Photo: Daniel Lerman/Unsplash (CC0)
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.
The findings align with government data showing a sharp decline in poverty, which fell from 41.9% of the population in 2018 to 29.6% last year. According to INEGI, the number of people living in poverty dropped from 51.9 million in 2018 to 38.5 million in 2024.
Source: Mexico News Daily
City data show notable reductions in several categories, with extortion cases falling by 20%, vehicle thefts by 22%, and commercial theft by 30%. Other crime indicators showed more modest improvements: street robberies declined by 6%, while reported cases of sexual violence fell by 8%.
Source: The Bogotá Post
In a “major tipping point” for clean energy, turbines spinning in the wind and photovoltaic panels lit up by the sun generated 30% of the EU’s electricity in 2025, according to an annual review. Power plants burning coal, oil and gas generated 29%.
Source: The Guardian
All 99 hospitals in the state agreed to stop collecting certain unpaid bills dating back to 2014. Under the agreement, hospitals also committed to automatically providing discounted care to patients who qualify for financial assistance, eliminating the need for formal applications.
Source: NPR
San Francisco will also offer a 50% subsidy to those earning up to $310,000, in an expansion of the city’s childcare offerings designed to make one of the world’s most expensive cities more affordable for residents.
Source: The Guardian
New Jersey on Thursday became the latest state to curb students’ mobile phone use during the school day, joining a national trend toward tighter restrictions on electronic devices in schools. With New Jersey’s move, 37 states and the District of Columbia now have laws or rules limiting phone use, though some measures are yet to take effect.
Source: WHYY
According to newly released data from the American Cancer Society, for the first time, 70% of cancer patients now reach the five-year survival mark. The data also show significant long-term improvements in survival for several of the deadliest cancers, including myeloma as well as liver and lung cancers.
Source: ABC News
Designed to accommodate population growth and reduce environmental strain, the project is located near the existing capital between the Chirchik and Korasuv rivers. New Tashkent will span roughly 20,000 hectares, and will offer modern amenities and buildings designed to meet internationally recognised green standards.
Source: Euronews
Women experiencing homelessness on Los Angeles’ Skid Row face some of the city’s most serious health challenges. One physician has spent nearly two decades working to improve their care: Dr. Mary Marfisee, an assistant professor of medicine at UCLA.
Source: NPR
Once a vibrant hub for cinema, Tripoli lost its filmmaking culture during decades of dictatorship and years of civil war. Althoughtcensorship has eased, Libya’s film industry still faces logistical, financial, and institutional hurdles, but filmmaker Mouayed Zabtia sees opportunity in growing local support and new schemes nurturing the next generation of filmmakers.
Source: Africa News
