The Know Daily - Thursday 5 February 2026

_{Read in 4m 33s ∙ Listening to Louis Tomlinson ∙}

Charity Barnardos is backing a programme that helps children learn empathy by bringing babies into classrooms. Through a new initiative, a baby and parent visit schools regularly, giving pupils a gentle, real-life way to understand feelings – from joy to worry 💛

👩‍⚕️ Closing the menopause care gap

Menopause is something all women go through, but experiences of care, diagnosis and support can vary widely.

Tell me more…
Recently, The Conversation highlighted how menopause care can vary widely depending on access to trained doctors, reliable information and healthcare resources, but also due to ethnicity and cultural background. Research suggests some women, particularly from ethnic minority communities, are more likely to have their symptoms overlooked or misunderstood.

What does the gap look like?
Menopause symptoms can show up in lots of ways – from hot flushes and sleep disruption to brain fog and joint pain. A lot of women experience these changes years before they associate them with perimenopause or menopause. The challenge is that medical training hasn’t always reflected that complexity. Menopause education is limited in many healthcare settings and can have cultural influences in some areas, which can make it harder for symptoms to be recognised quickly or treated as part of a bigger picture. 

Why is this getting more attention now?
Awareness for menopause in general has grown in recent years. More women are talking openly about menopause at work, online and in the media. Campaigners have pushed for better guidance, and new services – like the NHS online hospital focussing on menopause set to launch next year – have expanded the range of options available. At the same time, The Guardian has highlighted concerns about a “menopause gold rush”, where unregulated advice and products fill information gaps. This has sharpened the focus on the need for clear, evidence-based support.

So what can women do, right now?
While the system continues to evolve, there are practical steps women can take to feel more informed and in control:
📔 Track how you feel over time (on paper or in an app like Balance) as noting changes in sleep, mood, periods or energy can help you spot patterns earlier.
🙋‍♀️ Ask direct questions at GP appointments and raise menopause as a possibility – doing your own research helps you to advocate for yourself.
📋 Explore your options, including lifestyle changes, HRT and non-hormonal treatments.
💬 Talk about it with friends, colleagues or family as shared experiences often help symptoms make sense sooner.

We’re feeling the love over here 💘 With the most important day of love in the calendar coming up (Galentine’s Day, obviously), we’d like to see your appreciation for that gal – your best friend, other half, ride-or-die, chosen family, the one who’s always there.

Fancy getting involved? Head to this form to pen your love letter and we’ll be sharing a few of our faves to celebrate on the big day! Side note: there’s a free sweatshirt up for grabs if yours is featured! 💌

💸 EU countries have agreed a €90bn loan package to support Ukraine, funded through joint EU borrowing rather than national budgets.

• The bigger story: The deal allows the EU to raise money collectively and provide Ukraine with steady, longer-term financial support to help keep public services running and strengthen its defences. Joint borrowing from all member states (instead of a single nation) has often been sensitive inside the EU, but leaders say this approach offers a more stable and coordinated way to help, reducing the need for repeated funding debates. 

🐸 Australia’s green and golden bell frogs are making a comeback after being locally extinct for 40 years, thanks to conservationists digging “frog spas and saunas” in wetlands.

🚗 China is set to become the first country to ban hidden door handles seen on some electric cars in an effort to curb accidents.

👑 The Princess of Wales released a video message to mark World Cancer Day yesterday, calling it "a reminder of the importance of care, understanding and hope".

📺 Saturday Night Live is coming to the UK and Sky has revealed the cast that will lead the inaugural ensemble live from London!

🍽️ Michelin has revealed its 2026 Bib Gourmands – an award which recognises “good quality, good value cooking” – with 37 restaurants across the UK making the list. Wish us luck getting reservations now!

📸 A shortlist of 24 images has been selected for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year people’s choice award. You can vote for your fave snap here.

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Trivia answer: B) A new study has revealed that doomscrolling is a Brit’s most common guilty pleasure (but don’t worry, here at The Know we’ll keep your scrolling worthwhile!).

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