Dozens suspended in Harvard cheat scandal

Around 60 students at Harvard University have been suspended in a mass cheating scandal. Source: AAP

AROUND 60 students at Harvard University have been suspended and others disciplined in a mass cheating scandal at the elite college, the campus newspaper reports.

The Harvard Crimson quoted an email from Faculty of Arts and Sciences dean Michael Smith that said more than half of the cases heard by administrators in the scandal, which erupted last year, had resulted in suspension orders.

About half of the other students under investigation were disciplined in some other, unspecified fashion, the Crimson reported. Officials at Harvard could not be immediately reached for confirmation.

The scandal first became public in August when Harvard said that as many as 125 students were suspected of helping each other in a final exam.

The university said a large number of undergraduates "may have inappropriately collaborated on answers, or plagiarized classmates' responses, on the final exam for the course."

Harvard, a college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, near Boston, is one of the most exclusive universities in the world, with students paying about $US63,000 ($A60,702.41) per year to attend.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Brake failure ruled out in Qld train crash

QUEENSLAND Transport Minister Scott Emerson says Fair Work Australia has debunked union claims that a passenger train crash was caused by brake failure.

Queensland Rail and police are investigating how a Brisbane train left the tracks and smashed into a toilet block at Cleveland station on Thursday.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) said its members would not drive the model of train involved over safety concerns, but was ordered to cease the ban by Fair Work Australia.

Mr Emerson said Fair Work Australia had informed him there was no evidence to support brake failure being an issue.

He said the RTBU should allow the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to complete investigations.

"Fair Work Australia has ordered the union to cease their bans to allow the investigation into the cause of the Cleveland incident to take place," Mr Emerson said in a statement.

"I welcome the decision by Fair Work Australia, and I urge the union to let Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) get on with their investigation."

Mr Emerson said the train underwent a full inspection on January 9 and it was not the first train to travel on that line that day.

The RTBU has been sought for comment.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Woman nabbed for salary sacrifice fraud

A BRISBANE woman has been charged with stealing salary-sacrifice money from government and other workers.

Police refused to say how much money was involved but it's believed it could run into millions of dollars.

The 58-year-old allegedly misappropriated the money while she was working for a finance company managing salary sacrifice contracts for government and non-government employees.

She is facing two counts of fraud and two counts of fraudulently falsifying records.

She was arrested after investigations by the Fraud and Corporate Crime Group.

She's due to face the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gallery celebrates nation's leading ladies

THEY'RE Australia's "First Ladies".

Not to be mistaken for prime minister's wives - they're more the pioneering kind.

The National Portrait Gallery's latest exhibition illustrates the accomplishments of Australian women in medicine, politics, academia, arts, sports, science and business.

Curator Joanna Gilmour says her exhibit First Ladies: Significant Australian Women 1913-2013 provides a visual display of just how far women have progressed in society over the past 100 years.

"It starts off with portraits of two women who were very much engaged in the suffragette movement just before the first world war," she said.

"As you go around the gallery you get a chronological walkthrough of women's achievements in the 20th century.

"By the time you finish you end up at the portrait of the current Prime Minister (Julia Gillard)."

Olympian Cathy Freeman, Nobel Prize winner Elizabeth Blackburn and aviatrix Nancy Bird Walton are just a few of the faces proudly displayed on the walls.

However, the main feature of the gallery is businesswoman Imelda Roche AO.

Ms Roche co-founded Nutrimetics International (Australia) Pty Ltd in 1968 before acquiring the world-wide interest of the company 23 years later.

In 1997 she sold the group to the Sara Lee Corporation.

She told AAP her granddaughter had asked her on Thursday why she was chosen as the main feature.

"I said I have absolutely no idea, but I'm going to ask the question and by the time I come back tomorrow I will have an intelligent answer," Ms Roche said.

And has she found it?

"It's an enormous honour, I don't understand quite why. But at the end of the day I hope to," she said.

Ms Roche's portrait, by artist Paul Newton, will be on display until June 16.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tattoo industry revamp to stamp out bikies

TATTOO artists and parlour owners in NSW will have to apply for new licences in a move aimed at cleaning up an industry that has become "a feeding ground" for bikie gangs.

Police Minister Michael Gallacher says parlour owners will undergo stringent police checks and will need new licences from February 1.

Under the new requirements, anyone found to have criminal associations or a criminal history related to bikie gangs will be deemed ineligible for the licence, and therefore unable to operate.

