In news that will surprise no Sydneysider who has brought up the cost-of-living crisis in the last convo they had (so, pretty much all of us): Sydney has fallen in the global rankings of “most liveable cities”. After all, it was just confirmed we’re living in the second most expensive place in all of the world to buy a home. What may surprise you, though, is that our city has also maintained its status within the top-ten most liveable cities, comparative to other places throughout the world. Last year, Sydney placed fourth in the world in this same Index – and this year, we’ve dropped down to equal seventh with Vancouver (another city with a drop-dead gorgeous harbour), due to a decreased infrastructure score.

Sydney has dropped in the global liveable cities rankings (but the results may surprise you)

Seven years ago, I went stargazing in one of the world’s officially recognised “Dark Sky” zones – Takapō in New Zealand’s South Island. In the dark of night, I lay back in a steaming hot bath at Tekapo Springs and gazed up at trillions of twinkling (and shooting) stars, brighter than I’d ever seen them before, thanks to a lack of light pollution. As you’d expect, there are a fair few of these Dark Sky zones in NZ, and scattered across regional areas of the world; what there are far less of are “Urban Night Sky Places”, in cities. Until this week, there were only nine of these throughout the world – now a tenth location has been designated, and it’s here in Sydney.

This Sydney spot has officially been named Australia’s first urban night sky place

As you probably know, at Time Out Melbourne we'll never stop talking about all of the incredible things to do in our city, and across Victoria too. So we're pretty chuffed that one of our state's most loved attractions has been named on a list of the best experiences in the whole of Australia – as chosen by the people.

This Victorian day trip from Melbourne has been chosen as the second best experience in the whole of Australia

A lot of us think of the beach as a place to stretch out on the sand, catch some rays, and do sweet FA. But then there are those who are checking out the swell, ready to grab their board and carve up the waves. We’re talking, of course, about...

These are the best ‘surf stays’ in the world, according to Airbnb

Australia welcomes all sorts of travellers to its shores. Whether you’re a culture vulture who enjoys a day at the museum, an adrenaline junkie who hits up all the best theme parks, or a laid-back sun-seeker who prefers relaxing on the beach, there’s an adventure with your name on it Down Under. While our Time Out travel experts have curated a list of the greatest things to do in Australia, we also value recommendations from adventurers near and far. That’s where Tripadvisor’s annual Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best comes in handy.

These are Australia’s 10 best travel experiences, according to TripAdvisor

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NewSantaAna

The FBI has seen a rise in scams targeting timeshare owners. In this kind of scam, criminals con these part-time property owners into shelling out hefty sums of cash, all under false pretenses related to their timeshare properties.

FBI warns that Mexican cartels are targeting Americans with timeshare scams

It's nothing new to say that Singapore is expensive to live, work and play in. It consistently ranks as one of the priciest cities in the world (even for expats), something that's not helped by this year's GST hike. And soon, taking a cab from some of Singapore's best attractions will be more expensive.

Higher taxi surcharges from Changi and Mandai attractions are here to stay

Maine State

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Idaho State

Shop with Me Mama

Why Idaho Ranks in the Top 10 States Americans Are Flocking To in 2024. A lot of Idahoans are saying 'Idaho is FULL! Go find somewhere else to live!'. With that said, MANY people and their families are flocking to this state and calling it home.

Why Is Everyone Relocating To Idaho?

Total Apex Sports & Entertainment

Do you know anyone who has dual nature? Such two-faced zodiac signs are friendly but they gossip about others behind their backs. They can lie to you without batting an eyelid. However, detecting a two-faced person isn’t easy for everyone. They often compliment their friends when they achieve a goal or change their wardrobe. But they will make negative remarks about you to someone else. What other traits do two-faced people have?

3 Zodiac Signs Who Are Two-Faced

Hot off Montreal's ranking as one of the world’s 20 best cities for food in 2024, a new list has been published about the city's other claim to fame: traffic. With orange cones, road closures, changes of traffic direction and construction a normal occurrence in Montreal, it should come as a surprise to absolutely no one that the city was ranked one of the world’s most congested cities.

