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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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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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

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

SEVERE thunderstorms continue to move across Queensland's southeast, with the latest warning issued for Moreton Bay, Redland area, North Stradbroke Island and parts of Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Dalby, the Sunshine Coast and Somerset areas.

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.

9.15pm: The Bureau of Meteorology warned that "very dangerous thunderstorms" were detected on weather radar near Peel Island, southern waters of Moreton Bay and South Stradbroke Island.

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

"These thunderstorms are moving towards the northeast. Very dangerous thunderstorms are forecast to affect Moreton Island by 9:30 pm and Cape Moreton and waters off Moreton Island by 10:00 pm," the warning said.

Other severe thunderstorms were located near Esk and Somerset Dam. They are forecast to affect Strathpine, Toogoolawah and Lake Somerset by 9:30 pm and Redcliffe, Caboolture and Kilcoy by 10:00 pm.

Destructive winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding are likely.

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.

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

The Bureau of Meteorology will next issue an update by 10.05pm. For more details and latest information see www.bom.gov.au.

8.45pm: Severe thunderstorms continue to move across Queensland's southeast, with the latest warning issued for Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, Redland area, North Stradbroke Island and parts of Logan, Ipswich the Scenic Rim Somerset and Toowoomba.

The Bureau's latest warning, issued at 8.41pm, was for destructive wind and heavy rainfall.

"At 8:45 pm, very dangerous thunderstorms were detected on weather radar near Tingalpa Reservoir, Camp Hill and Woodridge," the warning said.

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

"These thunderstorms are moving towards the east to northeast. Very dangerous thunderstorms are forecast to affect Cleveland, Manly and Wynnum by 9:15 pm and Dunwich, Peel Island and southern waters of Moreton Bay by 9:45 pm."

Other severe thunderstorms were located near Coolangatta, Beenleigh and Esk. They are forecast to affect Strathpine, Somerset Dam and Toogoolawah by 9:15 pm and Redcliffe, Mount Mee and Lake Somerset by 9:45 pm.

Destructive winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding are likely, the Bureau warned.

The warnings came after 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 residents reported seeing lightning across the southeast.

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

The Bureau of Meteorology will next issue an update by 9.40pm. For more details and latest information see www.bom.gov.au.

8.15pm: The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan, Redland area, and parts of Moreton Bay, Ipswich and the Scenic Rim.

"At 8pm, severe thunderstorms were detected on weather radar near Ipswich and Beaudesert. These thunderstorms are moving towards the east," the Bureau warned.

The storms are forecast to affect Brisbane CBD, Beenleigh, Logan City and Strathpine by 8.30pm and Cleveland, Redcliffe and Bribie Island by 9pm.

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

"Damaging winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding are likely," the warning said.

A 92 km/h wind gust was recorded at Amberley Airport at 7:45pm, a 77 km/h wind gust was recorded at Beaudesert at 8:00pm and 32mm of rainfall had been recorded in 30 minutes at Colleges Crossing (near Ipswich) at 8:00pm.

7.30pm: The weather bureau has issued a warning for Logan, Ipswich, the Scenic Rim and parts of Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Lockyer Valley and Somerset areas.

"At 7:15 pm, very dangerous thunderstorms were detected on weather radar near Laidley and Grandchester. These thunderstorms are moving towards the east.

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

"Very dangerous thunderstorms are forecast to affect Rosewood, Hatton Vale and Marburg by 7:45 pm and Ipswich, Lake Manchester and Upper Brookfield by 8:15 pm."

The Bureau said destructive winds, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and large hailstones are likely.

Other severe thunderstorms were located near Aratula, Rosevale and Maroon Dam.

They are forecast to affect Boonah, the area between Boonah and Beaudesert and Peak Crossing by 7:45 pm and Beaudesert, Bundamba Lagoon and Greenbank by 8:15 pm.

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

6.50pm: The weather bureau issuing a warning for the Lockyer Valley, Logan, Ipswich, Southern Downs and Toowoomba areas

The Bureau of Meteorology detected severe thunderstorms on the radar at 6.30pm near the area northeast of Warwick, Allora, Clifton and the area northwest of Cunninghams Gap.

