The Know Daily - Friday 14 August 2026

_{Read in 5m 24s ∙ Listening to Bonnie Tyler}

Hello hello,

Well, that was quite the celestial week! I honestly think getting your hands on a pair of those eclipse glasses was harder than getting tickets to the Eras Tour – but the photos that have come out since Wednesday evening have been absolutely incredible. I also came across some snaps on Insta from the 1999 eclipse and it made me feel so nostalgic 🥹

Anyway, let’s get into this week’s headlines and culture picks!

Lily
Partnerships manager

UK NEWS

👩‍🎓 A record number of students have been accepted into university after receiving their A-level results yesterday. 

🗳️ Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election after securing 22,232 votes. His next closest challenger was Count Binface who secured 9455 votes.

🍫 The first chocolate bar to be made from 100% British ingredients since 1932 has been created by scientists.

GLOBAL AFFAIRS

🗞️ White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is set to step down from her position at the end of the month, the US President has announced.

🚄 A bullet train in China has broken its own world record for acceleration after going from zero to 800km an hour in roughly five seconds.

🏙️ The best cities for under 30s have been revealed, following a survey that quizzed thousands of Gen Z participants across the globe.

CULTURE

🇧🇬 Eurovision Song Contest 2027 will be hosted by the Bulgarian city of Burgas, organisers have confirmed.

📖 A novel about rewilding has been named the 40th winner of the Arthur C Clarke award for science fiction.

💍 Friendship proposals are on the rise with new data from Etsy showing 57% of Gen Z have carried out a formal "friend-proposal" to ask someone to be their best friend.

WORK & INNOVATION

🎶 A label for AI generated artists has been introduced by Spotify in an effort to offer listeners “more transparency” around what they’re listening to.

☀️ The P.A.U.S.E. method of five small habits to help you ease into the morning is recommended by experts for calmer workday mornings.

🎈 The world's ”greenest” party balloon that’s fully biodegradable has been invented by scientists who say it can break down within just nine months.

UPLIFTING STUFF

🐅 Nepal's tiger population has risen by about 20 percent in the past four years and is now estimated to be 429.

⚾️ Women’s pro baseball is back in action for the first time since 1954 as a newly formed league makes its debut.

🌳 Two million trees have been planted in Cornwall as part of a scheme that’s received £8.7m of government funding.

🗞 Read: Have you ever been on the perfect holiday, only to find yourself checking Slack from the sun lounger? The piece explores Freizeitstress – a German concept of feeling stressed by having nothing to do – and why switching off can be surprisingly difficult when you’re used to being go-go-go. A good reminder that rest doesn’t need to become another thing to optimise, schedule or feel guilty about.

🎧 Listen: Prime Minister Andy Burnham has just featured on Elizabeth Day’s How to Fail podcast. No, really! If you’re up for learning more about the UK’s new PM, this is a must-listen.

📺 Watch: Women in Blue is all about Mexico’s first female police force, and it’s every bit as interesting as it sounds. There’s also a new Bear Grylls show out, so it’s time to pop our outdoorsy hats back on. And The End of Oak Street is out in cinemas today – and we’ve heard rumours that it’s even better than the Jurassic movies!

🧑‍🍳 Cook: Runner beans are such a wholesome veg (do they instantly transport anyone else back to their grandparents’ garden?) and this delicious pasta is such a fun and unique way to serve them. 

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