15 July, 2025

Esther Hurst Hello. The Global Liveability Index has long ranked cities around the world for their comfort and security. And while the top-ranked locations have been remarkably consistent over the past few years, 2025 sees Vienna dethroned from first place. In the feature below, we find out which city is the new number one – and speak to locals about what it's like to live in a top-ranked location. Also in this edition: how the brain changes in "middle childhood" and visiting North Korea's new beach resort. Happy reading and I'll be back in your inbox on Friday.

ESSENTIAL FEATURES Inside the world's most liveable cities  We asked locals to share what life is really like in the world's most liveable cities – and find out why a new number one was crowned for 2025. Keep reading

What film and TV get wrong about London Films and series have created a glamorous "Notting Hill" version of the UK capital. A new show pokes fun at the stereotypes. ‌ Read more > Italy's sunken city returning from the sea Aenaria sank 2,000 years ago. Now, tours and excavations are bringing Ischia's fascinating history back to the surface. ‌ See the underwater city > How children's brains change aged six Long neglected by science, "middle childhood" is a turbulent and transformative period.  ‌ Read more > The British Isles' only electric mountain railway A vintage ride on the Snaefell Mountain Railway reveals the Isle of Man's forgotten tourism boom. ‌ Discover the history >

ESSENTIAL INSIGHTS The deepening US-Mexico water shortage row Under a 1944 agreement, Mexico must send 430 million cubic metres of water per year from the Rio Grande to the US. ‌ Keep reading > Why Viktor Orban's power is crumbling The Hungarian prime minister finds his authority under threat, but not in the way one might expect. ‌ BBC InDepth explains > N Korea's new beach resort welcomes Russian tourists Details of how the resort was built – in a country largely closed to the outside world – are shrouded in secrecy.  ‌ See inside the resort >

ESSENTIAL WATCH LIST What we know about the fuel switches on Air India flight 171 A preliminary report on the crash in June found both fuel control switches were in the cut-off position.  Watch now > Did 2.1m people really attend Lady Gaga's Rio concert? BBC Verify analyses the claims made by Rio de Janeiro officials after the concert in May. Watch now > The woman who redefined chimps - and human beings In 1960, Jane Goodall began her groundbreaking field study by living among chimpanzees in Tanzania. Watch now >

ESSENTIAL LISTENING Do animals feel grief? And other questions In this episode of The Infinite Monkey Cage, celebrity guests pose their burning scientific questions to a panel of scientists. Find out how we build railways under the world's busiest cities and much, much more.  Listen here