A Melbourne primary school staff member has been suspended amid allegations of "inappropriate" touching of students, the Department of Education has confirmed.

Sites will be blocked but Aussies will escape punishment for illicit downloading under proposals.

The Asian Cup dream of Mitch Nichols is over, with the Perth Glory midfielder set to miss up to eight weeks with a torn hamstring.

The ACT Brumbies or an Olympic Games? That is the agonising choice Tom Cusack had to make between his childhood dream and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to chase a gold medal in Rio.

Share losses have accelerated, as the big banks take another hit, but BHP is the main drag on the benchmark index amid the listing of South32.