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- The Know Daily - Tuesday 18 February 2025
The Know Daily - Tuesday 18 February 2025
Hanna Pham
February 18, 2025
Read in 4m 29s ∙ Listening to Chappell Roan ∙
📝 Apprenticeships access | 🗣️ US-Russia talks | 🧑🚀 Space travel
A rice variety that releases up to 70% less methane than normal rice has been developed by Chinese and Swedish scientists. The team behind the new grain say it offers a “promising strategy” to reduce the crop’s emissions.
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NUMBER OF THE DAY
14.8m
How many people tuned in to watch the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary celebration.
📝 Apprenticeships access
The government has announced new changes to apprenticeships in England, which could lead to 10,000 more apprentices being able to qualify each year.
Tell me more.
There’s a number of adjustments to apprenticeship rules from August. Those over the age of 19 will no longer be required to take English and maths qualifications to complete their courses. Plus, employers will be given the flexibility to decide whether adult apprentices need to complete GCSE level or equivalent English and maths qualifications. The minimum length of an apprenticeship has also been reduced to 8 months, from 12. “Shorter apprenticeships and less red tape strikes the right balance between speed and quality,” said education secretary Bridget Phillipson.
Why?
To boost the number of learners and workers in occupations in need of growth and help them to become trained sooner. Sectors with staffing deficits include healthcare, film/TV production and green energy. “Apprenticeships are a vital tool in tackling the UK’s persistent skills shortages,” said a spokesperson from the Institute of Directors. The move has the potential to increase opportunities and remove barriers to accessing them, she added.
What’s the reaction been?
Some critics are hesitant about reducing the length of apprenticeships, as well as the decision to remove English and maths requirements. They caution that it could lead to “less general education” and more disparity. However, most businesses have welcomed the news – shortening the length and giving employers more flexibility will help enterprises to fill skills gaps quicker, streamline learners’ qualification processes and boost industries that have a shortage of trained workers.
TRIVIA TIME
Which art museum is the most visited in the world?
A) Metropolitan Museum of Art
B) Tate Modern
C) Louvre
Got it? Answer at the bottom.
🗣️ US-Russia talks: A meeting between the United States and Russia over the war in Ukraine is set to begin today without Ukraine or European involvement – here’s what we know so far.
The bigger story: The talks are intended to improve relations and start negotiations to end the war, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Kyiv wouldn’t recognise any peace agreement arranged without its participation.
🧑🚀 Space travel: The world’s first astronaut with a physical disability has been approved for a mission to the International Space Station.
🐕 Confident canines: Voting is open for the title of the UK’s most heroic dog – have your say here.
📱 Social supermarket: Lidl is set to become the first to sell directly through TikTok Shop.
🌊 Subsea connection: Meta has announced plans to build the world’s longest underwater cable.
🐺 Rewilding wolves: Reintroducing wolves in the Scottish Highlands could improve its native woodlands, according to a new study.
🍽️ Foodie finds: These are the best new restaurants in the world, according to the Forbes Travel Guide.
Readly – Helping me dive deeper into the news (and beyond)
If you love The Know, chances are you like staying in the loop - but sometimes, a quick news update isn’t enough. That’s why I’ve been loving Readly. With magazines and newspapers like Positive News, The Guardian Weekly, and The Independent, it’s so easy to get deeper into the topics I actually care about - whether that’s politics, the environment, or even self-care and personal development.
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~ Hannah, editor
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Trivia answer: C) Paris’ Louvre museum is the most-visited in the world with nearly 9 million visitors last year – and it’s set to undergo some massive changes.
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