Today in Squirrel News: Ireland is officially launching a basic income for artists, Belgium rolls out a major programme to support young people with eating disorders, and Chile’s first officially recognised prison rugby team shows how sport can aid rehabilitation.
Elizabeth Jacyshyn-Owen
India expands rural tap water access, US life expectancy hits record high, pancreatic tumours regress in mice
In today’s edition: over 81% of India’s rural households now have a steady supply of tap water, US life expectancy reaches its highest level on record amid falling death rates, and new research shows pancreatic tumours shrinking in mice with a breakthrough combination therapy.
Guinea worm to be second disease ever eradicated, Japan’s stomach cancer rates fall by 70%, India’s chess clubs
In today’s edition, Guinea worm takes a step towards becoming only the second disease ever wiped out, Japan celebrates a 70% drop in stomach cancer, and India’s chess clubs are turning the “game of kings” into a route out of poverty.
Homicides in England and Wales drop to lowest rate ever, new therapy treats “untreatable” cancer, ring a Republican
In today’s edition: new data shows homicides in England and Wales have fallen to the lowest level since records began; a world-first gene therapy reverses previously untreatable blood cancers; and a social experiment bridges political divides in the US.
Abandoned airport becomes green city, 25 million kilos of plastic removed from oceans, teen-run mental health hotline
In today’s edition: a former airport in Toronto is being turned into a $30 billion sustainable city; the Ocean Cleanup project removed a record 25 million kilos of plastic in 2025; and Teen Line’s peer-to-peer hotline offers mental health support run entirely by trained teenagers.
Amsterdam bans fossil-fuel and meat ads, California joins WHO network, Ghana’s environment chiefs
In today’s edition: Amsterdam moves to prohibit fossil-fuel and meat advertising in public spaces, California becomes the first US state to join the WHO’s global outbreak response network, and Ghanaians are turning to environment chiefs to protect their land and waterways.
Mexico’s poverty milestone, Bogotá sees crime drop, North Carolina erases medical debt for 2.5 million people
In today’s edition: Mexico’s middle class now officially outnumbers those in poverty for the first time, Bogotá reports drops in major crimes including homicides and theft, and North Carolina cancels medical debt for 2.5 million people whilst expanding automatic financial assistance.
England’s 10-minute emergency mental health clinics, lung cancer deaths among women stabilise, AI ultrasounds
Photo: Erik Mclean/Unsplash (CC0) In today’s edition: England rolls out […]
High seas treaty comes into force, Zurich gives free healthcare to undocumented residents, reviving oyster beds
In today’s Squirrel News: a landmark High Seas Treaty enters into force, Zurich expands healthcare access for undocumented residents, and an “oyster graveyard” in Dublin is revived as part of an ambitious ecosystem restoration effort.
Iraq sees major progress after years of conflict, first NHS leukemia patient gets CAR-T therapy, culture buddies
In today’s edition of Squirrel News: Iraq has made big strides in poverty reduction and democratic equality after years of turmoil, the first NHS leukemia patient has received a groundbreaking CAR-T therapy, and Hamburg’s “culture buddies” help tackle loneliness in older people.
Coal power falls in China and India in first since 1970s, Vienna’s light pollution drops by 75%, street psychiatry
In today’s edition of Squirrel News: the world’s biggest coal-consuming countries see a fall in coal power generation for the first time in more than 50 years, the Austrian capital notes a huge drop in light pollution thanks to a switch to LED bulbs, and a New York county’s bet on street psychiatry is paying off.
NYC sees lowest number of shootings ever, Norway’s car sales hit 96% electric, Chile’s 2,800km wildlife corridor
In today’s edition of Squirrel News, New York City reports its lowest number of shootings on record, Norway pushes further ahead in the electric vehicle transition, and Chile unveils an 2,800km wildlife corridor to protect biodiversity.
