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  • The Know Daily - Thursday 18 December 2025

The Know Daily - Thursday 18 December 2025

Author

Annabel Preston
December 18, 2025

Read in 4m 35s ∙ Listening to Ed Sheeran & Elton John ∙

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 🎄✨

WE’RE TALKING ABOUT…

🗞️ Editor’s picks of 2025
🇺🇸 Approval ratings
🚖 Flying taxis

An Antarctic research station just received a very special delivery ❄️ King Charles has gifted scientists a shiny new post box, ensuring mail can keep reaching one of the most remote places on the planet. It brings a touch of connection and Christmas cheer to life at (literally) the ends of the Earth. 

NUMBER OF THE DAY

3.2%

The current rate of UK inflation, the lowest level in 8 months as food prices remain stable.

🗞️ In case you missed it

2025 has given us a lot to talk about. Some stories made us stop and think, others sparked lively debate, and a few stayed in our group chats far longer than expected. From the policies shaping daily life to the cultural conversations sparking strong opinions, it’s been a year full of moments worth unpacking. If you didn’t catch everything first time round, here’s a look back at some of the headlines that stood out to us.

Editors’ picks
✈️ Overtourism: This has been a hot topic in 2025, with popular destinations seeing too many visitors at once. Cities like Venice, Barcelona, and Amsterdam are introducing fees, caps, and restrictions, while rural and coastal spots face rising pressures from summer surges. Thoughtful choices are the way forward, like planning ahead, visiting off-peak and exploring lesser-known spots to make travel smoother and more sustainable for everyone.

💷 The UK Autumn Budget: Chancellor Rachel Reeves has set out how the government plans to raise and spend money in the years ahead, with changes that will affect everyday household costs. Key moves include higher minimum wages, a boost to the state pension, and the removal of the two-child benefit limit, alongside frozen tax thresholds that mean some people may end up paying more tax as their pay rises. There are also small changes to energy bills, transport costs and taxes on things like tobacco and alcohol. You can use this calculator to work out exactly how these changes will affect you.

📚 Book-to-screen adaptations: Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights sparked debate over casting, costumes and how to keep a classic’s spirit. Adaptations always stir discussion because they turn a private reading experience into a public performance, and fans often have their own visions of characters and settings. Purists want faithfulness to the original, while filmmakers may update scenes or styles to connect with today’s audiences. Critics weigh both accuracy and creativity, reminding us that adaptations are interpretations, not literal copies.

From our inbox
💨 Disposable vapes ban: On 1 June, all disposable vapes were removed from shelves as the UK government enforced their ban. In response to our poll asking whether you agreed with the decision to ban disposable vapes, 97% of you said yes. 

“We need to move away from our disposable, single-use culture and create more sustainable options across all industries.”

“It bothers me that an aid to quit smoking has been branded in a way that is so attractive to young people.”

👩‍❤️‍👨 Women’s safety when dating: Dating apps help a lot of people find love, but many women turn to other tools to maintain their safety. When we asked if you have ever used any safety measures like the Tea app or a Facebook community, 65% of you said yes.

“Literally love them. Massively eye opening to see the men in my local area and their actions. It's also interesting and helpful to see other women's options and the overall sentiment.”

“Luckily I haven't needed to. But I have reported offensive behaviour on Hinge and Tinder.”

🍎 Four-day school week: A new petition is calling on the government to introduce four-day weeks in schools. We asked you if it was a good idea and 51% said no.

“With so many households having both parents working, where do the kids go on the days there’s no school?”

“While I think it would be hard on parents with work commitments, I think an extra day for students to rest and teachers to do paperwork would be best overall.”

🙋‍♀️ TRIVIA TIME

Which classic children’s movie celebrates its 20th anniversary this year?

A) Narnia
B) The Grinch
C) Matilda

Got it? Answer at the bottom.

🇺🇸 US President Donald Trump’s approval rating has sunk, with only 39% of Americans thinking he is doing a good job.

  • The bigger story: The decline is linked largely to concerns about the economy – just 33% of adults in the poll approve of how he’s handling economic issues, his lowest score in that area this year. The slide from earlier in December reflects growing public unease on key cost-of-living measures, even as overall support remains solid among core supporters.

🚖 Flying taxis could be transporting passengers to and from London airports by as soon as 2028, according to Vertical Aerospace.

👩‍⚕️ New NHS data has revealed that four out of ten births in England last year were through C-sections.

📺 Warner Bros. Discovery has told its shareholders to reject Paramount Skydance's $108bn takeover bid, favouring Netflix’s offer instead.

🌫️ Britain woke up inside a real-life Instagram filter yesterday as an unexpected pink fog rolled across the UK. Blink and you might’ve missed it – but don’t worry, the cotton-candy haze was caught on camera.

📧 Experts have unpacked why the way we write our work emails actually does matter (*deletes two exclamation marks*).

🧘‍♀️ The most relaxing city to live in has been revealed by Remitly and we’re ready to pack our bags.

It sparks debate every year – which Christmas sandwich is the absolute best?! Well mine is a bit of a wild card this year, the M&S “Ho Ho Ho Honey Ham Hock” is quite simply the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten. There’s also a fab veggie option, the “Fa La La La Fel Wrap” (I have to say, they had me at their names 😂). But I also love that for each sandwich sold, they donate 5% of the price to Shelter, supporting housing justice. 

P.S. They offer a clever sandwich match-maker tool so you can find your perfect sarnie!)

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Trivia answer: A) The cast have reunited to celebrate the movie’s 20th anniversary – we can’t get over how grown up they all are! 🥹

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