Waldo, a 6-year-old Tibetan Terrier belonging to Susan and Mike Leverette of Sebastian, competes in the third heat of the medium dogs division at the Hang 20 Surf Dog Classic at Carlin Park in Jupiter Saturday, August 29, 2015. “The waves are a little bigger than we are used to”, said Susan. (Photo by Bruce R. Bennett/The Palm Beach Post)

A period of relative stability has put the Iranian capital No1 on the list of world cities that have achieved biggest improvements in liveability over the past five years, as calculated by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The “most improved” top 10 contains some unexpected names. So, eg, the fourth place: Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Latest ranking: 128; Ranking five years ago: 131; Five-year index movement: 3.8%. Here: A supporter of Ivory Coast president Alassane Ouattara campaigns in a market in the city’s Koumassi quarter. (Photo by Sia Kambou/AFP Photo)

An old woman smokes a cigar at Old Havana's Plaza de la Catedral on February 07, 2006 in Havana, Cuba. (Photo by Marco Prosch/Getty Images)

Performers dressed like Stormtroopers dance during “The Empire Strips Back: A Star Wars Burlesque Parody” in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 1, 2018. (Photo by Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

Members of the Scottish Chinese community take part in Edinburgh Chinese New Year Festival on January 30, 2022 in Edinburgh, Scotland. 2022 marks the Chinese Year of the Tiger, Chinese New Year in Edinburgh has become one of the largest celebrations of its kind in Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images)

Somali women walk near a fish put on display by fishermen at the Liido beach in Mogadishu, Somalia on May 13, 2024. (Photo by Feisal Omar/Reuters)

A woman dressed in traditional Oromo costume attends a swearing ceremony of the newly named 72nd Borana Pastoralist chief, “Aba Gada” Guyo Wariyo in Arero, Ethiopia on March 9, 2025. (Photo by Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)