Abbott coy on spy letter to SBY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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US wind farm guilty of killing birds

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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Vic bus attack victim recalls assault

A MAN left lying unconscious in the street after being attacked by two men on a Melbourne bus has branded his attackers thugs.

Police said the 25-year-old victim and his girlfriend were at a bus stop in Swanston Street about 1.30am (AEDT) on Saturday when they were approached by three men who started hassling them.

The couple boarded a bus to Epping, then the men boarded and two of them approached the man.

After a brief conversation, one of them headbutted the man.

They both then began hitting him in the head and body.

The driver stopped the bus when he realised what was happening.

The two men then dragged the victim onto the road near Collins and Russell streets where they left him unconscious.

They then left with the third man.

"I just remember putting my hands to my head and I was getting beaten," the victim told the Seven Network.

"The next thing after that I remember is just waking up in the ambulance."

The victim, who suffered a broken nose, facial bruising and a black eye, says he now worries about going to the city late at night and fears others will be next.

"If they're not found then it will happen to someone else," he said.

"These guys are just thugs."

Police have released CCTV footage of three men they want to interview.

The first man was described as having an olive complexion and wearing a red T-shirt and sneakers.

The second man was possibly of Islander appearance with a tanned complexion, wearing a white long-sleeved T-shirt with dark sleeves, blue jeans and black shoes.

A third man was wearing a dark beanie, blue long-sleeved top, tan pants and white shoes.

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Severe thunderstorms move east across state

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

SEVERE thunderstorms continue to move across Queensland's southeast, with the latest warning issued for Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan, Redland area, and parts of Moreton Bay, Ipswich and the Scenic Rim.

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.

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

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

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.

The Bureau of Meteorology will next issue an update by 9pm. For more details and latest information see www.bom.gov.au.

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.

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

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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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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Protesters clash with police in Jakarta

Images of Tony Abbott have been burned by protesters outside Australia's embassy in Jakarta. Source: AAP

POLICE have used tear gas as hundreds of members from various hardline Islamic groups moved towards the Australian embassy compound in Jakarta.

Some called for Australian blood to be spilt, amid ongoing fallout from revelations Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's phone was tapped.

Police armed with riot shields and tear gas formed a defensive line in front of the embassy to stop members of the Islamic Defenders Front moving forward.

The embassy was pelted with eggs earlier on Friday, while a photo of Prime Minister Tony Abbott and an Australian flag were set alight by protesters demonstrating in front of the compound.

A senior member from Hizbut Tahrir, speaking through a PA system erected on a truck in front of the embassy, called for Australian ambassador Greg Moriarty to be expelled.

He 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 also 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.

Punches were thrown by the mob as they surged forward with police retaliating by beating the crowd back with canes and using tear gas.

A fake coffin bearing a photo of Mr Abbott was laid on the street outside the embassy.

The protesters dispersed about 3.30pm (1930 AEDT).

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.

Indonesians are angry over claims Australia tapped President Yudhoyono's phone in 2009 and have demanded Mr Abbott apologise for it.

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GG backs republic, gay marriage

THE Queen's representative in Australia appears to have backed the republican movement in a landmark speech.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce delivered the final Boyer Lecture of the year in Sydney on Friday evening, outlining her vision of a future Australia.

The ABC reports she expressed support for same-sex marriage, saying she hoped for Australia to become a nation where "people are free to love and marry whom they choose".

Ms Bryce called for an Australia "where women's contributions to civil society - the workplace, the economy, the family and home - are valued equally with men's ...

"And where perhaps, my friends, one day, one young girl or boy may even grow up to be our nation's first head of state."

The former governor of Queensland was appointed Australia's first woman governor-general in 2008 by then-prime minister Kevin Rudd.

Governors-general serve at the Queen's pleasure but five-year appointments are typical, meaning Ms Bryce is likely nearing the end of her time in the job.

The full lecture is due to be broadcast on the ABC on Sunday.

Same-sex marriage advocates were quick to praise Ms Bryce's comments.

"The governor-general's dignified support for marriage equality will be welcomed by the many millions of Australians who support the reform," Australian Marriage Equality director Rodney Croome said in a statement.

"In particular, it will send a message to older Australians that this is a reform they can embrace because it strengthens relationships, families and marriage."

Australian Republican Movement chair Geoff Gallop said it was time to restart the conversation about an Australian head of state.

"The governor-general has served with distinction as the Queen's representative, but imagine what a powerful message it would send about this great country that we all love if we had a head of state who represented the Australian people," Professor Gallop said in a statement released shortly after the speech.

"We will always be friends with Britain, but now we should be equals.

"We need an unambiguous, independent national identity that reflects and celebrates our freedom, our unity, our values of the fair go and our place in the world."

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Web inventor rails against net spying

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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Lawyers stop baby going to Nauru

THE federal government won't send a two-week-old baby and his asylum-seeker family to Nauru before next week after lawyers sought a court order to stop their removal.

A spokeswoman at Maurice Blackburn says the government has given an undertaking not to remove the family until further order of the court.

"We expect this matter will be back in court on Tuesday morning," she said in a statement on Friday.

Associate Murray Watt earlier said the family from Myanmar (Burma) had already been "mistreated", with restrictions placed on the family's ability to visit the baby boy in hospital following his birth in Brisbane two weeks ago.

Mr Watt said they were terrified they could be taken to Nauru at any time even though the baby remains weak, has trouble breastfeeding and his mother is recovering from a caesarean birth and suffers from diabetes.

A senate committee was told in Canberra this week an immigration health advisory group would report in December after reviewing the case where the mother was separated from her sick baby at nights following the birth.

Mr Watt said the law firm sought the court order because the immigration department would not commit to giving the family a chance to present medical reports outlining the likely impact removal to Nauru would have on their health.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison reiterated on Friday there were no exceptions to the rule of offshore processing for any individuals who arrive illegally by boat after 19 July.

"That is the government's policy. And when there are medical clearances that are in place for people to return to Nauru, in the case of families, then that is what would occur," he said in a statement.

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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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