The Know Daily - Wednesday 10 May 2023

_{Wednesday 10 April ∙ Read in 5m 15s ∙ Listening to Sia}

An engineering company in Cheshire has sent specially-trained sniffer dogs on a rather unique mission - to find out whether rare crested newts are living in various sites ahead of some potential building work. The pups have been trained by Paws for Conservation, a firm which teaches dogs to sniff out several rare species. They certainly deserve a round of a-paws for their work 😌

⚖️ Trump’s verdict explained

A jury in a civil case has found that Donald Trump sexually abused magazine columnist E Jean Carroll - here’s what you need to know.

Tell me about the trial.
E Jean Carroll had claimed that the former US president attacked her in the dressing room of a New York department store in the 1990s. The civil trial rejected the claim of rape, but found that Trump had more likely than not sexually abused Carroll and then defamed her by calling her a liar.

Trump, who is planning to appeal the verdict, has been ordered to pay about $5 million in damages.

How significant is the trial for Trump?
While the 2024 White House contender has faced numerous allegations of sexual assault, it’s the first time that he’s been found legally responsible. But because the trial was in a civil court rather than criminal, Trump will not be required to register as a sex offender.

Following the verdict, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to decry the judgement as a “witch hunt” and insist that he had “absolutely no idea” who Carroll is.

What have US politicians said?
Overall, not very much. Writing in The Guardian, David Smith noted that there was “no chorus of Democrats and Republicans” calling for Trump to drop out of the primary. “Perhaps the one thing more shocking [than the trial] was how unshockable America has become,” he said.

But while Trump may remain the Republican frontrunner, the jury’s still out on whether today’s ruling will significantly damage Trump’s prospect of re-election in 2024.

🍷 A work party warning

Employers have been urged to cut down on the amount of alcohol served at work socials in a bid to curb inappropriate behaviour.

What’s the story?
Yesterday’s warning from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) comes after almost a third (29%) of managers reported witnessing inappropriate behaviour or harassment at work parties.

What does the CMI recommend?
Ann Francke, chief executive of the CMI, told the BBC that while socialising among colleagues can be “a great team building opportunity”, managers have a responsibility to keep behaviour in check.

Safeguarding recommendations include offering additional activities alongside alcohol, as well as limiting the number of drinks available per person.

Were there other key findings?
Of the 1,009 managers surveyed by the CMI at the end of April, 42% said work parties should be organised around activities which don’t involve alcohol. Almost half (48%) of managers aged 34 and younger were in support of this, compared to just 36% of those over 55.

Are booze-free office parties the future?
Perhaps - as evidence shows that workplace culture is moving away from alcohol. Over the last few years, large US companies including Salesforce and Uber have made moves to reduce or ban alcohol in the workplace. A “booze ban” has also been touted for UK civil servants.

In March, a spokesperson from Alcohol Change UK told the BBC that “things have certainly changed in recent decades, with a gradual shift away from workplace socialising focused on alcohol”.

Has your workplace’s approach to alcohol changed in the last few years - and how do you feel about it? Hit reply to let us know!

♻️ Plastic positivity: Scientists in the Alps and the Arctic have discovered microbes which can digest plastics at temperatures as low as 15C. The exciting find has been described as a “potential breakthrough for recycling”.

👶 Fertility first: A baby has been born using three people’s DNA, marking a groundbreaking scientific first for the UK. The pioneering technique aims to prevent children from being born with incurable mitochondrial diseases.

🌳 Park life: New research commissioned by the mayor of West Yorkshire has suggested that women should be involved in the design and maintenance of the UK’s parks to help tackle safety fears.

👩‍⚕️ Apprenticeship push: A new plan to tackle NHS workforce shortages could see school-leavers could join the health service and receive on-the-job training. Reports suggest that up to one in 10 doctors and a third of nurses could be trained through this vocational path.

👨‍🎤 Eurovision latest: Sweden has qualified for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest, cementing singer Loreen’s position as the bookmaker’s favourite. Another semi-final will take place tomorrow.

Trivia answer: A) Birmingham, where flight departures were half an hour behind schedule on average - making the airport marginally worse than Manchester. See how your local airport ranked here.

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