These thunderstorms were moving towards the east. They were forecast to affect Oakington, Maryvale, Cunninghams Gap, Rosevale and the area south of Cunninghams Gap by 7pm and Boonah, Maroon Dam, Moogerah, Moogerah Dam, Aratula and Harrisville by 7.30 pm.

Damaging winds, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and large hailstones were likely.

The warning came after hail stones were reported elsewhere this afternoon.

"Pea to marble size hail has generally been observed from thunderstorms this afternoon," the Bureau said.

"An 83 km/h wind gust was recorded at Warwick at 6pm (and) 30mm of rainfall has been recorded in 30 minutes at Murrays Bridge at 6:25pm."

4.45pm: The weather bureau has issued a warning for Toowoomba and the greater Darling Downs region.

The Bureau of Meteorology said storm cells have been detected on the radar northeast of Inglewood.

Forecasters are predicting damaging wind and large hail stones will hit Allora and Clifton by 5.45pm.

A more general severe thunderstorm warning remains current for the Darling Downs and Granite Belt and parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, Maranoa and Warrego and Southeast Coast districts.

1.55pm: Another severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for damaging wind and large hailstones.

Areas expected to be affected are Roma, St George, Taroom, Tambo, Rolleston, Baralaba, Springsure, Goondiwindi and Carnarvon National Park.

11.45am: Southern Queensland has been put on alert for severe thunderstorms.

The weather bureau is predicting storms will roll over Roma, Emerald, St George, Biloela, Blackwater, Baralaba, Springsure, Goondiwindi and Carnarvon National Park in the coming hours.

The earlier warning for the Herbert, Lower Burdekin, Central Coast and Whitsunday districts has been cancelled.

A Department of Community Safety spokeswoman said the State Emergency Service received about six calls for help after the rain event that hit the Bowen Basin overnight.

Emergency services were also called out to three swift water rescues, but passengers in the vehicles were able to pull themselves to safety.

No injuries were reported to paramedics.
 

10.30am: The Bureau of Meteorology has issued another warning for severe thunderstorms with heavy rain and flash flooding during the next couple of hours.

North Queensland's Bowen copped a heavenly dumping last night – with up to 274mm of rainfall in just over an hour.

The tropical downpour caused some flash flooding on roads but Bowen councillor Dave Clark said it was welcome relief after an extended dry spell.

The weather bureau said the rainfall was "significant" and very localised over Bowen, 274mm, and Hamilton Island, 236mm.

There were no damaging winds, and flash flooding was confined to the coastal areas.

Meteorologist Michael Knepp said the rainfall totals were not unusual for that tropical part of the state at this time of year.

"We are heading into that time of year when you can get rainfall totals like this," said Mr Knepp.

"It's not rare, you can get totals like this overnight."

Most of the rain over Hamilton Island fell between 11.30pm and 2am.

Cr Clark said the area had missed out on the usual winter rains and had been very dry.

"It's been really, really dry; quite depressing really," said Cr Clark.

"Everyone was happy with the rain. It was probably too much too quick but you can't have everything."

Jade Meredith, of Bowen, said she emptied about 300mL out of her rain gauge at 6am.

"It's already half full again," she said.

Rebecca Edwards described an overnight thunderstorm as "awesome".

"First lot of rain thunder and lightning I (have) seen since moving to Cannonvale," she said.

"I've been here seven months."

The Bruce Highway is cut in parts due to flash flooding.

Local police have also advised Argyle Rd, Park Rd and Queens Rd are shut.

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Protesters clash with police in Jakarta

Indonesia has asked phone companies to investigate whether they helped to tap the President's phone. Source: AAP

TEAR gas has been used to repel protesters during a second day of demonstrations in Jakarta as fallout continues over revelations Australian spies tapped the phone of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Hundreds of members from various hardline Islamic groups clashed with police in front of the Australian embassy on Friday, some calling for blood, in response to the spying scandal which has caused relations between Canberra and Jakarta to sink to their lowest level since the East Timor crisis in 1999.

Police armed with riot shields used canes to beat back the protesters who stormed towards the Australian compound, amid violent scenes and calls for the Australian ambassador to be expelled from Indonesia.

