The Know Daily - Friday 8 December 2023

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Happy Friday!

It’s Esther here, kicking off this week’s edition with a - definitely rhetorical - question: why is finding the method of contraception that’s right for you such a difficult task?

Having recently switched methods in the hope of getting fewer migraines (with mixed results), this is something that’s been on my mind a lot recently. And I’m definitely not alone in this - unless you’re one of the lucky few who find a method that works well right off the bat, contraception will likely be the topic of many late-night internet searches and despairing discussions with friends for a good few years yet.

So how do you know which method is right for you?! We chatted to an expert over at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor to bring you some answers, with the end product being our bumper jargon-free guide to contraception. I hope you find it as insightful as I did!

Keep scrolling for the week’s biggest headlines, culture recs, our quiz and much, much more.

Love,

Esther x 
Staff Writer

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POLITICS & GLOBAL AFFAIRS

📰 UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged the Security Council to act on the war in Gaza. “Arab states seek to use this alert to push the council to call for a ceasefire within days,” said Sky News. 

🗣️ Former UK PM Boris Johnson appeared before the Covid inquiry this week to answer questions over his handling of the pandemic. The Guardian has this summary of Thursday’s biggest moments.

📝 Current UK PM Rishi Sunak defended his Rwanda bill as the “right approach” after his immigration minister resigned, citing concerns that the new law was not tough enough.

CULTURE

🌍 Unesco released its 2023 list for intangible cultural heritage. The popular musical genre of Bolero made the cut, as did the practice of opera singing in Italy.

🤽 The Gold Coast withdrew its bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, leaving the event without a host for now. “The future of the Games more broadly remains up in the air,” said The Independent.

🎨 The 2023 Turner Prize was awarded to Jesse Darling, with judges praising how his works made use of unconventional materials to convey a “familiar yet delirious world”. The winner of the spoof Turnip Prize is also worth checking out…

WORK & INNOVATION

🎧 Spotify announced plans to axe more than 1,500 jobs - around 17% of its workforce - saying “economic growth has slowed dramatically”. 

🩸 Stanford University scientists said they have developed a blood test that checks how fast a person’s organs are ageing - and even predicts which ones might fail. 

💰 Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, is seeking $1bn in equity financing. The billionaire wants to “keep pace with rivals including OpenAI, Microsoft and Google”, said The Guardian.

UPLIFTING STUFF

🌳 The National Trust expressed hope that the famous Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland - which was mysteriously felled in September - will live on after its seedlings were preserved. 

🧑‍⚖️ An indigenous community in Ecuador won a court battle to regain ownership of their ancestral homeland in the Amazon, more than 80 years after they were displaced.

👏 Wolverines in the US were granted protection under the Endangered Species Act, following a 30-year fight by conservation groups.

📰 Read: The weird, secretive world of crisp flavours. In this very fun article for The Guardian, journalist Amelia Tait answers some Important Questions - for example, who decides which countries get certain crisp flavours, and why you can buy lasagne-flavoured snacks in Thailand but not in Italy.

📺 Watch: Wonka and Fallen Leaves (out in cinemas now), High Tides (Netflix), Platform 7 (ITVX), Vigil S2 (BBC iPlayer). 

🎧 Listen to: Uncanny, the hit BBC podcast which sees host Danny Robins investigate real-life stories of paranormal encounters. Whether or not you find it spooky will depend on your relationship with the supernatural - but it’s certainly an entertaining listen.

👝 Do: Get organised! If you’re anything like us, this season involves lots of travelling from one place to another to see family and friends. That’s why this roll-up toiletry bag has caught our eye…

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 this week include roles at group adventure company Intrepid Travel, international wildlife charity Born Free and dairy-free coffee company Minor Figures.
 
Want to reach 200,000+ women with your latest roles? Email [email protected] if you’d like to list a job with us.

In our Tuesday edition, we covered the news that naturalist Chris Packham had criticised I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! for the show’s use of animals for entertainment purposes.

We asked you whether you agreed and the results were really interesting: 

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yep, I’m a Celeb does see animals being exploited (202)

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I’m not sure (34)

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I’ve never watched the show (58)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No - it’s a harmless entertainment programme (22)

316 Votes

“They might not be the most charismatic or cute animals that they use on the show, but they don’t deserve that treatment,” wrote one reader. Thanks to everyone who shared their views on the subject!

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