Morning Mail: Woman’s plea for imprisoned husband; renters hit by online fees; and the ‘BYD effect’

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Morning everyone.

Concerns are growing for the wellbeing of an Australian democracy activist who has not been heard from for almost a month after being detained in Vietnam, with his wife describing his plight as “truly heartbreaking”.

Renters face online fees from property companies trying to claw back money from credit card payments, the surge in EV imports from China could help to lower inflation, and Australia are on the brink of winning the first Test in South Africa.

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Turtle homecoming | Freshwater turtles rescued from a dried-up water hole in western New South Wales after the state government cut environmental water to the area are being returned home . ‘Truly heartbreaking’ | The wife of an Australian democracy campaigner imprisoned in Vietnam on alleged terrorism offences says he has become uncontactable , and she believes Tran Hiep spent his 51st birthday alone in a notorious detention centre in Ho Chi Minh City after his sudden arrest last month.

Surcharge hit | Online property management platforms are charging renters new fees or pushing them on to paid “memberships” to avoid processing costs associated with card payments after the ban on surcharges.

Equality | More part-time bosses and “co-CEOs” could keep women in leadership and narrow Australia’s gender pay gap, the federal government’s equality agency says . ‘Never met him’ | The leader of a Melbourne Islamic centre allegedly linked to the accused Flydubai hijacker has rejected any connection with the radicalised pilot, saying he never met the suspect, and condemned “violence in all its forms”.

Struhs ‘stonewalling’ | A specialist child safety doctor was “stonewalled” by a child safety officer after repeatedly warning that Elizabeth Struhs would not be safe living with her mother, years before her parents allowed her to die by withdrawing lifesaving medicine, a coronial inquest has heard.

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