Words by Gavin Haines July 4, 2024 Health Lifestyle Society UK World Share: Cities became ‘more liveable’, a new test improved cancer care for kids, and Europe smashed green energy records, plus more good news This week’s good news roundup Cities became ‘more liveable’ Life in major cities broadly improved last year, with the biggest gains found in eastern Europe. That’s according to the latest Global Liveability Index , which crowned Vienna (pictured) the world’s most liveable city for the third year running. Compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the index assesses 173 cities across five categories: stability, education, healthcare, culture and environment, and infrastructure.
Europe dominated the top 10, with Copenhagen (main picture) and Zurich coming second and third. The index noted an overall decline in stability and infrastructure, but said this was more than offset by improvements in healthcare and education in eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and north Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. While the overall score on the index edged up, the EIU noted that “the improvement is only marginal, held back by geopolitical conflicts, civil unrest and a housing crisis across many of the cities in our survey”.
Image: Leyre Genomic test ‘improving’ cancer care for kids Children with cancer are getting better treatment in England thanks to a new genomic test offered to patients by the country’s National Health Service, a study has foun.