The Know Daily - Friday 21 August 2026

_{Read in 5m 13s ∙ Listening to James Johnston ∙}

Hello hello,

I’m still buzzing from going to another brilliant country festival last weekend – shoutout to seeing my friends play at Country Calling UK 🫶. There’s nothing quite like the fun of live music and your fave singer walking right past you in the crowd (clue: he’s our song of the day)!

Speaking of fun... we’re taking a little summer break next week and won’t be back in your inbox until September 1. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered until then: we’ve read all the news so you don’t have to and rounded up the stories worth knowing about this week. Plus there's our usual fave recs for you to enjoy this weekend.

Have a fab one!
Hannah
Editor

UK NEWS

📑 The gender gap in GCSE results in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has shrunk this year, but girls still have a higher pass rate.

🗑️ Fly-tippers will pay for the clean-ups when they drop waste illegally, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced as part of his plans to tackle waste crimes. 

💅 A gel nail ingredient that allows the polish to cure under ultraviolet light has been banned in the UK.

GLOBAL AFFAIRS

👩‍⚖️ Meta’s child safety lawsuit kicked off in California this week, with the four filing states seeking $1.4 trillion in damages.

📍 Spain is predicted to overtake France as the most visited country by 2040, with an estimated 110 million visitors per year, a new study has revealed.

🇫🇷 Assisted dying legislation has been signed into law in France by President Macron, following the Constitutional Council’s decision last week.

CULTURE

🏛️ A hidden gallery that hasn’t been available to the public since World War II is set to open at the Natural History Museum next month.

✍️ 12 European writers have been picked by HBO Max to take part in this year’s Script Engine Program. 

💬 The most mispronounced words in the English language have been revealed in a new study of 2,000 adults – any guesses what came out on top?

WORK & INNOVATION

🏢 Indoor air quality has a direct impact on team performance in the office, research has shown. 

💉 A new personalised vaccine has successfully stopped skin cancer returning in patients during a trial.

👩‍💻 The best cities for digital nomads have been revealed, with this country dominating the top 10.

UPLIFTING STUFF

🌊 270,000 square miles of ocean around Easter Island is set to become an indigenous-managed reserve.

📱 Scientists have used OnlyFans to help sustain long-running research into marmots, raising more than $100,000.

🚄 The first solar-powered luxury train in Latin America is travelling (at the speed of light) through an ancient canyon in Argentina… and there are plenty of seats to go around!

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: 9 lessons from the happiest man in the world? Count us in… From embracing tiny changes to getting comfortable with boredom, this piece is a lovely reminder that happiness doesn’t always require a major life overhaul. Sometimes it’s just about noticing the good stuff, being present and learning not to fight every difficult feeling.

💗 Do: Give your computer’s lockscreen an overdue glow-up with one of these incredibly chic (and free) options courtesy of Girlboss.

📺 Watch: A natural history epic that follows the life of one lion over four years has just dropped and we’re already so invested. Also, the final season of Outer Banks is finally out. Nancy Meyers content has been all over our socials lately and it’s got us craving one of the ultimate summer movies, Something’s Gotta Give. 

🎧 Listen: Carly Simon has released her first original album in 18 years and and it feels so special to have her back 🩵 

🧑‍🍳 Cook: It’s blackberry season and that can only mean one thing – crumble! This recipe is a foolproof option and the perfect way to use up some seasonal fruit. And Lynn loves making this blackberry crisp, which is delicious served with ice cream for the last of these summer days.

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