus has naturally shifted from time spent at a desk to the results we deliver. At the same time, many workers are navigating heavier workloads, economic uncertainty, and evolving expectations. Tools like scheduled emails, AI-powered support, and multitasking across platforms have made it easier to manage busy schedules – but they can also blur the lines between productivity and presence.

What’s the impact?
It can make teams become less productive and workloads shift unfairly, which may affect trust and the ability to achieve shared goals. While one person ghostworking might slip under the radar, widespread detachment can quietly drain morale and hinder collaboration across an organisation.

What’s being done about it?
Some companies are doubling down on performance metrics and digital monitoring – though that raises concerns around trust. Others are investing in re-engagement: clearer career paths, better workload management and honest conversations about burnout. But there’s no one-size-fits-all fix. Ghostworking is often a symptom, not the root problem. 

Find yourself ghostworking?
You're not alone. Studies suggest over 90% of employees are job-hunting on company time. But if ghostworking has become your default, it might be time to rethink what you actually want from work.

Here are a few steps you can take:
🧭 Understand if you’re burnt out, bored or quietly resisting an unhealthy culture.
📣 Speak up. Sometimes, a conversation with your manager about workload, growth, or flexibility can reset expectations.
⏳ Set an exit plan. If things really aren’t fixable, make a plan to leave on your own terms – with integrity.

🇺🇸 Trump’s tariffs: The White House has said that President Trump will send more tariff letters to foreign leaders in the coming days.

• The bigger story: Framed as a strategy to revive US manufacturing and reduce trade deficits, the move includes potential tariffs as high as 40%. Investors and policymakers are watching closely to see how negotiations unfold in the next few weeks. Higher tariffs will likely affect the global stock market and lead to ripple effects of higher prices on goods worldwide.

💊 Trailblazing treatment: The world’s first malaria treatment for newborn babies has been approved by a drug regulator.

🦕 Dinosaur discovery: Scientists have revealed a new species of pterosaur (a flying reptile) that lived more than 200 million years ago.

✈️ VIP visit: President Macron is travelling to the UK for a state visit today and is expected to hold a Franco-British summit with the Prime Minister.

👠 Fashion fixture: Haute Couture week has kicked off in Paris, with stars such as Dua Lipa and Cardi B sitting in the front row.

📱 All-new app: TikTok has developed a plan to launch its new app to US app stores in September.

🏘️ City streets: The best boroughs in London for walking and cycling have been revealed. Don’t mind us whilst we take notes!

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Trivia answer: B) Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” broke the record for the biggest pop song in Apple Music history for first-day streams.

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