The Know Daily - Wednesday 14 January 2026

_{Read in 4m 29s ∙ Listening to Demi Lovato ∙}

London is set to have a refreshing new place to take a dip 🌊 A free wild swimming beach could be on the horizon in east London along the River Thames’ Bow Creek, complete with a sandy shore and safe swimming zones. We might hold off until we are out of freezing temperatures though…

👩‍🎓 Rejoining the Erasmus scheme 

The UK is set to rejoin the European Union’s Erasmus+ student exchange programme from January 2027, for the first time since it dropped out after Brexit.

What is Erasmus?
It’s a Europe-wide student mobility programme that’s been running since the late 1980s. It lets people from participating countries spend part of their education or training abroad – for example, doing a semester at a university in France or a work placement in Spain – often with grants to help with living costs. The UK was part of Erasmus while it was in the EU, but withdrew after Brexit in 2020 and replaced it with its own global initiative called the Turing Scheme. 

What are the benefits?
Rejoining Erasmus+ gives UK students and apprentices the chance to study, train or work across Europe again, often with financial help. Supporters say it builds confidence, language skills and career opportunities, and restores links between UK and European universities, making international experiences more accessible to a wider range of people.

What does it mean for students when the UK rejoins?
🎓 Students can spend a year at a European university as part of their UK degree.
💼 Apprentices and trainees can take up work placements abroad with EU partners.
📚 Schools, colleges and adult education providers can send classes or learners on exchange programmes.
🌍 EU students and learners will similarly be able to come to the UK under the same terms. 

So where does this leave us?
The UK government has announced an agreement to rejoin the scheme at a cost of £570m, predicting that 100,000 people could benefit from it. Rejoining Erasmus+ doesn’t mean the UK is returning to the EU – it’s still outside the single market and free movement – but it is a practical win for students, schools and universities that will unlock opportunities to learn, work and live in Europe. 

🇨🇳 A Chinese "super embassy" proposed in London is stirring debate, with some people worried about security and others saying it’s a normal diplomatic project.

• The bigger story: Critics argue that the planned embassy’s size and location deserve a closer look, raising concerns about security and local impact. Meanwhile, the government and security agencies say that necessary checks are in place and that maintaining workable ties with China is important.

🧪 Patients could get faster access to new treatments as the UK streamlines clinical trials with quicker approvals and more flexible regulation.

👩‍🚀 NASA astronauts are setting off from the International Space Station today for an early return after a rare in-space medical evacuation.

⚓ A Medieval cargo ship has been discovered underwater near Denmark, said to be the largest of its kind ever found.

🛩️ Iconic aerobatic team the Red Arrows have just made history by announcing they will be led by a woman for the first time.

🛂 The world’s most powerful passports have been revealed, with this country topping the list – giving its citizens visa-free access to more destinations than anywhere else.

🐕 “Genius” dogs can learn new words just by eavesdropping on conversations, picking up vocabulary like toddlers do, scientists have found.

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Trivia answer: C) Dubai Chocolate-inspired Matcha Latte shot to fame. I think I’ll just stick to my ordinary cappuccino… ☕️

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