Juratowitch stands tall to win ANTM

Melbourne high school student Melissa Juratowitch (R) has been crowned Australia's Next Top Model. Source: AAP

MELBOURNE high school student Melissa Juratowitch has become an accidental hero after winning Australia's Next Top Model.

The 16-year-old won a public vote to claim the Fox8 series from bubbly Nyadak "Duckie" Thot and well-spoken Shanali Martin on Tuesday night at the Star Casino in Sydney.

In a winner-take-all finale, Juratowitch pocketed $20,000 cash from TRESemme, a Nissan Dualis, a modelling contract with IMG and she will also appear on the cover of Harper's Bazaar.

The year 11 student not only never set out to audition for the series, but she was also the shortest model in the competition.

Standing just 173cm, Juratowitch was about five centimetres shy of the height minimum US IMG scouts had stated (5'10") they were looking for when they held auditions earlier this year.

In fact, Juratowitch only went to the auditions as a spectator and was plucked out of the crowd by the judges who are asked her to try out despite her lack of stature.

"I went along to the auditions because I had been along with my mum to watch them every year and I was standing there and all the judges were staring at me," Juratowitch said.

"So I got up on stage and now I am here and it's insane. It's so incredible."

Juratowitch said she's mindful of her height and worked hard during the season to try and put it out of her mind.

"My height has always been an issue during his whole competition," she said.

Australia's Next Top Model started with 15 models and a dozen were eliminated throughout the series on the opinions of Alex Perry, Didier Cohen, Charlotte Dawson and host Jennifer Hawkins.

However, Tuesday's finale was decided purely by viewer votes and the three finalists used social media to try and build their fan base and their votes.

Juratowitch's plans almost came unstuck when her Facebook and Twitter accounts were hacked earlier this month and deleted, forcing her to start again.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pyne reveals plans for university shake-up

AXING compulsory university fees collected to support student services and scrapping Labor's targets to lift participation by disadvantaged students are part of the Coalition's plan to overhaul the higher education system.

Education Minister Christopher Pyne described the student services and amenities fee introduced by Labor as "compulsory student unionism by the backdoor" and the Coalition would abolish it.

He told Fairfax Media that the Coalition would also axe Labor's target to increase participation by those from low socio-economic backgrounds to 20 per cent by 2020.

Instead the government will make "sensible, methodical reform" to encourage those from low socio-economic backgrounds to attend university, he said.

A review of the demand-driven system is one of his top priorities for the higher education system, which could see the return of caps on university places.

He said the review would consider if the demand-driven system was impacting on the quality and reputation of the higher education system.

"It's a very important reputation to maintain and the poison that would undermine that reputation would be a diminution in quality," he said.

The former Labor government abolished caps on the number of Commonwealth-supported university places, helping almost 200,000 more students access higher education.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Poisoned elephant death toll rises

ZIMBABWEAN authorities say at least 81 elephants have been killed for their ivory tusks by poachers using cyanide poison in water holes in a vast western national park.

Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi, in Harare on Tuesday after touring Hwange National Park, said more elephant carcasses were discovered after a first count of more than 40 earlier in the month.

Wildlife department officials said industrial cyanide, used in gold mining, was put in the park's remote water holes, killing smaller animals drinking there and vultures and other predators feeding on the dead animals.

Nine alleged poachers were arrested after rangers tracked them to a cache of ivory hidden in the park.

Zimbabwe's state media reported Tuesday that newly-appointed environment minister Saviour Kasukuwere has vowed harsher jail penalties for poachers.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Labor leader hopefuls praise each other

Voters support Anthony Albanese (pic) over Bill Shorten as Labor leader, a new poll shows. Source: AAP

IT was all smiles and handshakes as Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten faced off at the first Labor leadership debate in Sydney.

The two men outlined their vision for Labor on Tuesday, without ever saying they were better than their opponent.

The event is part of their nationwide campaign to sway rank and file members ahead of the historic vote for Labor's leader under the party's new guidelines.

Mr Shorten started the night by plugging his platform of "Party, Policies and People".

"We cannot gift-wrap the election result. We came second. More than that only 34 in every 100 Australians put a number one next to us," he said.

"We are attacked on the left by minority parties ... we have over a million and a half Australians who have moved their vote from us to the Coalition in the recent years."

He said Labor would win back these people on ideas, positivity and fighting for those who needed a champion.

Meanwhile Mr Albanese - who is running on the slogan "Vision, Unity and Strength" - opened by heralding the reforms that had brought the rank and file to the debate.

Speaking to a packed room of young, old and in-between, Mr Albanese was met with applause when he said the process was giving ownership of the party back to their "main strength" - their members.

The former deputy leader pointed to his credentials as a member who had sat through an opposition and then worked within a difficult parliament to get legislation through.

