Seven die in horror two days on Vic roads

Six people, including a mother and daughter, have lost their lives on Victorian roads. Source: AAP

A MAN in an induced coma will wake up to learn his wife and daughter have been killed and his two sons hospitalised during a horror two days on Victorian roads that claimed seven lives.

The mother and child died after two vehicles crashed head-on on the Princes Highway at Rosedale just before 2.30pm (AEDT) on Friday.

The child died at the scene while the woman in her 40s was pronounced dead after paramedics tried to revive her at the roadside.

The man, in his 40s, was put into an induced coma after suffering injuries to his chest and hip, while his 11-year-old son was critically injured and his four-year-old son hospitalised with minor injuries.

The driver of the second vehicle, a man in his 20s, was taken to hospital with leg and pelvic injuries.

Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill said it had been an incredibly difficult day, with four women, one girl and a man losing their lives in a 12-hour period on Friday.

"You can't even imagine how that particular gentleman will wake up, recovering from injuries and then dealing with the emotional scar that has been caused as a consequence of this collision," Mr Hill said.

The deaths added to the grim toll on a day in which a 70-year-old woman died in a two-car collision in Carwarp, in the state's northwest, and an 18-year-old died after her vehicle crashed into a tree in Mount Evelyn.

About 10.30pm on Friday night a man and woman, both 81, died in a collision on the Western Freeway in Melton.

Three men from the second vehicle were taken to hospital.

On Saturday, a man in his 40s died after his car hit a tree at Cope Cope on the Sunraysia Highway, between St Arnaud and Donald in northwest Victoria.

A motorist came across the car about 5pm.

Mr Hill appealed to all drivers to think about their behaviour on the road.

"These are the days that stick with you forever," he said.

"I can't begin to imagine the feeling of loss those families and their communities must be facing right now."

The state road toll is now 210 compared to 251 at this time last year.

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Abbott coy on spy letter to SBY

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has sent the Indonesian president a letter addressing the spy scandal. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott is remaining tight-lipped about the contents of his letter to the Indonesian president about the spy scandal.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had written to Mr Abbott demanding an official apology and a full explanation as to why Australian spies in 2009 targeted his mobile phone, as well as his wife's and some of his closest confidants.

Indonesia has halted all co-operation with Australia on people smuggling following the phone-tapping controversy.

Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney on Saturday that he had written to Dr Yudhoyono.

"The letter is now in the process of being delivered," he said.

"I think it would be wrong of me to talk about what I've said to the president before the president has actually received it."

Mr Abbott reiterated the government's commitment to a strong relationship between Australia and Indonesia.

"Obviously there will be good days and there will be better days but my determination is to ensure that the relationship is constantly improving," he said.

Tear gas was used to repel protesters on Friday during demonstrations in Jakarta over the spy row.

An Australian flag and pictures of Mr Abbott were set alight.

The Australian embassy was pelted with rocks and eggs, and a mock coffin bearing a photo of Mr Abbott was left on the road in front of the compound.

Dr Yudhoyono tweeted on Saturday that social relations are closer when there is mutual trust, care and co-operation.

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Latvia mourns roof collapse victims

The death toll from a supermarket roof collapse in Latvia reached 49, with 30 people still trapped. Source: AAP

LATVIA is mourning its dead after rescuers spent a second night looking for survivors in the rubble of a Riga supermarket whose roof collapsed, killing at least 52.

The latest body was hauled out at dawn and hopes of finding anyone alive were dwindling nearly two days after the worst disaster since Latvia's 1991 independence.

The small Baltic state of two million began three days of official grieving over the Thursday tragedy as officials began probing the causes of Europe's third worst roof disaster in 30 years.

"The latest body was found this morning at 6am, bringing the total to 52, including two bodies that are still unidentified," said police spokesman Toms Sadovskis.

Rescuers continued to comb the mangled Maxima supermarket's wreckage of steel and concrete as morning mists rose after a second night of work in near-zero temperatures.

Riga mayor Nils Usakovs said on Friday five people were feared trapped inside but it was unclear how many were still believed to be missing on Saturday.

Forty people survived the catastrophe, according to rescue services.

A ring of thousands of glowing candles and heaps of flowers decked the perimeter crash barriers surrounding the disaster site, placed by a constant stream of shell-shocked members of the public.

Flags were being flown from houses across the country with a black sash attached - a traditional sign of mourning.

Just days after November 18 independence celebrations, the tragedy snuffed out an upbeat mood in Latvia, with 2014 set to mark its entry in the eurozone and showcase Riga as the European capital of culture.

Child Protection Inspectorate director Laila Rieksta-Riekstina told Latvian Radio on Saturday that "16 children lost one parent and one child has unfortunately lost both parents" in the tragedy.

The website of the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) paid tribute to three firefighters who were among the dead, describing them as "more like family members than colleagues".

Books of condolence have been opened at Latvian embassies abroad including Russia, Poland, the USA, Canada, Britain and Ireland while world leaders have also expressed sympathy.

A disaster fund set up for the victims has already collected 86,000 lats ($A176,755) from public donations, the Ziedot charity announced on Saturday morning, with central government and Riga city council both promising compensation to victims.

Part of the roof of the Maxima supermarket crashed down during peak shopping hours around 6pm on Thursday, in the Zolitude district of the Latvian capital, with a second collapse crushing to death rescuers who had already entered the building.

Latvia will also observe a moment of silence on Monday while police probe what caused the cave-in at the two-year old supermarket.

Speculation has centred on plans to build a rooftop garden and the possibility that building regulations may not have been followed in full.

A photograph published by Latvia's Diena daily on Friday showed an aerial view of the roof prior to the collapse, covered in soil, shrubbery, a children's playground and construction material.

Run by the Lithuanian-owned Maxima chain - Latvia's number two retailer after Rimi - the supermarket was built in 2011 and was named one of the country's top three architecture projects that year.

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US wind farm guilty of killing birds

American bird conservationists say wind farms are killing hundreds of thousands of birds each year. Source: AAP

A MAJOR US power company has pleaded guilty to killing eagles and other birds at two wind farms and agreed to pay $1 million as part of the first enforcement of laws protecting birds against wind energy facilities.

Until the settlement announced on Friday with Duke Energy and its renewable energy arm, no wind energy company had been prosecuted for a death of an eagle or other protected bird.

The company pleaded guilty to killing 14 eagles and 149 other birds at its Top of the World and Campbell Hill wind farms outside Casper, Wyoming.

The deaths, which included golden eagles, hawks, blackbirds, wrens and sparrows, occurred from 2009 to 2013.

