The Know Daily - Tuesday 16 December 2025

_{Read in 4m 17s ∙ Listening to Nat King Cole ∙}

PSA: After this Friday’s edition, we’ll be signing off for Christmas. We hope the festive season gives you a chance to switch off, enjoy the break and step away from the news for a bit. We’ll be back in your inboxes on 9 January 🎄✨

London has been crowned the kindest city in the UK ☺️ From small acts of generosity to community spirit during the colder months, new research highlights how Londoners consistently show up for one another. Proof that even in a fast-paced city, kindness is part of everyday life.

👩‍💼 Female entrepreneurs

A report has shown that while many female entrepreneurs have had a challenging year, most remain focused on growth and expect their business outlook to improve in 2026.

A quick overview.
It's no secret that starting a business is a big undertaking but the 2025 Female Business Owners Index reveals the challenges experienced by women over the past year in the space. Two in five female entrepreneurs say running their business has become harder, with many working longer hours (54%) or taking on second jobs (23%).

What’s behind the issue?
There’s a mix of economic and structural barriers at play. Falling consumer spending has had a knock-on effect on more than a third of female-led businesses, while inflation and political uncertainty have added to instability. But the report shows it’s not just the economy causing problems – access to capital is still an ongoing hurdle with women receiving only 2p of every £1 of UK equity investment. Plus, some say not being taken seriously as a business owner has held them back. The picture that emerges is of founders pushing hard, and that can often be without the same safety nets or resources as their peers.

What’s the latest?
It’s not just a gloomy picture. The Index also found that 67% expect their business finances to improve next year. Instead of waiting for the economy to shift, many are planning to enter new markets, expand their teams or invest in training to strengthen their position. As Nicole Goodwin of AllBright Everywoman put it: “Tough times reveal true grit, and female founders have it in abundance.”

So what can we do to support?
Whether you’re a founder yourself or just want to support the women building the UK’s next generation of businesses, small actions can make a real difference:
🛍️ Shop from women-owned brands – especially local and independent ones – like By Rotation, Martha Brook and London Wildflower.
📣 Shout about their work online or in your group chats.
⭐ Leave reviews – they genuinely influence customer trust.
🤝 If you’re a founder, join female-focused networks for extra support and inspiration, such as Female Founders Rise. 

💸 The European Union has agreed to keep billions of euros of Russian state assets frozen for the foreseeable future.

• The bigger story: Around €210bn belonging to Russia’s central bank has been held in Europe since the invasion of Ukraine. Making the freeze open-ended is intended to provide more stability and reduce repeated political debates over extensions. The assets themselves are not being taken or spent, but the interest they generate is already being used to support Ukraine.

🐭 OpenAI has signed its first major licensing deal with Disney to bring its characters to life through a video generation tool.

👩‍⚕️ Resident doctors are set to strike in the UK from tomorrow – check out our explainer for the full debrief.

💎 Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to hold a charity auction where she will offer 270 gifts given to her by other world leaders.

🌠 A meteor shower (one of the most spectacular in the celestial calendar) peaked at the weekend, with stunning images captured around the world.

🤧 Cold season has arrived in the UK which means a lot of us are reaching for the vit C – but does it work? This piece breaks it down.

🏙️ The most (and least!) expensive cities to live in have been voted on by over 18,000 city-dwellers. Any guesses which one came out on top? 

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Trivia answer: C) Onyx Storm ranked first with 2m ratings and 3m shelvings.

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