The Know Daily - Tuesday 25 April 2023

_{Read in 5m 30s ∙ Listening to Florence + The Machine}

A leader from Brazil’s indigenous Munduruku community, Alessandra Korap Munduruku, has been recognised for her successful fight against mining in the Amazon rainforest. The 39-year-old was awarded this year’s Goldman Environmental Prize, which recognises grassroots activism. As a result of her vocal campaigning, the mining giant Anglo American withdrew 27 research applications to mine within indigenous territories. Inspirational stuff!

🇸🇩 Sudan update

A three-day ceasefire has begun in Sudan, raising hopes that citizens will be able to leave the conflict-hit capital of Khartoum and that the evacuation of foreign nationals can continue.

Tell me more.
On 15 April, violence erupted between rival military forces - described by the BBC as the “direct result of a vicious power struggle”. Since then, more than 420 people have been killed and over 3,700 wounded, according to UN agencies.

A US-Saudi mediated truce between the Sudanese army and RSF paramilitary force began on Monday night, following two days of intense negotiations. While previous truce deals have not been abided by, this ceasefire “so far appears to be holding”, said the BBC this morning.

What’s happening now?
Foreign governments have been scrambling to get their citizens out of Sudan, and more than 1,000 EU citizens have already been airlifted out.

The UK will start evacuating British passport holders “from today”, foreign secretary James Cleverley has announced. There are an estimated 4,000 British passport holders in Sudan, and priority will be given to families with children, the elderly and those with medical conditions.

What about Sudanese citizens?
Millions remain trapped in the capital, Khartoum, which has seen the worst of the fighting. Food and fuel are increasing in price, and electricity and internet access have been cut off in much of the country, Sky News has reported.

There are hopes that the ceasefire will allow more people to leave, with many already having fled into neighbouring Egypt. The UK government has been urged to “not miss the window of opportunity” for evacuations and delivering urgent humanitarian aid to the country.

How can I help?
There are several charities with staff working on the ground in Sudan, including Save the Children, which is fundraising to support children on the frontline of the conflict.

🤧 A hay fever hack?

Could introducing more “good” bacteria into our bodies help alleviate allergy symptoms? Some scientists seem to think so, following new research linking hay fever with gut health.

Ugh, hay fever! Remind me what causes it?
Hay fever occurs when our immune system overreacts to allergens, including pollen. If you’re one of the almost ten million people in England who suffer from the condition, the arrival of spring likely brings with it sneezing, a stuffy nose and itchy eyes. Mixed feelings indeed!

But how does this relate to gut health?
Recent studies have suggested there’s a link between hay fever and the collection of microorganisms (including bacteria and viruses) that live in our stomach, which is known as the gut microbiome.

Research shows that people with hay fever often have a less diverse gut microbiome. As this plays a key role in regulating the immune system, this imbalance can lead to higher levels of inflammation.

“Hay fever is an overreaction of your immune system to pollen,” Professor Simon Gaisford told The Telegraph. “If your immune system is already sensitive because of irritation in your gut, then it’s highly reactive. If it’s calm, it stands a better chance of reacting healthily to pollen.”

What does this mean for hay fever sufferers?
Scientists stress that more work is needed to examine the potential link, but suggest that eating more probiotic-rich food - such as kimchi or kefir - could help boost the gut’s “good” bacteria and therefore reduce the impact of hay fever.

Other proven ways to improve gut health include eating a wide variety of fruit and veg, as well as reducing stress levels. Regardless of whether that results in any improvement in hay fever symptoms, it can only be a good thing for our overall wellbeing!

☕ Storm in a teacup: Twinings’ decision to discontinue its popular lapsang souchong blend has angered tea drinkers. While the company has insisted that Distinctively Smokey is “reminiscent” of the original blend, social media users have likened the taste to “stale cigarettes”.

⚠️ Voter ID PSA: Voters who don’t already have a valid form of photo ID must apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate before 5pm today in order to vote in the 4 May local elections. Confused? Check out our guide to the changing laws.

🇺🇸 Donald Trump lawsuit: Today marks the beginning of a civil lawsuit brought by a woman who claims the former US president raped her in a Manhattan dressing room in the mid-1990s.

💵 Cost-of-living help: More than eight million of the UK’s most vulnerable households are set to receive £301 from the government starting from today. This is the first of three new cost-of-living payments which add up to £900.

🎵 I’m Gonna Be (not included): The iconic Proclaimers’ song I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) will not be on the official coronation celebration playlist, following complaints about the band’s republican views.

Trivia answer: B) To scare seagulls away - Blackpool Zoo put up the ad after bosses said the birds had been persistently stealing food from visitors. See a photo of the costume here.

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