At one point, tear gas was used to repel the protesters, from the Islamic Defenders Front, who converged on the embassy in their hundreds after Friday prayers.

An Australian flag and pictures of Prime Minister Tony Abbott were set alight.

The embassy was also 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.

Earlier, a senior member from the extremist organisation Hizbut Tahrir, speaking through a PA system erected on a truck in front of the embassy, told supporters it was regrettable that the bombing of the building in 2004 was not more successful.

"When a bomb exploded here, in front of the embassy, it was only a problem because it didn't get inside," he said.

Members of the Islamic Defenders Front shouted: "Burn, burn, Australia, burn Australia from now on."

There were also calls for Australians to be swept out of Indonesia, with one of the group telling supporters Australians were "just trash" and the "accomplice of Christians and Jews".

"Hopefully after we leave from here this place will be on fire," he said.

The protesters later dispersed at 3.30pm (1930 AEDT) but threatened to return at a later date.

More than 1600 police had been deployed near the Australian and US embassies and several other potential targets in the capital after violent demonstrations on Thursday.

The Australian government continues to warn citizens of the possibility of further unrest in the coming days as anger continues to swell over claims Australia tapped President Yudhoyono's phone in 2009.

Earlier in the day, protesters from the quasi-militia group, the Komando Pejuang Merah Putih (Red and White Fighter Commandos), also demonstrated in front of the embassy and called for war with Australia.

"Our nation has been insulted by Australia. Let's attack them," one of the group shouted outside the embassy on Friday afternoon.

Indonesia has suspended all co-operation with Australia in terms of strategic partnerships, including in combating people smuggling, intelligence gathering and anti-terrorism efforts.

Mr Abbott, who has promised a swift and courteous response to President Yudhoyono's call for an apology, met with the national security committee of cabinet on Thursday night and was declining to comment on Friday.

Indonesia's former intelligence chief has said the diplomatic row could be resolved with an apology.

"Just apologise and ... forgive and forget," Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono told the ABC on Friday.

Gita Wirjawan, Indonesia's trade minister, has also warned his country may suspend talks on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Australia.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison declined to comment on the state of border protection activities with Indonesia but said Australia's Operation Sovereign Borders was continuing.

"(It) is designed to ensure the operation stands or falls on no single measure," he said.

"We have the ability to work through our chain of measures to ensure that whatever circumstances we face ... we are able to adapt and ensure the people smugglers will be frustrated."

The issues between Mr Abbott and President Yudhoyono were being addressed by them personally and he would not comment further, he said.

The developments came as former Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer said Mr Abbott should "extend a friendly hand to President Yudhoyono", but not confirm the bugging occurred or say sorry.

"If Tony Abbott were to say 'gee I'm sorry about that', that would reveal that in fact, the allegation was true," he told Sky News.

AAP kms/mm/

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Web inventor rails against net spying

Tim Berners-Lee, who developed the web in 1990, is a vocal critic of internet surveillance. Source: AAP

THE scientist credited with inventing the World Wide Web says a growing tide of surveillance is threatening democracy's future.

Tim Berners-Lee, who developed the web in 1990, has been a vocal critic of internet surveillance.

He said on Friday that as more people use the internet and social media to "expose wrongdoing," some governments were feeling threatened.

He said the result was a "growing tide of surveillance and censorship" that threatens the future of democracy, warning that "bold steps" must be taken to protect privacy rights and the freedom of opinion online.

His remarks came ahead of the launch in London of a report ranking which countries best use the web.

Sweden was ranked first, followed by Norway, the UK and the United States.

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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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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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Woman guilty of intercourse with teen

AN Adelaide woman has been acquitted of raping a 15-year-old boy, but found guilty of unlawfully have sexual intercourse with him.

Kylie Fiona Henry, 40, of Ingle Farm, had denied having any sexual contact with the boy at her home in 2011.

On Thursday, a South Australian District Court jury found her not guilty of rape but guilty of the alternative charge of having sexual intercourse with a person under 17.

The prosecution claimed Henry forced herself on the boy when she moved from the couch to the floor where he had been lying while watching TV in her lounge room.

