The Know Daily - Wednesday 1 July 2026

_{Read in 4m 13s ∙ Listening to Ingrid Andress ∙}

We were today years old when we found out that otters have favourite rocks that they carry around for life… and this video of one showing theirs off to a friendly fisherman is probably the sweetest thing we’ll see all week!

📃 British broadcasting shakeup

The government has unveiled plans to reform UK media, including proposals to make trusted news sources easier to find on social media.

Tell me more.
The government has published a new Media Green Paper setting out proposals to modernise the UK's broadcasting system as more people stream TV and get their news online. According to the government's plans, the reforms are designed to help public service broadcasters adapt to changing viewing habits while tackling the spread of misinformation. The proposals are now open for consultation and nothing has been decided yet.

OK, so what's actually in the paper?
📰 Trusted news made more prominent: Social media platforms could be required to make trusted, regulated news providers easier to find when people search for news.
📺 A shake-up of public service broadcasting: The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and others could be given greater flexibility to deliver public service content online. The government is also consulting on whether other broadcasters – and potentially some YouTube channels – could qualify as public service media in the future.
🏆 Free access to major sporting events: Catch-up and on-demand coverage of events such as the World Cup, Olympics and Wimbledon could be protected, helping keep them free to watch rather than moving behind paywalls.
📡 A move towards internet TV: The government is consulting on whether the UK should eventually move away from traditional terrestrial TV, with potential transition dates of 2034 or 2044. Ministers say support would be provided so no-one is left behind.

Why is the government doing this?
According to The Guardian, ministers say the way people consume news has changed a lot, with social media now one of the main news sources for younger audiences. The government argues that making trusted news easier to discover could help reduce the spread of misinformation while ensuring public service broadcasters remain visible as audiences move online.

So what happens next?
Nothing is changing immediately. The Green Paper is a consultation, meaning the government is asking for views before deciding which proposals to take forward. It's open for submissions until 11:59pm on 31 August 2026, after which a white paper with finalised policy will be introduced. Any changes would still then require further legislation to be passed by Parliament, including both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, before becoming law.

⚖️ The US Supreme Court has ruled against Donald Trump’s attempt to restrict birthright citizenship, in a significant decision on one of his key immigration policies.

• The bigger story: The court said Trump’s executive order, issued at the start of his presidency, was inconsistent with the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, which sets out citizenship rights for people born in the United States. The ruling means the policy cannot go ahead in its current form and birthright citizenship will continue to apply. The case is one of several recent disputes between the administration and the courts over immigration policy, with further responses expected from the White House.

💬 WhatsApp will let people chat without having to share their phone number by using unique usernames instead – now’s the time to reserve yours!

🏎️ The first electric vehicle by Ferrari has been unveiled (and will set buyers back a cool $626,000).

💷 The UK defence investment plan has been revealed after Keir Starmer promised an extra £15bn for military spending, but critics say the funding still falls too short of what's needed.

📜 Insights from ancient scrolls have been uncovered by researchers with the help of AI by “digitally unwrapping” carbonised papyrus from Mount Vesuvius.

⚽️ It’s England v DR Congo tonight in the first round of knockouts of the World Cup – here’s where you can watch the big game!

🧖‍♀️ A “sauna island” has just opened in the middle of a European capital, complete with hot tubs and cool plunges. 

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Trivia answer: B) A holiday to this island comes with a hefty price tag, according to data from a travel insurance company.

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