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The Australian suburbs where interest rate hikes mean house prices are plunging by six figures

Interest rate hikes have caused huge drops in house prices in Australia's hottest property markets, with two elite suburbs tanking by $250,000 (pictured: auctioneer Adrianna May in Sydney)

A series of interest rate hikes have caused dramatic house price plunges of $250,000 in wealthy suburbs and the downturn is expected to get worse.

The Reserve Bank in August raised interest rates for the fourth straight month, marking the most dramatic increases since 1994 and on Thursday, the Commonwealth Bank and ANZ became the first of the big four banks to match the latest increase.

Richer postcodes and gentrified, inner-city areas had emerged the most when the cash rate was at a record-low of 0.1 per cent but these suburbs are now leading the downturn, with more monetary policy tightening expected in 2022 to tackle surging inflation.

Upmarket parts of Sydney and Melbourne are suffering six-figure falls in just three months, with Brisbane and regional areas of coastal NSW now also going backwards, after being some of Australia’s strongest performing markets in 2021.

Sydney’s north shore, covering Chatswood and Wahroonga, is the worst affected with Domain sales data showing a $250,000 plunge in the median house price during the June quarter.

A drop of 8.4 per cent in just three months took the median house price back to $2,720,000.

On the neighboring northern beaches, stretching from Manly to Palm Beach, mid-point house prices in just three months have plunged by $187,500 or 6.8 per cent to $2,582,500.

Melbourne’s upmarket inner-east, covering Kew and Box Hill, has seen its median house price fall by $107,500 in three months, with the 6.1 per cent quarterly decline taking the median house price down to $1,660,000.

On Tuesday the Reserve Bank raised the cash rate to a six-year high of 1.85 per cent.

The Commonwealth Bank, ANZ and Bank of Queensland on Thursday announced they would match the 0.5 percentage point increase on their variable mortgage rates.

The May, June, July and August rate increases of 1.75 percentage points have been the steepest since 1994.

Interest rate hikes have caused huge drops in house prices in Australia's hottest property markets, with two elite suburbs tanking by $250,000 (pictured: auctioneer Adrianna May in Sydney)

Interest rate hikes have caused huge drops in house prices in Australia’s hottest property markets, with two elite suburbs tanking by $250,000 (pictured: auctioneer Adrianna May in Sydney)

A series of interest rate hikes have caused dramatic house price plunges of $250,000 in wealthy suburbs and the downturn is expected to get worse. The Reserve Bank (governor Philip Lowe, inset) in August raised interest rates for the fourth straight month, marking the most dramatic increases since 1994

A series of interest rate hikes have caused dramatic house price plunges of $250,000 in wealthy suburbs and the downturn is expected to get worse. The Reserve Bank (governor Philip Lowe, inset) in August raised interest rates for the fourth straight month, marking the most dramatic increases since 1994

Plummeting median house prices

sydney – North shore – down $250,000 or 8.4 per cent to $2,720,000

sydney – Inner west – down $200,000 or 8.3 per cent to $2,200,000

sydney – Northern beaches – down $187,500 or 6.8 per cent to $2,582,200

melbourne – Inner East – down $107,500 or 6.1 per cent to $1,660,000

sydney – City and Inner South – down $90,000 or 4.7 per cent to $1,845,000

Brisbane – West – down $50,000 or 4.3 per cent to $1,100,000

sydney – Sutherland – down $42,500 or 2.6 per cent to $1,600,000

NSW Mid North Coast – down $33,500 or 4.5 per cent to $715,000

Brisbane – South – down $30,000 or 2.8 per cent to $1,050,000

melbourne – Inner – down $27,000 or 1.8 per cent to $1,500,000

Source: Domain data on median house price falls in the June quarter with areas grouped into Australian Bureau of Statistics SA4 areas

Sydney's north shore, covering Chatswood and Wahroonga, is the worst affected with Domain sales data showing a $250,000 plunge in the median house price during the June quarter (pictured is the North Sydney end of the Sydney Harbor Bridge)

Sydney’s north shore, covering Chatswood and Wahroonga, is the worst affected with Domain sales data showing a $250,000 plunge in the median house price during the June quarter (pictured is the North Sydney end of the Sydney Harbor Bridge)

In Sydney's inner south, taking in Newtown (pictured) and Waterloo, mid-point house prices fell by 4.7 per cent, or $90,000, to $1.845million

In Sydney’s inner south, taking in Newtown (pictured) and Waterloo, mid-point house prices fell by 4.7 per cent, or $90,000, to $1.845million

Inflation in the year to June surged by 6.1 per cent, the steepest increase since 1990 when the one-off effect of the GST in 2000 and 2001 was taken out.