"Wind energy is not green if it is killing hundreds of thousands of birds," said George Fenwick, president of the American Bird Conservancy, which supports properly sited wind farms.

Wind farms are clusters of turbines as tall as 30-storey buildings, with spinning rotors as wide as a passenger jet's wingspan.

The blades can reach speeds up to 270km/h at the tips, creating tornado-like vortexes.

Eagles are especially vulnerable because they don't look up as they scan the ground for food, failing to notice the blades until it's too late.

"No form of energy generation, or human activity for that matter, is completely free of impacts, and wind energy is no exception," the American Wind Energy Association said in a statement.

The case against Duke Energy and Duke Energy Renewables was the first prosecuted under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act against a wind energy company.

The Obama administration has used the law against oil companies and power companies for drowning and electrocuting birds.

Once a wind farm is built, there is little a company can do to stop the deaths.

As part of the agreement, Duke will continue to use field biologists to shut down turbines when eagles get too close.

It will install radar technology similar to what is used in Afghanistan to track missiles. And it will continue to report all bird deaths to the government.

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Severe thunderstorms move east across state

At least one home has been destroyed by a tornado that whipped through northern NSW.

A FEROCIOUS line of storms that barrelled through the southeast corner -- bringing rain and destructive gusts and damaging homes – continued to track towards the northeast overnight.

Forecasters said the storms had started to weaken by 10.30pm and were likely to reach the Sunshine Coast by 1am.

"They have weakened over the past hour but we are still seeing some intense bursts of rainfall and the odd significant wind gust," said Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Brett Harrison.

Early reports suggested one house was completely demolished and up to 30 other homes were reportedly damaged in the Rosewood and Pine Mountain area near Ipswich, although this could not be confirmed by emergency services.

"We have dodged three big storms lately, but we really copped it tonight,'' said Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale late on Saturday.

"One has collapsed completely and 25 to 30 have got damage at various degrees.

"No-one has been injured so far as we know.''

On Saturday night, the heaviest falls were recorded at Junction View, south of Gatton, with up to 62mm of rain dumped in just over an hour.

Wind gusts of up to 92km/h were recorded at Amberley at the height of the storm.

Golf ball-size hail was dropped near Inglewood, Ipswich and Warwick, but senior forecaster Brett Harrison said there had been no reports since 5.30pm Saturday.

Energex reported more than 5000 homes across the southeast were without power at around 10pm.

More showers and thunderstorms are expected to brew on Sunday, with the activity likely to be closer to the southeast coast.

Mr Harrison said November had certainly made up for a late start to the storm season.

"This time of year is when we expect there to be a large number of severe thunderstorms," he said.

"The main trigger is the upper trough."

A severe thunderstorm warning had been issued at 10.58pm for damaging wind and heavy rainfall in the Sunshine Coast and Cherbourg Shire areas and for parts of the Gympie, Moreton Bay, Somerset, South Burnett and Toowoomba areas.

Damaging winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding were likely, the Bureau of Meteorology warned.

The warning came after several thunderstorms rolled across southern Queensland throughout Saturday.

Storms roll over Brisbane, as seen from Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Pic: Adam Smith

Residents reported seeing hail stones, lightning strikes, strong winds and heavy rain across the area.

By 9.15pm, the State Emergency Services had received 47 requests for help through the Rosewood, Hatton Vale, Marburg, Amberley, Ipswich and Brisbane CBD areas.

A spokeswoman said the requests related to structural damage to homes, fallen trees and general storm and flood damage.

"There was significant roof damage to houses in Lower Mt Walker, near Laidley," she said.

A 92 km/h wind gust was recorded at Amberley Airport at 7.45pm, an 87 km/h wind gust was recorded at Gold Coast Seaway at 8.30pm and a 79 km/h wind gust was recorded at Inner Beacon (Moreton Bay) at 8:55pm.

Wild weather also battered northern NSW on Saturday, with a twister destroying at least one home.

Storms roll over Brisbane, as seen from Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Pic: Adam Smith

Storms roll over Brisbane, as seen from Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Pic: Adam Smith

Storm clouds north of Moonie, Western Darling Downs, Saturday afternoon. Pic: Jeff Higgins. Higgins Storm Chasing

Top of Bunya Mountains looking west out over the Darling Downs. Things are really brewing up out here today! Picture courtesy: Jeff Higgins / Higgins Storm Chasing

Bowen certainly has copped some rain!! Thankfully tide was out bit still water is still through some houses and cars. Picture: Tash Edwards

Bowen certainly has copped some rain!! Thankfully tide was out bit still water is still through some houses and cars. Picture: Tash Edwards

Bowen certainly has copped some rain!! Thankfully tide was out bit still water is still through some houses and cars. Picture: Tash Edwards

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WCB suitor fighting with one hand tied

MURRAY Goulburn says its takeover bid for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter (WCB) is being hamstrung by the regulatory process.

Murray Goulburn is involved in a three-way tussle with Bega Cheese and Canadian dairy giant Saputo for control of WCB.

Murray Goulburn requires the Australian Competition Tribunal to approve its bid on national benefit grounds, a process which Murray Goulburn says could take three to six months.

In the meantime, the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) has already approved the Saputo bid.

Murray Goulburn managing director Gary Helou told shareholders at the dairy farmer co-operative's annual general meeting that Murray Goulburn found itself on an uneven playing field in its own country, in relation to its bid.

"Of the three bids, ours is the most handicapped by conditionality, and there's nothing that we can do about it," Mr Helou said.

"I think FIRB was extremely rash in approving it (the Saputo bid). That was a terrible thing for us."

Murray Goulburn chairman Philip Tracy said Murray Goulburn had one hand tied behind its back.

"We certainly feel like we've got one hand tied behind our back at this point in time," Mr Tracy said.

He urged Murray Goulburn shareholders to lobby Canberra on the matter.

"There's little influence other than political influence that can help," he said.

Mr Helou said Murray Goulburn was still in the bidding war for WCB despite its disadvantage.

He said Murray Goulburn would put its case to the Competition Tribunal on November 29.

Murray Goulburn reserved the right to review its current bid before the tribunal's consideration of the offer.

Mr Helou also said that he was disappointed that the board of Warrnambool Cleese had been so quick to endorse the Saputo offer.

Saputo has offered $9 for each WCB share, matching Murray Goulburn's offer of $9.

Warrnambool's board has recommended acceptance of the Saputo offer.

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Thais set record for human Xmas tree

CHRISTMAS is not a holiday in predominantly Buddhist Thailand, but one of the country's largest shopping malls has tapped into the holiday spirit with a publicity stunt involving 852 schoolchildren dressed in green and red hoodies.

