Serial sex offender Fardon released in Qld

SERIAL sex offender Robert Fardon has been released into secure accommodation after a lengthy court battle in Queensland.

Queensland Corrective Services says the 65-year-old was released into a facility on the grounds of Brisbane Correctional Centre, west of Brisbane, on Friday afternoon.

Fardon will be subject to the strict conditions of his court order including intensive supervision, GPS electronic monitoring, home visits, drug and alcohol testing and restrictions on where he goes and who he associates with.

However child safety advocates and past victims have condemned the court ruling and are concerned he will reoffend.

They include Sharon Tomlinson, who was 12 when raped and choked by Fardon, and who says the courts are "laughing" at the community.

"All I can say is just be very, very careful with children and keep an eye on those that you love because predators are allowed to walk within our community," she told reporters.

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie blamed the previous Labor government's "weak" dangerous prisoner legislation for Friday's decision and said he's receiving advice on whether to appeal in the High Court.

"I am also consulting with the legal fraternity to find possible ways to strengthen Labor's failed legislation," he said in a statement.

Fardon has spent most of his adult life in prison for sex offences against women and girls dating back to 1967, when he was 18.

In 2003 he became the first prisoner detained indefinitely - subject to periodic review - under new laws designed to keep the state's worst prisoners locked up.

Since then he's been released twice but each time was locked up again for breaking court orders, including absconding to Townsville.

In October Supreme Court Judge Peter Lyons deemed Fardon fit for release, prompting an immediate appeal by Mr Bleijie.

The minister also rushed through contentious "Plan B" laws that gave him power to overrule court orders releasing dangerous prisoners if it was in the public's interest.

But on Friday the Court of Appeal dismissed Mr Bleijie's appeal and declared his legal amendments invalid.

Judges Catherine Holmes, John Muir and Hugh Fraser found Justice Lyons' decision was sound, and Mr Bleijie's amendments were incompatible with the institutional integrity of the state's highest court.

The ruling provided ammunition for the LNP government's opponents, with Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk calling it an embarrassing blow to Mr Bleijie.

Corruption fighter and former judge Tony Fitzgerald labelled the state government inexperienced and arrogant.

And the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties said Mr Bleijie's "grandstanding" had resulted in laws that were a flagrant breach of the separation of powers.

"No one is going to dispute that Robert Fardon is not a particularly nice man. But he has his human rights," the council's chairman Michael Cope said.

However Mr Bleijie said he made no apologies for doing everything possible to protect the community.

"We will continue to fight for the safety of Queensland families," he said.

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Foreign fishing boats stopped off Darwin

Scott Morrison says foreign fishing boats have been intercepted off Darwin for illegal fishing. Source: AAP

TWO foreign fishing boats have been stopped in northern waters in the past week for alleged illegal fishing, Border Protection Minister Scott Morrison says.

A Border Protection Command "asset" intercepted the first alleged illegal foreign fishing vessel last Friday and a second on Wednesday, Mr Morrison said in a statement.

"A significant volume of fresh and stowed catch was discovered on the first vessel including giant clams, live crayfish, hawksbill sea turtles, sea cucumbers, shark and frozen fish. The second vessel was found with an amount of reef fish on board," his statement said.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority is conducting further investigations into the activities of the vessels found off Darwin and considering charges against the crew.

The maximum penalty for illegal foreign fishing can be up to $1.275 million depending on the size of the vessel.

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Apple guides shoppers with iBeacon

Apple has introduced an in-store GPS system called iBeacon which guides shoppers around its stores. Source: AAP

GPS will tell you how to get to the nearest Apple store. With iBeacon, Apple hopes to guide you around once you're inside.

On Friday, Apple will begin using the technology at its 254 US stores to send you messages tailored to where you are inside, provided you have downloaded the Apple Store app and have given Apple permission to track you.

The company demonstrated the technology in New York this week.

One day, commuters might get information on subway delays as they stand on the platform, while museum visitors might get details on the painting they are standing in front of.

In-store location technology does raise privacy concerns, though many shoppers have shown a willingness to be tracked for discounts.

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Smog at hazardous levels in Shanghai

Shanghai has kept children indoors as its air quality index hit extremely hazardous levels. Source: AAP

SHANGHAI authorities have ordered schoolchildren indoors and halted all construction as China's financial hub suffered one its worst bouts of air pollution, bringing visibility down to a few dozen metres and obscuring the city's spectacular skyline.

The financial district on Friday was shrouded in a yellow haze and noticeably fewer people walked the city's streets. Vehicle traffic also was thinner, as authorities pulled 30 per cent of government vehicles from the roads. They also banned fireworks and stopped all public sporting events.

Protective masks and air purifiers were selling briskly at local stores.

"I feel like I'm living in clouds of smog," said Zheng Qiaoyun, a local resident who kept her six-month-old son at home. "I have a headache, I'm coughing, and it's hard to breathe on my way to my office."

Shanghai's concentration of tiny, harmful PM 2.5 particles was 602.5 micrograms per cubic metre on Friday afternoon, an extremely hazardous level that was the highest since the city began recording such data last December. That compares with the World Health Organisation's safety guideline of 25 micrograms.

The dirty air that has gripped Shanghai and its neighbouring provinces for days is attributed to coal burning, car exhaust, factory pollution and weather patterns, and is a stark reminder that pollution is a serious challenge in China.

Beijing, the capital, has seen extremely high smog several times over the past year. In the far northeastern city of Harbin, some monitoring sites reported PM 2.5 rates up to 1000 micrograms per cubic metre in October, when the winter heating season kicked off.

As a coastal city, Shanghai usually has mild to modest air pollution, but recent weather patterns have left the city's air stagnant.

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DFAT confirms Dili embassy protest

Federal authorities have confirmed a protest was held outside Australia's embassy in East Timor. Source: AAP

FEDERAL authorities have confirmed a protest was held outside Australia's embassy in East Timor amid a spying row between the two countries.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on Friday confirmed a protest had taken place outside the embassy.

"The Australian Embassy in Dili has advised that a small-scale protest was held outside the embassy on 5 December," DFAT told AAP in a statement.

A spokeswoman for East Timor said the protest was small and non-violent.

The protesters, mostly students and young Timorese rights activists numbering about 20, carried banners reading "Australia is a thief" and "Australia has no morals", Agence France-Presse reported.