Mr Albanese said his vision for the party would simply be based upon what people were talking about around the kitchen table, such as better education, health care, child care and job security.

Throughout the night he also pointed to the issue of sustainability, eliciting laughs when he remarked: "climate change didn't end when Tony Abbott became Prime Minister".

As the floor opened up to questions, a man received rousing applause when he asked whether both contenders were prepared to lose an election on a more humane refugee policy.

However, both men defended Labor's tough-love approach, saying they didn't want people to die at sea.

As people quizzed the contenders on a range of issues, including aged care, science and the role of women in the Labor leadership, the difference between the two men's policies were largely indistinguishable.

But Mr Shorten wanted to make it clear that Labor was no longer just about the leader.

"The era of the messiah is over. No more messiahs," Mr Shorten roared to widespread applause.

The men, both dressed in dark suits, white shirts and red ties, ended the night by talking up the attributes of each other, as well as their own.

Labor faithfuls said they hoped the leadership vote would breathe new life to the party.

"It feels like we're part of history being here tonight," Felicity Wade told AAP.

"All of a sudden we've got a stake beyond just working our guts out for the cause."

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

NSW families get up to $250 power rebate

NSW families could receive up to $250 to help manage their electricity bills under this financial year's rebate, the government says.

State Energy Minister Chris Hartcher on Tuesday called on eligible families to take advantage of the energy assistance on offer.

The rebate, which will rise from $125 on 1 July 2013 to $150 by 2014, is available to households who currently receive the Commonwealth Government's Family Tax Benefit A or B.

More than 540,000 families across NSW are eligible to receive the rebate as a credit on their electricity bill, he said.

If families are also eligible to receive the NSW Government's Low Income Household Rebate, households could be saving up to $250 off their electricity bill.

"The process to apply for the rebate has never been easier with an online application form to help busy households receive the assistance measure," he said in a statement.

"The money is there, the funding for assistance is available and so I urge eligible families to submit their application for the 2013/14 financial year."

Families can apply online at www.energy.nsw.gov.au/customers/rebates or by calling the Energy Information Line on 1300 136 888.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kidman supports 'China Hollywood' bid

NICOLE Kidman attended a star-studded event that has seen China's richest man announce plans to spend 50 billion yuan ($A8.79 billion) to build the country's version of Hollywood in the northeastern city of Qingdao.

Wang Jianlin's red carpet event in Qingdao on Sunday underlined his outsized ambitions for China's entertainment industry. Kidman, Ewan McGregor, Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Travolta and Leonardo DiCaprio rubbed elbows with Chinese stars including Zhang Ziyi, Jet Li and Tony Leung at the event in Qingdao, best known for Tsingtao Brewery founded when Germany colonised the city a century ago.

Wang's success in attracting the A-list actors to his launch, held the same day as the Emmy entertainment awards show in Los Angeles, also highlights how the centre of gravity in the global film industry is shifting to the east.

The tycoon said his company, Dalian Wanda Group, will build a state-of-the-art film studio complex in a bid to dominate China's rapidly growing movie market.

The Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis's 20 studios will include a permanent underwater studio and a 10,000 square-metre stage that Wang said would be the world's biggest. The facility will also include an Imax research and development centre, cinemas and China's biggest film and celebrity wax museums. The first phase is planned to open in June 2016 and it will be fully operational by June 2017.

A yacht marina, eight hotels and a theme park will be built to attract tourists.

The company has signed a preliminary deal with "a number of global film and television giants and talent agencies" to shoot about 30 foreign films a year. It did not name the companies.

Wang also hopes to attract more than 50 Chinese production companies to make at least 100 domestic films and TV shows a year at the studios, where sets will simulate locations from Europe, the Middle East and China's Ming and Qing dynasties.

He predicted China's film market would become the world's biggest in five years, and compared it to a big cake that foreign studios would love to share.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Former KAP candidate facing army sacking

AN Iraq War veteran and former Senate candidate is fighting attempts by the Australian Defence Force to sack him.

Bernard Gaynor is facing a "notice to show cause for termination" from Chief of the Defence Force David Hurley.

Mr Gaynor has come under fire for controversial comments on social media about Islam, women and homosexuality.

The former Katter's Australian Party Queensland Senate candidate had his preselection revoked earlier this year after saying he did not want his children taught by gay teachers.

Mr Gaynor claims he is the victim of a miscarriage of justice and breach of procedural fairness.

"If my commission is terminated, it will be because I have defended Catholic beliefs from public attack," Mr Gaynor said in a statement.

"It will be an unjust punishment that will become a badge of honour. I will proudly take it to my grave and fearlessly wear it when I face my God and Eternal King."

The Army Reserve intelligence officer and father-of-five claimed he had been cleared of wrongdoing by two military investigations but remained concerned about the fate of his career.

In a leaked minute dated August 22, General Hurley questioned Mr Gaynor's ability to uphold the values of the Australian Army.

