Middle-income Australians experiencing rental stress with a third of pay spent on housing, report shows

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Rent has increased by 36% nationally since Covid, CoreLogic finds, which equates to an extra $171 a week on average

Even Australians on median incomes are in rental stress, a new report has found, with households on middle incomes spending 33% of their wages on housing.

Last year saw the smallest annual rental increase since 2021, going up 4.8% over the year – down from 8.1% in 2023, CoreLogic’s report found.

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After costly appeal and dispute over research standards, religious institution becomes Australia’s 44th university

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Australian College of Theology is the third theological institution to get university status since 2020, demonstrating growing power of religious providers

A college that describes itself as Australia’s largest provider of theological education has become the nation’s 44th university, ending years of costly appeals and demonstrating the growing power of small religious providers.

The Australian College of Theology (ACT) – which will be renamed the Australian University of Theology – is the third religious institution to receive full university status since 2020.

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German police investigate AfD flyers resembling plane tickets for immigrants

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Karlsruhe police say they have opened inquiry into ‘persons unknown on suspicion of incitement of racial hatred’

German police have launched an investigation after the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party distributed flyers designed to resemble plane tickets for deportation that were addressed to “illegal immigrants” as part of an increasingly provocative campaign for next month’s general election.

People from immigrant communities in the south-western city of Karlsruhe found the flyers in their letterboxes, although it was not immediately clear if they had been directly targeted.

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UK bans German meat and dairy products after foot-and-mouth case

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Import of pork, lamb and beef as well as live cattle, sheep and pigs suspended amid outbreak near Berlin

Britain has banned imports of German pork, lamb, beef and dairy products to prevent foot-and-mouth disease spreading to the UK after a case of the disease was confirmed last Friday on the outskirts of Berlin.

As well as prohibiting imports of ham, bacon, salami and cheese, the measure bans the import of live cattle, sheep and pigs, along with other animals which are susceptible to foot-and-mouth. No health certificates will be issued by Britain for fresh meat from Germany.

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Four Trends That Will Define Latin America in 2025 – Americas Quarterly

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  1. Four Trends That Will Define Latin America in 2025  Americas Quarterly
  2. Latin America and the Caribbean: A 2025 Snapshot  Americas Quarterly
  3. Americas Quarterly's New Issue: What Lies Ahead for the Region in 2025  AS/COA Online
  4. Latin America’s new frontiers in 2025  Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations
  5. Latin America 2025 Economic Outlook  Santander
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Maha Kumbh Mela: World’s Largest Gathering Begins in India – The New York Times

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  1. Maha Kumbh Mela: World’s Largest Gathering Begins in India  The New York Times
  2. AP PHOTOS: Tens of millions of Hindu devotees make do with little at Maha Kumbh festival  Yahoo! Voices
  3. Mahakumbh 2025: Top 10 must-visit places to explore near Prayagraj during Kumbh Mela  The Indian Express
  4. Tattoos, pet love, bonfires & chai-shai: Ancient Kumbh has much to offer to millennials  The Times of India
  5. The Difference Between Kumbh, Ardh Kumbh, Purna Kumbh, Maha Kumbh  NDTV
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Spain will tackle its ‘rich landlords and poor tenants’ problem by hiking property taxes to 100% for non-Europeans – Fortune

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  1. Spain will tackle its 'rich landlords and poor tenants' problem by hiking property taxes to 100% for non-Europeans  Fortune
  2. Watch Spain Proposes 100% Tax for Non-EU Home Buyers  Bloomberg
  3. Spain proposes 100% tax on property purchases for non-EU buyers  Financial Times
  4. Spain axes popular golden visa, plans 100% tax on foreign buyers in response to housing crisis  Fortune
  5. Spain will regret its 100 per cent expat property tax  The Spectator
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Bangladesh files criminal case against UK minister Tulip Siddiq

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MP accused of misusing her position to gain influence and illegally acquire land with her aunt Sheikh Hasina

Authorities in Bangladesh have filed a criminal case against the UK Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq, accusing her of misusing her position as an MP to gain influence and illegally acquire land with her aunt the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Siddiq has faced mounting calls to resign over her links to Hasina, who was toppled in August after mass protests across Bangladesh and is facing charges of corruption and crimes against humanity.

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