The protest comes after East Timor expressed outrage over reports that Australia secretly bugged ministerial deliberations in Dili in 2004 to gain leverage in negotiations on an oil and gas revenue-sharing deal.

On Tuesday, Australian intelligence agents raided the Canberra office of a lawyer representing East Timor in an arbitration case at The Hague over the deal.

East Timor says it won't be deterred from challenging the multi-billion dollar oil and gas treaty with Australia despite the raid.

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Australia promises not to spy on Indonesia

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop gave Indonesia assurance Australia will not spy on Jakarta anymore. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIA has agreed to a six-point plan aimed at repairing relations with Indonesia, with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also providing assurances during talks in Jakarta that the Abbott government will not deploy intelligence assets against its northern neighbour.

A so-called "hotline" will also be established in the hope of avoiding future diplomatic rows, it was announced on Thursday following high-level talks in Jakarta between Ms Bishop and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.

However, Dr Natalegawa also insisted that military and police co-operation, as well as sharing of intelligence, will not be restored until all six points in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's roadmap are addressed.

He also refused to nominate a time-frame for discussions around the code of conduct which Dr Yudhoyono demanded in the wake of revelations his phone, and those of his wife and inner circle, were monitored by Australian spies in 2009.

Dr Natalegawa said he had already reported to the president following the talks, adding that Dr Yudhoyono had been pleased with the progress made at the meeting.

A more detailed report would later be given to Dr Yudhoyono, who was in East Java on Thursday, after which it would be decided if the discussions could move to step two in the president's roadmap - the drafting of the code of conduct.

"Essentially, the president expressed he was pleased that we were able to communicate today and he is pleased by the progress that has been made, and asked that further efforts be made (so) that we can address in full all the various bilateral issues that must be addressed," Dr Natalegawa said.

He refused to reveal if a more detailed explanation was given in relation to the spying activities that have seen relations between Jakarta and Canberra sink to their lowest point since the East Timor crisis in 2009.

"Certainly, our communication today helped elucidate some issues that were not specifically mentioned in the letter from the prime minister," Dr Natalegawa said.

Ms Bishop said after the talks, which came two weeks after the suspension in co-operation on November 26, both sides had expressed a commitment to restoring the relationship and building it to its fullest potential.

The foreign minister, for the first time, confirmed Australia had agreed to follow Dr Yudhoyono's roadmap to normalising relations, while also promising that the Abbott government would never undertake espionage activities in the future that might damage Indonesia.

"We note the steps set out by President Yudhoyono that must be taken in order to normalise the relationship and, of course, we agree to adhere to those steps," Ms Bishop said.

"Obviously we regret the events that lead to this situation. We regret the hurt caused to President Yudhoyono and to the Indonesian people.

"As Prime Minister (Tony) Abbott has said and I reiterate, the Abbott government will not undertake any act or use our assets and resources, including intelligence assets, in any way to harm Indonesia."

It was Ms Bishop's fourth trip to Indonesia since the Coalition won office three months ago but her first since details of the spying came to light.

Underlining the importance of the talks, Ms Bishop was accompanied by the former head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and now Defence Department secretary Dennis Richardson.

Peter Varghese, the secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Andrew Shearer, who was the last foreign policy adviser in John Howard's office and currently a senior adviser for national security to Mr Abbott, have also made the trip to Jakarta.

Ms Bishop revealed that Australia had also agreed to Indonesia's suggestion that a hotline be established between herself and Dr Natalegawa, which would be aimed at avoiding or minimising diplomatic tensions in the future.

"We have agreed to establish a special communications channel, a hotline if you like, to ensure that we can resolve any issues in implementation, that we can avoid any unintended consequences," Ms Bishop said.

Dr Yudhoyono has demanded Australia sign up to the "code of ethics and protocols", insisting it is needed to map out the future bilateral relationship.

The president has insisted that the code of conduct must address the spying issue and contain protocols to ensure similar espionage activities do not occur again, and that it is signed by himself and Mr Abbott.

However, even if the code of conduct is implemented, there would be a period of evaluation, before Indonesia would agree to restoring co-operation in areas such as the military and police, including joint efforts aimed at combating people smuggling.

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Indigenous shake up on council's agenda

Improving children's school attendance is a top priority of the indigenous advisory council. Source: AAP

THE man charged with leading Tony Abbott's indigenous affairs shake up hopes to help reverse the trend of prime ministers leaving office regretting they didn't do enough for Australia's first people.

Former ALP president Warren Mundine, who chairs the prime minister's newly formed indigenous advisory council, and the body's 11 other members met with Mr Abbott for the first time in Canberra on Thursday.

Improving indigenous children's school attendance and educational levels is their top priority, followed by boosting employment opportunities and reviewing land ownership and other drivers of economic development.

Mr Abbott told the council they had a mammoth task ahead.

There has been much goodwill in recent years and lots of money spent but not enough change at the grassroots, he said.

"Let it not be said in three years' time that this was just another talkfest," Mr Abbott said.

"Let people be able to say ... that practical change is happening."

Mr Mundine said efforts to close the gap on Aboriginal disadvantage, social stability and empowering communities were key issues.

"We're going to be looking at that through economic and commercial eyes," Mr Mundine told AAP.

Mr Mundine hopes the advisory council can help reverse an historic trend.

"Every prime minister in our lifetime has left office and they have always said that one of the saddest things is they didn't do enough in this area," he said.

Council members include Westpac Bank chief executive Gail Kelly and Rio Tinto Australia managing director David Peever.

The council will also be involved in mining magnate Andrew Forrest's review of indigenous employment and training programs as well as a separate review into Indigenous Land Corporation and Indigenous Business Australia.

The federal government is reviewing two embattled government-funded indigenous bodies to determine if they should be merged.

The Land Corporation has been under fire for going $200 million into debt to purchase Ayers Rock Resort for $317 million in 2010.

The resort has hit financial woes, reporting losses of more than $100 million.

Indigenous Business Australia was last year warned not to hold conferences that looked like "junkets" after senior staff travelled to Gold Coast theme parks.

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I'm not proud of drug use: Nigella

British celebrity chef Nigella Lawson says the idea that she is a habitual drug user is ridiculous. Source: AAP

NIGELLA Lawson has told a court she would rather be "honest and ashamed" than "bullied with lies" after revealing details of her past drug use.

