Mining magnate Palmer resigns from LNP

Billionaire Clive Palmer says he isn't worried about being kicked out of the Liberal National Party. Source: AAP

CLIVE Palmer says he has resigned from the Liberal National Party, despite receiving a letter that he said reinstated his membership to the Queensland party.

The mining billionaire said he was resigning from the LNP because he didn't want to "become the issue".

"It's important that with the critical issues facing the state, I don't become the issue," he told ABC's Lateline program.

"So I discussed the issue with my wife and at 8.30pm (AEST) tonight I thought the best course of action for me would be to resign from the LNP straight away."

Mr Palmer said he had received a letter by the LNP president's executive committee confirming his suspension had been lifted as of Thursday morning.

Mr Palmer was suspended from the party on November 9.

The LNP executive was set to meet on Friday morning to decide whether the life member will remain in the party.

Mr Palmer told AAP earlier there was no way he would have been expelled from the party, because there had been no complaint made against him.

He said his resignation would now allow him to speak more honestly because he "wasn't restrained in any way".

"It's a bit of a shock to me to leave a party I've been a member for 43 years, and to leave in such circumstances.

"But I weighed everything up and I think it's very brave and courageous of the state executive of the LNP to restore my suspension and lift that as they did."

He reiterated earlier comments that the Queensland government was too heavily influenced by lobbyists and by business.

He said senior political figures had threatened his business interests because he'd spoken out politically.

"Well, I believe that to be true.

"I believe that our interests have been threatened because of the political stands that I've taken by people, and I think that's wrong.

"I don't want my employees to bear any burden because of the stands I've taken on what I thought was right."

But Mr Palmer did not rule out a future political role, including the possibility of setting up his own party.

"I certainly will remain interested and I certainly won't be silenced by anybody when I see people being persecuted in this country."

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Smartphone users: watch for online tricks

ATTENTION smartphone shoppers: watch for cyber criminals using phony apps or messages in an effort to hijack your device or steal your data.

Law enforcement and security experts say that as more people use their mobile devices in stores and on open Wi-Fi networks, the risks are increasing as well.

The FBI-backed Internet Crime Complaint Center is warning consumers to be on the lookout for fraudulent apps, messages and Wi-Fi networks which can trick users of mobile devices to divulge passwords, personal data or credit card numbers.

"Many times, e-mails, texts or phone calls will look or sound like they are coming from a well-known retailer, stating a need to 'verify' the full credit card number you used for a purchase or ask you to click a link to update personal account information," the center said.

The center said Android devices are often targeted by spyware, including one system called FinFisher, capable of taking a mobile device, or Loozfon, "an information-stealing piece of malware."

Security firm McAfee's Gary Davis said that as the popularity of apps surges, "so have the chances that you could download a malicious application designed to steal your information or even send out premium-rate text messages without your knowledge."

Davis said some fraudsters are using Twitter ads offering special discounts for popular gifts, linking to malicious software.

"Criminals are getting savvier with authentic-looking social ads and deals that take consumers to legitimate looking websites," Davis said.

"In order to take advantage of the deals or contests, they ask them for personal information that can obtain a shopper's credit card number, email address, phone number or home address."

Lookout, a security firm offering free apps for Android and iPhone, also urges prudence.

"Be careful what you do on public Wi-Fi networks especially when you're shopping. Do not expose passwords, account numbers or credit card information unless you are certain that you are on a secure connection," a company statement said.

"Use discretion when downloading apps. Even the most innocent-looking shopping app can contain software designed to steal personal data, make fraudulent charges or even hijack your phone. Only download apps from sites you trust."

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Five charged with Sydney home invasions

FIVE men have been charged in relation to a number of home invasions and armed robberies across Sydney.

Police say two of the men allegedly broke into a man's home at Haberfield, in Sydney's inner-west, at 5.30am (AEST) on Thursday.

The duo allegedly struck the man with a wooden bat before stealing the keys to his car.

They then fled the scene with a group of males outside the house.

Officers later located the stolen car at a fast food restaurant car park about 5km away at Hurlstone Park.

They arrested five men aged between 16 and 19 and later charged them with a number of other offences, including armed robbery and aggravated break, enter and steal.

