The Know Daily - Friday 8 May 2026

_{Read in 5m 12s ∙ Listening to Chanel Yates ∙}

Hello hello,

This week I went to my first line dancing class, and I can confirm it was equal parts intimidating and incredibly fun. There’s something about turning up to a brand new hobby as an adult that feels oddly vulnerable, right? But honestly, I had the best time! (Fun fact about me: I actually used to do ballroom and Latin dancing and was once judged by Strictly’s Anton Du Beke.) So consider this your little nudge to try something slightly out of your comfort zone this weekend.

With that being said, let’s dive into this week’s headlines and our recs for a fabulous weekend ahead. Enjoy 💓

Hannah
Editor

UK NEWS

🗳️ Early results for England’s local elections show Reform UK has made significant gains, while Labour and the Conservatives have lost hundreds of seats, reflecting a shifting political landscape. You can check out who won your local seat here.

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

🤸‍♀️ 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.

GLOBAL AFFAIRS

⛴️ The UN health agency has confirmed that the outbreak of hantavirus onboard a cruise ship is not the start of a pandemic, as it spreads differently through close contact rather than being airborne.

🐘 Europe’s first elephant sanctuary aiming to rehabilitate animals in captivity is set to open in Portugal.

🇮🇳 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party won assembly elections in West Bengal, which has historically been a rare opposition stronghold.

CULTURE

🏆 The 2026 Pulitzer Prize winners across Journalism, Books, Drama and Music were announced. 

🌎 An immersive exhibition by the Natural History Museum – featuring Sir David Attenborough – is to be transformed into a free, five-minute show in central London to mark his 100th birthday.

🎩 The Met Gala took place, with stars embracing the “Fashion is Art” theme on the red carpet. But the fundraiser was not without controversy, as some protested Jeff Bezos being named the lead sponsor.

WORK & INNOVATION

🤖 AI systems can independently replicate, meaning they create copies of themselves to launch onto other computers without human help, with a new study suggesting more safeguards need to be put in place. 

📱 TikTok-style ads could soon appear on more digital billboards and public screens as the platform expands its advertising beyond phones and social media feeds.

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

UPLIFTING STUFF

🤘 A DJ collective made up of women over 60 performed at a festival in Cologne, playing sets ranging from disco to pop and rock. (The group’s oldest member is 90!)

☀️ A free, solar-powered charging station has opened in central Cuba, helping bring reliable energy to an area struggling with frequent blackouts.

💊 The first malaria treatment for babies has been approved by the World Health Organization in what experts are calling “a major public-health milestone”.

Behind every edition of The Know is a small team of real journalists writing and curating stories that make your day a little brighter. But the truth is, only 0.9% of our readers currently donate. If you have even just a couple of pounds spare, every single donation helps us keep the good stuff coming throughout 2026. 🫶

🗞 Read: I’d never heard of “Date My Mate” nights before but now I’m kind of obsessed. This piece dives into the dating events where friends pitch each other to a room full of singles using chaotic PowerPoints, embarrassing anecdotes and the occasional testimonial from mum. It sounds both exceptional and terrifying all at the same time 😅

🎧 Listen: I recently went on a road trip and one of the most exciting things to come out of it was the discovery that you can listen to a pub quiz as a podcast (complete with answers!). There are so many episodes available… so consider entertainment for your next long journey sorted. 

🛍️ Shop: We’re big fans of all products that offer refills over here and this clean kitchen starter kit is co-founder Lynn’s latest fave. Oh, and you get 30% off your first order, plus 20% off all future orders with their subscribe & save programme.

📺 Watch: It’s been a tough week to concentrate because I’ve been so distracted by the latest season of Amandaland popping up all over my socials – she’s such an icon. Speaking of icons, I went to see The Devil Wears Prada 2 with my bestie this week and it was everything we hoped for and more. If you’re in the market for a new thriller, this new show is as gripping as they come. 

🧑‍🍳 Cook: Coronation chicken is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine but I’ve never really known how to make it at home. But this recipe is so simple, which means that I am now basically eating it on tap.

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