The Know Daily - Thursday 26 June 2025

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Tomorrow, thousands of children across the UK will explore careers at the annual Dream Big Day. From building robots to designing eco-homes, they will have the chance to delve into a world of possibility, encouraging the next generation of ambitious achievers (and maybe they’ll meet an astronaut or two 👩‍🚀).

✍️ Our monthly roundup

Missed an edition or two this month? Don’t worry - we’ve got you covered! From banning disposable vapes and protecting our oceans to nurturing friendships and exploring AI companions, here’s a quick catch-up on what we’ve delved into recently.

Editor’s picks
🐟 Bottom trawling: The UK is moving to ban bottom trawling – a fishing method that drags heavy nets along the seafloor – in nearly half of its marine protected areas, aiming to safeguard fragile ecosystems and marine biodiversity. The move comes amid growing public awareness, bolstered by campaigners, scientists, and the influence of David Attenborough, whose recent film powerfully highlighted the importance of protecting our oceans.

📱 Social media reform: Governments around the world are proposing stricter rules to protect children on social media, including age bans, time limits, and curfews. France wants to ban platforms for under-15s and enforce age checks, while the UK and Australia are introducing their own restrictions. The push comes amid rising concerns over kids’ mental health and online safety. While some support tough bans, others argue education and guidance are more effective.

👗 Fast fashion: Fast fashion fuels cheap, trend-driven clothing at a cost to the workers and the planet. But change is underway with several countries in Europe cracking down on ultra-fast fashion, while more consumers are embracing second-hand shopping, slow fashion and mindful wardrobe habits. Pro tip: the Good On You app lets you easily check the impact of your favourite fashion brands.

Hot takes from our community
👒 The rise of tradwives: The “tradwife” concept is having an online revival. We asked you what you thought of the rise of tradwives and 76% of you said you felt it could be problematic, while 24% believe we should let them do their thing.
“I’m leaning toward seeing that phenomenon as problematic, as it’s incredibly difficult to maintain one’s independence in that setup.”
“Ultimately it’s all to do with choice. If women are choosing it and it’s making their life better then all the more power to them.”

💨 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. 
“Even if vaping helps people quit smoking – rather than just encouraging more people to take up a habit that they think is ‘not that bad for them’ – there is still this option with a more sustainable and less disposable outlook.”

👭 Adult friendships: Experts say adult friendships are just as important as romantic relationships but many find sustaining them difficult as we get older. When we asked you if you have struggled to maintain friendships as an adult, 87% said you find the juggle hard. But 13% feel you’ve got a solid group.
“I have some really wonderful friendships in my life but we seem to have different outlooks on how much friendship needs to be a priority now. I'm not sure if it's my time to focus more on myself, double down with intention on the friendships that I have or time to create new ones.”
“I count myself extremely lucky to still be best friends with my school mates. We are some of the very few who still message constantly and catch up lots.”

Some of our most clicked editions over the month: 
🔗 The pink tax and bloomers
🔗 AI therapists and food capitals
🔗 Gut health and the McMigraine Meal

💰 Protection payment: Leaders from countries across Europe, plus North America, met this week for the political and military alliance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). They confirmed that defence spending will rise to 5% of each member’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – the total value of goods and services produced by a country – by 2035.

• The bigger story: This increase in spending had been requested by US President Donald Trump, who has described the decision as “a great victory". It means more financial backing to safeguard member countries, who will collectively respond to security concerns and promote peacekeeping policies.

💼 Welfare bill: More than 100 Labour MPs have now signed a "reasoned amendment" opposing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s planned welfare cuts. The proposed bill will be voted on in parliament next week.

🍷 Vino veto: One of Europe’s most popular city break destinations is cracking down on the sale of alcohol at night.

📚 Boosting bookworms: A study has found that teachers introducing more books in the classroom can help spark greater enjoyment and engagement, offering a potential solution to an overall decline in reading.

🧳 Travellers rejoice: No-one likes extra fees on their holidays, and now the EU is proposing to ban airlines from charging for hand luggage.

⚽ Newly knighted: Gareth Southgate, ex-England manager, has received a knighthood at Windsor Castle for services to football.

🛕 Amazing antiquities: Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of an ancient South American temple that could uncover a lost society after 1,000 years.

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Trivia answer: A) The documentary will explore the impact of The King's Trust, which Idris Elba was once a beneficiary of.

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