Henry will face a sentencing hearing on February 17.

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RBA not ruling out intervention on $A

THE Australian dollar is higher than it should be and the Reserve Bank of Australia is keeping an open mind about intervening to bring it lower, governor Glenn Stevens says.

Although the RBA has expressed concern about the high Australian dollar, the benefits of intervention do not outweigh the costs at this point, Mr Stevens said in a speech marking the 30th anniversary of the floating of the Australian dollar.

Intervention in the foreign exchange market would involve selling Australian dollars to buy foreign currency.

"Overall, in this episode so far, the bank has not been convinced that large-scale intervention clearly passed the test of effectiveness versus cost," Mr Stevens said.

"But that doesn't mean we will always eschew intervention.

"In fact we remain open-minded on the issue.

"It remains part of the toolkit."

Mr Stevens said the Australian dollar was "currently above levels we would expect to see in the medium term".

The high Australian dollar was partly why Australia's cash rate was at a record low of 2.5 per cent, he said.

"We have the situation the global economy gives us and we respond to that the best we can and at the moment that means the cash rate has to be at a 50-year low even though the economy is not at a 50-year weak point and inflation is not at a 50-year low either," Mr Stevens said.

"Part of the reason, but not the only reason, is that the currency has been very high and was initially slow to fall.

"It's been the boom of gloom - the rest of the world is much more confident in us than we are in ourselves, which is part of the reason why the exchange rate has been where it is.

"There are positive signs. I think we have reasons to be optimistic."

Since the currency was floated, the market had generally moved the exchange rate to the right spot eventually, Mr Stevens said.

"At various times we have worried that the market was behaving irrationally, believing that the exchange rate should have been somewhere other than where it was. And sometimes we were right about that," Mr Stevens said.

"Yet, looking back, on balance the evidence suggests, I think, that the market has mostly moved the exchange rate to about the right place, sooner or later."

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Govt supports ICAC mining recommendations

The NSW government has accepted recommendations made by ICAC on the management of coal resources. Source: AAP

THE NSW government has thrown its support behind all of the recommendations made by the corruption watchdog into how coal mining licences are managed across the state.

Following two inquiries into the allocation of mining licences which ensnared former Labor MPs Ian Macdonald and Eddie Obeid, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) handed down a report saying corruption was "easy to do" due to systemic weaknesses in the licensing process.

Premier Barry O'Farrell told parliament on Thursday that the implementation of the ICAC's recommendations was important for restoring public confidence.

"The recommendations ... go a long way to ensuring the sort of corruption in the handling of mining licences exposed by ICAC will never occur again," he said.

All 26 recommendations have either been fully backed by the government or been given "in principle" support.

Among them was the recommendation that the government uses auctions as the primary method of allotting licences.

They have also supported the move to hold an inquiry into how members disclose family member's interests, with the view to making third-party disclosures a requirement.

The premier has also said he will review the code of conduct for ministers.

The recommendations follow ICAC operations Jasper and Acacia, which made a variety of corrupt findings.

Operation Jasper found former Labor mining minister Ian Macdonald rigged a 2008 tender process and granted a coal mining exploration licence on land belonging to former Labor power broker Eddie Obeid and his family in the Bylong Valley.

The licence enabled the Obeids to net $30 million, with the prospect of making an extra $70 million.

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Police hunt for man, girl in Sydney's west

POLICE are searching for a man and a two-year-old girl who went missing from a house in Sydney's west on Thursday afternoon.

Police said the 40-year-old took the young girl from the house on Sedgman Crescent, Shalvey, about 4pm (AEDT) Thursday.

He left the area with the girl in a green Holden Viva, with registration AY 49 GQ.

Police from Mount Druitt are searching for the man and child and want the public to report any sighting of the pair.

A police spokeswoman told AAP there were concerns for the man's welfare, but that the incident was not being treated as an abduction.

The man's described as being Caucasian, between 175cm and 180cm tall, thin, with brown receding hair.

The young girl is also Caucasian, with strawberry blonde hair, and was wearing blue tights and a blue t-shirt when she was taken.

Police want anyone with information to call triple zero.