The television chef said she was not proud after admitting she has taken cocaine and cannabis but denied her admission was damage limitation.

"I'm not proud of the fact I have taken drugs but that does not make me a drug addict or a habitual drug user," she said on Thursday.

Lawson said she objected to stories "peddled" by her ex-husband Charles Saatchi, including that he was checking her nose for cocaine when he was photographed gripping her throat outside Scott's restaurant in central London.

"The fact is, I would rather be honest and ashamed.... I wasn't going to be bullied with lies," she said.

"Mr Saatchi was not examining me for cocaine. That's a story he made up afterwards to clear his name."

Lawson was continuing her evidence in the fraud trial of two of her former personal assistants.

Wearing an all-black outfit, she was greeted by a huge pack of photographers, reporters and cameramen as she arrived for a second day at Isleworth Crown Court in west London.

Jurors were previously read an email sent to Lawson from Saatchi in which he said the defendants would get off on the basis that she was "so off her head" on drugs she allowed them to spend whatever they liked.

On Wednesday Lawson denied being a drug addict and spoke of the "intimate terrorism" she suffered at the hands of Mr Saatchi.

She said she first took the class A drug (cocaine) with her late husband John Diamond when he found out he had terminal cancer and on another occasion later during her troubled marriage to Mr Saatchi.

But the 53-year-old, who also admitted to smoking cannabis, said the idea that she is a "drug addict or habitual user of cocaine is absolutely ridiculous".

"I did not have a drug problem, I had a life problem," she said.

Francesca Grillo, 35, and her sister Elisabetta, sometimes referred to as Lisa, 41, are accused of committing fraud by abusing their positions by using a company credit card for personal gain.

Prosecutors claim the Italian sisters lived the "high life", spending the money on designer clothes and handbags from Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Vivienne Westwood.

The pair are accused of using credit cards loaned to them by the TV cook and her ex-husband to spend more than STG685,000 ($A1.25 million) on themselves between 2008 and 2012.

The Grillo sisters, of Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, west London, deny the charge against them.

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Storm hits Europe, kills one in Scotland

GALE-FORCE winds have hit Scotland, causing a fatal truck accident, halting all trains and leaving tens of thousands of homes without electricity as much of northwestern Europe braced for a storm that was expected to bring flooding to coastal areas.

Winds gusting up to 229 kilometres per hour were measured overnight in the Scottish Highlands, and many roads and bridges were closed. All train services in Scotland were suspended; Network Rail spokesman Nick King said that "there's too much debris and too much damage to equipment to continue".

A truck driver was killed and four people were injured in an accident west of Edinburgh when high winds toppled his vehicle on to several cars, police said.

A number of flights serving Scotland were also cancelled, and power companies said up to 100,000 homes were without electricity.

Glasgow's central rail station was evacuated after debris smashed glass in the roof, though no one was hurt.

Weather forecasters predicted winds gusting up to 140km/h on Germany's North Sea coast. Britain's Environment Agency said tidal surges could bring "significant" coastal flooding, and the Thames Barrier was closed to protect London.

Ferry operators cancelled services to some of Germany's North Sea islands and the country's national railway, Deutsche Bahn, warned of likely disruption across a swathe of northern Germany.

The Netherlands braced for the storm by closing water barriers that protect the low-lying country from high tides. The Oosterscheldekering in the southwestern delta region of the country was being closed to protect the land behind it for the first time since 2007.

National carrier KLM cancelled dozens of flights to European airports as a precaution.

The German Weather Service said the storm front, which was gathering strength as it headed eastward from the Atlantic Ocean off Greenland, would also bring polar air to Europe - meaning that it could bring snow to low-lying areas.

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Govt, opposition deny Holden pull out plan

THE federal government and the opposition have quickly poured cold water on speculation Holden will pull out of Australia from 2016, both saying no decision had been made on the company's future.

The ABC sparked concerns the car company's Australian manufacturing operations were nearing an end with reports senior ministers believed the company would cease local production from 2016.

"It's understood Holden will close its doors as early as 2016," the ABC reported.

Holden issued a statement saying its discussions with government were continuing.

This was swiftly followed by comments from a spokeswoman for Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane and Opposition Industry spokesman Kim Carr, also denying a decision had been made.

Mr Macfarlane's spokeswoman Kylie Barron said the minister had met with Holden on Thursday and talks were continuing as they had been.

"They haven't made a decision about their future in Australia," Ms Barron told AAP.

"There is no change."

The speculation came as the productivity commission continues an inquiry into the future of the car industry that is expected to determine Holden's future.

If the commission sides with continued government help, the commonwealth is likely to negotiate a new assistance package.

But if it recommends against ongoing funding, Holden is likely to follow Ford and close its assembly facilities.

In a submission to the inquiry, Holden said a long-term Australian policy that was globally competitive was needed to keeping its manufacturing alive in the country.

"Without public assistance, Holden's local manufacturing cannot compete globally," the submission said.

Preliminary findings are expected to be released on December 20 ahead of a final report by March 31.

Senator Carr urged the government to act to ensure the company would continue its Australian manufacturing operations.

"I frankly cannot understand why they haven't had a delegation to Detroit by now to discuss these questions with the global leadership of General Motors," Senator Carr said.

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Indigenous shake up on council's agenda

Improving children's school attendance is a top priority of the indigenous advisory council. Source: AAP

THE man charged with leading Tony Abbott's indigenous affairs shake up hopes to help reverse the trend of prime ministers leaving office regretting they didn't do enough for Australia's first people.

Former ALP president Warren Mundine, who chairs the prime minister's newly formed indigenous advisory council, and the body's 11 other members met with Mr Abbott for the first time in Canberra on Thursday.

Improving indigenous children's school attendance and educational levels is their top priority, followed by boosting employment opportunities and reviewing land ownership and other drivers of economic development.

Mr Abbott told the council they had a mammoth task ahead.

There has been much goodwill in recent years and lots of money spent but not enough change at the grassroots, he said.

"Let it not be said in three years' time that this was just another talkfest," Mr Abbott said.

"Let people be able to say ... that practical change is happening."

Mr Mundine said efforts to close the gap on Aboriginal disadvantage, social stability and empowering communities were key issues.