In a country where palm trees outnumber pines, the shopping mall sought to break the Guinness world record for the largest human Christmas tree.

And they succeeded, surpassing the previous record of 672 participants in Germany in 2011.

A representative from Guinness Records was on hand on Friday to certify the feat.

To the relief of parents, the event did not involve hoisting the children onto a human pyramid shaped like a conifer.

It was more an exercise in crowd control, grouping the assembled six to 15-year-olds into a tree-like formation on the ground.

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Healthy diet cuts pregnancy risks: study

FOLLOWING a healthy lifestyle before conception and during pregnancy - including eating three pieces of fruit a day - could cut the chance of complications, research suggests.

Scientists from King's College London found that maintaining a normal weight and blood pressure and following a healthy diet could boost a woman's chances of an uncomplicated pregnancy.

More than 5600 first-time mothers from the UK, New Zealand, Australia and Ireland were monitored for the research, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

The women, who were all having one baby, answered questions about their medical histories and diet.

They also had measurements taken, such as blood pressure, and underwent an ultrasound scan between 19 and 21 weeks. Details about the babies were also collected after birth.

Experts found that a healthy diet, including a high intake of fruit (at least three pieces a day) in the month leading up to conception, led to a higher chance the woman would have an uncomplicated pregnancy.

They also discovered that a healthy body mass index (BMI) and normal blood pressure boosted the chance there would be fewer problems.

Women who were in paid work when they were 15 weeks pregnant were also less likely to experience complications.

This could be because these women are less likely to abuse drugs and could be more likely to have an income which allows them to eat more healthily, the authors suggested.

While calling for further studies, the researchers said 24,674 more women a year could have an uncomplicated pregnancy if high blood pressure was brought under control.

Overall, 61 per cent of the women in the study had an uncomplicated pregnancy.

The most common reasons for a complicated pregnancy in the mother were high blood pressure (8 per cent) and pre-eclampsia (5 per cent).

In babies, the issues were being small for gestational age (11 per cent) and premature birth (4 per cent).

"We have always known that a mother's general health is important, but until now we did not know the specific factors that could be associated with a normal pregnancy," said Dr Lucy Chappell, lead author from the division of women's health at King's College London.

"Although this is an early study, these findings suggest that by leading a healthy lifestyle both before and during pregnancy - including eating lots of fruit and maintaining a healthy BMI - it could be possible for women to increase the likelihood of experiencing an uncomplicated pregnancy.

"More research needs to be done to explore these associations further but I hope that this research will help inform both public health policy makers and healthcare professionals giving advice to pregnant women and those thinking of having a baby."

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Over-the-limit Airbus pilot jailed in UK

AN experienced pilot who was found to be more than three times the permitted alcohol level as he was about to fly an Airbus with 156 people on board from England to Pakistan has been jailed for nine months.

The judge sentencing Irfan Faiz, 55, said it was "extraordinary" that the rules in Pakistan only stated that there should be a 12-hour gap between "bottle and throttle", no matter how much the pilot had drunk.

And Justice Coulson at Leeds Crown Court said he was "astonished" to hear that pilots regularly flying out of the UK were not aware of the rules in this country, which are based on the amount of alcohol present in the body.

Father-of-two Faiz was breath-tested at Leeds Bradford Airport on September 18 as he was undergoing pre-flight checks in an Airbus 310 with 145 passengers and 11 crew on board.

He was about to pilot the PIA 776 flight to Islamabad when he was asked to leave the cockpit due to concerns raised by security staff who said he smelled of drink and was unsteady on his feet.

Faiz gave an initial reading of 41 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath on the police officer's handheld device.

The legal limit for driving a car is 35 micrograms but for flying in the UK it just nine, the court heard.

He later gave a reading on the evidential machine of 28.

The pilot told police he had consumed three-quarters of a bottle of whisky but had stopped drinking at about 3am.

He was arrested before the flight which was due to depart at 10.10pm.

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UK 'slavery' suspects arrested before

THE two suspects bailed after three women were alleged to have been held as slaves in London for 30 years were previously arrested in the 1970s.

They have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences as well as in connection with the investigation into slavery and domestic servitude, Scotland Yard said.

The case came to light after one victim told a charity she had been held against her will in a house in London for more than 30 years.

The victims - a 30-year-old British woman, a 57-year-old Irish woman and a 69-year-old Malaysian woman - are being looked after in a safe location.

Police said the two suspects have been in the country for "many years", and said the case "so far is unique to us".

It was described as a "complicated and disturbing picture of emotional control over many years".

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UK PM 'following' escort agency on Twitter

British Prime Minister David Cameron has been following a high-class escort agency on Twitter. Source: AAP

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has been following the exploits of a high-class escort agency on Twitter.

One of the prime minister's official accounts was linked to the Carltons of London's feed on the micro-blogging site, technology news website The Register found.

It claims to be London's "finest luxury boutique escort agency" catering for the needs of a "select and small group of elite gentlemen".

The agency also offers a corporate service for those looking to secure a big deal who "need something special to swing them in your favour".

But Downing Street indicated the agency may have first been followed under Gordon Brown's premiership.

The @Number10gov account is the official Twitter feed for the office of the Prime Minister and automatically followed anyone that chose to follow it until 2009 - while the former Labour leader was in power - when the practice was stopped.

"We have stopped following this particular account," a Downing Street spokesman said.

"Prior to 2010, an auto-follow process was used, meaning that @Number10gov automatically followed anyone who followed the account. This was common practice at the time for many corporate accounts, but was discontinued in 2009.

"As a result of this legacy, the @Number10gov account follows almost 370,000 accounts and we have taken steps to un-follow as many as possible that are inactive, spam or inappropriate. This work is ongoing."

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Tas abortion reform removes stigma: govt

Tasmania has become the third Australian jurisdiction to remove abortion from its criminal code. Source: AAP

TASMANIA'S new abortion laws will help remove the stigma around the procedure, the state's health minister says.

Minister Michelle O'Byrne's private members bill to remove abortion from Tasmania's criminal code has resulted in the state becoming the third jurisdiction in Australia to do so, joining Victoria and the ACT.

Ms O'Byrne said abortion should be dealt with as a health matter, not a criminal matter.

"It brings our laws into the 21st century, into line with community expectations and into line with the overwhelming majority of medical, legal and human rights opinion," Ms O'Byrne said in a statement.

"Importantly, it will also reduce the stigma around what is always an incredibly difficult and complex decision.

"Women should not have to make such a decision with the threat - real or imagined - of criminal charges."

The Tasmanian Legislative Council voted by a nine-to-five margin to allow terminations up to 16 weeks with the woman's consent, and after that if two doctors agreed on medical or psychological grounds.

