The Kiwi capital, Wellington, was ranked fourth in the 2021 Global Liveability Index, as cities with effective pandemic responses rose to the top of the rankings.
The EIU says New Zealand’s “tough lockdown” enabled many citizens to “enjoy a lifestyle that looked similar to pre-pandemic life.
Cities are ranked on more than 30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
Japan’s Osaka was ranked the second most liveable city, joined in the top five by the country’s capital Tokyo.
Australia has four cities in the top ten, with Adelaide the highest ranking at number three.
COVID-19’s “heavy toll on global liveability”
The EIU says there has been an “unprecedented level of change in the rankings”, with the pandemic causing liveability to decline.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on global liveability. Cities across the world are now much less liveable than they were before the pandemic began, and we’ve seen that regions such as Europe have been hit particularly hard,” Upasana Dutt from the Economist Intelligence Unit said.
“…the COVID-19 pandemic caused liveability to decline – as cities experienced lockdowns and significant strains on their healthcare systems.”
European and Canadian cities have fallen significantly in the rankings, due to the impact of lockdowns.
Austria’s capital was previously ranked the world’s most liveable city, but Vienna has dropped out of the top 10, falling to twelfth.
Hamburg had the biggest fall, falling 34 places to 47th.
Damascus, in Syria, continues to languish at the very bottom of the rankings, remaining the world’s least liveable city.
Investor sentiment is improving as fresh data out of the US and Australia shifts expectations for central bank action.
Stronger-than-expected labour market figures in Australia have raised questions about whether the Reserve Bank will move ahead with a rate cut next week. While the RBA has signalled it is watching data closely, the resilience in employment may force a delay.
Meanwhile, in the US, softer inflation data has lifted hopes that the Federal Reserve could cut rates later this year. That news helped spark a sharp turnaround in US equities, with the so-called “sell America” trade now unwinding as buyers return to Wall Street.
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Trump’s AI deals in the Middle East spark division over national security risks and concerns over China ties.
In Short:
Trump’s AI deals with Saudi Arabia and the UAE are causing internal conflicts in his administration over US national security. Officials are concerned that American technology supplied to the Gulf could ultimately benefit China, leading to calls for enhanced legal protections.
President Donald Trump’s recent AI deals in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are causing internal conflicts within his administration.
Concerns are rising among officials, particularly China hawks, about the implications for US national security and economic interests.
Agreements include shipments of vast quantities of semiconductors from Nvidia and AMD to the Gulf states, prompting fears that American technology could ultimately benefit China, given the region’s ties with Beijing.
While the accords include clauses to limit Chinese access to the chips, some officials argue that further legal protections are necessary.
Critics, including Vice President JD Vance, have suggested that maintaining US dominance in AI is crucial, and shipping chips abroad might undermine that goal.
Supporters of the deals, including AI Adviser David Sacks, argue the need for American technology in the Gulf to deter reliance on Chinese alternatives.
Despite this, internal discussions are underway to potentially slow down or reassess the agreements due to ongoing national security concerns.
Conversations have also included proposals for a significant chip manufacturing facility in the UAE, which many officials deem risky due to China’s influence.
Additionally, worries persist about G42, an AI firm in Abu Dhabi, which has historical ties to Huawei.
The agreements with Gulf countries promise to enhance their technological capabilities while necessitating careful oversight to address US security priorities.