"We're going to be looking at that through economic and commercial eyes," Mr Mundine told AAP.

Mr Mundine hopes the advisory council can help reverse an historic trend.

"Every prime minister in our lifetime has left office and they have always said that one of the saddest things is they didn't do enough in this area," he said.

Council members include Westpac Bank chief executive Gail Kelly and Rio Tinto Australia managing director David Peever.

The council will also be involved in mining magnate Andrew Forrest's review of indigenous employment and training programs as well as a separate review into Indigenous Land Corporation and Indigenous Business Australia.

The federal government is reviewing two embattled government-funded indigenous bodies to determine if they should be merged.

The Land Corporation has been under fire for going $200 million into debt to purchase Ayers Rock Resort for $317 million in 2010.

The resort has hit financial woes, reporting losses of more than $100 million.

Indigenous Business Australia was last year warned not to hold conferences that looked like "junkets" after senior staff travelled to Gold Coast theme parks.

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Australia promises not to spy on Indonesia

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop gave Indonesia assurance Australia will not spy on Jakarta anymore. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIA has agreed to a six-point plan aimed at repairing relations with Indonesia, with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also providing assurances during talks in Jakarta that the Abbott government will not deploy intelligence assets against its northern neighbour.

A so-called "hotline" will also be established in the hope of avoiding future diplomatic rows, it was announced on Thursday following high-level talks in Jakarta between Ms Bishop and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.

However, Dr Natalegawa also insisted that military and police co-operation, as well as sharing of intelligence, will not be restored until all six points in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's roadmap are addressed.

He also refused to nominate a time-frame for discussions around the code of conduct which Dr Yudhoyono demanded in the wake of revelations his phone, and those of his wife and inner circle, were monitored by Australian spies in 2009.

Dr Natalegawa said he had already reported to the president following the talks, adding that Dr Yudhoyono had been pleased with the progress made at the meeting.

A more detailed report would later be given to Dr Yudhoyono, who was in East Java on Thursday, after which it would be decided if the discussions could move to step two in the president's roadmap - the drafting of the code of conduct.

"Essentially, the president expressed he was pleased that we were able to communicate today and he is pleased by the progress that has been made, and asked that further efforts be made (so) that we can address in full all the various bilateral issues that must be addressed," Dr Natalegawa said.

He refused to reveal if a more detailed explanation was given in relation to the spying activities that have seen relations between Jakarta and Canberra sink to their lowest point since the East Timor crisis in 2009.

"Certainly, our communication today helped elucidate some issues that were not specifically mentioned in the letter from the prime minister," Dr Natalegawa said.

Ms Bishop said after the talks, which came two weeks after the suspension in co-operation on November 26, both sides had expressed a commitment to restoring the relationship and building it to its fullest potential.

The foreign minister, for the first time, confirmed Australia had agreed to follow Dr Yudhoyono's roadmap to normalising relations, while also promising that the Abbott government would never undertake espionage activities in the future that might damage Indonesia.

"We note the steps set out by President Yudhoyono that must be taken in order to normalise the relationship and, of course, we agree to adhere to those steps," Ms Bishop said.

"Obviously we regret the events that lead to this situation. We regret the hurt caused to President Yudhoyono and to the Indonesian people.

"As Prime Minister (Tony) Abbott has said and I reiterate, the Abbott government will not undertake any act or use our assets and resources, including intelligence assets, in any way to harm Indonesia."

It was Ms Bishop's fourth trip to Indonesia since the Coalition won office three months ago but her first since details of the spying came to light.

Underlining the importance of the talks, Ms Bishop was accompanied by the former head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and now Defence Department secretary Dennis Richardson.

Peter Varghese, the secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Andrew Shearer, who was the last foreign policy adviser in John Howard's office and currently a senior adviser for national security to Mr Abbott, have also made the trip to Jakarta.

Ms Bishop revealed that Australia had also agreed to Indonesia's suggestion that a hotline be established between herself and Dr Natalegawa, which would be aimed at avoiding or minimising diplomatic tensions in the future.

"We have agreed to establish a special communications channel, a hotline if you like, to ensure that we can resolve any issues in implementation, that we can avoid any unintended consequences," Ms Bishop said.

Dr Yudhoyono has demanded Australia sign up to the "code of ethics and protocols", insisting it is needed to map out the future bilateral relationship.

The president has insisted that the code of conduct must address the spying issue and contain protocols to ensure similar espionage activities do not occur again, and that it is signed by himself and Mr Abbott.

However, even if the code of conduct is implemented, there would be a period of evaluation, before Indonesia would agree to restoring co-operation in areas such as the military and police, including joint efforts aimed at combating people smuggling.

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I'm not proud of drug use: Nigella

British celebrity chef Nigella Lawson says the idea that she is a habitual drug user is ridiculous. Source: AAP

NIGELLA Lawson has told a court she would rather be "honest and ashamed" than "bullied with lies" after revealing details of her past drug use.

The television chef said she was not proud after admitting she has taken cocaine and cannabis but denied her admission was damage limitation.

"I'm not proud of the fact I have taken drugs but that does not make me a drug addict or a habitual drug user," she said on Thursday.

Lawson said she objected to stories "peddled" by her ex-husband Charles Saatchi, including that he was checking her nose for cocaine when he was photographed gripping her throat outside Scott's restaurant in central London.

"The fact is, I would rather be honest and ashamed.... I wasn't going to be bullied with lies," she said.

"Mr Saatchi was not examining me for cocaine. That's a story he made up afterwards to clear his name."

Lawson was continuing her evidence in the fraud trial of two of her former personal assistants.

Wearing an all-black outfit, she was greeted by a huge pack of photographers, reporters and cameramen as she arrived for a second day at Isleworth Crown Court in west London.

Jurors were previously read an email sent to Lawson from Saatchi in which he said the defendants would get off on the basis that she was "so off her head" on drugs she allowed them to spend whatever they liked.

On Wednesday Lawson denied being a drug addict and spoke of the "intimate terrorism" she suffered at the hands of Mr Saatchi.

She said she first took the class A drug (cocaine) with her late husband John Diamond when he found out he had terminal cancer and on another occasion later during her troubled marriage to Mr Saatchi.

But the 53-year-old, who also admitted to smoking cannabis, said the idea that she is a "drug addict or habitual user of cocaine is absolutely ridiculous".

