The Know Daily - Tuesday 15 July 2025

_{Read in 4m 45s ∙ Listening to Whitney Houston ∙}

Pop star Olivia Rodrigo has paid for her entire touring band and crew to receive therapy, prioritising mental health on the road. The initiative, part of her ongoing commitment to wellness and care in the music industry, has been widely praised by fans and colleagues alike.

👩‍⚕️ Women’s health report

The UK is at a pivotal moment when it comes to women's health, with new data providing both challenges and clear opportunities for action.

Where does the UK stand globally?
The UK currently ranks 41st out of 142 countries in the Hologic Global Women’s Health Index – a comprehensive annual survey involving 78,000 women and girls around the world. While this marks a shift from previous rankings, it offers a valuable lens into areas for improvement and innovation.

What’s happening at home?
The picture is mixed, with signs of progress alongside some areas needing attention:

• Encouragingly, fewer women report experiencing stress and sadness, showing a positive trend in emotional wellbeing and mental health.

• More women say they feel safe walking alone at night – up to 74% this year.

• Screening rates for key health conditions like blood pressure, cancer and STIs have dipped, and maternity care quality has slightly declined.

• A small increase has been noted in women facing difficulties affording basic needs like food and shelter.

• Nearly 30% of women are living with chronic pain or health problems, emphasising the need for stronger preventive care and support systems.

How does the UK compare globally?
Other regions – such as Taiwan, Kuwait, Austria, Switzerland and Finland – lead the index, offering insights into practices that could inform UK strategies. Globally, there are shared concerns:

• Cancer testing rates have dropped worldwide, with an estimated 60 million fewer women screened compared to four years ago.

• Financial hardship is impacting health, with a third of women unable to afford essentials.

• More than a quarter of women report health issues affecting daily life.

What does this mean for women’s health?
There is growing awareness and momentum around improving women’s health outcomes, from mental wellbeing to chronic pain management and access to screening. Although UK women are predicted to spend 65% of their lives in good health, there’s a clear call to action to improve this number further.

What’s next?
The NHS’s 10-Year Health Plan lays the groundwork for meaningful change, with initiatives such as a dedicated taskforce to enhance maternity and neonatal care. There is also focus on a more personalised, female-focussed cancer screening and goals to expand the roles of community pharmacists, including offering hormonal contraception.

Experts are also calling for a deeper commitment to training more healthcare professionals in women’s health to raise awareness of conditions like endometriosis that are often underdiagnosed.

💸 Electric car grants: The UK government has revealed new grants of up to £3,750 for those buying electric vehicles.  

• The bigger story: Aiming to help drive the switch to greener cars, the Department for Transport has announced a £650m fund for the Electric Car Grant – due to become available from Wednesday. The discounts will only apply to eligible vehicles costing up to £37k and the most environmentally friendly cars will see the largest reductions.

🇫🇷 Newest knight: Gisèle Pelicot has been awarded France’s highest honour as part of Bastille Day celebrations.

🤖 AI investment: The US Department of Defense has said it will grant contract awards of up to $200 million for artificial intelligence development for national security.

🐬 Defending dolphins: There’s a growing movement to give dolphins swimming round South Korea’s Jeju Island the same legal rights as humans.

👩‍🚀 Space schooling: A state-of-the-art training centre in Spain is giving students hands-on skills for the aerospace sector as part of a broader EU initiative.

🚙 Safer streets: A study published this week has revealed that Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in London have cut road injuries and fatalities by more than a third. 

🍿 Movies with a view: The most beautiful outdoor cinemas have been revealed – Mamma Mia against the backdrop of a literal Greek island, anyone?

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Trivia answer: B) Jelly shoes have made a return in the form of a ballet pump.

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