All licences will be regulated by the Fair Trading department before being signed off by the police commissioner.

"For far too long the tattoo industry has been a feeding ground for outlaw motorcycle gangs," Mr Gallacher told reporters in Sydney on Thursday.

"And it's not just about licensing ... operators will be required to keep extensive records. A number of these organisations are a front for money laundering," he said.

"The record keeping, as well as the ability of police to walk onto premises without a warrant, is a significant advancement in terms of the police ability to address the concerns in relation to organised crime".

Businesses caught operating without a licence after October 1 this year face an $11,000 fine, plus a further $11,000 for each day they continue to operate. Tattoo artists will also be fined $5,500.

Acting NSW Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas said police would be on the lookout for tattoo parlours operated by "cleanskins" - people with no criminal record - but run by those associated with outlaw motorcycle gangs.

"If they continue to do this business, they're going to find it very hard. They will struggle to get a licence under this regime and they're going to have to get out of business," Mr Kaldas said.

The Fair Trading department has welcomed the move and says the licensing will support legitimate operators by removing criminal elements from the industry.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tony Windsor opens social media accounts

MP Tony Windsor has launched new social media accounts but denies it is the start of his campaign. Source: AAP

FEDERAL independent MP Tony Windsor has launched two new social media accounts, but denies the move is the start of his re-election campaign.

The 62-year-old member for New England, in northern NSW, published his tonywindsormp Twitter and Facebook sites on Thursday.

The independent held the seat in 2010 with a thumping 61.88 per cent of the vote but faces a voter backlash over his support for the minority Labor government.

Mr Windsor said he'd been reluctant to join social media sites because he was "more focused on getting things done, rather than telling people about it".

But a young supporter at a recent meeting in Tamworth persuaded him to take the plunge.

Mr Windsor denied the move was the start of his election campaign, despite the accounts being published a day after Prime Minister Julia Gillard called the September 14 poll.

"I'm glad the Prime Minister has announced the date of the election so far in advance, as I believe it gives people and businesses certainty," Mr Windsor said.

"But that doesn't mean I'm going to start campaigning for the next parliament."

Mr Windsor confirmed last year he would run again for New England.

By 1pm (AEST) on Thursday the MP had not sent a tweet but had attracted more than 1000 followers.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mali rebels may move to Libya: UN official

THE UN's special representative for Libya has warned the Security Council that France's military offensive in northern Mali may drive Islamic insurgents out and across the porous borders with Algeria and into Libya.

UN officials including peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous have said that the Islamist occupation of northern Mali was partly triggered by the downfall of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, as well-trained militiamen fled into Mali with looted heavy weapons, driving back the Malian army.

UN special representative for Libya Tarek Mitri told the Security Council that "the opposition of armed radical groups to the military intervention in Mali may exacerbate the situation (in Libya) given ideological and/or ethnic affiliations as well as porous borders in Libya".

Mitri said that he was also concerned about the continued detention of several thousand people as a result of the Libyan conflict.

He told reporters that some 7000 detainees are held in Libya, most of them in cells run by the anti-Gaddafi revolutionary brigades.

"There have been cases of torture in the past," but conditions are improving as more prisoners are transferred to state-controlled prisons.

"There are still a few cases of torture, but only a few," Mitri added.

Although about 20,000 revolutionary brigade members have joined the new Libyan army or police forces, about 200,000 armed men "are not ready to get absorbed" into the new Libyan institutions, adding to the instability, Mitri told reporters.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Motorbikes ok to weave in Sydney trial

SYDNEY'S motorbike riders will be able to "lane filter" with impunity under a road safety trial.

It is illegal in NSW for motorbikes to overtake slow or stopped cars by weaving between lanes, but the practice will be permitted in some inner Sydney streets during a two-month trial to see whether it can safely help ease congestion.

The trial in March-April will be monitored by the CBD Motorcycle Response Team.

The Centre for Road Safety's General Manager, Marg Prendergast, said the trial will test the benefits to Sydney's traffic flow.

"This trial needs to take place to ensure it improves traffic flow while not jeopardising road safety for all road users," Ms Prendergast said in a statement on Wednesday.

The exemption means motorcyclists will be able to ride past stopped vehicles at specifically chosen intersections, travelling within the lane, on the lane line and/or into the next lane.

They won't be able to filter when there is moving traffic, bus lines or intersection queues.

The practice will be allowed on Sydney roads including George Street, Hickson Road, Sussex Street, Market Street, St James Road and Macquarie Street.