It is alleged the five were involved in several other home invasion and armed robbery incidents within the Sydney metropolitan area.

All five were refused bail, with four to appear at Bidura Children's Court on Friday, and the other to appear at Central Local Court on Friday.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Toshiba makes dog-like robot for Fukushima

JAPANESE nuclear reactor maker Toshiba has unveiled a remote-controlled robot resembling a headless dog that they hope will be used at the battered Fukushima power plant.

The tetrapod, which weighs 65 kilograms and is about one metre tall, is designed to be able to cover difficult terrain - such as going up steep steps - that regular robots struggle with.

The robot's triple-jointed legs are designed to give it maximum flexibility, with engineers saying it will be able to go into spaces where high radiation makes it impossible for workers to do so.

The robot can carry a load of 20 kilograms and is equipped with cameras and a radiation metre, expected to help workers decide which parts of buildings are safe to enter and for how long.

The machine can also carry a small wired vehicle equipped with a camera and send it out to crawl into small spaces to carry out inspections.

Toshiba engineer Goro Yanase on Wednesday said the as-yet unnamed robot could be upgraded to carry more than 80 kilograms, climb ladders and step over obstacles up to 50 centimetres high.

Robots have already been used inside the wrecked plant to take video footage, including the US-made PackBot and Japanese-made Quince crawler robots, but Toshiba is awaiting the go ahead from plant operator TEPCO to deploy its creation.

The massive earthquake and tsunami of March 11 last year sparked an atomic emergency at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in the northeast of the country.

Efforts to clear up after the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986 are still continuing, with high levels of radiation hampering operations.

The decommissioning of the crippled plant is expected to take several decades.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

World-first study to probe blood cancer

BLOOD cancer patients are being encouraged to bring along a family member to participate in a world-first study hoping to uncover the causes of follicular lymphoma.

Researchers from the University of New South Wales are launching a unique study into the causes of follicular lymphoma, one of the most common types of a rare group of blood cancers, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The study will survey patients currently being treated for the cancer along with a family member without the disease.

They'll be questioned on their lifestyle and occupation, and samples of their DNA will be taken.

It's a world-first study which tries to uncover why some members of a family develop the disease, while others don't.

"In families we share genes and share exposures, so this is using a rather novel way of designing the study, to try and find out what's different between two brothers or sisters," the study's leader, associate professor Claire Vajdic told AAP.

"This is the first time we've targeted the most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma to better understand why it occurs and what factors contribute to it and identify potential treatments."

The study has already begun in Victoria, and the university is now looking for participants in NSW.

"Even though is a very common disease, we need to conduct a study in two states so that we get meaningful results," Ms Vajdic said.

The study has been prompted because of an "epidemic" of new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with incidences increasing by 40 per cent in the last 25 years.

While the reasons behind this are not clear, researchers believe it may have something to do with occupational exposures to pesticides and insolvents.

That's why study participants will have their blood samples collected to search for pesticides and see why they've developed.

Ms Vajdic said the potential for the study's findings could be big.

"It's an incurable disease at this stage.

"We want to identify the risk factors for this disease to target better programs to guide people on how they can reduce their risk of developing it."

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Grassroots approach to alcohol works:study

CO-ORDINATED community action reduces excessive alcohol consumption and associated risks in rural communities, a ground-breaking NSW research program has shown.

The Alcohol Action in Rural Communities project saw a 20 per cent reduction in average alcohol consumption and a 33 per cent reduction in alcohol-related street offences in test communities.

There was also a 30 per cent reduction in the number of residents drinking at levels placing them at high-risk of alcohol-related violence, accidents and injuries.

The project represents the largest and most rigorous evaluation of a community approach to reducing alcohol consumption and related risks ever undertaken anywhere in the world.

Comprising 13 evidence-based community-led interventions over a five-year period, the project involved 20 NSW rural communities - 10 experimental and 10 control.

The experimental communities included Corowa, Forbes, Grafton, Griffith, Gunnedah, Inverell, Kempsey, Leeton, Parkes and Tumut.

Interventions included high school-based interactive sessions on alcohol risks, improved GP prescribing of anti-alcohol medication and targeting high-risk weekends by local police.