What a 0.5 percentage point rate rise means

$500,000: Up $141 from $2,215 to $2,356

$600,000: Up $169 from $2,658 to $2,827

$700,000: Up $197 from $3,101 to $3,298

$800,000: Up $225 from $3,544 to $3,769

$900,000: Up $253 from $3,987 to $4,240

$1,000,000: Up $281 from $4,430 to $4,711

Increases based on Reserve Bank cash rate rising from 1.35 per cent to 1.85 per cent taking popular Commonwealth Bank variable rate from 3.39 per cent to 3.89 per cent

The consumer price index is now well above the Reserve Bank’s two to three per cent target and all the big banks are expecting another 0.5 percentage point interest rate rise in September, following on from this month’s 50 basis point increase.

Domain chief of research Dr Nicola Powell said higher interest rates meant the banks were unable to lend as much.

‘Borrowing capacity has been eroded by higher rates and a higher cost of living and there’s more to come in terms of a further acceleration in a deterioration in prices,’ she said.

‘Some Australian households, and prospective buyers, are much more sensitive to higher interest rates and strong inflation levels due to the high level of debt being carried, ultimately eroding savings.’

The banks have, since November, been required to assess a borrower’s ability to cope with a three percentage point rise in variable mortgage rates.

Gentrified inner-city areas are also in decline.

Sydney’s inner west, stretching from Leichhardt to Strathfield, saw its median house price plunge by $200,000, or 8.3 per cent in three months, to $2,220,000.

In the nearby inner south area, taking in Newtown and Waterloo, mid-point house prices fell by 4.7 per cent, or $90,000, to $1,845million.

On Sydney's northern beaches, stretching from Manly to Palm Beach, mid-point house prices in just three months have plunged by $187,500 or 6.8 per cent to $2,582,500

On Sydney’s northern beaches, stretching from Manly to Palm Beach, mid-point house prices in just three months have plunged by $187,500 or 6.8 per cent to $2,582,500

House prices in Melbourne's inner east, including iconic suburbs such as Fitzroy and Collingwood, plunged to $1.66million, at 6.1 per cent or $107,500 slide (Pictured, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy)

House prices in Melbourne’s inner east, including iconic suburbs such as Fitzroy and Collingwood, plunged to $1.66million, at 6.1 per cent or $107,500 slide (Pictured, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy)

While Newtown falls within the Inner West Council, the Australian Bureau of Statistics puts this bohemian suburb within Sydney’s inner south category, based on an SA4 mapping classification.

The property market contagion is spreading beyond Sydney and Melbourne with house prices in Brisbane’s west, stretching from Indooroopilly to Upper Brookfield, falling by $50,000, or 4.3 per cent, to $1,100,000.

The regions, which have become a popular market in their own right for young investors priced out of the big cities, also took a hit.

Demand has arisen for houses near the beach as professionals could work from home without having to commute to a big city office.

Median house prices on the New South Wales mid-north coast, covering Port Macquarie, fell by $33,500 or 4.5 per cent in the June quarter, to $715,000.

Further north, mid-point apartment prices in the Coffs Harbor region fell by $51,500 or 9.5 per cent to $491,000.

Sydney’s Sutherland area, taking in Miranda and Cronulla, saw its median house price fall by $42,500 or 2.6 per cent to $1,600,000.

It was the only area to suffer big drops in both house and unit prices.

In Sydney's inner south area, taking in Redfern (pictured), mid-point house prices fell by 4.7 per cent, or $90,000, to $1.845million

In Sydney’s inner south area, taking in Redfern (pictured), mid-point house prices fell by 4.7 per cent, or $90,000, to $1.845million

Median unit prices also plummet

sydney – Eastern suburbs – down $90,000 or 6.8 per cent to $1,230,000

sydney – Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury – down $55,000 or 6.9 per cent to $745,000

Hobart – down $55,000 or 9.2 per cent to $540,000

NSW Coffs Harbour, Grafton – down $51,500 or 9.5 per cent to $491,000

sydney – Sutherland – down $45,000 or 5.6 per cent to $760,000

NSW Central Coast – down $38,000 or 6.1 per cent to $587,000

Victoria LaTrobe, Gippsland – down $38,000 or 10.1 per cent to $340,000

NSW Hunter Valley without Newcastle – down $35,000 or 6.8 per cent to $480,000

The Sutherland Shire also copped to $45,000, or 5.6 per cent, drop in unit prices during the June quarter to $760,000.