Lane filtering will remain banned on the Cahill Expressway, Western Distributor and Harbour Bridge.

The findings of the trial will be released later in the year.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

No flooding inside Brisbane homes: mayor

HOMES in Brisbane have been spared serious damage so far, with no reports of water above the floorboards as the Brisbane River flood peak hits, Mayor Graham Quirk says.

"Obviously, underneath the homes there's been several cases of (flooding)," he said.

But there was no indication waters had gone inside living areas.

"At this stage anyway, it's good news," Mr Quirk said.

He said there might be homes flooded in trouble-prone areas such as Rocklea, but there were no reports at this stage.

"Once this peak concludes, we'll get a situation report over the whole city."

Brisbane River flood gauges at 11am (AEST) were sitting around the two-metre mark and were not expected to rise higher than 2.3m, slightly lower than the projected 2.6m peak.

But Mr Quirk said high tides in coming days could see the river rise again.

"I don't want anyone to take their foot off the pedal at this stage. Don't become complacent," he said.

Areas of concern in western suburbs like Moggill and Jindalee were peaking a metre below expectations, he said.

But Mr Quirk said levels would stay high as water continued to flow in from the west.

"Again, just be diligent," he said.

"It could have been a lot worse. Still, we have to help people who have been affected in whatever way they have."

Residents in Brisbane and surrounding areas are being urged to conserve water after the Mt Crosby Water Treatment Plant was shut down.

Seqwater says turbidity in the Brisbane River, which prompted the plant to go offline, is expected to take up to 48 hours to dissipate.

CEO Terri Benson says current demand is being met and will continue to be met if water is conserved.

University student Angus Bushnell, 22, and his mates are making the most of their "waterfront views" outside their high-set rental home at Milton in inner Brisbane.

"We didn't sleep here last night because we did not want to risk it," Mr Bushnell told AAP while dangling his feet in water from the comfort of a chair set out in the front yard overlooking the mini lake that's formed in the middle of the street.

"We still have electricity and the water is not as high as yesterday. It's been pretty tame.

"We've always wanted waterfront views. We're calling it our beach house."

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nova Peris wins NT Senate pre-selection

Olympian Nova Peris is set be endorsed for the top spot on Labor's NT Senate ticket. Source: AAP

NOVA Peris has officially won pre-selection to run as a Labor Senate candidate in the Northern Territory.

The ALP national executive confirmed the Olympic athlete had been pre-selected on Tuesday, prevailing over four other candidates.

"It's a vote of confidence I am determined to live up to," Ms Peris told reporters in Darwin.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard personally drafted Ms Peris, causing tension in the party because she effectively dumped sitting NT Labor senator Trish Crossin.

Ms Peris said it had been a tough period for her, after accusations of misusing government funds for a girl's academy she champions and revelations she was picked up for drink-driving in the ACT.

"The personal attacks have been hurtful," she said. "But over the years as an athlete I've got thick skin."

She said it was the process by which she was chosen that had caused anger, but she didn't believe many people would refuse an offer from the prime minister to represent their people.

"Just being asked in the first place was a huge honour," she said.

ALP national secretary George Wright said Ms Peris would be a strong representative for the Northern Territory and for indigenous Australians if elected to the Senate later this year, as expected.

"Nova's record of achievement in sport is well known to many Australians," Mr Wright said in a statement.

"Importantly, what she also brings to this role is a strong record of work, commitment and achievement in improving, health and education outcomes for indigenous kids."

Mr Wright said it was inconsistent with Labor's values and its proud record of commitment to indigenous Australians that the party had never been represented in the federal parliament by an indigenous Australian.

Ms Peris said she was a proud Territorian.

"This is my home, always was, always will be," she said.

"I'm a Cyclone Tracy survivor, a genuine product of territory success and toughness."

The Olympic gold medallist said as a young girl she had dreamt big and succeeded when everyone else said she could not.

"There is no stronger message for young kids in disadvantaged communities than to see one of their own succeed," she said.

"That, if nothing else, is one of the great values of my preselection."

Ms Peris said to tackle indigenous problems, the NT needed the right programs, put together and run by the right people with full engagement of the those they were designed to help.

Before the election she will meet as many people as possible to help her develop a plan to break the cycle of disparity for Aboriginal communities in the Territory.

"This is where I feel I can play a key role," she said.

As a single mother and a former housing commission tenant, Ms Peris says she understands what the average Australian is up against.

"I'm not blind to our problems and I aim to be part of our solutions," she said.

