The Know Daily - Tuesday 20 May 2025

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Bad day? Picture this: a group of women in Devon, gloves on, grinning as they jab at invisible stress. Dr George Capone, a clinical psychologist turned boxing coach, started Warrior Women after discovering the joy (and power) of punching things 🥊 No contact, just confidence. It's less about fighting and more about finding your spark, one imaginary persona at a time.

🇬🇧🇪🇺 The Brexit reset deal: what just happened?

 A quick explainer on yesterday’s UK–EU summit – and why it matters.

What is the Brexit reset deal?
After years of post-Brexit tensions, the UK and EU are getting back on friendlier terms. At the summit in London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a sweeping new agreement to smooth things over. Dubbed the “Brexit reset”, the deal covers everything from trade and e-gates to studying and fishing rights. 

What’s included in the deal?
Among the headline changes: fewer checks on goods moving between the UK and EU, a new defence agreement and a plan to reconnect British students with education and training programme Erasmus+. There’s also talk of a youth mobility scheme, allowing under-30s to live and work in the EU with less red tape. The UK and EU will also link their carbon trading initiatives – so UK businesses won’t have to pay a new EU carbon tax set to kick in next year, a move that could save them around £800m. For travellers, there’s good news too: British tourists will be able to use fast-track e-gates at European airports, plus pet passports are back on the table, making it easier for Brits to travel with their furry friends.

Fishing has been one of the hottest topics of conversation. The UK has agreed to extended access for EU boats in British waters, a move that’s likely to be criticised by some Brexit hardliners. But the government says the trade-offs are worth it, with UK exporters set to benefit from smoother access to the EU’s single market. In exchange, Britain gets a seat at the table on EU defence and security projects, including access to a €150b European Defence Fund.

What’s the upshot?
The deal is being pitched as a ‘new era’ for relations. Officials on both sides insist it’s not about rejoining the EU, but rather making Brexit work better in practice. For British businesses, the changes mean less forms, fewer delays, and potentially lower costs – especially for food exporters who’ve struggled under the weight of post-Brexit red tape. It’s not exactly a return to how things used to be, but it is a win for diplomacy.

What could it mean for me?
If you’re a young person itching to live, work or study abroad, this deal could open doors. The proposed youth visa scheme and potential return to Erasmus+ would mean more freedom to travel and fewer headaches when applying. The return of fast-track e-gates at European airports means no more lengthy queues at the border (cue collective sigh of relief). For shoppers and foodies, it could also mean fewer shortages and lower prices on EU goods. And if you live near the coast, the renewed fishing arrangements could bring both benefits and tensions, depending on which side of the net you’re on. According to Starmer, however, the deal is a “win-win”.

🕊️ Plans for peace: US President Donald Trump has said that Russia and Ukraine will "immediately" start negotiating towards a ceasefire and an end to the war.

• The bigger story: After a 2-hour phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump spoke with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in hopes of making progress toward a ceasefire. The US president has also claimed that the Vatican could act as a host for talks between Russia and Ukraine.

📖 Simultaneous storytime: Tomorrow, millions of children across the globe will collectively read an Australian book about migration, belonging and family.

🐹 Glitter guides: Conservationists in Wales are feeding endangered water voles biodegradable and animal-safe edible glitter to trace their movements via sparkling droppings, aiding habitat restoration efforts.

📱 Transparency troubles: The European Commission has preliminarily found that TikTok breached EU digital laws by failing to ensure transparency in its advertising practices.

🎪 Festival face-off: Organisers of festivals in London’s Brockwell Park have said the events will go ahead despite a legal challenge winning against them. Brockwell Live have said they are “fully committed to [the park’s] care, upkeep, and long-term wellbeing”.

✍️ Plummeting punctuation: A study suggests that the semicolon (once referred to by Abraham Lincoln as the “useful little chap”) is in decline, with its usage in English books decreasing by almost half in two decades. 

🏝️ Beautiful beaches: A Greek lagoon beach has been named the best in Europe for 2025. We’ll race you to Skyscanner!

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Trivia answer: C) In Spain’s Basque country, a pintxo (meaning “spike” in the Basque language) is a small snack, often served on a toothpick.

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