Your Career Needs a Little Luck. Here's How to Cultivate It. - Harvard Business Review (No paywall)

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Your Career Needs a Little Luck. Here's How to Cultivate It. - Harvard Business Review (No paywall)     Most of us start out with a very specific vision of ourselves and our careers. Despite that, we struggle to find the jobs we think we want. To overcome this tendency, trust serendipity. Instead of trying to fit into some idealized version of your future, let yourself be surprised. Keep an open mind. Know that sometimes you can stumble upon job opportunities in the most unexpected places: at a holiday party, during your commute to work, or from your colleagues. To do this, practice “serendipitous networking,” or connecting with others for the sake of getting to know them, their perspectives, and their stories. Approach change from a place of possibility rather than fear. There is always going to be a demand for certain skills in the workplace. Building these skills will increase your chances of catching a lucky break. Finally, serendipity demands that you trust something beyond yourself to tell you what’s right for you. This looks like trusting employers to recognize you for your skills and expertise. Reach out to companies whose work and culture you find appealing. There may be times when a recruiter evaluates your skills and matches you to a role you were not initially interested in but that is a better fit. Continued here

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More men are wearing engagement rings. The market is figuring it out.     Last April, on a secluded beach overlooking Toronto, I slipped an engagement ring on my girlfriend's finger. Then she did something relatively unusual for a twenty-something North American couple: she put a ring on mine.My engagement ring is a 2mm-wide circle of white gold to match my fiancée's band. Going without one felt strange to me. For many people, a ring has traditionally been a sign a woman was "taken" by a man. But I think of our relationship as an equal partnership – the traditional approach didn't quite fit. Continued here

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The New Look review: Four stars for Coco Chanel and Christian Dior Nazi drama     The year is 1943. Agent "Westminster" is being briefed in Paris by her handler, Walter Schellenberg, the Nazi Party's head of foreign intelligence. He has a special mission for her; no less a task than ending World War Two. She is to deliver a secret message to the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, in Madrid, outlining a proposal for the cessation of hostilities. "In success, history will remember you for this more than for any dress you ever made," Schellenberg tells the agent."Any dress you ever made?" Indeed. For "Westminster" is Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, the celebrated designer better known for perfume and haute couture than for espionage and dangerous undercover operations. I had to check that this bizarre plotline, which features near the start of Apple TV's lavish new 10-part drama about Chanel and fellow designer Christian Dior and their wartime activities, was not artistic licence – but no, "Operation Modellhut" was real. Although, clearly, not a resounding success. Continued here

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This is Me... Now: A Love Story: Why J-Lo deserves respect for her 'bonkers' new musical movie     When it comes to so-called "triple threats" – a performer who can act, sing and dance – Jennifer Lopez is at the top of the list. Since she rose to prominence in 1997, with her Golden Globe-nominated lead role in Selena – the biographical musical film about Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla-Pérez – Lopez (or J-Lo, as she is often known) has excelled at all three.More like this: – Why J-Lo is Hollywood's most underestimated star – What makes a Hollywood power couple – How Beyoncé is reclaiming country musicThis Is Me... Now: A Love Story – a 65-minute long narrative-driven musical film, directed by Dave Meyers – is Lopez’s latest cinematic offering, which drops on Amazon Prime video on Friday alongside her album of the same name. The film is an impressively high-budget spectacle that showcases each of her skills, while also introducing her as a screenwriter and story creator. Continued here

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How six colours update the iconic London Tube map     New names for the six lines of the London Overground have been revealed, with each given its own colour – redesigning the city's iconic Tube map. The changes are intended to make it easier for passengers to navigate the network, by giving the routes distinct identities (the Overground was previously all one colour, orange).The six new names are the Lioness line, the Mildmay line, the Windrush line, the Weaver line, the Suffragette line and the Liberty line – each chosen because of particular local histories. Continued here

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Several companies are testing brain implants - why is there so much attention swirling around Neuralink? Two professors unpack the ethical issues     Putting a computer inside someone’s brain used to feel like the edge of science fiction. Today, it’s a reality. Academic and commercial groups are testing “brain-computer interface” devices to enable people with disabilities to function more independently. Yet Elon Musk’s company, Neuralink, has put this technology front and center in debates about safety, ethics and neuroscience. In January 2024, Musk announced that Neuralink implanted its first chip in a human subject’s brain. The Conversation reached out to two scholars at the University of Washington School of Medicine – Nancy Jecker, a bioethicst, and Andrew Ko, a neurosurgeon who implants brain chip devices – for their thoughts on the ethics of this new horizon in neuroscience. Continued here