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Qld AG says Labor MP unethical

Queensland's Attorney-General wants Labor's Jackie Trad (pic) booted off the Ethics Committee. Source: AAP

QUEENSLAND'S Attorney-General wants Labor's Jackie Trad booted off the Ethics Committee for failing to declare a conflict of interest.

Ms Trad didn't disclose on the floor of parliament that her husband is a partner in a company in the compensation industry when she voted on changes to WorkCover.

The South Brisbane MP fully disclosed all of her interests last year on her register, but was unaware she had to declare again during the vote.

She was yet to be elected when the rule was spelt out during the new members' induction.

"I was not advised at that time that there was also an obligation on me under the standing orders to disclose the interest at the time of the division," she told parliament.

"My omission was in no way deliberate or intentional and I apologise to the house."

The apology was not enough for Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie, who says Ms Trad had a direct financial interest in the bill.

He wants her to resign from the Ethics Committee immediately or the leader of the opposition should tap her on the shoulder.

"This is absolute hypocrisy," Mr Bleijie said.

"She judges other members of parliament, but doesn't understand the rules of the House."

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Nazi sub wreck found off Java

THE wreckage of a German World War II submarine has been found off Indonesia's Java island, an archaeologist says.

Archaeologists explored the wreckage of the submarine last week in the Java Sea following information from fishermen, said Adhityatama Shinatria, a diver from Indonesia's National Centre of Archaeological Research.

The type of submarine - believed to be either a U-168 or a U-183 - could not be identified because the hull number was not found, he said.

"What is certain is that it's a U-boat which sank at the end of World War II," Shinatria said.

Divers found tableware with Nazi insignia made by Jaeger & Co and Rieber Mitterteich, he said.

He said a four-day exploration of the site was halted on Sunday because of poor weather.

According to Shinatria, a U-168 sank after it was torpedoed by the Dutch in 1944, while a U-183 was attacked by US forces in 1945.

The German submarines were part of a Monsoon Group force seeking to cut logistical supplies from Asia to Britain, he said.

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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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Daimler takes 12% stake in China carmaker

GERMAN carmaker Daimler AG has taken a 12 per cent stake in its Chinese partner Beijing Automotive Group in a move to expand its footprint in the fast-growing China auto market.

Beijing Automotive, known as BAIC, is one of China's largest carmakers and sold 1.7 million vehicles last year. Its decade-old joint venture with Daimler began producing Mercedes-Benz cars in 2006 and this year began making four and six-cylinder engines. It also produces Auman medium and heavy trucks.

As part of the new arrangement, BAIC will increase its stake in production joint venture Beijing Benz Automotive Corporation from 50 per cent to 51 per cent.

Daimler will increase its stake in their sales joint venture by the same amount to 51 per cent.

Around 210,000 Mercedes-Benz cars were sold in China last year.

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Govt accused of class warfare on tax bill

LABOR has accused the government of waging class warfare as it begins its defence of its mining tax.

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said the bill to repeal the controversial tax told Australians a lot about the government's priorities and values.

Mr Bowen said the Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) Repeal Bill could equally be called the School Kids Bonus repeal bill or the low income superannuation contribution bill - two of several other measures within the legislation.

He said the MRRT was the centrepiece of the bill.

The coalition had originally said the tax would be a "dagger at the heart" of the mining industry and would stop projects going ahead.

Now the government couldn't name a project that had been stopped and was saying the tax didn't raise enough money.

Mr Bowen said Labor believed that the profits from minerals that belonged to the Australian people should be taxed.

Turning to the move to repeal the low income super contribution scheme, Mr Bowen said it was unfair that one in three workers would now get no assistance through the tax system.

Worse, the help they now get would be taken away retrospectively.

Imagine the furore if the government tried to take away the assistance that the wealthy received, he said.

The government was giving tax breaks to people with more than $2 million in their super funds.

"Good luck to them," he said.

They should get a tax break, but not the extra generous one the Abbott government was giving.

"This is class warfare from this government," he said.

The debate on the MRRT Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2013 began after the government used its numbers to limit the debate. It's due to finish on Wednesday evening.

