The Know Daily - Friday 1 May 2026

_{Read in 5m 12s ∙ Listening to Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter ∙}

Hello and Happy 1st May,

Fun fact about me: I’m such a green tea person. It started as a bit of a “mm this is nice” situation with a standard Twinings Green Tea and has quickly turned into a full-blown ritual – kettle on, favourite mug, a slightly unnecessary amount of attention paid to steeping time. I’ve now graduated to loose leaf Genmaicha, which feels like a personality trait I didn’t see coming. So yeah, if you’re thinking about giving it a go, I would highly recommend… it’s such a nice excuse to take 5 minutes out of the day for a pocket of me time!

Anyway, while I’ve been perfecting my tea routine, it’s also been a busy week in the newsroom. So as always, we’ve pulled together the stories, headlines, and culture picks worth catching up on. Plus, a few recommendations below to see you through the weekend 💓

Lynn
Co-founder

UK NEWS

🪑 The final remaining hereditary peers have sat for the last time ever in the House of Lords, ending a hundreds-year-old tradition.

🌷 A “corpse flower” – a rare species known for its stinky odour – has reached full bloom in London’s Kew Gardens as hundreds hurry to visit it. 

📱 Social media restrictions for under-16s will be implemented even if there is no ban (which is currently being consulted on in government), Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said.

GLOBAL AFFAIRS

🤴 A four-day state visit was carried out by King Charles III to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America and the “special relationship” between the UK and US.

🌍 12 new sites have been added to UNESCO’s Global Geoparks, a network of locations of international geological interest that conserve landscapes and cultural histories and now covers an area equivalent to the size of Venezuela!

🛢️ The UAE is set to leave the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), in a move that could reshape how global oil prices are set.

CULTURE

🕵️‍♀️ A statue by Banksy depicting a suited man carrying a flag that covers his face has popped up in central London.

🌌 DarkSky’s 2026 Capture the Dark competition opens today, inviting photographers around the world to showcase the beauty of the night sky.

🎤 The 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters have been selected by over 250 music insiders and six New York Times critics.

WORK & INNOVATION

🩻 A new scan technique may help spot endometriosis earlier than conventional scans, a pilot study at Oxford University suggests.

👩‍💻 AI job scams are becoming more common – here’s a handy article explaining how to spot them. 

🧳 Humanoid robots are set to be trialled at airports in Japan as baggage handlers for two years.

UPLIFTING STUFF

🤳 A nine-day, non-stop charity live stream in Poland has raised a record-breaking $69 million for children with cancer.

🐵 An orangutan has been filmed using a man-made canopy bridge for the first time – helping reconnect isolated groups and unite his community again in North Sumatra.

👁️ Australia has become the 30th country to eliminate trachoma – one of 21 diseases and disease groups that are regarded by the World Health Organization as neglected tropical diseases – as a public health problem.

We’re proud to bring you news that’s thoughtful, balanced and free from noise. But the truth is, it only works because you’re part of it. There’s no extra perks for donating (except ensuring we keep popping up in your inbox!) but even a small donation keeps us going. 💕

🛍️ Shop: If you’ve been feeling a little off (low energy, foggy focus, mood doing its own thing), we might have just the thing for you. Meet Valerie – the women’s health brand cutting through the noise with real, science-backed support that actually fits your routine. Their 24/7 formulas use liposomal tech for up to 5x better absorption, so you actually feel the difference. And they’re offering The Know readers 30% off your first purchase with this code – consider this your payday sign 👀

🗞 Read: Have you ever wondered how someone juggling £6k in credit card debt still manages to hold onto their love of travelling? Or what it’s like to have a healthy pension but only £500 in savings? Catch up on our latest money series in partnership with PensionBee to nose into the financial lives of a few of our readers – plus a few free tips from someone who really knows their s**t!

🎧 Listen: We can all breathe a sigh of relief – Sabrina Carpenter and Madonna have officially released their Coachella duet “Bring Your Love”. It’s so-long to constantly scrolling through reels to listen to it again and hello to the official new soundtrack of my morning walk!

📺 Watch: Eva Longoria has just produced a brilliant new series about four generations of a Chilean family who have clairvoyant abilities. If Taskmaster is one of your comfort watches but you’ve completed the set, fear not: they’ve just released seasons one to three of Taskmaster New Zealand. Also, an incredible project has been released on Disney+, with three hit songs now available to watch with sign language so more audiences can enjoy them.

🧑‍🍳 Cook: Does anyone remember BBQ banana splits? Well I’ve become obsessed with recreating them in the oven, just by filling up the banana with dark choc and wrapping them in tin foil. And don’t forget the ice cream on the side 😏

⭐ Donate to The Know. Only 0.9% of our readers donate (we see you and we love you 🥹). So if you have a couple of pounds to spare and want to ensure we keep bringing you thoughtful and informative news every day, we’d be so grateful.

⭐ Add us to your contacts or primary inbox - this makes sure we reach your inbox (and everyone else’s) each morning.

⭐ Get clicking - this tells our partners that readers are interested in The Know. Let’s get started with this one!

The Know is on a mission to help everyone start their day feeling informed and hopeful. We only recommend things we genuinely love but sometimes we make money from the links and content we share. This directly supports keeping our journalism free for all.

How did you find today’s email?
😍 Loved it! | 😕 Could be better…

Need fewer emails? Click here to hear from us once a week.