The Know Daily - Friday 31 July 2026

_{Read in 5m 13s ∙ Listening to Mamma Mia! ∙}

Hello hello. 

I don’t know about you, but I’m still finding myself writing 2025 instead of 2026, so I honestly can’t believe we will be in August tomorrow! There’s still so much I want to tick off my 2026 summer bucket list (I guess singing Dancing Queen in Greece with Meryl Streep will have to wait…), but I am also getting excited for that back to school feeling – and maybe treating myself to some new stationary 😏.

Anyway, it’s been a busy week, from the Booker Prize longlist to wild ponies taking a dip. Here’s our usual roundup of headlines from the week, plus a few recs to see you through the weekend. 💗

Annabel
Editor

UK NEWS

👩‍⚕️ A new national care service has been included in Andy Burnham’s plans to fix adult social care in England. 

🦋 A once-in-a-decade “painted lady summer” is happening this year after the largest arrival of colourful migrating butterflies in the UK.

📺 The BBC is neck-and neck with Netflix as the go-to streaming service for Brits, new research has found.

GLOBAL AFFAIRS

✈️ Canadians spent $3.3bn less on travel to the US in 2025 than in 2024 amid growing tensions between the two countries since Donald Trump’s return to office.

🏥 Uganda’s health minister declared the country Ebola-free, but urged the population to continue following public health measures. 

💻 Up to 7 AI gigafactories could be built in Europe in an effort to build sovereign infrastructure to train AI models and catch up with big tech companies.

CULTURE

🎼 The shortlisted albums for this year’s Mercury Prize have been revealed – and it’s Paul McCartney’s first time as a nominee. 

📚 The Booker Prize longlist has been unveiled, with the chair of the judges describing the 13 novels as “dynamite”.

💚 An iconic portrait from this artist’s most famous era has been added to the National Portrait Gallery’s collection.

WORK & INNOVATION

🏖️ “Workations” are having a moment, with a recent survey finding 34% of travellers planned to work during their longest summer trip.

🧖‍♀️ Using saunas regularly could help people to “heat train” and therefore cope better with hot weather, scientists say. 

🛰️ A satellite constellation has been proposed by Amazon to provide service to mobile phones, with plans to launch in 2028.

UPLIFTING STUFF

💧 Groundwater levels are rising in the historically dry African Sahel, due to strengthening monsoons and efforts to harvest rainfall.

📖 New dads are coming together at a local library in Atlanta to read with their children, both as a way to strengthen bonds with their kids and create “a brotherhood” where fathers can support each other.

🦎 One of Europe's rarest amphibians has been released into the wild in Spain as part of a wider conservation effort.

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🗞 Read: This piece on dangerous fashion trends throughout the ages is my kind of history lesson. (Although, surprisingly, no mention of capri pants or socks with Crocs!). From dodgy shoes to corsets, it makes us very grateful we live in a time when athleisure is socially acceptable!

📺 Watch: If anyone else finds Snoopy to be the sweetest thing ever, you’ll be very pleased to hear there’s a special episode out today. Furious is by the creator of New Girl and has already earned itself 100% on Rotten Tomatoes (practically unheard of!). Also, there’s a new Spider Man movie to catch in cinemas.

🎧 Listen: This is your reminder that in the era of streaming, old-school radio still exists! Tuning into Classic FM in the morning feels so therapeutic, not to mention the perfect work buddy. 

🧑‍🍳 Cook: Hummus is one of those dips that is never unwelcome on a dinner table – but did you know it’s not only really easy to make but there’s also a secret hack to do with ice? 

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