Doctors opposed to abortion will be required to give women a list of those willing to perform the procedure.

The bill introduces "access zones" that make it unlawful to protest, film or intimidate patients within 150 metres of a clinic.

The legislation was passed on what is likely to be the last sitting day of Tasmania's parliament before next year's state election.

It is the one social reform bill with which the Labor-Green government has had success, after failing to have same-sex marriage and voluntary euthanasia bills passed in recent months.

Conservative Christian groups opposed all the reforms.

FamilyVoice Tasmania spokesman Jim Collins said the abortion law could lead to less counselling and more pressure on women to terminate pregnancies.

"The bill decriminalises abortion but criminalises well-grounded medical or conscientious objection to the destruction of unborn human babies," Mr Collins said.

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Cops to target Byron Bay schoolies

A BIG police operation will target Byron Bay as thousands of revellers descend on the northern NSW town to celebrate schoolies.

Schoolies began in Queensland on Sunday and has its start in NSW this Saturday, with Byron Bay expecting about 10,000 school leavers to hit town through until December 1.

Police said a highly visible operation including local cops, riot squad, dog unit, mounted unit and highway patrol would be targeting Byron Bay.

The operation will target alcohol-related offences, illegal drug use and supply, and anti-social behaviour.

It'll be focused in and around pubs and clubs, car parks and beaches and criminal behaviour, police said.

Tweed and Byron Police Detective Superintendent, Stuart Wilkins, urged school leavers visiting the area to act responsibly.

"Alcohol impairs your judgment and leads to poor decision-making, so know your limits and don't take risks that could lead to you becoming a victim of crime or an offender," he said in a statement.

"Most importantly, if at any time you think something is not right or you need urgent assistance, call Triple Zero."

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Showdown in Senate for carbon tax laws

The carbon tax repeal laws have passed the lower house, but the real fight will begin in the Senate. Source: AAP

THE Abbott government has cleared the first hurdle in getting the carbon tax scrapped, but is now set for a hostile showdown with their opponents in the Senate.

The government used its numbers in the House of Representatives to pass a package of laws to abolish not just the carbon tax, but the Climate Change Authority and Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

But while the bills were destined to clear the lower house without much fuss, the real battle to axe the tax will begin in the Senate in early December.

Labor and the Australian Greens have vowed to stop the legislation from becoming law, and they collectively hold the balance of power until the upper house changeover in July.

The government knows this, and started ramping up the pressure on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten the moment the bills passed on Thursday.

"If Labor decides to vote against the repeal in the Senate, it will be clear proof that Labor hasn't changed under Bill Shorten," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said told supporters in an email.

"I want the repeal of the carbon tax to be passed by Christmas, and to give Australian families and businesses the help they need."

It doesn't look likely that the bills will pass parliament before it rises for the summer, but the government isn't going to walk away from its signature election promise in a hurry.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt reminded the MPs the coalition had a contract with the Australian people, and this bill was about "honouring one's words".

"They determined the result of this election clearly and comprehensively and unequivocally," he said.

"They voted for a government which proposed the repeal of the carbon tax."

Opposition climate change spokesman Mark Butler tried to turn the spotlight onto the government's so-called direct action policy carbon abatement policy by moving an amendment.

Speaker Bronwyn Bishop ruled against it, sparking an intense war of words that stalled proceedings in the lower house and delayed a vote until after 3pm (AEDT).

Mr Butler said the environment minister didn't want to discuss direct action because it was a "stinking dead albatross hanging around his neck".

"We know the minister doesn't believe this is going to make any effect to reduce carbon pollution," he said.

There was no shortage of hot words exchanged, notably Labor MP Graham Perrett's wish that the grandchildren of his opponents would track them down in old age and "give them a good head butt".

Greens MP Adam Bandt said the government had chosen cowardice over courage, saying the country needed a Churchill on climate action but had got a Chamberlain instead.

The government wants a Senate inquiry into the carbon tax repeal legislation to report back by December 2, and it could get Greens support, but Labor is pushing for a later date.

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Greece predicts return to growth in 2014

GREECE'S deputy finance minister says the economy is expected to emerge from its recession and grow slightly next year.

Christos Staikouras said on Thursday that the 2014 budget projects economic growth of 0.6 per cent next year.

He spoke as he presented the budget, submitted to Parliament moments earlier by Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras.

Staikouras said the economy is expected to contract by four per cent this year, slightly less than the originally expected 4.5 per cent.

He said the conditions are being created for Greece to return to the international bond markets next year.

It has been priced out of them by high interest rates since 2010, and relies on international rescue loans.

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Indon halts people smuggling cooperation

Indonesia's president says he is suspending cooperation with Australia on people smuggling. Source: AAP

INDONESIAN President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says he is suspending cooperation with Australia on people smuggling in the wake of recent spying revelations.

The president also said on Wednesday that he would continue to demand an official explanation from Australia about revelations that Australian spies targeted his mobile phone in 2009.

"I am still waiting," Dr Yudhoyono said on Wednesday.

The president said he would send a letter of demand to the Australian government, requesting an official apology and an explanation from Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Indonesia will also suspend all military cooperation with Australia, the president said.

Australia Defence Minister David Johnston's office said there was no official confirmation yet that Indonesia had halted defence cooperation activities.

"But it is certainly on the record that it has stopped," a spokesman said.

"We are just waiting on the details of how this is going to play out."

At a press conference at his presidential palace in Jakarta, Dr Yudhoyono likened the spying claims to cold war tactics.

It's difficult for me to understand why the (wire-tapping) was conducted," Dr Yudhoyono said.

"Now is not the era of the cold war."

Dr Yudhoyono said "coordinated military cooperation" including naval patrols would cease immediately.

"I have asked for that to be halted until everything is clear," he said.

Suspending cooperation on people smuggling will deal a big blow to Mr Abbott's asylum seeker policies.

"You are well aware that we are facing a joint problem of people smuggling that has been a problem for both Australia and Indonesia," Dr Yudhoyono said.

"Indonesia and Australia is not in the position of confronting each other or in enmity."

The president said he could not understand why Australia had chosen to spy on a "friend and not the enemy", adding that he viewed the conduct of the Australian government as an illegal action.

Dr Yudhoyono said he wanted a personal explanation, insisting comments directed at "Australia's domestic community" would not suffice.

"If Australia wants to maintain a good relationship with Indonesia in the future, there must be an official explanation," he said.

Dr Yudhoyono said cooperation in the area of intelligence gathering and the sharing of information would also be halted.