Sydney’s eastern suburbs saw Australia’s biggest median price drop in the unit market, with a $90,000 or 6.8 per cent decline, taking the mid-point apartment price to $1,230,000.

But the biggest fall, by percentage, in units was in Hobart, where median prices fell by $55,000, or 9.2 per cent, to $540,000.

Sydney’s flood-stricken northwest also saw a $55,000 price drop in unit prices, down 6.9 per cent to $745,000.

Both the Reserve Bank and Treasury are expecting inflation to hit a 32-year high of 7.75 per cent later this year and remain outside the RBA target band until 2024 – meaning rate rises will continue for a long while yet.

On Monday, CoreLogic data showed in July the median national home price fell for the third straight month in July by 1.3 per cent.

Its figures showed wealthy postcodes in the big cities are leading the downturn with coastal and tree change regional areas also taking a hit after previously being some of the strongest performing markets.

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Categories
Australia

Prime Minister, CMO confident COVID wave has peaked

Prime Minister, CMO confident COVID wave has peaked

Australia may have seen the worst of the third Omicron wave but the nation’s top doctor has warned we’re not out of the woods just yet.

A downturn in Australia’s seven-day rolling average and hospitalizations suggests the country could be nearing peak Covid-19 infections sooner than expected.

Speaking to reporters in Canberra, chief medical officer Paul Kelly said he was “increasingly confident” cases had peaked.

PM PRESSER
Camera IconChief medical officer Paul Kelly is cautiously optimistic about the current wave. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage Credit: News Corp Australia

“The actual data that we’re seeing, particularly from hospital admissions, are decreasing in all states over the last… week support that,” he said.

But he said the current wave would not be the last, stressing the need for governments to plan accordingly.

It follows a virtual meeting of state and territory leaders to discuss the national response to the virus.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters he was “hopeful” the wave had reached its peak but warned against the threat of complacency.

“We know that last summer there was another spike and we shouldn’t be complacent about this issue,” he said.

In June, the Albanese government agreed to extend a 50-50 public hospital funding agreement for an additional three months amid concerns of the third Omicron wave.

But with cases peaking earlier than expected, Mr Albanese remained coy on if the states were pushing for another extension beyond September.

“The update that national cabinet received today, I’m pleased to say, is consistent with what was envisaged when we met… after I came back from PIF,” he said.

“Our funding arrangements and big decisions that were made by the national cabinet then in terms of those dates are consistent with the advice that we received.”

On Wednesday, the government fused to be tied down on a time frame on the release of modeling used to guide decision making.

“We don’t want to see an uncoordinated release of modeling that potentially contradicts modeling released by other jurisdictions,” Health Minister Mr Butler said.

The Health Department estimates there are more than 325,000 active cases nationally.

More than 4800 people are in hospital receiving treatment, with 162 in intensive care and 39 on ventilators.

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Categories
US

You DA Chesa Boudin says he won’t run for re-election

You DA Chesa Boudin says he won't run for re-election

Former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin — the progressive prosecutor who was ousted by voters in June — said Thursday he won’t be running in the special election this year.

Boudin explained his choice not to seek re-election in a Twitter threadsaying he is putting his “family first.”

“Over the past weeks, I’ve spoken to family, friends and every day San Franciscans about how we can best continue to make our criminal justice system fairer and more effective. I have devoted my public life to this effort because it makes our communities stronger & safer,” he wrote.

“I’ve also taken stock of the burden of more than three years of nearly non-stop campaigning placed on my family,” Boudin said, adding, “I’m committed to criminal justice reform; I’m also committed to my family.”

Fed-up San Francisco voters recalled the progressive DA during a June 7 election over what many said were Boudin’s soft-on-crime policies that contributed to the city’s surge in crime, open-air drug dealing and robberies.

Mayor London Breed appointed Brooke Jenkins as the new DA in July.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Jenkins announced a new office policy that would revoke open drug plea cases and promise to hold dealers accountable.

Chesa Boudin waves at cars as he canvasses in San Francisco prior to his ouster in June.
AP
Boudin looks distracted during election night on June 7.
Boudin looks distracted during election night on June 7.
Getty Images

“We cannot stand by while these neighborhoods continue to suffer with violence and drug dealing happening openly on their streets, and we also cannot continue to stand by while people continue to die on our streets,” Jenkins said. “We have to make changes now to save lives.”