"I know there is a lot to learn and I may make mistakes but ultimately I want people to judge me on what I can deliver for my fellow Territorians."

Ms Peris said she had worked hard to provide educational support for Aboriginal girls through her academies, raised awareness of depression and sought to tackle alcohol and drug issues.

"I am Nova Peris," she said.

"Being the best Nova Peris is all I've ever aspired to be.

"I'm not perfect. I've made mistakes but I'll try to pursue excellence at all times."

People within Labor had approached her and asked for help, Ms Peris said.

"I've never gone out of my way and said 'pick me'," she said.

Asked if she thought being hand-picked by the prime minister would make it difficult to oppose Ms Gillard in the future, she said: "Not at all".

The hostility within NT Labor around her preselection signalled there is much to do bringing the party together, Ms Peris said.

"There's a lot of groundwork to be done and I've said yes, I'm ready for the challenges.

"Once the dust settles, I'm looking forward to the future."

Her introduction to politics had been tougher than expected but Ms Peris said she was determined to help Labor to an election win later this year.

"I didn't win two gold medals in two different sports by pretending that nothing was easy in life," she said.

"I'm up for the challenges. I'll be working with the right people.

"I've worked in government in Canberra, and I've seen how policies have come about. I've seen failed policies. I've seen billions of dollars just get wasted down the drain."

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Govt to unveil new digital economy project

THE federal government is launching a new $40 million-a-year research project to try and make the digital economy the key driver of the nation's wealth in post-mining boom Australia.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and the national science agency, the CSIRO, will formally launch the project on Tuesday at an event in Sydney attended by the inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

Head of the new Digital Productivity and Services Flagship, CSIRO's Dr Ian Oppermann will tell the launch that stalling productivity growth and the end of the mining boom are major threats to the national economy that must be addressed.

By helping business and governments deliver better, faster services and creating new commercial opportunities via the internet the CSIRO hopes to increase productivity and provide a $4 billion-a-year boost to the nation's balance sheet by 2025.

"Australia's economic prospects beyond the current resources boom will deteriorate significantly if the decline in our productivity growth performance is not reversed," Dr Oppermann told AAP ahead of the launch.

"A successful digital economy is essential for Australia's economic growth and to maintain our international standing."

The CSIRO flagship, which is Australia's largest ever publicly-funded digital economy research project, may last for up to 10 years and will primarily focus on ways to improve public and private services.

The services sector currently provides about 80 per cent of Australia's gross domestic product but is among those to have experienced a decline in productivity growth.

"While some of our work will be in labs, most of it will happen out in businesses and departments across Australia; finding ways to apply technology to improve the way they deliver their services," Dr Oppermann said.

The CSIRO is working on the basis that most Australians will have access to high-speed broadband internet.

As part of the project, the agency is already looking at ways to reduce waiting times and identify bottlenecks in Queensland hospitals by developing software predicting how many patients will arrive at emergency departments.

It's also looking at smarter ways of responding to emergencies - such as the floods currently affecting Queensland - by monitoring what's being said on publicly available social media sites.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Indigenous ALP members protest nomination

INDIGENOUS Labor Party members in the Northern Territory are planning to flood the party's national executive with nominations for the top Senate spot, in protest at the prime minister's intervention in the preselection process.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who last week endorsed Olympian Nova Peris as the ALP's top pick on the NT Senate ticket, effectively shut out rank-and-file members from the decision-making process.

ALP member and Senate pre-selection candidate Marion Scrymgour told AAP that Aboriginal members in the NT intended to protest against the prime minister's decision.

"Applications are going to be sent to the national executive before the deadline today by Aboriginal members of the ALP," Ms Scrymgour said.

"The move is a protest and a signal to the national executive and prime minister that we don't accept what she has done.

"There will be a flood (of applications).

"Word has got out. I couldn't give you an exact number."

Ms Scrymgour, an Aboriginal woman who has a long history in NT politics, said she knew her application was futile but she would be sending it anyway.

"It has made me cranky and insulted that she (Ms Gillard) could think that all Aboriginal people need is a sport star," she said.

If all Ms Gillard wanted was a "black face" in parliament to represent the ALP, there were plenty of choices in the party, she said.

Ms Scrymgour said she wasn't preselected because she had spoken out against the federal intervention in Aboriginal communities that has been supported by the ALP since it was introduced by a coalition government.

Aboriginal ALP member from Alice Springs, Des Rogers, told ABC Radio he would also protest by nominating for the pre-selection ballot.

