The Know Daily - Tuesday 30 September 2025

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School meals are on the rise worldwide – and the impact is incredible 🍎 According to the United Nations World Food Programme, 466 million children now receive meals in school, 80 million more than in 2020. Governments are leading the charge, doubling investment to $84 billion and reaching more kids than ever, especially across Africa. 

🗞️ In case you missed it

Fallen a bit behind on the headlines this month? No stress – here’s a roundup of the stories that we couldn’t stop talking about at our editorial meetings.

Editor’s picks
🏖️ The getaway glow-up: A new travel trend is taking off: skillcations. Instead of just relaxing, more travellers – especially Millennials and Gen Z – are building holidays around learning something new, from cooking in Italy to diving in Fiji. Around 86% now choose immersive experiences, with 80% saying these activities matter more than they did five years ago. The appeal? Skillcations offer fulfilment, creativity and even brain health benefits by blending adventure with personal growth. They may take more planning (and budget), but even a shorter local version can deliver the same glow-up.

🚲 E-bikes in cities: They are booming in cities from London to New York, offering a fast, flexible and eco-friendly alternative to cars and public transport. Paris and New York now have some of the largest fleets, while London’s services from Lime and Forest continue to expand. But with growth has come controversy: dockless bikes often block pavements, sparking safety complaints. Cities are responding with designated parking zones, fines and tech fixes to keep streets clear, aiming to balance accessibility with sustainability.

Community hot takes
👩‍⚕️ PCOS awareness and advancements: September marks PCOS awareness month, shining a light on a condition that affects around one in eight women of reproductive age. Often misunderstood and hard to diagnose, it can impact fertility, metabolism and mental health. When we asked if any of you have been affected, 81% said yes. 

“I have both PCOS and endometriosis – I feel like I get re-diagnosed with both every time I go to the gynaecologist. It's so hard to get consistent care for women's health at the moment.”

“There genuinely is not a part of my body or life that hasn’t been affected by PCOS. I love that it’s being talked about more.”

🆔 Digital ID: The UK is exploring a digital ID scheme to simplify proving identity, cut fraud and support migration checks. When we asked you what you think of the plan, 66% responded that you don’t believe it’s such a good idea.

“I wonder what happens when internet is not available. How will the Digital ID be set up – will you need traditional documents (like passports or driving licences) in the first place? If you don’t have them, it could be a nightmare trying to prove who they are.”

“I have no problem with it. All our data is on our phones for everything else, so what's different? I lived in Spain where they have it and it’s fine. It makes life easier.”

Some of our most clicked stories over the past month: 
🔗 Making pensions simple
🔗 The world’s most peaceful country
🔗 An artificial biosensor that can measure your stress hormones at home
🔗 Pret’s new meal deal

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👩‍⚕️ Truth cycle: A new survey conducted by cycle-tracking app Clue has found 70% of British women worry about reproductive health misinformation online, but less than half actually fact-check what they read.

• The bigger story: Over half of young women say they rely on unverified social media sources for guidance, which could lead to knowledge gaps and delays in diagnosing conditions like endometriosis. To counter this, companies are turning to the experts. Clue has appointed OB-GYN Dr Charis Chambers (“The Period Doctor”) as Chief Medical Officer to provide science-based, credible information.

🇪🇺 Rekindling relationships: The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has called for the UK to rejoin the European Union at the Labour conference.

🗂️ Channelling Monica: New research has found that being organised and helpful may not just make you a better person, it could also help you live longer.

💸 Scrolling sum: Facebook and Instagram will introduce £2.99 subscriptions for users who do not want to see adverts in the UK.

🇩🇰 Copen-payin’: Copenhagen has begun rewarding travellers for eco-conscious activities, modelling what regenerative tourism could look like.

👩‍💻 Surging sabbaticals: A recent report by LiveCareerUK has revealed that 24% of job seekers in 2025 have had a career break of a year or more. 

🏈 One happy bunny: Bad Bunny has been announced as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show headliner. 

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Trivia answer: C) Scientists are studying how beaver dams create green firebreaks.

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