Boudin told the San Francisco Chronicle last month that he was still considering running for the top prosecutor position.

On Thursday, however, Boudin said focusing on his family will come first, including taking care of his elderly father, who “just came home from prison after more than 40 years.”

As DA, Boudin came under fire for his soft-on-crime policies in the face of rising crime in the city.
As DA, Boudin came under fire for his soft-on-crime policies in the face of rising crime in the city.
Getty Images

His father, David, who received parole last year, was part of the left-wing group Weather Underground. David Boudin and his wife, Kathy, served prison time for a botched 1981 robbery in New York that left two police officers and a Brinks truck guard dead.

Boudin’s mother died of cancer in May.

The embattled DA stood by his policies, including his resentencing work that “offered second chances to those who had caused harm and supported victims,” according to his tweet.

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Categories
Sports

WBBL 2022-23 – Mignon du Preez re-signs with Hobart Hurricanes

WBBL 2022-23 - Mignon du Preez re-signs with Hobart Hurricanes

South Africa batter Mignon du Preez is returning to the WBBL after re-signing with Hobart Hurricanes.
She was the leading run-scorer for Hurricanes last season amassing 414 runs at 31.84, striking at 115 with four half-centuries. She is returning to Hurricanes alongside her close friend and former South Africa team-mate Lizelle Lee who has signed to play in Hobart after withdrawing last season. The pair had previously played together at Melbourne Stars.
Du Preez will also be reunited with Hurricanes’ new captain Elyse Villani, who is also a former Stars team-mate.

“I can’t wait to return to Australia,” du Preez said. “I love the Big Bash. It was a big decision for me to make the move to the Hurricanes last season, but I can honestly say I had such a great time both on and off the field. I got to know a lot of the girls really well, and as we got to know each other better as a team, our cricket really improved too.

“We have a lot of the same team we had last year heading into WBBL 08, plus some pretty great additions too, and knowing first-hand what players of the quality of Junior (Villani) and Lizelle (Lee) can bring to a T20 team, I think that puts us in a pretty good position.”

Hobart Hurricanes squad: Nicola Carey, Mignon du Preez, Maisy Gibson, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee, Emma Manix-Geeves, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Naomi Stalenberg, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Elyse Villani

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Categories
US

Dad who lost wife and kids in horror crash has also died

Dad who lost wife and kids in horror crash has also died

The Illinois dad whose wife, four kids and young family friend were killed in a head-on highway crash has also died, making him the eighth fatality in the horrid weekend smash.

Thomas Dobosz, 32, was initially airlifted to a hospital in critical condition after the Chevrolet van he was driving smashed head-on with an Acura TSX that was heading the wrong way on Interstate 90 around 2 am Sunday, Illinois State Police said.

Both vehicles “became engulfed in flames,” killing the 22-year-old Acura driver, Jennifer Fernandez, as well as Dobosz’s wife and four kids, along with a 13-year-old family friend who was with them.

But the dad was also “subsequently pronounced deceased,” police said in an update Wednesday, confirming that all involved were now dead.

The Dobosz family.
Thomas Dobosz has become the eighth person to die from Sunday’s crash, which also killed his wife, four children and a family friend.
Facebook / Lauren Dobosz

An online fundraiser that has collected more than $100,000 per Thursday also shared the news “with a heavy heart.”

“Tom has gained his angel wings and is now with his amazing wife Lauren and precious children,” the fundraiser said, asking for people to “keep this family in your prayers.”

Thomas Dobosz with wife Lauren.
Thomas Dobosz with wife Lauren, who was pronounced dead at the scene along with their four children and a young family friend.
Facebook / Lauren Dobosz
Burnt-out wreckage of van and car in Sunday's horror wrong-way crash.
The dad was the eighth person to die after the crash that police said left his van and an Acura “engulfed in flames.”
Fox 32 Chicago

Fernandez had been alone in the Acura at the time of the accident, which is still under investigation, cops said. It’s unclear why the Acura TSX was heading the wrong way.

She was pronounced dead at the scene along with all seven passengers in Dobosz’s van, police said.

The fundraiser identified them as his 31-year-old wife, Lauren Dobosz; their children, Ella, 5, Nicholas, 7, Lucas, 8, and Emma, ​​13; and the teen’s friend Katriona Koziara, who was also 13. The family, from suburban Chicago, had just started traveling to Minnesota for a vacation before the smash in rural Riley.