"Your public comments demonstrate attitudes that are demeaning and demonstrate intolerance of homosexual persons, transgender persons and women and are contrary to the ... cultural change currently being undertaken within the Army," he said.

A Defence spokeswoman said General Hurley had yet to consider Mr Gaynor's response to correspondence.

"During the decision making process, Defence will not publicly discuss deliberations concerning an individual's service in the Australian Defence Force," she said in a statement.

She said Mr Gaynor would be advised of the outcomes in due course.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Delhi gang-rape convicts set to appeal

FOUR men sentenced to death in the Delhi gang-rape case are likely to appeal, their lawyers say.

A special trial court handed down the sentences on September 13 after finding them guilty in the fatal gang rape of a 23-year-old student in December.

The case was referred to the Delhi High Court for confirmation of the sentence, which on Monday directed jail authorities to produce the men before it on Tuesday.

"Production warrants have been issued, now the court will inquire whether they want to challenge the sentence," said AP Singh, the lawyer representing two of the defendants.

"My clients have decided to appeal against the sentence and that is what we will inform the court. We can file the appeal within 30 days from the date of verdict," he said.

VK Anand and Vivek Sharma, lawyers for other defendants, also confirmed they would begin appeals.

"They have retained us as lawyers, barring last minute changes. The High Court will hear arguments from the prosecution and defence before deciding on the matter," Anand said.

The appeal could take up to a year, Indian media outlets reported citing legal experts.

A death sentence can be challenged in the High Court and the Supreme Court, after which the defendant can file a mercy petition with the president.

The Delhi gang rape led to protests across the country and international outrage, prompting the government to amend laws to apply stricter punishments for rape including the death penalty if the victim died or was left in a vegetative state.

The police charged six people initially. The case against one of the accused was dropped after he was found hanged in his cell in jail during the trial. The sixth accused, a juvenile, was found guilty by a juvenile court and sent to a correctional home for three years.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

East Timor bans martial arts clubs

EAST Timor police say there will be zero tolerance against those who continue to practice a local martial art after the government banned all clubs following deadly gang violence.

At least 12 East Timorese have been killed and more than 200 injured in the past two years as a result of fighting among rival pencak silat clubs, said Armando Monteiro, National Police detective chief, on Monday.

Two were killed in neighbouring Indonesia, while other deaths and injuries have occurred as far away as England and Ireland.

He said the number of casualties is likely higher since many people are afraid to report gang activity or go to the hospital for treatment.

"Any martial arts clubs members that violate the government resolution will be dealt with under the law," Monteiro said. There will be "zero tolerance for martial arts activities in the country".

Schools and clubs for pencak silat, an adapted form of the Indonesian martial art, have a long history in East Timor, with many students in the past fighting against Indonesia's military occupation.

They also became active clandestine members in supporting guerrilla fighters and some made significant contributions toward winning the country's independence in 2002.

Later, martial arts students became rivals and began killing each other in the streets, as happened in 2006 during a violent political crisis that left dozens dead and tens of thousands displaced in the tiny half-island nation.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Turnbull called for NBN Co board's scalps

The communications minister has asked the NBN Co board to resign, a spokesman confirmed. Source: AAP

LABOR says the "trashing" of the national broadband network has begun after Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull asked NBN Co board members to resign last week.

A spokesman for Mr Turnbull confirmed late on Monday night that Mr Turnbull made the request ahead of the board meeting last Friday.

He declined to confirm NBN Co chairwoman Siobhan McKenna and all but one of her board colleagues have since offered their resignations.

The spokesman told AAP there may be an announcement about new board members soon.

It is understood the matter will be considered at a meeting of the federal cabinet as early as next Tuesday.

"And so the trashing of the national broadband network has begun," Labor communications spokesman Anthony Albanese said on Monday.

The resignations may relate to Mr Turnbull's comment earlier this month that while he had no criticism of individual members "it is remarkable that there is nobody on that board who has either run or built or been responsible for building or managing a large telecommunications network".

"Given that is the core business of NBN Co, that is a singular deficiency", Mr Turnbull said.

Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten said the Abbott government would stack the NBN Co board with its "friends".

The Abbott government has flagged at least three examinations into broadband: an independent audit of NBN Co's books, a review of its commercial progress and a Productivity Commission inquiry into broadband policy.

It wants to cut down the cost and speed up the rollout by changing from a fibre-to-the-premises to a fibre-to-the-node model.

NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley, who also sits on the board, announced his retirement in July but remains in the job during the transition.

Former Telstra boss Ziggy Switkowski has been flagged as a possible replacement for Mr Quigley.

The NBN Co website makes no mention of the resignations, but states: "This website is currently under review, pending the introduction of new government policy."

Liberal frontbencher Mitch Fifield said the government would ensure there was "good and appropriate governance" of the NBN.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More