Vienna Returns as World's 'Most Livable City'

The Austrian capital Vienna has returned as the world's most livable city. JOE KLAMAR AFP
The Austrian capital Vienna has returned as the world's most livable city. JOE KLAMAR AFP
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Vienna Returns as World's 'Most Livable City'

The Austrian capital Vienna has returned as the world's most livable city. JOE KLAMAR AFP
The Austrian capital Vienna has returned as the world's most livable city. JOE KLAMAR AFP

The Austrian capital Vienna has made a comeback as the world's most livable city, according to an annual report from the Economist published Thursday.

The Ukrainian capital Kyiv was not included this year after Russia invaded the country in late February, while Russian cities Moscow and St Petersburg fell in the rankings over "censorship" and the impact of Western sanctions, AFP said.

Vienna snatched the top spot from Auckland, which tumbled down to 34th place due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions, according to the report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

"Vienna, which slipped to 12th place in our rankings in early 2021 as its museums and restaurants were closed, has since rebounded to first place, the position it held in 2018 and 2019," it said.

"Stability and good infrastructure are the city's main charms for its inhabitants, supported by good healthcare and plenty of opportunities for culture and entertainment."

Europe boasted six out of the top ten cities.

The Austrian capital was followed by the Danish capital Copenhagen and Switzerland's Zurich. Fellow Swiss city Geneva came sixth, Germany's Frankfurt seventh, and the Netherlands' Amsterdam ninth.

Canada also did well.

Calgary came in joint third position, followed by Vancouver in fifth place and Toronto in eighth.

Japan's Osaka and Australia's Melbourne shared the tenth place.

France's capital Paris came 19th, 23 places up from last year.

The Belgian capital Brussels was 24th, just behind Canada's Montreal.

The United Kingdom's capital London was the world's 33rd most livable city, while Spain's Barcelona and Madrid came 35th and 43rd respectively.

Italy's Milan ranked number 49, the US city of New York 51, and China's Beijing came 71st.

Lebanon's capital Beirut, which was ravaged by a 2020 port explosion and is battling a crippling financial crisis, was not included in the ranking of business destinations.

Neither was the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, after the Russian invasion on February 24 forced the EIU to abort its survey of the city.

Russia's capital Moscow saw its livability ranking fall by 15 places, while St Petersburg slipped by 13 places.

"Increased censorship accompanies the ongoing conflict," the report noted.

"Russian cities are additionally seeing restrictions on culture and environment as a result of Western economic sanctions."

Other cities in eastern Europe cities were considered less stable following "raised diplomatic tensions" due to the war in Ukraine.

The capital of war-torn Syria, Damascus, retained its place as least livable city on the planet.



Russian Man Survives Bear Attack as Sightings Near Moscow Increase

A person rides a bike at a park during a warm spring day in Moscow, Russia, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
A person rides a bike at a park during a warm spring day in Moscow, Russia, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
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Russian Man Survives Bear Attack as Sightings Near Moscow Increase

A person rides a bike at a park during a warm spring day in Moscow, Russia, 04 April 2025. (EPA)
A person rides a bike at a park during a warm spring day in Moscow, Russia, 04 April 2025. (EPA)

A brown bear attacked and badly mauled a Russian man in a forest about 125 km (78 miles) from Moscow, local media and residents said, as sightings of bears become more frequent in the region surrounding the capital.

The man, who apparently survived the attack by managing to play dead, was out collecting antlers shed by elk and deer last week when the bear attacked him from behind, a local news website quoted the man's uncle as saying.

"It began to gnaw at his skull, then turned (him) over and started eating his face," the victim's relative said. "Somehow, (he) pretended to be dead, and the bear left him alone."

Russian media said the injured man called emergency services and waited for hours while emergency crews searched for him on foot in the forest near the village of Yeremeevo. He was then taken to hospital by helicopter.

Bear hunting is allowed in much of Russia, but is banned in the Moscow region.

Some Russians go out in the forest to collect antlers, a pair of which can sell for up to 15,000 roubles ($178), about two-thirds of Russia's minimum monthly wage.