A separate fundraiser for Katriona said “she was in the prime of her youth and always seen with a smiling face and positive attitude.”

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Categories
Sports

Ricky Nixon calls out A Current Affair reporter Seb Costello, says he should be bounced at court

A Current Affair Reporter Seb Costello (pictured) claims he was interviewing Ricky Nixon when he copped an elbow to the jaw - but he himself has been charged with assault

Fallen AFL agent Ricky Nixon has urged his supporters to chase Channel 9 journalist Seb Costello down the street as payback after he was ambushed by the reporter.

Costello, 35, confronted Nixon about his latest questionable business venture, which led to the A Current Affair reporter copping an elbow to the head and saying he would be reporting to police.

But Costello himself is set to front court over an unconnected incident after he was charged this week with two counts of unlawful assault – with his alleged victims breaking their silence on Thursday.

Melbourne siblings Finn, 23, and Xanthe, 22, allege Costello confronted them after they had mistakenly blocked off access to his driveway.

Xanthe’s partner was waiting in the parked car, blocking the laneway off Boyd Street, Richmond on February 11 while the brother and sister were in their house nearby.

A Current Affair Reporter Seb Costello (pictured) claims he was interviewing Ricky Nixon when he copped an elbow to the jaw - but he himself has been charged with assault

A Current Affair Reporter Seb Costello (pictured) claims he was interviewing Ricky Nixon when he copped an elbow to the jaw – but he himself has been charged with assault

The brother and sister spoke to The Herald Sun, alleging Costello walked up their steps and yelled at them and, when they were apologetic, he turned more aggressive.

‘I had to put my hand out on to his chest to stop him from pressing up against me,’ Xanthe said.

She claimed she needed to step back inside her house to regain her balance because she had moved up to the top step in front of her and that only when Finn said he would call the police did he back off.

They also allege Costello let fly with another tirade at Xanthe’s partner in the car as he walked off.

Costello, who works for A Current Affair, said he was on ‘compassionate leave’ when the argument occurred because his grandmother had died.

He said the ‘disagreement’ was minor and that he remained on the lower step and did not threaten or assault anyone.

The siblings disagree and said they were ‘disappointed’ that he acted so ‘angry’ and ‘entitled’ over the public laneway being blocked.

Costello is set to front Collingwood’s Neighborhood Justice Center on September 28.

Nixon said his fans should wait for Mr Costello outside court to give him a taste of his own medicine (pictured)

Nixon said his fans should wait for Mr Costello outside court to give him a taste of his own medicine (pictured)

Costello made headlines himself just last week after he was allegedly elbowed by disgraced former player agent Ricky Nixon (pictured)

Costello made headlines himself just last week after he was allegedly elbowed by disgraced former player agent Ricky Nixon (pictured)

Just last week, Costello was looking at pressing his own assault charges after an altercation with former AFL player and prominent footy agent Ricky Nixon.

He had confronted him for an ACA segment about the latest health business he was running, a service that offers $350 intravenous infusion treatments for those who ‘want a totally revitalized life and feel’.

The venture was slammed by the Australian Medical Association Victoria president Roderick McRae.

The ex-footy player and disgraced agent had also launched an ‘ambulance’ to provide mobile health services during the Covid pandemic.

Costello could possibly have used an ambulance himself after he confronted Nixon on Bay Street in Port Melbourne about his businesses.

‘I’ll be careful how I characterize it, but in the process of speaking with Mr Nixon his elbow has made contact with my jaw… I think it’s fair to say I didn’t headbutt somebody’s elbow,’ Mr Costello told 3AW .

He eventually decided not to press charges, with Victoria Police confirming on Wednesday afternoon their investigation was completed after they received a ‘no complaint’ statement.

Nixon seemed particularly pleased when he heard of the assault charges against Costello, who is the son of former Treasurer and Nine Chairman Peter Costello.

‘Winner winner chicken dinner,’ he captioned a link to the story on Facebook, referring to his nickname.

Saint Kilda School girl Kim Ametoglou (pictured) brought Ricky Nixon down in 2011 in the first of many scandals

Saint Kilda School girl Kim Ametoglou (pictured) brought Ricky Nixon down in 2011 in the first of many scandals

Nixon had previously tried his hand at stand up comedy with a routine called ‘Chicken Train’ at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2013.

The post received hundreds of comments from supporters with one suggesting a ‘Chicken Vs Costello’ boxing match would be a ‘promoter’s dream’.

‘Should get all the Chicken fans to wait outside court and chase him (Costello) down the street,’ another said.

