The Know Daily - Friday 19 July 2024

_{Read in 5m 54s ∙ Listening to Luna Li ∙}

Hello! 🌞 Hope you’re having a lovely Friday so far.

I’m off on annual leave next week, and seriously looking forward to spending time with family and enjoying the UK’s temperamental sunshine. But as excited as I am, literally any time I take holiday – whether it’s for two days or two weeks – I start feeling this overwhelming pressure to ‘have a good time’ and make sure each day really counts.

Whenever I feel like this, I always come back to this excellent piece from psychologist Beth Kurland on how to have an un-perfect holiday. In it, she suggests dropping the narrative of a ‘perfect’ holiday (whatever that even means) to instead “make space for whatever is here”. That might mean accepting your disappointment that it’s raining or your annoyance at nagging relatives – basically, feeling whatever it is that you’re feeling.

For me, it also means embracing the fact that I might just spend two days of my holiday re-watching Unforgotten (it really is that good). And, to be fair, leaning into what we want to be doing – as opposed to what we think we should be doing – is something we could all do a little more often, holiday or no holiday. 

Have a great weekend,

Esther x 
Editor

UK NEWS

👑 The King’s Speech was delivered this week, setting out the new Labour government’s agenda. Here’s a guide to the proposed bills.

🦠 The COVID inquiry released its first report, confirming that the UK was “underprepared” to handle the pandemic.

🏰 Dover Castle’s new digital exhibition shows what the site looked like before it was besieged 800 years ago.

GLOBAL AFFAIRS

🇪🇺 A UK-EU summit took place this week, with PM Keir Starmer hoping to reset relations with Europe.

🇺🇸 Former US President Donald Trump announced Senator JD Vance as his vice presidential pick, days after his attempted assassination.

🪧 Youth-led protests took place around the world this week. In Kenya, activists protested tax increases and in Bangladesh, university students spoke out against discriminatory hiring laws.

WORK & INNOVATION

🗳️ Amazon workers in the UK failed to achieve enough support to become the first recognised union outside of the US, but vowed to continue the campaign.

📱 Apple’s efforts to expand in India appear to be paying off, as annual sales surged to a record high of $8bn.

👟 Spray-on shoes will make their way to the Paris Olympics next week, with silver medalist Hellen Obiri expected to compete in them.

CULTURE

📺 The 2024 Emmys nominations are out – here are the good, the bad and the weird, according to Vulture.

🏊‍♀️ Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo fulfilled her promise to swim in the Seine, as the river is cleaned up just in time for the Olympic Games.

🍻 Munich in Germany got its first ever alcohol-free beer garden this week, amid a wider move away from alcohol across Europe. 

UPLIFTING STUFF

🇬🇲 The Gambia’s lawmakers voted to uphold a ban on FGM in a “critical win” for girls’ and women’s rights.

🤝 Japan and Cambodia are teaming up on a project to exchange knowledge and technology on land mine removal with countries around the world. 

🇪🇨 A river in Ecuador was granted the right to not be polluted, in an unusual yet “historic” ruling.

🗞 Read: How to deal with being the youngest in the office – and even if you’re not, this piece from The Conversation is a really nice reflection on how we all bring unique and important assets to the table. ~ Lynn

⛅ Also read: Why are we so obsessed with weather apps? I feel seen! ~ Esther 

🎧 Listen to: My 4-minute guide to Tokyo’s Sangenjaya neighbourhood for Monocle Radio, my fave place to explore with my friends growing up and home to one of the best cheesecakes I’ve ever had. ~ Hanna

📺 Watch: Sleep and Crossing (out in cinemas now), Lady in the Lake (Apple TV+), Simone Biles Rising (Netflix), Sisters (U). 

🛍 Check out: TOTM, our new go-to for ethical and sustainable period care products, free from plastic and fragrance. Plus, they’re offering our community an incredible discount! 👀 Take 50% off your first order* with our exclusive code TOTMXTHEKNOW – shop here!

* T&Cs: 50% off your first order for new customers only - excludes bundles, power packs, and gift-a-pad. Valid on one-off and subscription orders. No min spend, max spend £300. Code expires 31st August 2024.

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⭐ The Castle Climbing Centre, a lovely venue in North London.
⭐ Climate justice network, The Sunrise Project. 
⭐ Samaritans, the charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in distress.

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