"I did not have a drug problem, I had a life problem," she said.

Francesca Grillo, 35, and her sister Elisabetta, sometimes referred to as Lisa, 41, are accused of committing fraud by abusing their positions by using a company credit card for personal gain.

Prosecutors claim the Italian sisters lived the "high life", spending the money on designer clothes and handbags from Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Vivienne Westwood.

The pair are accused of using credit cards loaned to them by the TV cook and her ex-husband to spend more than STG685,000 ($A1.25 million) on themselves between 2008 and 2012.

The Grillo sisters, of Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, west London, deny the charge against them.

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Storm hits Europe, kills one in Scotland

GALE-FORCE winds have hit Scotland, causing a fatal truck accident, halting all trains and leaving tens of thousands of homes without electricity as much of northwestern Europe braced for a storm that was expected to bring flooding to coastal areas.

Winds gusting up to 229 kilometres per hour were measured overnight in the Scottish Highlands, and many roads and bridges were closed. All train services in Scotland were suspended; Network Rail spokesman Nick King said that "there's too much debris and too much damage to equipment to continue".

A truck driver was killed and four people were injured in an accident west of Edinburgh when high winds toppled his vehicle on to several cars, police said.

A number of flights serving Scotland were also cancelled, and power companies said up to 100,000 homes were without electricity.

Glasgow's central rail station was evacuated after debris smashed glass in the roof, though no one was hurt.

Weather forecasters predicted winds gusting up to 140km/h on Germany's North Sea coast. Britain's Environment Agency said tidal surges could bring "significant" coastal flooding, and the Thames Barrier was closed to protect London.

Ferry operators cancelled services to some of Germany's North Sea islands and the country's national railway, Deutsche Bahn, warned of likely disruption across a swathe of northern Germany.

The Netherlands braced for the storm by closing water barriers that protect the low-lying country from high tides. The Oosterscheldekering in the southwestern delta region of the country was being closed to protect the land behind it for the first time since 2007.

National carrier KLM cancelled dozens of flights to European airports as a precaution.

The German Weather Service said the storm front, which was gathering strength as it headed eastward from the Atlantic Ocean off Greenland, would also bring polar air to Europe - meaning that it could bring snow to low-lying areas.

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Govt, opposition deny Holden pull out plan

THE federal government and the opposition have quickly poured cold water on speculation Holden will pull out of Australia from 2016, both saying no decision had been made on the company's future.

The ABC sparked concerns the car company's Australian manufacturing operations were nearing an end with reports senior ministers believed the company would cease local production from 2016.

"It's understood Holden will close its doors as early as 2016," the ABC reported.

Holden issued a statement saying its discussions with government were continuing.

This was swiftly followed by comments from a spokeswoman for Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane and Opposition Industry spokesman Kim Carr, also denying a decision had been made.

Mr Macfarlane's spokeswoman Kylie Barron said the minister had met with Holden on Thursday and talks were continuing as they had been.

"They haven't made a decision about their future in Australia," Ms Barron told AAP.

"There is no change."

The speculation came as the productivity commission continues an inquiry into the future of the car industry that is expected to determine Holden's future.

If the commission sides with continued government help, the commonwealth is likely to negotiate a new assistance package.

But if it recommends against ongoing funding, Holden is likely to follow Ford and close its assembly facilities.

In a submission to the inquiry, Holden said a long-term Australian policy that was globally competitive was needed to keeping its manufacturing alive in the country.

"Without public assistance, Holden's local manufacturing cannot compete globally," the submission said.

Preliminary findings are expected to be released on December 20 ahead of a final report by March 31.

Senator Carr urged the government to act to ensure the company would continue its Australian manufacturing operations.

"I frankly cannot understand why they haven't had a delegation to Detroit by now to discuss these questions with the global leadership of General Motors," Senator Carr said.

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Amphetamines link to higher HIV risk

THE growing use of amphetamine-style stimulants across Southeast Asia has increased the risk that users will contract HIV or other blood-borne viruses, a report has found.

Amphetamine-type stimulants are the second most used recreational drugs in the world, after cannabis, and the use of amphetamines continues to grow.

The study of amphetamine use in 11 countries in Southeast Asia found those who injected the drugs were more at risk of contracting a blood-borne virus.

Other users are at higher risk of contracting HIV due to higher-risk behaviour, such as unsafe sex.

The study found users of amphetamine-type stimulants faced multiple HIV risks.

"Use appears higher among groups vulnerable to HIV such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, and young people," said the report, by the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) in co-operation with the Asia-Pacific Drugs and Development Issues Committee.

ANCD chairman John Herron said the report highlighted the need for governments to take action.

"The effects of amphetamine-type stimulant use on young people cannot be underestimated," Dr Herron said.

"Drug use may negatively impact on schooling and employment opportunities and contribute to risky behaviour - especially risky sexual behaviour amongst young people."

He said the rising use of amphetamines in Australia and in Southeast Asia was disturbing.

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Facebook says users connect with brands

Facebook has defended the presence of commercial brands on the popular social networking site. Source: AAP

FACEBOOK has defended the presence of commercial brands on the popular social networking site, saying users aren't "revolting" against it.

Facebook on Wednesday released a detailed breakdown of Australian user figures for 2013, showing nine million Aussies visited the site every day.

The data, from the site's 2013 Aussies on Facebook research, showed 12 million Aussies logged on to the site at least once a month.

At a media briefing in Sydney, Facebook Australia's head of measurements and insight, Helen Crossley, said 63 per cent of local users regularly "connected with brands" on the site.

She said Facebook had no problem with that.

"We want to help people connect to the brands that matter to them," Ms Crossley told reporters.

"It's actually OK for brands to be in the news feed ... We don't really see that people are revolting against that at this stage.

"We see that people are increasingly connecting with brands."

She said 69 per cent of users logged on to Facebook to stay in touch with family and friends, with 80 per cent of users accessing it via mobile phone.

The data, compiled by research firm TNS, also showed Facebook users spent 12 per cent of their total media consumption time on the site.

Thirty-three per cent of users engaged with politics on the site, while 40 per cent posted news articles and 32 per cent used it to keep up with current affairs.

Ms Crossley said users were most likely to log into the site between 2pm and 5pm, or after 8pm.

Aussies accessed the site at work, on holidays, at school and even in bed, the data showed.