To which Nixon replied: ‘Great idea’.

Nixon was once one of the top AFL agents and possibly sports agents in the country.

His ‘Flying Start’ agency helped manage the careers of stars such as Matthew Richardson, Nick Riewoldt, and Wayne Carey.

His agency collapsed in 2011 when pictures of him in his underwear allegedly inside the hotel room of a 17-year-old girl were leaked.

He subsequently fled to England and when he returned he sold his agency amid a loss of accreditation by the AFL and a number of assault and traffic charges leveled against him by police.

Nixon has attempted to re-invent himself as a man who cares for the community but his 'ambulance' businesses have been questioned by health officials

Nixon has attempted to re-invent himself as a man who cares for the community but his ‘ambulance’ businesses have been questioned by health officials

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Categories
Technology

Xbox Game Pass titles for August 2022 revealed

Ghost Recon Wildlands, Two Point Campus, Expedition Rome, and more coming to Game Pass (image vis Sportskeeda)

Xbox has unveiled the latest selection of games coming to Game Pass, including a new Ubisoft title and a couple of Day 1 releases. Let’s take a look at what’s coming to the service this month.

Xbox Game Pass is arguably the best subscription-based service in gaming right now. The service offers players a selection of top-tier titles for a fixed monthly fee. Available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and supported devices via the cloud, it has garnered universal popularity.

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This month introduced another Ubisoft title along with a couple of highly anticipated releases debuting on Day 1. Let’s take a look at what’s coming to Game Pass this month.

New games coming to Xbox Game Pass in the first half of August 2022

One of the biggest additions to Game Pass this month is undoubtedly Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands. Ubisoft has been slowly adding its titles to Game Pass since earlier this year.

After Rainbow Six Siege, Rainbow Six Extraction, For Honor, Assassin’s Creed Origins and Far Cry 5, Ghost Recon Wildlands is the latest arrival. Released back in 2017, the game is often considered to be one of the best in the series.

Another highly anticipated game that is making its day 1 debut on Game Pass is the sequel to Two Point Hospital and Two Point Campus. Touted to receive a lot of plaudits, it will be perfect for a casual playthrough.

With that being said, let’s take a look at all of the titles coming to Game Pass in the first half of August.

  • Ghost Recon Wildlands (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 2
  • Shenzhen I/O (PC) ID@Xbox – August 4
  • Turbo Golf Racing (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) Available on day one with Game Pass ID@Xbox – August 4
  • Two Point Campus (Cloud, Console, and PC) Available on day one with Game Pass – August 9
  • Cooking Simulator (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 11
  • Expeditions: Rome (PC) – August 11
  • Offworld Trading Company (PC) ID@Xbox – August 11

DLCs, updates and perks for games on Xbox Game Pass

Game Pass consists of a massive library of amazing titles that also receive post-launch DLCs and updates. While the base title is included, the DLCs and Expansions are purchasable separately.

The game pass also brings certain perks for different titles. With that being said, let’s take a look at the DLCs, updates and perks for games on Game Pass.

  • Citizen Sleeper Episode One: Flux – Available now
  • Sniper Elite 5: Landing Force Mission and Weapon Pack – Available now
  • Sea of ​​Thieves: Season Seven – August 4
  • Fall Guys: Coconut Milk Costume – Available now
  • skate 3: Upgrade Bundle – August 11
  • The Elder Scrolls Online: Noweyr Pack – August 16

Games leaving Xbox Game Pass on August 15

Xbox Game Pass is a subscription-based service and as such, games often leave the platform. In this regard, the following titles will leave the service on August 15, 2022:

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  • Boyfriend Dungeon (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Curse of the Dead Gods (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Library of Ruin (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Starmancer (Game Preview) (PC)
  • Train Sim World 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)

The Xbox Game Pass is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and supported devices via the cloud. Players can jump right in today and select the plan that applies to them.

Edited by Sijo Samuel Paul

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Categories
Entertainment

The Bachelor’s Irena Srbinovska shares ‘horrible’ experience as healthcare worker amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Bachelor's Irena Srbinovska shares 'horrible' experience as healthcare worker amid COVID-19 pandemic

She’s best known for winning over Perth’s Locky Gilbert of The Bachelor but Irena Srbinovska is using her platform to bring attention to the “exhausted” healthcare workers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bachelor's Irena Srbinovska shares her 'horrible' experience of healthcare worker on the front line.
Camera IconThe Bachelor’s Irena Srbinovska shares her ‘horrible’ experience of healthcare worker on the front line. Credit: Instagram

“The current situation is horrible and has been for the last two years,” she wrote.