Liberal MP Craig Kelly lambasted Labor for making promises it couldn't keep, comparing the MRRT scheme of funding to the plot of a 1980s American comedy, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

"The plot in that movie features dysfunctional Clark W Griswold (who) ... thinks he's going to get this great big bonus at Christmas time, so he goes out and he promises his family all the wonderful things he's going to do," Mr Kelly told parliament.

But the Christmas bonus doesn't arrive and the household falls into "complete disarray and dysfunction".

"This is exactly the same situation we have here ... (Labor) making all these wonderful promises to the electorate ... based on a tax that simply does not raise the revenue to pay for it."

Mr Kelly said Labor locked in $18.4 billion worth of expenditure for the budget forward estimates, but the MRRT netted only $400 million in its initial period.

"We have to stop this. We have to turn the ship around and that's why not only must we repeal this flawed mining tax ... (but) all the spending that goes with it also has to be repealed."

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Imports reign supreme at Aust car awards

ON a best car winners list dominated by imported vehicles, the iconic Australian-built Holden Commodore stood alone.

Made in Australia for more than 35 years, the Commodore SV6 was the local car-making industry's only winner among the best car awards by Australia's peak motoring bodies, taking out the gong for best large car under $60,000.

The rest of the field was split between European and Asian imports with strong competition ensuring no carmaker took home more than two accolades.

The Mazda6 Touring which won the best medium car under $50,000 also landed the headline judges' prize.

Amid ongoing fears about Holden's future in Australia, the company's executive director of sales, marketing and after sales, Phil Brook, refused to comment on specifics, but said the locally-built Commodore had "lots of life left".

"The car is built here in Adelaide and we've got lots of plans to move forward," Mr Brook said.

Chief judge Mark Borlace said despite well-publicised problems with the local car-making industry, the Commodore's safety features and refined drive would see it compete comfortably anywhere in the world.

"A lot has being said about the Australian motoring industry, but what I think has been lost in it (is) that Holden are making world-class cars," Mr Borlace said.

"Australia doesn't have a very big car industry relative to everybody else. Most of the cars are imported so it is good to have a homegrown winner."

For the first time, an award was withheld with all the nominees in the people mover category unable to meet the recently introduced five-star ANCAP safety rating required for all winners.

"We made the decision this year that we would not award trophy to those that had not achieved a five-star ANCAP rating," Mr Borlace told reporters.

"This was the first time we said to the industry 'even if you have a good car, if it isn't world-class standard, five stars, then it's not going to get a gong'."

Other winners of the awards announced in Melbourne on Tuesday included the Land Rover Discovery, which won the best All Terrain 4WD under $100,000 for the ninth year in a row.

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Cops find guns after Sydney car crash

A MAN will face court after a loaded shotgun and pistol were allegedly found in his crashed car in Sydney's west.

Police found the guns when they attended the motor vehicle collision at Glenfield about 11.45pm (AEDT) on Saturday.

The 26-year-old driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries and was charged on Tuesday with a number of firearm offences.

He was refused bail to appear in Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday.

Police allege one of the guns was stolen during a break-and-enter in Dubbo.

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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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Sheep memorial removed early

An animal rights group has agreed to the removal of a memorial to sheep killed in a crash in SA. Source: AAP

AN animal rights group has agreed to the early removal of a roadside memorial to sheep that were killed in a crash east of Adelaide.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) applied to the local council to install the memorial alongside the Dukes Highway, between Tintinara and Keith, after the crash in July.

It was due to remain in place for a month and included the message "Reckless driving costs lives", in reference to the suffering that sometimes happens to animals being transported to be used as food or clothing.

But PETA campaign co-ordinator Claire Fryer said the council had since contacted the organisation and asked if it could come down a few days early after a fatal accident in the area last week.

"Obviously we're happy to do that as a mark of respect," Ms Fryer said.

"(The memorial) was very discreet and it was there in memory of the animals who are often not considered in incidents such as this.

"But we don't want to cause any concern for residents or families who have been affected by the latest incident."

The memorial was originally scheduled to be removed on Thursday but has already been removed.

It was the first such memorial erected by PETA, with more planned in the future.

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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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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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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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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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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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