Latest news with #MattWatkins
Newsweek
22-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Map Shows Best Cities To Live in Right Now
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Denmark, Australia and Switzerland are home to some of the world's best cities to live in, a new study has shown. Copenhagen has been named the world's most livable city in 2025, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Liveability Index, displacing Vienna in Austria, which came second after a three-year run at the top. The Danish capital achieved perfect scores of 100 in stability, education, and infrastructure, pushing it from second place to first in a global assessment of 173 cities. The EIU's annual index evaluates cities across 30 indicators grouped into five categories, which include stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. While the average global score remained unchanged from 2024 at 76.1 out of 100, the report noted a persistent decline in global stability, driven by rising geopolitical tensions and civil unrest. "Copenhagen's rise to the top underscores the power of consistent investment in public goods," said Matt Watkins, a public affairs strategist and policy analyst, told Newsweek. He consults cities across the United States and a few other nations on urban development, economic mobility and quality-of-life strategies. Melbourne in Australia placed fourth, continuing its strong performance in the rankings, with two other Australian cities—Sydney and Adelaide—also among the top 10. Other cities filling out the top 10 slots included Auckland in New Zealand, Osaka in Japan, and Vancouver in Canada. Watkins noted: "Livability is a choice. These outcomes do not emerge by chance. They happen when governments commit to universal baselines that ensure quality of life—things like clean public transit in Zurich, affordable child care in Copenhagen, strong public education in Melbourne, and access to green space in Auckland." North American cities overall remained in the highest tier of livability, with all 21 assessed scoring above 80. Two Canadian cities, Calgary and Toronto, also experienced drops. "We have lowered the health care scores for all four Canadian cities in our index," the EIU report noted. All three cities in the United Kingdom in the index—London, Manchester, and Edinburgh—saw their placements fall in the wider ranking due to widespread riots and rising homelessness. Stock image: Houses line the Nyhavn canal in Copenhagen, the Danish capital. Stock image: Houses line the Nyhavn canal in Copenhagen, the Danish capital. Getty "Walkability is a common thread among the world's most livable cities," Watkins said. "When people can safely and easily walk to schools, grocery stores, parks, and transit, everything else becomes more connected—public health improves; small businesses thrive; emissions drop; and community life flourishes." The EIU highlighted that, while stability declined globally, other aspects of urban life have improved. "Scores for health care, education and infrastructure all saw marginal improvements on average," the report said. Cities in the Middle East and North Africa region showed the most-notable gains, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, due to significant advancements in health care and education. Watkins emphasized that high-quality infrastructure alone isn't what makes a city truly livable. "What makes a city truly livable is not just infrastructure, but connection," he said. He added: "The most-livable cities foster a sense of belonging—through public spaces that invite gathering; services that reduce isolation; and policies that help people put down roots. Whether it is Vienna's cultural investment or Vancouver's focus on inclusivity, these cities recognize that social cohesion is as important to well-being as hospitals and transit lines." Watkins added that the world's most-livable cities succeed because they treat livability as a public mandate. He said: "These places remind us that good governance is not just about efficiency; it is about creating conditions where people can move freely, connect easily, and live with dignity." Top 10 Most Liveable Cities 1. Copenhagen, Denmark 2. Vienna, Austria 3. Zurich, Switzerland 4. Melbourne, Australia 5. Geneva, Switzerland 6. Sydney, Australia 7. Osaka, Japan 8. Auckland, New Zealand 9. Adelaide, Australia 10. Vancouver, Canada Source: A ranking by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) based on an assessment of 30 indicators grouped into five categories, including stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Premise Health Honored as a 5 Star Employer by VETS Indexes
BRENTWOOD, Tenn., May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Premise Health has been recognized as a 5 Star Employer by the VETS Indexes Employer Awards for its strong commitment to recruiting, hiring, retaining, developing, and supporting veterans and the military-connected community. The "5 Star Employer" distinction is the highest one possible in the Employer Awards. Premise Health, the leading direct healthcare provider for employers and unions, formalized its military program for veterans, military spouses, National Guard and Reservists in 2016. The program previously received VETS Indexes' 3 and 4 Star designations in 2023 and 2024 respectively. The new 5 Star recognition is the direct result of the organization's alignment to support its military-connected community according to its mission of helping people get, stay, and be well. "This recognition by VETS Indexes represents an organization-wide effort to ensure that Premise is a place where the military community is respected, understood and truly valued," said Premise's Military Program Manager Matt Watkins. "We're honored to receive this designation. It's a reflection of the commitment, care and hard work that Premise team members demonstrate daily, whether it's in support of veterans, military spouses or the broader military-connected community." Recipients of the Employer Award were announced during this year's Employing U.S. Vets Conference on April 10. VETS Indexes, a national leader in veteran employer evaluation, reported a record application year with Premise joining a select group of organizations to receive this distinction. Applicants included large and small employers, government agencies and departments, nonprofit groups, and institutions of higher education. The VETS Indexes Employer Awards program is the most objective and comprehensive evaluation of veteran employers. This in-depth survey and recognition program analyzes employers' policies, practices, and outcomes regarding the recruitment, hiring, development, retention, and support of military-connected team members. Premise and its military program provide dedicated resources for military-connected team members and applicants, including an ombudsman program, flexible work options, team member resource groups, mentorship programs, and extensive internal support from top-level executives to frontline leaders. Externally, Premise partners with veteran-focused organizations across the nation in its effort to support the career advancement of veterans and their families, such as Hiring Our Heroes, Military Spouse Employment Partners, the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center at Middle Tennessee State University, and INvets (Indiana).
