The Know Daily - Thursday 4 September 2025

_{Read in 4m 33s ∙ Listening to Chappell Roan ∙}

📢 It’s your last chance to enter our giveaway with Expat Explore to win a 7 day tour of Italy for you and a bestie (flights included).

T&Cs can be found on our giveaway page.

Brazilian macaws are learning to fly with special lessons designed to prepare them for life in the wild. This hands-on program helps boost survival and protect their species. It’s a smart, caring way to support these beautiful birds.

🚲 E-bikes in cities

Cities from London to New York are working out how to integrate the rapid rise of shared e‑bikes, with one issue dominating headlines: bikes left blocking pavements.

Why is there so much chatter about them now?
Recent years have seen a significant rise in the number of e-bikes in London, with companies such as Lime and Forest growing their presence on the streets. Paris, Berlin and New York have also expanded their fleets which are now into the tens of thousands. The appeal is clear: e‑bikes are quick, affordable and sustainable. But with many services operating on a dockless model, the surge has sparked complaints – particularly about bikes parked awkwardly on pavements, creating hazards for pedestrians.

What are the perks?
For riders, e‑bikes offer a fast and flexible alternative to cars, taxis and crowded public transport. They make cycling accessible to people who might not use traditional bikes – whether because of distance, hills or fitness. Cities also benefit: e‑bikes offer an eco-friendly and flexible alternative to cars and public transport, especially for short journeys. Research in cities like Milan shows e‑bike usage can reduce car trips, helping lower urban emissions.

Which cities have the most?
Paris hosts one of the largest shared e-bike fleets in Europe, with thousands available. New York’s Citi Bike system, including a growing number of e-bikes, serves on average 143k rides per day. London’s rapidly expanding fleets, run by companies like Lime, cover much of the city, making e-bikes a popular mode of urban travel.

What’s the downside?
The main one is street clutter. Pavement blockages from dockless bikes have led to complaints from residents, disability advocates and councils. Some cities are addressing this through designated parking bays, fines for improper parking and geofencing technology that prevents ending rides outside approved areas. Critics also point to issues of wear and tear, battery disposal and the carbon cost of manufacturing.

Despite these challenges, cities and operators are moving toward solutions that keep e‑bikes accessible while minimising disruption – ensuring they remain a key part of sustainable urban transport.

🥤 No more Monster: High-caffeine energy drinks will be banned for under-16s in England to protect children’s health.

• The bigger story: The government is planning a new law to stop anyone under the age of 16 buying energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster. Up to a third of UK children are thought to consume these types of drinks every week, even though most supermarkets have already introduced a voluntary ban. 

🔭 Space sightings: The James Webb space telescope has spotted an ancient black hole that astronomers believe may have been created in the first fraction of a second following the Big Bang.

💻 Market monopoly: A US judge has ordered significant changes to Google's search engine to limit market control.

🚉 Worker walkout: There’s a tube strike planned in London next week lasting from Sunday to Friday. Here are all the details.

🧠 Protein protection: A study has found that switching off one protein could reverse brain ageing and prevent Alzheimer’s.

📖 Re-kindle-ing: Do you love reading in theory but always find yourself leaning towards something else to switch off? Here’s a how-to on learning to fall in love with reading again.

✈️ Chilled travels: After one final moment of calm before the back to school vibes set in? Here are the best destinations for slow travel.

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Trivia answer: A) The Paper – a spinoff of The Office – will be available to stream on Peacock from today.

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