Report author, Associate Professor Anthony Shakeshaft, from the University of NSW's National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, said the project showed tailored community driven intervention worked in decreasing the negative impacts of alcohol in rural communities.

"There tends to be higher rates of drinking in rural areas and more harms, such as crashes involving drunk drivers," Prof Shakeshaft told AAP.

"By researching in these small communities we were also able to see the ripple effect of interventions over time in a more marked way than would be possible in a large city."

Mr Shakeshaft said the interventions had been inexpensive to implement, costing $61,000 per community, and had returned a cost benefit.

"Our research estimates that for every $1 spent on interventions the community gets about $1.50 back," he said.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Shoppers to spend locally this Christmas

A NEW survey has found both good and bad news for retailers as the crucial Christmas season looms.

While 80 per cent of consumers intend to buy locally this festive season - either at the shops or through local websites - 36 per cent intend to spend less on gifts than last year because they feel less confident in their financial position.

The Suncorp Bank Christmas Retail Therapy Report found only 12 per cent were feeling more confident and would spend more than 2011, while 52 per cent were looking to spend the same.

"While there are some positive signs that things are moving in the right direction this Christmas, consumer confidence does remain fragile," Suncorp Bank executive general manager Craig Fenwick said in releasing the survey on Wednesday.

"With a competitive global retail market, businesses must remain innovative to target the discerning customer."

Sixty per cent of the 1004 survey respondents said they would be tackling the crowds to buy their gifts at the shops, while one in five said they would play it safe and choose gift certificates.

Around 60 per cent of people said they would be spending less than $500 in total in Christmas gifts, including presents largely for the children, with only 15 per cent set aside for the woman in their lives and 16 per cent for their man.

While eight per cent will spend more on mum's present, Mr Fenwick said dads were the forgotten member of the family, with less than one per cent of respondents choosing to spoil them the most this festive season.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man arrested on theft of 9 mn data files

GREEK police say they have arrested a man on suspicion of having stolen nine million Greek personal data files - which would cover nearly the entire population of the country of about 10 million people.

Police say the 35-year-old, whose name was not released, was found in possession of the data files that included identity card details, tax numbers, vehicle license plate numbers and home addresses. The files appeared to include duplicate entries, meaning the number of actual individuals affected could be lower.

Authorities are investigating how the man, who faces felony charges of data theft, came into possession of the files and whether he intended to sell the list.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Australian workers are stressed: study

THERE are millions of stressed workers in Australia and half of them feel uncomfortable talking about mental health with their bosses.

New research by The Australia Institute, to be launched on Wednesday, showing work hours and workplace culture, is causing an epidemic of workplace-related stress and anxiety affecting around three million employees.

The study found one in two workers were uncomfortable discussing mental health with their manager and many believed their bosses lacked skills to discuss sensitive workplace issues.

The Australia Institute's executive director Richard Denniss said people working for small businesses were almost twice as likely as colleagues in bigger organisations to report a "very good" workplace culture.

They were also twice as likely to report their manager's skills in talking about mental health problems were very good compared with those working for larger employers.

Ms Carnell said every Australian workplace manager should view the e-learning programs on the beyondblue website or book a face-to-face training session to improve how they dealt with depression and anxiety among employees.

ACTU President Ged Kearney and beyondblue chief Kate Carnell will discuss the issue of improving productivity through healthier workplaces at the National Press Club launch.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mind fitness a no-brainer

EXERCISING your memory is just as important as working out your body, says Jennifer Goddard, convenor of the Australian Memory Championships.

A recent Newspoll survey found Australians are a forgetful bunch, with 58 per cent reporting trouble remembering names and 36 per cent having trouble recalling phone numbers, pins and passwords.

Furthermore, 81 per cent those surveyed working full or part-time thought an improved memory would help with their job.

On Saturday, the 10th annual Australian Memory Championship will be held in Brisbane, aimed at enhancing mind power by providing a fun and competitive outlet for memory-based activities.

Competitors range in age from eight to 43, travelling from the Philippines, Japan, and Hong Kong to take part.

Ms Goddard said there were many ways people could improve their memory, with lifestyle factors playing a vital role in supporting brain and memory health.

"Some memory improving activities include giving your memory a workout, having a brain-healthy diet that includes DHA Omega 3, and exercising daily", she said.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More