Montreal has just been ranked one the world’s most congested cities: here’s why

Missouri State

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CJ Coombs

The first time my family walked into a Ponderosa Steakhouse was in the late 1960s. It was new and the experience was great. Like other new restaurants, if the management doesn't stay on top, the quality of service can decline. The location we went to did change through the years, but in the beginning, it was great.

The 1960s: the Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses are still around in some states

France has pretty much got it all – lovely beaches, gorgeous mountains, marvellous vineyards, idyllic countryside and dynamic cities in between. So, it’s no wonder it’s been the world’s most visited country in the world for several years now. However, it looks like it’ll soon be...

This country is set to overtake France as the world’s most visited destination

Denver, CO

David Heitz

One of my lowest points during homelessness occured on an oppressively hot day. I remember being so parched I could not speak. My mouth had become filled with grit as dust devils swirled around the hot pavement upon which I walked.

Opinion: Help homeless find water in scorching Denver heat this week

Bryce Gruber

The color yellow is gorgeous, eye-catching, and downright happy for most people. So much so that it's the main hue in the world-famous happy face—but science says it's not the best color to wear on a date.

You Shouldn't Wear Yellow on First Dates, Here's Why

Auburn Botanic Gardens, in western Sydney, comes alive each winter. Thanks to its 250 cherry blossom trees, this public park is the star attraction of Sydney's cherry blossom season. To celebrate the blooming of millions of fluffy pink buds, Auburn Botanic Gardens hosts a big annual Cherry Blossom Festival. This year, the popular event will be held from August 17 to 25.

This majestic Sydney garden has the largest crop of cherry blossoms in the Southern Hemisphere

Arkansas State

Branson, MO

Many believe the cryptid Ozark Howler is simply a folk monster like Momo. The Ozark Howler has been brought forward in oral traditions as a creature of the Ozark Mountains. The Ozark Mountains span parts of Missouri and Arkansas and have been home to this legendary creature that has captured the imagination of many. This elusive animal has been described as a large, black, and shaggy creature. Some say it looks like a very large cat. It's also been reported in numerous sightings, stories of which have been passed down through generations. Many wonder if the Ozark Howler is a real creature or simply a myth.

Missouri's Ozark Mountains: legend of the Ozark Howler and whether it's fact or fiction

Last June, Burna Boy became the first African artist to headline a London stadium with his sell-out show at the London Stadium. If you missed out then, don’t worry, because he’s returning for round two this summer. Burna’s show last year had guest appearances from Stormzy, Dave, J...

Burna Boy at London Stadium: timings, tickets and everything you need to know

Chicago Happenings

What is more summery than an icy, sweet frozen drink? If the heat wave is getting to you, try whipping up this simple frozen strawberry lemonade. All you need is your choice of lemonade and some frozen strawberries. You can use store-bought lemonade, make your own from scratch, or a powdered version. As for strawberries, frozen ones are the easiest choice. If you'd rather use fresh, add at least two cups of ice until you reach a nice, frozen consistency.

2-Ingredient Frozen Strawberry Lemonade: Beat the Heat!

Gen Z alt-pop icon Girl in Red (aka Marie Ulven) has reached dizzying heights of musical success in her 25 years. From playing Glastonbury to opening for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour, she’s come a long way from growing up in the quiet Norwegian town of Horten and writing songs in her bedroom.

Girl in Red: “I love when crowds go crazy”

California State

Alameda Post

California regulators just stopped AT&T from pulling the plug. California’s Public Utilities Commission on June 20 rejected AT&T’s application to stop providing landlines and other services in areas where there is no other option.

Still Need Your Landline?

NewsBreak

An official ranking of the happiest cities in the world has been revealed, and Melbourne barely scraped into the top 50

There's no denying that Melbourne is generally regarded as a great place to be – our city recently cracked the top ten in a new global...

An official ranking of the happiest cities in the world has been revealed, and Melbourne barely scraped into the top 50

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