"I have also asked to stop for a while joint training between Indonesian soldiers and Australians, whether army, navy or air force," he said.

Dr Yudhoyono said he wanted to make it clear that cooperation on combating people smuggling would not go ahead until he received an explanation from Mr Abbott.

"It's impossible for us to continue when we're not sure that there's no tapping of Indonesian soldiers who are performing a duty for both countries," he said.

Dr Yudhoyono said that for cooperation to resume, Indonesia would in the future need "some kind of protocol, code of conduct as well as guiding principles".

"I'm still hoping and I believe that Australia is also hoping, especially the hope of people from both countries, Indonesian people and Australian people, that we still can have a good relationship and cooperation after we overcome this problem."

"Australia, I know they respect Indonesia's sovereignty," he said.

"I hope we can finish this, we solve this and then we review, we make new sets of rules, new agreements and then we can take steps ahead to continue the good cooperation and relationship between the two countries."

Dr Yudhoyono said that for cooperation to resume, Indonesia would in the future need "some kind of protocol, code of conduct as well as guiding principles".

"I'm still hoping and I believe that Australia is also hoping, especially the hope of people from both countries, Indonesian people and Australian people, that we still can have a good relationship and cooperation after we overcome this problem."

"Australia, I know they respect Indonesia's sovereignty," he said.

"I hope we can finish this, we solve this and then we review, we make new sets of rules, new agreements and then we can take steps ahead to continue the good cooperation and relationship between the two countries."

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Missing teen boy found in Sydney's west

A TEENAGE boy missing in Sydney's southwest since Tuesday night has been found.

Jayden McBeath, 15, went missing from outside his house on Twingleton Avenue in Ambarvale about 9pm (AEDT) Tuesday.

He didn't return home last night and there had been extensive searches in the area for him.

Police said the teenager returned home on Wednesday night.

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Aust embassy in Jakarta braces for protest

POLICE in Indonesia say demonstrations are likely to occur in front of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on Thursday amid ongoing fallout over the phone-tapping controversy.

It's understood the Australian government will take precautions to ensure the safety of staff at the embassy, and a large police presence is also expected.

The development comes after Indonesia on Wednesday announced it was halting all co-operation with Australia on efforts to combat people smuggling after the phone-tapping controversy in a major blow to Prime Minister Tony Abbott's plan to stop the boats.

It's believed the embassy has advised staff to avoid the protests.

Should protests occur, staff will be not be allowed to enter or exit the building, which is on one of Jakarta's main streets.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says he will send a letter to Mr Abbott's government demanding an official apology and a full explanation as to why Australian spies targeted his mobile phone in 2009, as well as his wife's and some of his closest confidants.

It's understood the protest has been organised by a group called the People's Coalition for Defence and Security (KMPH).

At the time of reporting, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's website had not been updated to warn of any protest.

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Grave-recycling laws pass NSW parliament

Laws aimed at tackling a lack of space for graves in Sydney has passed through NSW's upper house. Source: AAP

CONTROVERSIAL grave-recycling laws aimed at addressing a shortage of burial space in Sydney have passed through NSW parliament.

The government has said the laws are needed because burial space in Sydney is set to run out within 30 to 40 years.

Small Business Minister Katrina Hodgkinson said the legislation created a "sound framework for the long-term planning and management of all cemeteries and crematoria in NSW".

"Renewable tenure burial will put downward pressure on interment costs and give people the option of a traditional burial which is currently beyond the means of some," Ms Hodgkinson said in a statement.

Under the laws, rolling leases of a minimum 25 years could be renewed for up to 99 years.

If a lease is not renewed after two years, a person's remains could be dug up and the site reused - either re-buried deeper underground or moved to an ossuary house.

Ms Hodgkinson said renewable tenure was already operating in Waverley Cemetery and the Sydney Natural Burial Park.

"It's one of many choices that will be made available in a regulated manner," she added.

The laws also establish a new agency, Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW, to oversee rules for cemetery operators.

The state government said the laws were passed by the NSW upper house on Wednesday night.

Labor had opposed the laws, arguing they lacked community support.

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Tax office to shed 900 jobs

THE Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will shed 900 jobs over the coming nine months as it searches for budget savings, with most of the job cuts linked to government plans to abolish its controversial mining profits tax.

The ATO said said about half of the 900 jobs would be from natural attrition, and the remainder would be from voluntary redundancies from its 23,000 workers, saving about $50 million this financial year.

While the ATO said it could not say which areas would be affected, it said the abolition of the mining tax could lead to about 200 jobs cut from offices in Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane.

"Our best view is that we need to move our allocations down by about $50 million between now and the end of the financial year," the ATO's Geoff Leeper told a Senate estimates hearing.

"Our objective in announcing what we've announced today was to take action which allows us to live within our budget for this financial year and to position us for the financial years that lie ahead."

The mining tax, known as the Minerals Resource Rent Tax, imposed a 30 per cent super profits tax on major iron ore and coal mine projects. Laws to abolish the tax passed through the House of Representatives on Wednesday, but faces a more difficult passage through the Senate.

The opposition and Greens have the numbers in the upper house to block the laws, which may force the government to wait until the new Senate sits from July 1, 2014.

Mr Leeper said that while the abolition of the MRRT accounted for about 200 jobs, the remainder of the cuts were due to budget efficiency restrictions imposed by the former Labor government.

Earlier this week, the government said it would review its plan to cut 12,000 public service jobs through natural attrition, due to job cuts already in train through the former government's efficiency dividends, where departments and agencies receive across the board funding cuts.

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Best Buy reports 3rd quarter profit

ELECTRONICS retailer Best Buy Co has returned to a profit in the third quarter as the busy holiday season revs up.

However, the company says it expects a tough competitive environment during the holiday season and shares fell eight per cent in premarket trading.

Best Buy has been cutting costs, adding employee training and matching online prices to get customers into stores as it faces competition from discounters and online retailers.

The Minneapolis-based company says third-quarter net income totalled $US54 million ($A57.7 million), or 16 cents per share. That compares with a loss of $US10 million, or three cents per share, in the prior-year quarter.

Analysts expected 13 cents per share.

Revenue was nearly flat at $US9.36 billion. Analysts expected revenue of $US9.37 billion.

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Spending bounces back in October

CONSUMERS appear more willing to pull out their wallets and spend again, just in time for Christmas.

Economy-wide spending in the month of October rose 4.1 per cent, after a 1.4 per cent decline in September, according to the Commonwealth Bank's Business Sales Indicator (BSI).

Spending was up 10.7 per cent in the 12 months to October, seasonally adjusted, compared to 5.6 per cent in the year to September.