"Just to let people know in Canberra that for one, there is one indigenous person in the Territory that's been a long-term Labor member, has campaign experience, and I've nominated," he said.

Another prominent indigenous ALP politician in the NT, Karl Hampton, has also signalled he will lodge an application.

The party's national executive, made up of federal MPs including the prime minister, the party's national president Jenny McAllister and others, will decide representation on the NT ticket.

The national executive is expected to announce on Tuesday that Ms Peris has been officially installed as the party's top Senate pick.

Given the voting patterns of the NT, she would be a virtual certainty to be elected to office.

Current NT senator for the ALP Trish Crossin has also spoken out against the prime minister's backing of Ms Peris.

On Monday, a spokeswoman for Senator Crossin said the senator would be in Darwin for Tuesday's decision and would be making a statement afterwards.

A spokesman for Ms Peris said he was aware of reports a number of people were planning to apply for the Senate nomination, but he did not know who had done so.

He said Ms Peris was very excited ahead of Tuesday's decision.

"She is hopeful she will get the preselection and is looking forward to the challenge," he said.

Ms Peris will make a statement in Darwin after the preselection announcement.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Worse to come for Sunshine Coast: mayor

THE Sunshine Coast's mayor has urged residents in flood prone areas to evacuate before it's too late.

Mark Jamieson says the region, north of Brisbane, had already experienced flooding and is being battered with torrential rain as ex-tropical cyclone Oswald continues its way south along Queensland's east coast.

But Mr Jamieson has warned the worst is yet to come for the Sunshine Coast, with the low pressure system not expected to hit the region until later on Sunday.

He said residents could expect more heavy rain, damaging wind gusts of up to 125km/h and storm surges.

It was almost inevitable that homes would be inundated, he said.

"With that amount of rainfall - and there may be more intense spells within the system - I anticipate that may be the case," he told AAP.

"That's why I urge those people who may be afraid of that (flooding) or have experienced that in the past, that the time to get to higher ground is now.

"Don't leave it any longer. It's only going to get worse."

Three evacuation centres - at Nambour, Noosa and Caloundra - have been set up.

Mr Jamieson said roads were likely to be cut later on Sunday, making evacuations impossible.

He said heavy downpours and a high tide earlier on Sunday had already caused localised flooding in some areas.

More than 17,000 homes in the Sunshine Coast area were without power on Sunday afternoon, he said.

The mayor warned residents who were not evacuating to remain inside their homes and resist the urge to sightsee.

"It's absolutely a big issue and if people are safe where they are, they should stay where they are," he said.

"There's no point going out and getting injured."

The Sunshine Coast's Local Disaster Management Group will meet later on Sunday.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Carles wants Fremantle seat re-election

CONTROVERSIAL Fremantle MP Adele Carles has confirmed she will recontest the Fremantle seat at Western Australia's March 9 election.

The independent MP is currently embroiled in a $3 million defamation case brought by her former lover, Treasurer Troy Buswell, after she made several comments about him to the media.

Ms Carles said she was hopeful of serving another term as the member for Fremantle.

"I am the first to admit that the odds are stacked against me, but a win is possible if I poll ahead of the Greens candidate and pick up Greens and Liberal preferences to get across the line," she said.

"The polling indicates that the Liberals will win the election, so now is not a good time for Fremantle to revert to being a safe Labor seat."

The defamation matter is due back in the WA Supreme Court three days before the poll.

The court action began after Ms Carles claimed in a newspaper article that Mr Buswell had been drunk and behaved inappropriately towards seafood empire boss Nick Kailis at a 2011 Christmas party.

Ms Carles also sent a series of controversial tweets that were later deleted.

At a press conference she revealed further personal details of their relationship, even producing a card he sent pleading for a reconciliation.

Mr Buswell's lawyers filed a defamation writ against Ms Carles soon after, seeking aggravated damages from the former Greens MP as well as a "permanent injunction" against her.

The writ alleges Ms Carles defamed Mr Buswell nine times in interviews and on Twitter.

The matter is the latest in a series of embarrassments during Mr Buswell's political career.

He was forced to resign as treasurer in 2010 amid allegations he misused entitlements during his affair with Ms Carles, but was cleared of any wrongdoing.

In 2008, Mr Buswell stood down as WA Liberal leader following allegations of lewd conduct in which he admitted to sniffing the chair of a female Liberal staffer and snapping a Labor staffer's bra.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More