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The New Look: Apple TV drama shows how Dior brought optimism to a war-weary world     Christian Dior’s 1947 “new look” – a collection of extravagantly brimmed hats, wide full skirts and cinched waists that drew attention to the female silhouette – signalled a new post-war era of optimism, pleasure and a sense of life returning to normal. Dior’s haute couture collection remains a historical moment for post-war fashion, and lends its name to Apple’s new ten-part series. The drama explores the state of Parisian couture in the final year of the second world war and the years that followed through the lives of important designers. This includes Dior and his contemporaries Coco Chanel, Pierre Balmain, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Lucien Lelong, Hubert de Givenchy and Pierre Cardin. Continued here

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West Africa trade will take a hit as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso leave Ecowas     The membership of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has been whittled down from 15 to 12 following the unilateral withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso in February.Founded in 1975, Ecowas is one of eight regional economic communities recognised by the African Union to foster regional integration on the continent. Its main objective is to create a single, large trading bloc through economic cooperation. Continued here

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Wagner Group is now Africa Corps. What this means for Russia's operations on the continent     In August 2023, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died after his private jet crashed about an hour after taking off in Moscow. He had been Russia’s pointman in Africa since the Wagner Group began operating on the continent in 2017.The group is known for deploying paramilitary forces, running disinformation campaigns and propping up influential political leaders. It has had a destabilising effect. Prigozhin’s death – and his aborted mutiny against Russian military commanders two months earlier – has led to a shift in Wagner Group’s activities. Continued here

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Addressing anti-Black racism is key to improving well-being of Black Canadians     Anti-Black racism continues to be a major determinant of poor health and social outcomes for Black Canadians. Addressing this racism within Canadian institutions — like the health-care system, justice system, the child welfare system and education — has far-reaching implications. The COVID-19 pandemic is a good example. Black populations had the highest age-standardized mortality rate among racial groups in Canada. Moreover, in the early days of the pandemic, living in a Black community was strongly correlated with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Black Canadians also have a higher mortality rate from HIV, diabetes and several forms of cancer. Continued here

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No party won a majority in Pakistan's contentious election. What happens now?     Pakistan’s recent general election has intensified the country’s tumultuous politics. The hotly contested election period left 24 people dead following attacks on political offices and the suspension of cellular and internet services nationwide.With 98 of 264 seats, independents in Pakistan — who are backed by the imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party — won the most seats. Continued here

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Why forgetting is a normal function of memory -     Forgetting in our day to day lives may feel annoying or, as we get older, a little frightening. But it is an entirely normal part of memory – enabling us to move on or make space for new information. In fact, our memories aren’t as reliable as we may think. But what level of forgetting is actually normal? Is it OK to mix up the names of countries, as US president Joe Biden recently did? Let’s take a look at the evidence. Continued here

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Prabowo's likely victory: Jokowi's effect and a test for Indonesia's democracy     Voters in the world’s third-largest democracy, Indonesia, have elected former army general Prabowo Subianto as its eighth president, despite his campaign being dogged by accusations of human rights violations and electoral fraud. According to the latest reliable polling, Prabowo – Indonesia’s defence minister – secured almost 60% of the votes in what is considered as the largest and most complex single-day election in the world. This will likely mean that there will be no second round. Read more: Indonesia will hold the world's biggest single day election: here is what you need to know Continued here

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Canada's entrepreneur shortage is impacting the economy -- here's one way to fix it     Business Development Canada made headlines in October 2023 when it revealed that almost half as many Canadians are starting businesses today compared to 20 years ago. This is alarming, as the vast majority of jobs in Canada — 98 per cent — are created by small business entrepreneurs. The health of our economy is built on the backbone of these enterprises. Continued here

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The rise of robo-retail: Who gets left behind when retail is automated?     Canada’s first robotic cafe, RC Coffee, opened in Toronto in October 2020. The flagship location of the coffee chain revived the long-dormant retail concept of the automat: a restaurant where food and drinks are served by technology, rather than human staff. The new coffee automat consisted of a touchscreen for placing orders, a window that allows customers to watch a robotic arm prepare their coffee, and a slot that dispenses the completed order. Continued here