Businesses should be in for a good Christmas with consumers ready to spend more, CBA local business banking general manager Adam Bennett said.

"With consumer confidence improving and property values rising strongly, the outlook for household spending is looking increasingly healthy," Mr Bennett said.

"That's good news for retailers, especially with the critical holiday trading period just around the corner."

CommSec chief economist Craig James said a steady unemployment rate and rising housing prices were helping to support spending growth.

"There has been continued focus on rising property prices and high auction clearance rates in some capital cities, which can have the effect of boosting consumer confidence and spending," he said.

"Home owners are continuing to enjoy the benefits of record low interest rates."

Mr James acknowledged that business confidence had dropped since its post-election bump, but continuing low interest rates and rising consumer confidence should help improve business conditions.

The Reserve Bank of Australia's cash rate is currently at a record low of 2.5 per cent, after the bank reduced it by quarter of a percentage point in May and again in August.

The BSI tracks debit and credit card transactions at CBA's point of sales terminals.

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Govt body wants alcohol rethink

IT'S good enough for Olympians and Wallabies - and now an advisory panel wants the entire nation to reassess its attitude towards alcohol.

In the latest bid to curb the impact of alcohol abuse on the community, the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) on Wednesday put forward a series of recommendations to the federal government aimed at tackling the issue.

Citing a study which revealed one in three Australian drinkers consumed alcohol with the primary purpose of getting drunk, the ANCD said the impact of alcohol abuse had reached "unacceptable levels of crime, violence, health harms and family disturbance".

"The health, social and economic costs associated with alcohol use simply cannot be allowed to continue at the current level," chairman Dr John Herron said in a statement.

"We all understand that the culture of drinking and intoxication has a long history in Australia and we all agree that these levels of harm are unacceptable.

"However, whenever we speak of culture change the industries that profit most from this culture run the same old fear campaign of a nanny state takeover.

"Seatbelts, random breath tests and gun laws do not represent a nanny state and nor do sensible alcohol policies and programs."

It is a shift in thinking which has already been adopted by sporting organisations, given the tough stance taken on alcohol consumption by the Australian Rugby Union and Australian Olympic team.

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie stood down six players as a result of an alcohol-fuelled bonding session during the current tour of Europe, while Australia's 2016 Olympics team chef de mission Kitty Chiller said alcohol would be banned for athletes in the Olympic village.

But while both the Wallabies and AOC are doing their best to protect the image of their organisations, the ANCD's recommendations are attempting to address far more serious issues - particularly among the nation's youth.

The study found that while young people generally drank less often, when they did so they were more likely to consume at risk levels.

Nearly two in three adults under the age of 30 said they would drink specifically to get drunk, while 60 per cent of 12-17 year-old students admitted to consuming alcohol in the past year.

According to the report, one in eight deaths of young people under 25 were now attributed to alcohol.

Included in the recommendations put forward to the government was the encouragement of debate on the legal drinking age, though greater education of the dangers of alcohol abuse is the cornerstone of the report.

The government itself does not escape unscathed, with a call for the implementation of an independent body to review and regulate alcohol advertising and promotion.

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Campbell Soup cuts outlook

CAMPBELL Soup's first-quarter net income tumbled 30 per cent on declining US soup sales and rising costs.

The New Jersey company fell well short of Wall Street expectations and it cut its forecast for the year because of the slow start.

Shares fell seven per cent before the opening bell on Tuesday.

Campbell Soup Co earned $US172 million ($A184 million), or 54 cents per share. That's down from $US245 million, or 78 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding restructuring charges and other items, adjusted earnings from continuing operations were 66 cents per share.

Analysts polled by FactSet predicted earnings of 86 cents per share.

Revenue dipped two per cent to $US2.17 billion from $US2.21 billion. Wall Street was looking for $US2.29 billion in revenue.

US soup sales declined six per cent as retailers adjusted their inventory.

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German optimism index rises on growth

A KEY index of optimism about the German economy has risen more than expected, underlining modestly improved prospects for Europe's recovery.

The ZEW index rose to 54.6 points from 52.8 points in October.

That is more than the 54.0 expected on average by analysts, and well above the index's long-term average of 24.1.

Clemens Fuest, who heads the ZEW or Centre for European Economic Research, said on Tuesday that "the slightly improved economic growth in the eurozone likely contributed to this".

The overall economy of the 17 countries that use the euro currency has shown modest growth for two quarters in a row after a long period of declining output.

However, growth remained weak in the third quarter at only 0.1 per cent.

The European Central Bank cut interest rates on November 7 to try to strengthen the weak recovery.

Capital Economics chief European economist Jonathan Loynes said the survey "provided some evidence that the eurozone's biggest economy has continued to expand in the fourth quarter, but at a relatively moderate pace".

Germany's economy, Europe's largest, slowed to quarterly growth of 0.3 per cent in the third quarter from 0.7 per cent in the previous three-month period..

Loynes said the data suggested the German and eurozone recoveries were not strong enough to help indebted countries in southern Europe such as Greece, Portugal, Italy, Cyprus and Spain.

Those countries have cut back on spending and raised taxes to improve government finances.

But that has hurt growth and sent unemployment higher.

"The overall message appears to be that, while the German, and the eurozone, economies continue to grow, they do not appear to be accelerating to the sort of pace which might start to have a beneficial impact on the beleaguered peripheral countries," Loynes said.

The index was based on a survey of 265 professional investment analysts November 4-18.

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Malta to ID buyers of its citizenship

THE Maltese government has rolled back one element of its controversial law to sell its citizenship for 650,000 ($A942,644), saying it will publish the names of people buying their way into European Union passports.

The government had argued that keeping the names secret would have brought in more money - the key goal of the initiative - because more people would have been attracted to buying a Maltese passport anonymously.

But the government withdraw the secrecy clause "after listening to the people," according to a statement late Sunday.

Opposition politicians and ordinary Maltese had argued that keeping the names secret could have exposed Malta to ill-intentioned citizenship-seekers, including possible terrorists.

Citizens of EU-member Malta can freely enter and reside in any of the other 27 EU member states.

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Indonesia recalls ambassador

Australian spies have reportedly tried to listen to the phone calls of Indonesia's president. Source: AAP

INDONESIA has recalled its ambassador to Australia and will review all information exchanges and cooperation amid growing anger in Jakarta over fresh spying allegations.

The Indonesian government on Monday demanded a full explanation following revelations Australian spies targeted the mobile phones of the country's president, his wife and other senior figures.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said his country's ambassador to Australia Nadjib Riphat Kesoema would return to Jakarta immediately to discuss the matter.

