The Know Daily - Friday 12 June 2026

_{Read in 5m 24s ∙ Listening to Olivia Rodrigo ∙}

Hello hello,

I have to admit, I’m still thinking about the front row at the Knicks game this week. Taylor Swift in a "Stevie Knicks" tee, Mariska Hargitay (Olivia Benson forever, sorry), the Haim sisters, Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller... iconic! And somehow the Knicks made the night even more dramatic by battling from being 29-points down to pull off one of the biggest comebacks. Main character energy all round. 

Anyway, here’s your usual mix to ease you into the weekend: a round-up of the headlines, a few culture picks and some recs we’ve been loving lately 💖

Lynn
Co-founder

UK NEWS

💼 The new defence secretary, Dan Jarvis, has been appointed following John Healey’s resignation from the position due to a dispute over military spending. 

⚡ More than half of the renewable energy projects needed to meet Labour’s 2030 clean power target have now been offered grid connections, helping to clear a backlog that had threatened to delay projects for years.

🐙 Record numbers of octopuses that were found off the south-west coast of England last year have spread to Wales and Scotland, a study has found.

GLOBAL AFFAIRS

🕊️ The United States called off planned air strikes on Iran in an effort to keep diplomatic talks on track, as both sides continue to explore ways to ease tensions.

🇪🇺 11% of Europeans across 15 countries view the ​United States as an ally, new findings released ahead of G7 and NATO summits have revealed.

✈️ The best country to move to in 2026 has been revealed through Remitly’s Immigration Index.

CULTURE

⚽️ The 2026 World Cup kicked off last night with an opening ceremony held at Mexico City Stadium.

⛪️ A 12,060-piece Sagrada Familia has been released by the toy company Lego… but it comes with a pretty big price tag 👀 

🎭 This year’s Tony Awards saw Ragtime win the best revival of a musical and Lesley Manville scoop up best actress in a leading role in a play…. We’re still watching the Lady Marmalade rendition on a loop!

WORK & INNOVATION

🤕 A smart wound dressing that can target harmful bacteria by releasing antibiotics only when needed has been developed by researchers.

👩‍💻 15 six-figure careers that didn’t exist 10 years ago have been identified through new research. 

🌋 Mount Vesuvius has been spotted by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station – check out the pic here.

UPLIFTING STUFF

🌳 Seven new biological reserves have been created in France, safeguarding 157,000 hectares of forest. 

🩷 A new gene test could help millions of people with breast cancer avoid unnecessary chemotherapy, according to an international trial.

🪨 The home of 10,000 puffins has been bought by the conservation charity RSPB Scotland in a move aiming to tackle the pressures facing seabirds.

We’ll be honest: our business is built on the hopes that those that can afford to spare a few pounds can keep The Know free and accessible to all. But we can’t keep it going without your help – anything you’re able to give would go right back into helping us keep publishing in 2026. 💖

🗞 Read: Thirty years on from Wannabe, this piece looks at why the Spice Girls were about far more than catchy pop songs and platform trainers. Their “girl power” message helped shape a generation, offering young women different versions of femininity at a time when pop stars were often expected to fit a single mould. It’s also a fascinating reminder of just how much influence the band had on music, from Charli XCX to Dua Lipa. Whether you were Team Sporty, Baby, Posh, Ginger or Scary, it’s a fun trip down memory lane with plenty to say about why the Spice Girls still matter.

📺 Watch: My ultimate comfort watch has finally come to iPlayer (woohoo!). I’ve also been loving Alice and Steve – it was created by the same writer behind Sex Education so it was always going to be a goodie! Also, Disclosure Day is finally out in cinemas and it’s rumoured to be one of the best Spielbergs yet.

🎧 Listen: Olivia Rodrigo’s new album is finally out and we are buzzing. Of course, we haven’t had long to get properly stuck in but safe to say we’ll probably be bopping along to ‘The Cure’ for the next 3-5 working days.

💗 Do: Create a bucket list for the summer – it could include anything from visiting a seaside town you’ve never been to before to spending a day offline. In fact, one of our fave newsletters created one, if you’re in need of some inspo.

🧑‍🍳 Cook: The beginning of summer is when seasonal cooking really comes into its own. Both rhubarb and elderflower are in season at the mo which can only mean one thing: cake. This recipe is both straightforward and completely delicious.

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