The Know Daily - Tuesday 10 February 2026

_{Read in 4m 09s ∙ Listening to Sadie Jean ∙}

It was 16 years ago that the term Galentine’s  Day was coined in Parks and Recreation. Since then, we’ve treasured it as a day to celebrate female friendships (I mean, it has over 200k tags on TikTok!) 💘 

So, this year we’d love 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. Psst: there’s a free sweatshirt up for grabs if yours is featured 💌

👩‍⚕️ The new national cancer plan

The UK government is set to invest £2bn in NHS cancer services in England, pledging that three in four cancer patients will survive by 2035. 

So, what’s the National Cancer Plan?
It’s the government’s roadmap for how the NHS should prevent, diagnose and treat cancer in England. The last full version dates back to 2015, so this update has been long-awaited – especially after Covid disrupted screenings, treatments and waiting times across the system. 

What’s in the plan?
The focus is on earlier diagnosis, plus improved treatment and support, leading to better outcomes. This includes:

• More tests and scans, with diagnostic centres open longer

• Faster access to treatment, including newer tech like robotic surgery

• A renewed push to meet cancer waiting-time targets

• More support for people living with and beyond cancer, not just during treatment

The government says earlier diagnosis is the single biggest factor in improving survival rates – and that’s where much of the effort is going.

Why now?
Cancer outcomes in the UK have lagged behind some other countries for years, and the pandemic made things worse. Backlogs grew, diagnoses were delayed and staff shortages became more acute. At the same time, survival rates have been improving steadily, which ministers point to as proof that progress is possible with the right investment. This plan is meant to reset things and show how the NHS gets from where it is now to that 2035 target.

What’s the reaction been?
Health leaders and charities have broadly welcomed the goal, especially the focus on early diagnosis. But many have also said the plan will only work if it’s properly funded and staffed. There are still big questions about workforce shortages, pressure on NHS capacity and whether the pace of change will match the scale of the promise. Some groups have warned that targets alone won’t be enough without sustained investment over many years.

📣 Cabinet ministers have publicly backed Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid calls for his resignation. 

• The bigger story: After Scottish party leader Anas Sarwar called for Starmer to step down following widespread criticism for the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, key members of the cabinet – including Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Chancellor Rachel Reeves – have voiced support for the Prime Minister, backing his leadership and urging unity.

🐒 Bonobos can use their imagination to play out make-believe scenarios like human children do, researchers have discovered.

👩‍💻 A profession has emerged as a case study for why AI won’t replace human workers but enhance their performance. 

🛰️ SpaceX may be preparing to launch a smartphone that would connect directly to its satellites.

🏘️ Seven interconnected villages consisting of 10,000 homes are set to be built within this UK county. 

👯‍♀️ Friends famously left Netflix in the UK last year, but it will soon be available again via this streaming service. They really said: “I’ll be there for you!".

🌕 Our first Snow Moon of the year has just gone, with the Worm Moon set to light up the skies at the beginning of March. These are all the full moons of 2026, when to look out for them and what they’re called! 

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Trivia answer: C) Newly released pictures from the film have revealed plenty of bejewelled makeup looks.

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