Dr Natalegawa has also foreshadowed the possibility of further actions on the diplomatic front, which he described as applying the "principal of reciprocity so that we have corresponding level and nature of cooperation."

Asked if this meant Australian officials could be expelled, Dr Natalegawa said he would "not enter into who shall be leaving, who will not be leaving".

"It is - I want to make it absolutely clear - an unfriendly act unbecoming of relations between strategic partners," Dr Natalegawa said of the fresh claims of phone-tapping.

The comments came after more top secret documents relating to Australia's spying operations were leaked by fugitive US intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The Defence Signals Directorate documents, obtained and published by the ABC and The Guardian, list 10 officials and their phone details - beginning with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and wife Ani.

Vice President Boediono and Indonesia's former vice president Jusuf Kalla were also targeted.

The papers suggest the president's mobile activity was tracked for 15 days and at least one eavesdropping attempt was made.

"This is not a clever thing to do. It's not a smart thing to do," Dr Natalegawa said.

"It violates every single decent and legal instrument I can think of; national in Indonesia, national in Australia, international as well."

Dr Natalegawa said the allegations, as well as others made recently that Australia's embassy in Jakarta was part of a US-led spy network in the region, were "having a very serious impact on bilateral relations".

"They should be able to say in a crystal clear, in the most clearest way possible, we are not in the business of tapping foreign leaders, or anyone," he said.

"I have not used the word reprisal, I have not used the word expel. What I have simply said is that we are reviewing the state of Indonesia-Australia cooperation in the exchange of information."

He suggested the Lombok Treaty would also be reviewed.

"I need quite desperately an explanation how a private conversation involving the president of the Republic of Indonesia, involving the first lady of the Republic of Indonesia, how they can even have a hint, even a hint of relevance impacting on the security of Australia," he said.

"The ball now is very much in Australia's court."

Dr Natalegawa said he would attempt to call Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Monday night.

Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Legal, Political and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto earlier said Australia must give a public explanation and make a commitment that it would not monitor the phones again.

Australia's deputy ambassador to Indonesia David Engel was summoned to the Foreign Ministry earlier in the day. He said he had "a very good meeting" when he emerged 20 minutes after arriving.

The latest spying allegations have also prompted an angry response from other members of the Indonesian political elite.

Mahfudz Siddiq, head of the Indonesian parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee and a member of the ruling coalition, said the president should review all cooperation with Australia.

"It's clear that Australia is not a good neighbour, and even a threat," he said.

The committee's Deputy chairman, T.B. Hasanuddin, warned the allegations could lead to an explosion in anti-Australian sentiment.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott refused to comment on the specific claims but defended Australia's intelligence activities.

"All governments know that every other government gathers information," he told parliament.

The prime minister said Australia uses all the resources at its disposal, including information, "to help our friends and our allies, not to harm them".

"My first duty is to protect Australia and to advance our national interest and I will never ever depart from that," he said.

"Consistent with that duty I will never say or do anything that might damage the strong relationship and the close cooperation that we have with Indonesia."

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek, who was in the Labor government under whom the alleged phone tapping occurred, was circumspect in her comments.

"Indonesia is a close neighbour, trading partner, and good friend. Our relationship is important for our region," Ms Plibersek said in a statement.

"Tony Abbott must work hard to reassure Indonesia of the Australian government's goodwill."

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$3000 a week for house PM doesn't use

Taxpayers are paying $3000 a week in rent for a house that PM Tony Abbott has chosen not to use. Source: AAP

TAXPAYERS are forking out $3000 a week in rent for a luxury Canberra house that Prime Minister Tony Abbott has chosen not to use.

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) leased the property as a temporary replacement for The Lodge, which is undergoing a major refurbishment.

Senior DPMC official Elizabeth Kelly said the department signed a 12-month lease on August 31, a week before the September 7 federal election.

It signed even though neither Mr Abbott nor then Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd had been able to inspect the property due to their election campaign commitments.

Ms Kelly said the department had wanted to find accommodation "comparable" to The Lodge.

But after the election, Mr Abbott opted instead to stay in a modest flat at the Australian Federal Police training college in Barton.

Liberal senator Cory Bernardi asked about the property during a Senate estimates hearing on Monday.

"So $3000 a week for a property that how many people are living in now?" he asked.

"The property is vacant, senator," Ms Kelly said.

Ms Kelly said the department was notified shortly after the election that Mr Abbott was not going to use it.

Since then, the department has been negotiating with the property's owner to get out of the lease, but has not yet succeeded.

"We're still in those negotiations," Ms Kelly said.

It's understood the property has already cost taxpayers more than $30,000.

The full 12-month lease would cost taxpayers about $156,000.

Senator Bernardi said the department could have found a cheaper property, or shouldn't have signed the lease before the outcome of the election was known.

"I'm not sure the taxpayers will enjoy the fact that they've got $156,000 worth of lease payments to pay for an empty building," he said.

Officials wouldn't say where the leased property was.

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Singer in UK court on child sex charges

VETERAN folk and rock performer Roy Harper has appeared in a UK court charged with committing a series of child sex offences in the 1970s.

The singer-songwriter, who has performed with Pink Floyd and influenced rock band Led Zeppelin, was not required to enter a plea to any of the charges during a four-minute appearance at Hereford Magistrates' Court.

Harper, of Rossmore, near Clonakilty, County Cork, in the Republic of Ireland, is accused of two counts of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl aged under 13.

The singer also faces three charges of indecent assault and four of gross indecency relating to the same alleged victim.

West Mercia Police announced last week that Harper had been charged with the offences, which are alleged to have occurred between 1975 and 1977 in the Herefordshire area.

Harper, dressed casually in a checked shirt and blue jeans, spoke only to give the clerk of the court his name and full address during today's hearing.

The 72-year-old declined to comment to reporters after his appearance before three magistrates, who granted unconditional bail and ordered him to appear before a judge at Worcester Crown Court on December 2.

The prolific performer has produced more than 30 albums during his career, and continues to tour.

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WA cop cleared after fatal crash

A WEST Australian policeman whose car struck another vehicle and killed the female driver has been found not guilty of dangerous driving causing her death.

Constable Gareth Hopley, 29, has been on trial in the Perth District Court for the past two weeks, charged over the death of Sharon Ann D'Ercole in April last year.

Ms D'Ercole, 50, died from multiple injuries, while her 16-year-old daughter, who was a passenger, has no memory of the accident.

A jury took an afternoon of deliberating before deciding to acquit the officer on Monday.

During the trial, Mr Hopley denied having "tunnel vision" while chasing a stolen car before crashing into Ms D'Ercole's vehicle, and testified that he believed she was slowing down for him when he hit her.

