The Know Daily - Monday 12 January 2026

_{Read in 4m 12s ∙ Listening to Bruno Mars ∙}

Australia is on track to become one of the first countries to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035. Thanks to widespread HPV vaccination, improved screening and early treatment, cases are expected to fall to near-zero within the next decade. A huge win 🩷

🚗 New road safety laws

The UK government is planning a big update to driving rules – the biggest in more than a decade – and it could affect everything from how people learn to drive to how eyesight and drink-driving are checked. 

So what’s changing?
Nothing is law just yet, but ministers have set out a bundle of ideas they want to bring in as part of a new road safety push. The main ones are:

• Stricter drink-drive rules
  England and Wales currently have higher drink-drive limits than many other countries. The government is looking at whether that should change, alongside ideas like quicker licence suspensions and alcohol-interlock devices for repeat offenders – cars that won’t start if you fail a breath test.

• Eye tests
  At the moment, drivers mostly self-declare that their eyesight is good enough. Under the new plans, older drivers could be asked to take regular eye tests to keep their licence – designed to catch problems early, not catch people out.

• More time for learners before the test
  New drivers may need to spend a minimum amount of time learning – potentially up to six months – before taking their practical test. The idea is to give people more real-world experience before they drive solo.

Why does it matter right now?
Road accidents still cause serious disruption and harm, and progress on reducing them has slowed in recent years. Ministers say the current rules haven’t fully kept up with modern traffic, vehicles or driving habits – and that small changes could make a noticeable difference.

Is there any pushback?
Some people worry the changes could be inconvenient or costly, especially for learners already facing test delays, or older drivers who rely on their car day-to-day. Others argue education and road design matter just as much as tougher rules. As reported by the BBC, many consider the potential changes to be “condescending and expensive” for young people.

So where does this leave us?
This is a clear signal that the government wants to modernise road safety rules. Nothing is changing overnight, but if these plans become law, driving in the UK could gradually feel more structured – with more checks, clearer standards and an emphasis on avoiding road accidents before they happen.

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💰 Money Monday: Research has shown that Brits could save up to £400 every year by getting rid of “zombie” subscriptions. 

• The bigger story: Most of us can relate  – those subscriptions that you’ve signed up for twice by mistake, or have forgotten to cancel. Nationwide have found that 19% of subscribers don’t utilise every platform they pay for and could save hundreds of pounds by cancelling. The start of a new year is the perfect time to take a look at what’s going out of your account every month and if there’s the potential to save a bit of money.

🏆 The Golden Globes took place last night with One Battle securing four trophies and Jessie Buckley winning Best Actress for her performance in Hamnet. Here are the rest of the results. 

🥼 Scientists have “rejuvenated” human eggs for the first time in what has been called a breakthrough for IVF treatment.

🤳 The Conservative Party have pledged to follow in Australia’s footsteps and ban social media for under-16s if they win the next election.

🚶‍♂️ Buddhist monks are walking across America – from Texas to Washington D.C. – on a 120-day journey called the Walk for Peace. Oh, and they’re travelling with a furry friend.

🪴 A charity is exhibiting its first show garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in May to raise awareness of at-risk plants and encourage people to grow a wider variety of flowers in their gardens.

🪡 “365 buttons” has emerged as the first viral trend of 2026 – here’s what it’s all about.

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Trivia answer: C) The faithful Californian deermouse has come out on top in research by the University of Cambridge. Find out how humans compare…

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