“Speaking from experience, I can honestly say that things are not getting any better or easier on healthcare workers.

“We are all exhausted. We are not okay.”

Srbinovska, who now calls Perth home, returned to her “regular” job as a nurse after finding love on The Bachelor.

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Categories
Business

Sydney cafe, Nuriyah Cafe, owner defends employee with Tourette Syndrome

Adam Kakaati, the owner of Nuriyah Café (left) in the southwest Sydney suburb of Gregory Hills, said Vari Desho (right) is the best barista in town despite suffering from Tourette Syndrome

Read the one-star restaurant review an angry customer left a café because their barista with a disability made them ‘uncomfortable’ – as the trendy eatery fires back in an epic way

  • A café owner stood up for his employee after a review criticized his disability
  • Review said a barista at the café, who has Tourettes, made them uncomfortable
  • Adam Kakaati, the café owner, said the review was insensitive and angered him

By Ashley Nickel For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

An upset café boss has rushed to defend one of his employees after a nasty online review criticized the barista’s disability.

Adam Kakaati, the owner of Nuriyah Café in the southwest Sydney suburb of Gregory Hills, said Vari Desho is the best barista in town despite suffering from Tourette Syndrome.

However, an angry customers said Mr Desho’s ‘tics’ – involuntary noises or movements – caused them to leave the café without eating or paying for their food because they were uncomfortable.

Adam Kakaati, the owner of Nuriyah Café (left) in the southwest Sydney suburb of Gregory Hills, said Vari Desho (right) is the best barista in town despite suffering from Tourette Syndrome

Adam Kakaati, the owner of Nuriyah Café (left) in the southwest Sydney suburb of Gregory Hills, said Vari Desho (right) is the best barista in town despite suffering from Tourette Syndrome

The customer gave Nuriyah Cafe a one-star review because Mr Desho's Tourettes Syndrome made them uncomfortable (pictured, the negative review)

The customer gave Nuriyah Cafe a one-star review because Mr Desho’s Tourettes Syndrome made them uncomfortable (pictured, the negative review)

‘Unfortunately the front of house team member had a physical condition which we initially dismissed,’ the review said.

‘It causes him to ‘bark’ and as we said, we thought it would happen especially as when he took our order it stopped completely.

‘Unfortunately it then got much worse and much louder and more constant. We felt sooo bad and really wanted to stay but when it got so bad we couldn’t even have a conversation we very reluctantly had to cancel our order and leave.’

Mr Kakaati was quick to fire back with a post of his own.

‘Today at Nuriyah it was brought to our attention that a customer took it upon themselves to post a negative review regarding one of our employees,’ he wrote on Facebook.

‘Here at Nuriyah we treat all our staff & customers like family and we wanted to address how we feel about the incident that occurred, over the weekend.

‘We welcome and support anyone with a life changing condition.’

The defensive boss later said the review made him ‘so angry’ because Mr Desho isn’t able to help his condition.

‘His knowledge towards coffee, everything about the machine, and the way he makes it, no one does it better than him,’ Mr Kaakati told the Herald Sun.

Adam Kakaati said his employees at Nuriyah Cafe are 'like family' and said the review made him 'so angry' because Mr Desho didn't do anything wrong (pictured, food from Nuriyah Cafe)

Adam Kakaati said his employees at Nuriyah Cafe are ‘like family’ and said the review made him ‘so angry’ because Mr Desho didn’t do anything wrong (pictured, food from Nuriyah Cafe)

‘I told him don’t ever say sorry to someone like that. You haven’t done anything wrong.

‘People said ‘he might affect your business’, but I don’t care. He has a family to provide for and he’s one of the best workers I have.’

Commenters underneath Mr Kakaati’s emotional post also defended Mr Desho and called out the reviewer for being insensitive.

‘I know this man personally, and it is very heartbreaking to see someone go to such lengths to write a review like that,’ one person wrote.

‘He is such a nice man, who would do anything to make sure you are happy and comfortable. Shame on you.’

‘It makes me so happy to see a business that supports inclusion and stands by it when challenged. It’s people like this that will make positive change when it comes to stigma and judgement,’ another said.

What is Tourette Syndrome?

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder, which most often begins between the ages of 2 and 21, and lasts throughout life.

TS is NOT degenerative and people with TS can expect to live a normal life span.

