Wins · Best of the week

7 good news stories from this week: one a day, 19-25 October

From record-low deforestation in the Amazon to four new cancer treatments presented in Madrid today: the standout story from each day of the week, verified at the original source.

By The Newsroom · VerifiedSource: Original sources for every story
Aerial view of a river winding through the Amazon rainforest
The Tejo river in Acre, Brazil. Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon fell 42% in a year. Photo: Rafa Neddermeyer / Agência Brasil (CC BY 3.0 BR)

Every Sunday we pick the standout story from each day of the week. Each one links to its original source in the full story.

Monday 19 · The Amazon at a record low

Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon fell 42% in a year, according to INPE satellite data: the lowest level since records began in 1988. Read the story

Tuesday 20 · Renewables overtake coal

From January to June 2026, renewables supplied 35.8% of the world’s electricity and coal 32.2%, according to Ember. The gap is growing. See the data story

Wednesday 21 · 17 countries for threatened species

Colombia and Armenia lead CARES, a coalition of 17 governments working to bring threatened species back with measurable progress by 2030. Read the story

Thursday 22 · A kidney through a single incision

Bellvitge University Hospital, near Barcelona, carried out Europe’s first living-donor kidney transplant with a single-port robot: one 7-centimetre cut instead of up to six. Read the story

Friday 23 · Kenya locks in its wild places

The Thamani Asili programme puts $160m into protecting 2.7 million more hectares and creating around 7,800 jobs over ten years. Read the story

Saturday 24 · Breast screening from 45 to 74 in Spain

Spain’s health ministry and regions approved extending breast cancer screening to women aged 45-49 and 70-74 nationwide. It still has to be published in the official gazette. Read the story

Sunday 25 · Four treatments that extend survival

At Europe’s biggest cancer congress, in Madrid, four phase 3 trials showed longer survival in advanced lung, stomach and bile duct cancers. In stomach cancer, from 5 to 10 months. Read the story

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