In a blog post earlier this week, Facebook reportedly said it was revising the way it delivered information to its billion-plus users.

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Abbott defends ADM-GrainCorp decision

Labor has stepped up its attack on the government's rejection of a foreign takeover of GrainCorp. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has defended his treasurer's call on the attempted foreign takeover of GrainCorp, telling a high-level business audience that good government is about pragmatic idealism, not perfection.

The federal opposition on Wednesday stepped up its attack on the government's rejection of the foreign takeover bid, with shadow treasurer Chris Bowen claiming Treasurer Joe Hockey blocked the deal due to political pressure and his decision would cost jobs.

"I do not see the national interest test was properly invoked in this instance," Mr Bowen told the National Press Club.

He said he would have approved the deal based on the available information.

Mr Hockey last week blocked the $3.4 billion takeover of GrainCorp by American agribusiness Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) after deciding it was contrary to the national interest.

Farm groups and the government's junior partner the National Party had campaigned heavily against the deal, which would have given ADM control of 85 per cent of Australia's east coast grain ports.

Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board examines all major foreign investment proposals and must decide if they are contrary to a loosely defined "national interest" test.

However, the treasurer of the day must make the final decision.

On Wednesday evening, Mr Abbott was in Sydney to attend a gala dinner hosted by the Business Council of Australia.

"The coalition in opposition tried to stop a government from breaking its election commitments. The current opposition is trying to stop a government from keeping its election commitments," he told the audience.

"Yes, the coalition has knocked back one - just one - foreign investment application out of more than 130 received, but I do want to stress that foreign investment applications will always be considered on their merits and approved where it is in the national interest to do so."

Alison Watkins, the Graincorp CEO who announced her resignation after the takeover bid was knocked back and is set to take up a position with Coca-Cola Amatil, was among those in the audience.

"If I may say so, only from the outside does government mostly seem a matter of choosing right from wrong," Mr Abbott said.

"On the inside, it much more often involves choosing the greater good, or the lesser evil - getting the best possible outcome, not necessarily the perfect one."

Mr Bowen - who also attended the dinner - has claimed the takeover rejection did not pass "the common sense test".

"Clearly this was a decision frankly that was taken for political reasons," he said earlier on Wednesday.

"I'm not entirely sure it was a decision that Joe Hockey didn't have foisted upon him. It's a decision which he claims to be his own. If it is his own, it is a particularly weak one."

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Bieber gives injured Vic fan private show

Pop megastar Justin Bieber has performed a secret, intimate concert for an injured Melbourne fan. Source: AAP

POP megastar Justin Bieber has performed a secret, intimate concert for a Melbourne fan whose dreams of seeing him perform were shattered, along with her spine, in a horrific car accident last month.

Friends of Melbourne teen Kate O'Neill launched a social media campaign to encourage the Canadian teen idol to visit Ms O'Neill who had saved thousands of dollars to be able to attend all of his Australian concerts.

The 19-year-old, whose Twitter account @BieberMelbourne has more than 29,000 followers, tweeted on Wednesday morning that it was the best day of her life, after she received a tweet from the official Justin Bieber account.

At the time, she had no idea of the surprise that lay ahead.

"Not even the amount of pain I am in right now can ruin this for me," Ms O'Neill wrote on Wednesday morning.

Ms O'Neill is still in hospital recovering from her injuries, which include broken ribs, a fractured spine, internal bleeding and lacerations to her kidney and liver.

"If I meet Justin I will hug him so tight IDGAF (I don't give a f**k) about my broken spike (spine) and broken ribs," she tweeted on Wednesday morning.

"I thought this was going to be the worst week of my life but Justin has made it the best! I can't believe this I am so happy!"

On Wednesday afternoon, a car transferred Ms O'Neill from hospital to a private studio where Bieber performed an impromptu acoustic set for her and 50 other fans.

After his performance, Bieber said he loved his "Beliebers" who do so much for him.

"It was so special to be able to give something back, especially to an amazing fan like Kate," Bieber said.

Then he asked Ms O'Neill to kiss him on the cheek.

Ms O'Neill was quoted in a release from Bieber's management as saying the concert had been amazing.

But it was on Twitter that she revealed her true excitement:

"AHWSJJDJEIDIEJHSJWSIYWUWOWODHJWIDIWBB BEST DAY OF MY LIFE I CANT BREATHE OMFG JUSTIN AND THE CREW ARE SO PERFECT SVSJJSDJJSJDJSDISIWJDJWJS," she wrote.

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Asthma hampers play, sex and work: study

NEARLY a third of dads with uncontrolled asthma avoid running around with their kids, according to a study that shows the condition affects almost every aspect of adult life.

It takes a toll on dating, sexual pleasure and people's careers, according to an Asthma Australia report on the study of more than 1000 people with poor asthma control.

More than one in 10 mothers in the study avoid playtime with their children and 16 per cent of parents find it difficult to carry their child.

More than two million Australians have asthma, and the condition can be controlled with the right medication and treatment plan, says respiratory physician Dr Simon Bowler.

"There is absolutely no reason why people with asthma can't gain better control."

He said the place to start was to discuss an action plan with a GP.

Dating and socialising are a major problem, with a large proportion of people in the study saying they cannot not keep up with friends during a night out. Many say they go home early.

A third say they worry about wheezing at the theatre or movies.

One young woman said she didn't tell her boyfriend about her asthma on their first few dates. When she could not hide it any more, she pretended it wasn't important.

A third of men and about 20 per cent of women in the study say their asthma interferes with their sex life.

Asthma Australia CEO Mark Brooke says it is essential for people to ask their GP for help.

"Often simple changes like getting a treatment plan or reviewing their medication can help minimise the impact on patients' sex lives," said Dr Bowler, chair of the organisation's medical advisory committee.

More than half of the people in the AstraZeneca-sponsored study miss work every year because of their symptoms.

Almost 20 per cent take time off six times a year or more.

A large proportion say asthma has hampered their career.

Almost two thirds have had an asthma attack at work, with 40 per cent saying stress made their symptoms worse.

One senior executive said he had been embarrassed by staff who tried to keep away from him when he had an asthma cough.

Only six per cent say their colleagues are supportive and many do not feel comfortable taking medication in front of others.