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New study reveals four critical barriers to building healthier Canadian cities     Many streets around the globe are becoming increasingly inhospitable to children and the elderly due to compounding traffic and road safety concerns which deter these groups from active transport, like walking or cycling. The recent emphasis on designing cities that cater to the well-being of individuals from ages eight to 80 isn’t just a catchy phrase, but a vital requirement to accommodate evolving demographic realities.Similarly, the concept of the 15-minute city has garnered significant attention in recent years — despite baseless conspiracies accusing local authorities of plotting to limit residents to a small radius around their homes. Continued here

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Men become less fertile with age, but the same isn't true for all animals - new study     PhD student at the department of Biology, University of Oxford, University of Oxford We take it for granted that humans find it more difficult to conceive as they grow older. But our recent study, which analysed data from 157 animal species, found that male reproductive ageing seems to be a lot less common in other male animals. Continued here

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One in five councils at risk of 'bankruptcy' - what happens after local authorities run out of money     Yseult Marique is a member of the Group of Independent Experts on the European Charter on Self-Government (Council of Europe). Local councils in England are in trouble. The last few months have seen repeated cuts to essential services, increases to local taxes and calls for more help from the government. One in five councils are currently at risk of “bankruptcy” due to reductions in spending power and rising costs of essential services. Continued here

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North Korea steps up efforts to stamp out consumption of illegal foreign media - but entertainment-hungry citizens continue to flout the ban     Consuming and sharing foreign media in North Korea can be punishable by death. But that did not stop more than 83% of those who escaped the country between 2016 and 2020 using increasingly sophisticated means to access foreign music, TV shows and films before they left.According to a survey report that was released by the South Korean Ministry of Unification, illegal media consumption among those who left in the five years up to 2020 increased by 15% compared with the previous five-year period. Continued here

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Finding joy in the little things really can benefit your wellbeing - a scientist explains     Find joy in the little things. This piece of folk advice has been around for aeons, and is one that many of us try to live by. But is there actually any real benefit to this practice? On a physiological level, engaging in micro-joys can improve our vagal tone. This is important, as the vagus nerve is responsible for our body’s autopilot system, which regulates the processes we don’t have to think about – such as our heart rate, digestion and breathing. The vagus nerve is also linked to mood and anxiety disorders, and regulating stress, so the more stimulated it is the better off you may be. Continued here

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Using 'trip killers' to cut short bad drug trips is potentially dangerous     Psychedelics cause changes in a person’s perception of reality. One of the earliest descriptions of a psychedelic experience in western literature can be found in Aldous Huxley’s 1953 book The Doors of Perception. Huxley describes mostly beautiful visions while tripping on mescaline. And then there were the Beatles seeing “tangerine trees” and “marmalade skies” and “a girl with kaleidoscope eyes”. Continued here

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Is cutting UK taxes ahead of a general election affordable or not? An economist explains     Abhishek Kumar is affiliated with Centre for Social and Economic Progress (formerly Brookings India), New Delhi. A Conservative government considering tax cuts a few months ahead of an expected general election may not sound very surprising. Tax cuts are understandably popular – especially when household incomes have been squeezed by high inflation and rising interest rates. Continued here

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From crop to cup - a new genetic map could make your morning coffee more climate resilient     A new genetic map of the arabica coffee plant, coffea arabica, could help breeders develop to more climate-proof brews. Coffee is the second most consumed beverage on earth with over 2 billion cups being enjoyed every day. It’s also a valuable commodity and in 2023 the global market was worth over USD$93 billion (£74 billion). Continued here

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Generation Z may not need mortgages, here's why     Geoffrey Ditta Ph.D. Profesor de Economía y Negocios Internacionales. Director del Máster Universitario en Internacionalización de Empresas. Facultad de Economía y Empresa, Universidad Nebrija Ask many Millennials – the generation currently in their late 20s to early 40s – about the possibility of home ownership and they will probably laugh in your face. The idea of getting a mortgage with just their own income is often unthinkable, and those who do own property often have an uncommonly early inheritance to thank. Continued here