The Know Daily - Wednesday 16 April 2025

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There’ll be no newsletter on Friday 18 April and Monday 21 April as we’re off for the bank hols. We’ll be back in your inboxes on Tuesday 22 April 💞

A new AI tool could be key to conserving Japan’s gorgeous cherry blossom trees. The Sakura AI Camera allows users to snap photos of cherry blossoms and provide health information on them, so authorities can track which ones need conservation 🌸

🍽️ Dining delicacy

A rising number of chefs in the UK are putting cuttlefish on their menus.

What’s the story?
Cuttlefish – a sea creature similar to a squid – has become increasingly popular to eat in the UK over the past 5 years. From risotto to ragu, restaurants are incorporating it onto their menus. Even tinned fish brands are hopping on the trend –  Sea Sisters' canned cuttlefish is consistently sold out. Around 4k tonnes of cuttlefish are brought onto UK shores every year, with most of it exported to France and Spain where it's long been considered a delicacy. 

Why is it becoming so popular in the UK?
It’s an “underrated ingredient” that’s versatile and packed with flavours, according to one chef who has long used cuttlefish in his cooking. Brits tend to stick to a narrow seafood diet, with imported shrimp, tuna and salmon making up 80% of consumption. However, now people are increasingly excited about “forgotten fish” like cuttlefish, another chef added. Having cuttlefish in our diets could help Brits eat more local fish as many are sourced from the English Channel, moving away from a reliance on imported foreign seafood.

What are critics saying?
Some have suggested that its rising popularity may not be sustainable. It seems like cuttlefish numbers are declining, most likely because of overfishing as there’s currently no limit on how much people can catch, said The Marine Conservation Society. Quotas and enhanced management are needed to lessen the impact, according to a fishmonger. This being said, the government has recently launched an action plan to help cuttlefish fisheries practice more sustainably.

📈 Economy latest: The UK inflation rate fell to 2.6% in March, increasing pressure on the Bank of England to cut interest rates next month to combat financial changes following the Trump administration’s tariffs.

• The bigger story: The figure dropped due to declining fuel prices and costs for recreational activities, but was offset by a price rise for clothing and footwear, according to the Office for National Statistics.

🚇 Welsh Tube: A metro network connecting Cardiff and the South Wales valleys is expected to be completed by early 2026 – here’s what we know so far of the £1bn project.

📱 Comparing coverage: These are the UK’s best mobile networks, according to a new survey.

🚢 Shipping standards: World leaders have agreed on a global deal to curb shipping emissions, after 10 years of negotiations.

🏕️ Charming camps: If you need some holiday inspo, check out this list of Europe’s most stunning campsites.

🦷 Dentistry development: Scientists have successfully grown human teeth in a lab for the first time, which they hope could some day replace implants and fillings.

🍫 Delectable desserts: Check out this Dubai-chocolate inspired easter egg – there’s no way to describe it but decadent.

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Trivia answer: A) a.k. payne won this year’s prize for her play Furlough’s Paradise – check out the other finalists here.

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