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PM puts refugee convention in spotlight

Tony Abbott has raised the prospect of Australia leaving the United Nations refugee convention. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has raised the prospect of Australia leaving the United Nations refugee convention after a key plank of the government's border protection plan was scuttled in the Senate.

The Labor opposition and Australian Greens voted in the Senate late on Monday night to overturn temporary protection visas (TPVs).

Mr Abbott, who has been under significant pressure on federal schools funding, described Labor MPs as "wreckers and vandals" who were giving the Australian people a "two-fingered salute" by blocking government bills.

He threatened to make the House of Representatives sit until Christmas to pass new yet-to-be-revealed laws to make up for the axing of TPVs, as well as to repeal the carbon and mining taxes and raise the debt ceiling to $500 billion.

"I don't think the Labor party should get a free pass at Christmas time if it's not prepared to accept that the people voted a certain way," Mr Abbott said.

The refugee convention could also be in the firing line, despite Mr Abbott saying the government respected it.

"We think it's important that it be dealt with properly and we'll have more to say on this in the days and weeks ahead," Mr Abbott said.

The prime minister has previously expressed concerns with the way the convention, which Australia ratified in 1954, had been "imported into Australian law".

Withdrawing from the convention could damage Australia's regional and international reputation, especially as it is currently a member of the UN Security Council and is hosting the G20 summit in 2014.

Convention signatories are obliged to give refugees certain rights, such as the right not to be returned to persecution against their will.

The convention also lays down basic minimum standards for the treatment of refugees, including access to courts, primary education and work.

In July, then prime minister Kevin Rudd suggested the convention's scope needed broadening to bring it into line with modern-day refugee movement.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten kept Labor's focus in parliament on schools funding, quizzing Mr Abbott on the details of what the prime minister described as a national agreement with the states and territories.

Asked whether the government would keep Labor's $1-for-$2 rate of co-contribution with the states, Mr Abbott said: "I am responsible for what the commonwealth does."

Education Minister Christopher Pyne said the coalition's deal would make schools more than $1 billion better off over four years, without Labor's "red tape".

Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt, whose party is in talks with the coalition to find a way of passing the debt ceiling laws, said Mr Abbott needed to take a more constructive approach to all of its bills.

"Tony Abbott needs to understand that it wasn't just the last parliament that was a minority parliament - this one is, too," Mr Bandt said.

The Greens may allow the debt ceiling bill to pass the Senate if it is amended to abolish the ceiling altogether and the government agrees to be transparent about what any new debt is for.

Labor's manager of opposition business Tony Burke said the opposition was unfazed by Mr Abbott's threat to extend parliament until the end of the year. "We're all for it," he said.

Labor and Greens have vowed to block the carbon and mining tax repeal bills, which are aimed at abolishing both taxes from July 1, 2014.

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Milne says debt talks with govt continuing

Greens Leader Christine Milne says talks are continuing to resolve the debt ceiling row. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIAN Greens leader Christine Milne has spoken to Treasurer Joe Hockey about a proposal to scrap the national debt ceiling.

The government's original plan to lift the ceiling by $200 billion to $500 billion has been opposed by Labor and the Greens which want it limited to $400 billion.

However, the Greens are prepared to let the government scrap the ceiling in exchange for greater transparency in what debt is actually being raised for.

Senator Milne confirmed on Tuesday talks with the government on this option are continuing.

"It is mainly at the officer level but I had a conversation with the treasurer last night and we will be having ongoing conversations," she told Sky News.

The current $300 billion limit will be hit on December 12.

Senator Milne rejected government claims there could be a looming crisis, saying the coalition could accept the Greens' offer to raise the ceiling to $400 billion.

"They're the ones who have created this whole silly theatre on debt," she said.

The government's legislation remains in the Senate awaiting further debate.

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Mandela portrait breaks SA record

JOHANNESBURG Dec 3 AP - A photographic portrait of Nelson Mandela has been bought by a private art collector in New York for $US200,000 ($A220,276), the highest price ever paid for a local portrait, organisers say.

The money will be donated to the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital, currently under construction in Johannesburg, and to the World Wildlife Fund. The portrait is part of a series of 21 portraits of South African icons.

The portrait, by 21 Icons creator and photographer Adrian Steirn, depicts Nelson Mandela's face reflected in a mirror.

"I wanted Madiba to hold a mirror so that we could see a man reflecting on his life. As he reflects on his life, we reflect on his legacy and our future," Steirn said, using Mandela's clan name.

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Raided East Timor lawyer calls for inquiry

A LAWYER representing East Timor in its spying case against Australia has accused ASIO of raiding his home and office, seizing documents and "muzzling" a key whistleblower days before the case is due to begin.

Attorney-General George Brandis has confirmed the spy agency conducted raids in Canberra, and agents took documents and electronic media.

But Senator Brandis denied it was to impede the East Timor case that starts in The Hague on Thursday.

"The warrants were issued by me on the grounds that the documents contained intelligence related to security matters," he said in a statement.

"I have seen reports this evening containing allegations that the warrants were issued in order to affect or impede the current arbitration between Australia and Timor-Leste at The Hague. Those allegations are wrong.

"I have instructed ASIO that the material taken into possession is not under any circumstances to be communicated to those conducting those proceedings on behalf of Australia."

The statement was issued on Tuesday night after lawyer Bernard Collaery told the ABC that people identifying themselves as Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) agents raided his office and home in Canberra, taking electronic and paper files.

Mr Collaery is working for East Timor, which accuses the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) of secretly recording East Timorese ministers and officials during delicate oil-and-gas negotiations in Dili in 2004 for the Timor Sea resources treaty.

East Timor is pursuing international arbitration in The Hague to have the 2006 treaty overturned.

Speaking from Amsterdam later on Tuesday, Mr Collaery said a former Australian ASIS employee who had direct knowledge of an operation to bug East Timorese politicians and had been slated to testify in The Hague had been questioned and had his passport seized.

"This witness was the director of all technical operations at ASIS. We're not talking about some disaffected spy," Mr Collaery said.

"Muzzling the oral evidence of the prime witness is so crass."

He has called for a full inquiry and for the conduct of David Irvine - the current ASIO director-general, who was head of ASIS in 2004 - to be closely scrutinised.

"What it requires is a full judicial inquiry into the conduct of ASIS in this matter," Mr Collaery said.

