The Know Daily - Wednesday 6 May 2026

_{Read in 4m 10s ∙ Listening to Rachael Fahim ∙}

Leaders from 57 countries came together in Colombia for the first-ever conference focused entirely on moving away from fossil fuels. Alongside new collaborations, countries began outlining plans to cut reliance on oil, gas and coal  – and even launched a new international science panel to support the transition. 

🗳️ Local elections

Local elections are taking place across England tomorrow, with voters heading to the polls to choose who runs services in their area. 

What are they?
Local elections decide who sits on your local council. These councillors are responsible for things like bin collections, road maintenance, housing, social care and planning decisions. Depending on where you live, you might also be voting for a mayor or other local authority roles. Not every area votes every year – councils are elected on different cycles – so whether you’re voting tomorrow depends on your postcode and you’ll need to check your local council website for details.

Why do they matter?
These decisions are close to home. Councils control billions in public spending and shape the services people rely on every day. They also play a role in bigger issues like housing development, climate initiatives and economic growth. They can also act as a political temperature check. As highlighted by The Times, results are often read as a sign of how national parties are performing between general elections.

Are there any key areas?
Rather than a few clear battlegrounds, the picture looks more complex this time. As Sky News reports, some council seats could be won on historically low vote shares, reflecting how divided the electorate has become. That means results may come down to relatively small numbers of votes in tightly contested areas, with parties including Labour, the Conservatives, Reform UK and the Greens all competing for gains in different parts of the country.

What could influence the result?
Local issues tend to matter most – things like council tax levels, housing developments or the state of services. But national factors also play a role. The cost of living, NHS pressures and broader political sentiment can all shape how people vote, even in local contests.

Current polling suggests Labour is expected to suffer notable losses, while the Conservatives also face continued setbacks in many areas, indicating ongoing weakness for both main parties. Reform UK and the Greens are forecast to make substantial gains alongside more modest advances for the Liberal Democrats. Smaller parties and independents could also pick up seats, suggesting a more fragmented political landscape.

A quick checklist for tomorrow:
🪪 Bring valid photo ID (passport, driving licence or other accepted forms)
📍 Double-check your polling station location (this website lets you search by postcode)
🗳️ Read up on candidates in your area – local council websites often have summaries
⏰ Give yourself time – especially if you’re voting before or after work

🕵️ A new spy agency is being formed by Sweden as it overhauls its security strategy after dropping two centuries of military non-alignment.

• The bigger story: The move comes as European countries reassess national security following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The new agency is expected to strengthen Sweden’s ability to gather intelligence and respond to emerging threats, including cyber activity and foreign interference. It reflects a wider shift in the region, with countries adapting their defence and intelligence systems to a more uncertain security landscape.

🤖 The Academy has said that only acting and writing for films created by humans (not AI) will be considered eligible to win an Oscar.

🍏 A new campaign has been launched to save the mother tree of the most popular British cooking apple.

👩‍⚕️ A one-minute jab that can replace a cancer treatment that would normally take hours is being rolled out across the NHS.

🌠 A meteor shower reached its crescendo in the early hours of this morning (don’t worry, we were still snoozing too… but check out videos from around the world here).

🤸‍♀️ A bid to host the Olympics and Paralympics in the 2040s could be made by the UK government, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport has said.

✈️ An airline that’s often named the world’s best has announced that it will roll out Starlink WiFi onboard next year.

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Trivia answer: C) They were named the recipient of the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts for their “impetuous creativity”.

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