The officer's lights and sirens were activated at the time, the court heard.

Some evidence also indicated Ms D'Ercole was driving at about 25km/h in a 60km/h zone, while the police vehicle was travelling at up to 75km/h.

Const Hopley was emotional while giving evidence as he recounted seeing the injured woman at the crash scene.

He also told the court that his passenger was like a brother to him and he would do anything to keep him and the public safe.

"I never would have gone through that intersection if I didn't deem it safe to do so," Const Hopley said.

Ms D'Ercole's husband Ron said he was disappointed with the verdict.

"I'm all in favour of the justice system - democratic process and the jury system as it is," he told reporters outside court.

"I respect that, on the premise that he's innocent until proven guilty and beyond reasonable doubt, the decision - the way it went - went against us."

He said his wife had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

WA Police Union president George Tilbury called on Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan to ensure Const Hopley was returned to duty.

"He's been acquitted of the charge and there should be no barrier to him returning," Mr Tilbury said.

Const Hopley was being sought for comment.

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Protest against 'racist' Dutch tradition

The arrival of the Dutch equivalent of Santa Claus has been greeted by protests. Source: AAP

THE Dutch equivalent of Santa Claus arrived in the Netherlands on Saturday to the delight of thousands of children.

But some adults protested vigorously against one element of the beloved tradition they find racist: his servant in blackface make-up, Black Pete.

In the annual Dutch Sinterklaas festival, St Nicholas arrives by steamboat in mid-November and spends a month in the country with dozens of the Petes - clown-like figures who leave cookies, chocolate and other treats for children. The affair ends in a night of gift-giving on December 5.

Protesters say the Petes - servants who wear blackface make-up, red lipstick and frizzy Afro wigs - are blatant racist caricatures and should be banned.

But in a country where 90 per cent of the people have European ancestry, a large majority feels there is no racial insult intended by Black Pete. They say he's a positive figure of fun and the dissent is a sign of political correctness gone overboard.

The debate over the figure has gone on for years, but it is now electrifying - and polarising - the Netherlands as never before.

"The world is watching, and the Netherlands has been found wanting," anti-Pete protester Quinsy Gario told a group of about 300 supporters in Amsterdam, most of whom were black.

Gario, a black artist who has emerged as the public face of the anti-Pete movement, has been subjected to unprintable insults and death threats for speaking out against the tradition. But at Saturday's protest, he had trouble at times being heard over supporters chanting his name.

He said the growing support underlined the change the national debate over Black Pete had recently undergone. Two years ago, Gario was thrown face down on the concrete by police and dragged away for daring to wear a T-shirt with the text "Black Pete is Racism" near the place where Sinterklaas was due to arrive.

The debate exploded in national media this year after it emerged that UN cultural experts were examining whether the tradition is racist.

Verene Shepherd, head of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, said on Dutch TV she "does not understand why it is that people in the Netherlands cannot see that this is a throwback to slavery, and that in the 21st century this practice should stop".

One change anti-Pete activists have suggested is replacing his black face with smudges, since children are usually told his face has become black from going down chimneys.

But in two days following Shepherd's remarks, more than two million people responded by endorsing a Facebook petition to keep Zwarte Piet's image unchanged. That's nearly one-eighth of the Dutch population, indicating the depth of emotion over this issue in a country where religious or political debates are often met with a shrug.

Last month a black newscaster, Humberto Tan, read aloud on television responses he had received when he came out as anti-Pete, including a lynching threat.

Two white female Dutch celebrities who oppose Pete and have married black men - Victoria's Secret model Doutzen Kroes and singer Anouk - have been the target of ugly sexual insults.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte has sided with tradition. "Black Pete is black. There's not much I can do to change that," he said.

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Body discovered in British well removed

Seven men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a body was found in a well in Britain. Source: AAP

A BODY found in a well in Britain was removed on Saturday as seven men were arrested for murder in connection with the case.

Two men found the body as they were doing clearing work in the front garden of the large property, which stands in an acre of grounds in an affluent area.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Specialist officers, including Metropolitan Police divers, attended the scene and the process of recovering the body from the well has been completed."

A post-mortem examination will take place on Sunday.

Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons said it was unclear what gender the body is, but judging by the size, it was most likely to be an adult, not a child.

He told reporters at the scene: "It's not been there for an extended period of time; it will be a matter of weeks at the most."

He was not prepared to discuss who lived in the house, or a suggestion that the body was wrapped in carpet. He could not confirm or deny whether the body was intact.

Asked about claims by local residents that there had been quite a bit of trouble in the past couple of years with the people who lived in the house, and that police had been called many times, he said: "The residents have expressed concern, there is intelligence to support that notion, yes."

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Alicia Keys to perform at ARIA Awards

Music superstar Alicia Keys will perform at the upcoming ARIA Awards in Sydney. Source: AAP

GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys will perform at the upcoming ARIA Awards in Sydney.

She will perform a medley of her hit song Girl on Fire and her new single, Brand New Me, at the 27th Annual ARIA Awards on Sunday, December 1, it was announced on Sunday.

It will mark her first Australian televised performance before she embarks on her national tour, supported by Grammy-winner John Legend.

Keys says she is excited to be the headline act at this year's ARIAs.

"It's been a little while since I've been in Australia and I'm ecstatic to be back. Being on tour is an incredible journey and I'm so honoured that I get to share it with my family all over the world," Keys said in a statement.

"No better way to set off the last leg of my worldwide tour in Australia than on the ARIA Awards stage."

Other artists to perform at the awards ceremony, to be held at The Star Event Centre, include Jessica Mauboy, electronic superstar Flume, last year's X Factor winner Samantha Jade, indie band Sheppard and rock group Tame Impala.

ARIA Week festivities kick off on November 26 and run through to December 4.

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Man dies, five hurt in multi-vehicle crash

A man has died and five people have been taken to hospital after a multi-vehicle crash in Sydney. Source: AAP

A MAN has died and five people have been taken to hospital after a multi-vehicle crash in Sydney's southwest.

Emergency services were called to the Hume Highway at Greenacre on Sunday evening after four vehicles collided, police said.

A man travelling in one of the cars died at the scene.

Five others were taken to hospital with injuries.

The highway has been closed and specialist police are investigating.

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SA man dies after boat capsizes

A SOUTH Australian man has died after the boat he was in capsized.

Police say they received reports of a dinghy containing two men upturned at Carpenter Rocks near Port MacDonnell, in the state's southeast, about 4.50pm (AEDT) on Sunday.

A 49-year-old Mount Gambier man died at the scene and another man managed to swim to shore.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

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