The Know Daily - Tuesday 13 February 2024

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Stargazers in India have reason to celebrate, as a tiger reserve has recently been designated the country’s first-ever Dark Sky Park. Only the fifth such park of its kind in Asia, the Pench Tiger Reserve will restrict artificial light pollution and give visitors the chance to “witness celestial wonders”, said the Times of India.

🥡 Takeaway timeout

Thousands of Deliveroo and Uber Eats drivers in the UK are gearing up for a Valentine's Day strike, pushing for better pay and conditions. 

What’s the story?
The action, which will impact four food apps, could involve “as many as 3,000 drivers and riders” between 5pm and 10pm on Wednesday, according to the BBC. The strike’s organisers, the grassroots group Delivery Job UK, hope to draw attention to the “low pay and insecure conditions” faced by drivers, “many of whom work on several delivery apps in parallel”, noted The Guardian.

In a post on X, Delivery Job UK said it hoped tomorrow’s strike would encourage customers to think about the conditions faced by workers.

What are drivers paid at present?
App-based delivery drivers are generally classified as self-employed contractors, meaning their employers are not legally required to pay them the statutory minimum wage of £10.42 an hour. 

This status was confirmed by a supreme court ruling in November 2023, which found that Deliveroo riders could not be considered employees because they “don’t have specified hours, can work for rival companies, and can appoint someone to work in their place”, explained Sky News.

Rodeo, an app which allows riders to compare their payments, has found that earnings were slashed in 2022 and 2023 despite high inflation. Deliveroo does not allow workers to upload their details, noted The Independent.

What have the companies said?
In a statement, Uber Eats said that the “vast majority” of couriers were “satisfied with their experience on the app”. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Deliveroo said that the platform “aims to provide riders with the flexible work riders tell us they value, attractive earning opportunities and protections”.

💗 Celebrating Galentine’s

Move over Valentine’s - on February 13th, we’re celebrating some of the most fulfilling relationships in our lives: our female friendships.

Last week, we asked our readers to shout out the friends who are making their lives - or the world - that bit better. Lots of you got in touch to share your stories:

Chloe, shouting out Hannah: 
We’ve been best friends since the beginning of secondary school. She has supported me through some of my most difficult times, even when she was going through her own tough moments. 

She’s the maid of honour for my wedding in May, and I wouldn’t want anyone but her standing by my side. I owe her so much, and she deserves to be recognised for everything she does, not only for me, but for everyone around her. ❤️ 

Anna, shouting out Nav:
Nav radiates. She radiates sunshine. She radiates kindness. She radiates fun. She radiates compassion. She radiates wisdom. She radiates happiness. She radiates...and everyone around her starts radiating as a result. I count myself incredibly lucky to be radiating by her side. ❤️

Kate, shouting out Charley:
I am very proud of my sister, Charley, and am wishing her lots of luck with her exciting new cheffing job!

Shelley, shouting out Linda, Julie, Scottie, Mel, Susan and Carol:
These ladies are my besties since high school. We still meet once a year at the beach. BTW, did I mention we graduated in 1975?!

Our biggest takeaway? Tell your friends how much you appreciate them ❤️

📉 Unemployment down: The UK's unemployment rate dropped to 3.8% in the three months to December, according to figures released this morning by the ONS. However, wage growth has slowed to its lowest level for more than a year.  

✋ Trump on trial: Donald Trump has demanded the Supreme Court delay his criminal trial for interfering in the 2020 election, with his lawyers saying it would “radically disrupt” campaigning. 

⚖️ Cyber-flashing illegal: A 39-year-old man has become the first person in England and Wales to be convicted of cyber-flashing (sending unsolicited photos), a new offence under the Online Safety Act.

🔐 AI interiors: UK estate agents and landlords are sprucing up rental properties with AI-generated furniture. Would you be tempted?

🎤 Beyoncé goes country : The artist has released two new tracks in a move towards country music and a “nod back to her roots in Texas”, Variety said.

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Trivia answer: B) The study by researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology in Japan found that clownfish count stripes to spot friends and chase away rivals.

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