Father Frank Brennan, a professor of law at the Australian Catholic University, told the ABC the case in The Hague was to begin on Thursday with the parties determining how to deal with the witnesses, particularly the key whistleblower.

"The allegation of the Timorese being that this whistleblower is able to provide credible, direct evidence of the bugging of the cabinet room, and that that was done for commercial gain and would require the approval not only of the director-general of intelligence but of the requisite Australian minister," he told the ABC.

The 2006 Treaty on Certain Maritime Arrangements in the Timor Sea (CMATS) equally divides spoils from the vast oil and gas assets found in waters between the two countries.

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Kidnap threat against Belgian princess

PRINCESS Elisabeth, the 12-year-old daughter of Belgium's new king, has been threatened with kidnapping.

An anonymous letter sent to the newspaper La Derniere Heure and addressed to King Philippe contained the threat, along with racist remarks with neo-Nazi overtones, the daily reported.

"I am going to abduct Princess Elisabeth. This is not a joke," the newspaper quoted the letter as saying.

The publication said it had notified the police and the royal palace.

It said police officers had been deployed outside Elisabeth's school.

Philippe ascended the throne in July when his father abdicated.

Elisabeth is the eldest of four children Philippe has with Queen Mathilde.

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Senate quashes temporary visas

The Greens have urged Labor to back their attempts to scrap temporary protection visas. Source: AAP

THE Senate has scuttled the coalition government's reintroduction of temporary protection visas.

Labor and the Greens teamed up on Monday night to pass a disallowance motion in the Senate, 36 votes to 26, to quash the controversial visas.

The coalition government reintroduced temporary protection visas via regulation in October as a key plank of its hardline Operation Sovereign Borders policy aimed at discouraging asylum seeker boat journeys.

It must now wait for six months to reintroduce regulation of the same substance.

Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young told the chamber the government's cruelty should not harm the hearts of people who have suffered so much already.

"No longer will these refugees have to live in limbo," she said.

"These visas never worked as a deterrent, they only punished the most vulnerable."

Assistant Minister for Immigration Michaelia Cash said if Labor supported the motion it proved they stood for nothing more than "promulgating the people smugglers' business model".

"The choice for the opposition is very clear," she said, before going on to attack the previous Labor government's "disastrous legacy" on asylum seeker boat arrivals.

Labor frontbencher Kim Carr told the chamber Labor supported the motion because the visas could result in further tragedies.

"TPVs act as a magnate for women and children... such is the desperation of people seeking to be reunited with their loved ones," Senator Carr said, explaining that the visas remove scope for family reunions.

The temporary visas were used during the Howard government era.

They gave refugees protection for up to three years and banned them from applying for permanent protection.

Labor abolished the visas in August 2008.

Monday's outcome was slammed by Immigration Minister Scott Morrison who vows to press on with the coalition's commitments to fight people smuggling.

"The vote to abolish TPVs (temporary protection visas) is a vote to deliver on the promise of people smugglers to more than 33,000 people who turned up illegally on boats," Mr Morrison said in a statement issued late on Monday.

He added that the backlog of asylum seekers waiting to be issued with visas under Labor's system will not be settled by the coalition.

"We will be keeping our promise to deny permanent residence to those who arrived illegally by boat, whether they turned up three months ago or three years ago."

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New Jersey honours Soprano actor

CAST members of The Sopranos were on hand as a New Jersey town remembered native son James Gandolfini.

Park Ridge dedicated a section of Park Avenue to the actor best known for his role as mobster Tony Soprano in the TV series.

Gandolfini died in Italy in June.

Cast members Steve Schirripa, Vincent Curatola, Tony Sirico, Dominic Chianese, Vincent Pastore and John Ventimiglia were among the hundreds of people who turned out on Sunday in the northern New Jersey town where Gandolfini grew up and returned often.

The Record newspaper reports that Gandolfini's 14-year-old son, Michael, said he would never forget eating with his father at a nearby diner. He said his father told him about every place in the town.

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Alleged bikie charged after Qld fight

AN alleged Hells Angels bikie has been arrested over a fight in a Gold Coast car park.

Police were called to a fight involving four men in a car park at Burleigh Heads at 4pm (AEST) on November 20.

One man was allegedly armed with an iron bar.

Officers arrived and stopped two men trying to get away in a car.

An alleged Hells Angels gang member became the fourth person to be charged over the fight.

Police said on Monday night a 37-year-old man was arrested at Mermaid Waters.

The man, from Clear Island Waters, has been charged with affray and drug possession.

He will appear in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Three other alleged bikie members have been charged over the incident.

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Lloyds names Norman Blackwell new chair

LLOYDS Banking Group PLC has named Norman Blackwell its chairman, succeeding Winfried Bischoff when he retires next year.

The bank said in a statement on Monday that Blackwell, who has been a non-executive director, will succeed Bischoff as chairman beginning in April.

He is currently chairman of Lloyd's Scottish Widows Group and has experience in insurance, banking and public policy.

Blackwell was also partner in the management consultancy McKinsey & Company.

The part-nationalised lender has said its recovery is ahead of schedule and is profitable - a fact enabling the government to begin the process of selling its stake back to private investors.

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Singer Roy Harper faces child sex trial

VETERAN folk and rock performer Roy Harper is set to be tried next year over allegations he committed a string of sex offences in the 1970s in England.

The singer-songwriter, who has performed with Pink Floyd and influenced rock band Led Zeppelin, was not required to appear for a short preliminary hearing held at Worcester Crown Court.

Harper, of Rossmore in the Republic of Ireland, faces nine charges, including 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.

Police announced last month that Harper had been charged with the offences, which are alleged to have occurred in the mid-1970s in the Herefordshire area.

The 72-year-old is on unconditional bail and will next appear at the court on March 24, 2014 for a plea hearing.

A trial date has been set for August next year.

The prolific performer has produced more than 30 albums during his career.

Harper had been due to play on a bill alongside the likes of Eric Clapton and Robert Plant at London's Royal Festival Hall on Tuesday night, but has now withdrawn from the line-up.

He was among the acts who had agreed to appear at a tribute to folk guitarist Bert Jansch, who died two years ago.

His most recent release Man & Myth was named album of the month by music magazine Uncut earlier in the year, and was released by the label behind acts such as The Flaming Lips and Fleet Foxes.

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