Symptoms:

TS is characterized by rapid, repetitive and involuntary muscle movements and vocalisations called ‘tics’, and often involves behavioral difficulties.

The term ‘involuntary’, used to describe tics, is a source of confusion since it is known that most people with TS do have some control over their symptoms.

What is often not recognized is that the control which can be exerted, from seconds to hours at a time, only delays more severe outbursts of symptoms.

Tics are experienced as a build up of tension, are irresistible and eventually must be performed.

Typically tics increase as a result of tension or stress and decrease with relaxation or concentration on an absorbing task.

TS symptoms have long been misconstructed as a sign of behavioral abnormality or ‘nervous habits’, which they are not.

Source: Tourette.org

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RBA interest rates: Otivo reveals the Perth postcodes set to be hardest hit by mortgage stress

RBA interest rates: Otivo reveals the Perth postcodes set to be hardest hit by mortgage stress

Almost a quarter of a million WA homeowners will find themselves in the grips of mortgage stress as interest rates continue to climb, with little sign of a slowdown on the horizon.

The Reserve Bank on Tuesday announced that it would lift its official interest rate by 50 basis points to 1.85 per cent for the fourth month in a row.

The cash rate target has now increased by 1.75 percentage points since the start of May to 1.85 per cent, with the hike expected to add about $472 a month to repayments on a $500,000 loan, with Commonwealth Bank the first of Australia’s big four banks making the move to hit borrowers with the full increase.

With families across Australia already struggling under the weight of the surging cost of living, new data suggests the move will plunge 1.8 million owner-occupied mortgaged households into financial stress — including 228,621 in WA.

The new report by digital financial advice service Otivo, in partnership with Digital Finance Analytics, surveyed 52,000 households to reveal the real impact of interest rate rises on Australians with owner-occupied mortgages — with a household deemed to be under “mortgage stress” if there is more money going out than in.

The Otivo Mortgage Stress Report stated that at the end of July 2022, more than 1.7 million (or 45 per cent) of Australians were already suffering under mortgage stress.

More than 1.8 million Australians will suffer off the back of the RBA’s latest cash rate hike.

The report further predicted Tuesday’s RBA announcement would force an additional 140,839 Australians into the same boat, bringing the total to 1.8 million.

Otivo then drilled down to reveal the top three postcodes in each State or Territory expected to feel the most significant impact off the back of the latest cash rate hike.

The report revealed some of Perth’s most affluent suburbs would soon be hit with mortgage stress, with homes in some of the city’s most prestigious areas warned to curb spending and brace themselves for the bleak outlook.

An eyewatering 59 per cent (or 1760) households in postcode 6153 (Applecross, Ardross, Brentwood, Mount Pleasant) are expected to fall victim to mortgage pain, with the latest rise pushing an additional 644 homes into stress compared with July’s numbers.

Second on the list is 6152 (Como, Karawara, Manning, Salter Point, Waterford), with an extra 580 households bringing the total number of homeowners under stress to 2087.

Further south, 518 more homes in Mandurah’s 6210 postcode area (Coodanup, Dudley Park, Erskine, Falcon, Greenfields, Halls Head, Madora Bay, Mandurah, Meadow Springs, San Remo, Silver Sands, Wannanup) will take the total number in the 6210 postcode area to 3623 homeowners.

Otivo chief executive Paul Feeney said the mortgage stress report reiterated the need for Australians to seek personal financial advice, regardless of what interest rates and inflation do over the coming months.

“With Australians looking down the barrel of the rising cost of living and higher interest rates, and more than 1.8 million Australians set to be suffering from mortgage stress off the back of the RBA’s latest cash rate hike, now more than ever Australians need quality and affordable financial advice to help them stay on top of their finances,” he said.

Mr Feeney’s top tips for Australians under financial pressure due to mortgage stress

Review or create a budget—Understand what money is coming in and what money is going out. What are the non-negotiable costs (such as your mortgage, utilities, groceries and transport costs) and where can you cut back. If you want to avoid mortgage stress, you’ll need to make some small changes to your monthly spending patterns.

Understand the benefit of an offset or redraw — If you have a mortgage, put spare cash into an offset account or redraw facility. This lowers your loan balance that interest is charged on, saving you money each month.

Discuss your mortgage with your lender — If you’re concerned about interest rate rises, discuss this with your lender and understand if there is an opportunity to get a better rate. Banks are often open to helping their clients if they are under financial stress. You will have to make it up eventually but this may provide some short-term relief for your household right now.

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