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)

Employee of ornithological flight support service Nika Ryzhova-Alenicheva holds her hawk, which is used to control fauna to avoid bird strikes during takeoffs and landings, at Domodedovo airport outside Moscow, Russia September 2, 2016. (Photo by Maxim Zmeyev/Reuters)

A reveller wearing a costume dances as she holds a dring during the carnival street parade in Valletta, Malta, February 25, 2017. (Photo by Darrin Zammit Lupi/Reuters)

Cosplay fans (R) take selfies as comic book and gaming fans attend the annual Ani-Com and Games Fair in Hong Kong on July 28, 2017. Tens of thousands were expected to attend the annual event on animation, comics and games, from July 28 to August 1. (Photo by Isaac Lawrence/AFP Photo)

The Art Car Parade is the highlight of a three-day celebration of the drive to create: Art Car Weekend. But it all began with a donated 1967 Ford staton wagon and $800 worth of paint and plastic fruit. And now, 26 years later, it attracts 250+ vehicles (and other entries) from 23 states, Canada, and Mexico. Photo: An art car is seen on Allen Parkway during the 26th Annual Houston Art Car Parade on May 11 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran)

“Michael Mathias Prechtl (April 26, 1926, Amberg – March 19, 2003, Nuremberg) was a German artist, illustrator and cartoonist. He served as a soldier on the Eastern Front during World War II and spent 1945-49 as a prisoner of war in the Soviet Union”. – Wikipedia

Photo: “Der Gestiefelte Kater (Puss in Boots)”, 1997. Artwork by Michael Mathias Prechtl

A Japanese white-eye is seen on a branch of cherry blossoms at Kyoto Imperial Palace on March 26, 2010 in Kyoto, Japan. (Photo by Akihiro I/Getty Images)

A three month-old baby gorilla named Hasani sits in the grass March 11, 2009 at the San Francisco Zoo in San Francisco, California. The newborn gorilla was given the name Hasani. Hasani's father, a twenty seven year-old gorilla named Oscar Jonsey, picked between five color coded cantaloupes representing the five name finalists to come up with the newborn's name that was submitted by Amanda VerPloeg of Oskaloosa, Iowa. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)