Teenagers detained in Afghan war: US

THE US military has detained more than 200 Afghan teenagers who were captured in the war for about a year at a time at a military prison next to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, the United States has told the UN.

The US State Department characterised the detainees held since 2008 as "enemy combatants" in a report sent every four years to the UN in Geneva updating US compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The US military had held them "to prevent a combatant from returning to the battlefield", the report said.

A few teenagers are still confined at the detention facility in Parwan, which will be turned over to the Afghan government, it said.

"Many of them have been released or transferred to the Afghan government," said the report, which was distributed this week.

Most of the juvenile Afghan detainees were about 16 years old, but their age was not usually determined until after capture, the US report said.

If the average age is 16, "this means it is highly likely that some children were as young as 14 or 13 years old when they were detained by US forces," Jamil Dakwar, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's human rights program, said on Friday.

Tina M Foster, executive director of the International Justice Network, which represents adult and juvenile Bagram detainees, questioned the report's figures.

"I question the number of 200, because there are thousands of detainees at Parwan."

The US State Department was called for comment on the criticism, and a representative said they were seeking an officer to reply.

The report said "the purpose of detention is not punitive but preventative: to prevent a combatant from returning to the battlefield".

However, Foster said the teens seized are not in uniform or even typically taken in combat.

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Egypt military 'supports dialogue'

EGYPT'S powerful military says it "supports dialogue" to resolve the political crisis dividing the nation, in its first statement since street protests against President Mohamed Morsi erupted more than two weeks ago.

"The path of dialogue is the best and only way to reach agreement and achieve the interests of the nation and its citizens," the statement, from the spokesman of the armed forces, said on Saturday.

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US air strike kills Qaeda leader: websites

A US air strike in Pakistan has killed an al-Qaeda leader, Khaled Bin Abdel Rahman al-Hussainan, while he was having dinner after a day of fasting, the group has announced.

The militant, also known as Abu Zaid al-Kuwaiti, was killed when he was having a late dinner after fasting during the day, the group said in a brief statement posted on several jihadist websites late on Friday.

"We announce the martyrdom of Sheikh Khaled al-Hussainan who died as he was having his sohur meal and we pray to God to accept him in heaven," the statement said.

US television network NBC News quoted terrorism experts saying that the militant, a 46-year-old Kuwaiti, was a second generation leader of al-Qaeda.

They said he was among those who could have replaced Ayman al-Zawahiri as head of the extremist network, adding that the militant had been killed in a drone attack.

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Typhoon turns back towards Philippines

A TYPHOON that has killed hundreds of people and left tens of thousands homeless in the southern Philippines has turned back towards the country and will hit it again, forecasters say.

Typhoon Bopha will slam into the northern tip of the main island of Luzon early on Sunday, packing gusts of up to 160km/h, the state weather service said.

It was likely to bring heavy rainfall to the area, civil defence office director Benito Ramos told a news conference on Saturday.

"People there need to take precautions," he added.

The eye of the cyclone was 230km west of the northern town of Sinait at 4pm (1900 AEDT) and moving slowly northeast, the service said.

Heavy to intense rainfall was expected within the typhoon's 400km footprint, it added.

Bopha smashed into the east coast of the southern island of Mindanao with gusts of up to 210km/h on Tuesday. At least 548 people have been killed and about 500 others missing.

Some 212,000 other people have also been left homeless, according to the civil defence office.

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Japan tsunami warnings lifted after quake

ALL tsunami warnings in Japan have been lifted about two hours after a powerful undersea quake sent thousands fleeing to safety.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 and struck in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Miyagi prefecture at 5.18 pm (1918 AEDT).

Warnings imposed after the quake had been cancelled at around 7.20pm (2120 AEDT), broadcaster NHK said, citing national meteorologists.

Three people reportedly received minor injuries in eastern Japan in the tremor, which was centred 240 kilometres east of the peninsula at a depth of 10 kilometres, the meteorological agency said.

No damage from the quake or tsunami was reported.

The quake was followed by a tremor registering 6.2, which struck the same region at 5.31 pm.

The agency said the jolts were likely aftershocks of a magnitude-9 quake on March 11, 2011, which struck the same region, setting off a tsunami that devastated coastal communities.

About 18,600 people died or went missing in the disaster.

No abnormalities were observed on Friday at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Fukushima prefecture, its operator, the Tokyo Electric Power Co, said.

"No abnormalities have been recorded on instruments at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant's six reactors," a TEPCO spokesman said.

"All workers were ordered to take shelter inside buildings at the Fukushima plant.

"No abnormalities were confirmed with the radiation monitoring posts at the Fukushima plant. No abnormalities were seen with the water processing facilities."

The plant went into meltdown after it was hit by the March 2011 disaster and has been shut down ever since.

After the quake, authorities issued a warning that a tsunami potentially as high as two metres could hit.

Ishinomaki, a city in Miyagi, reported that a tsunami of one metre hit at 6.02pm.

Aiko Hibiya, a volunteer for the recovery in Minami-Sanriku, a coastal town devastated by last year's tsunami, said she was at a friend's temporary housing when the quake struck.

"It shook for such a long time," she said.

She said other volunteers who had been in coastal areas were evacuated to a square and a parking lot and were waiting for the tsunami warnings to be lifted.

Sirens whooped along the coast as people ran for higher ground, but the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no risk of a widespread tsunami.

Shortly before the earthquake struck, NHK broke off regular programming to warn that a strong quake was due to hit.

Afterward, the announcer repeatedly urged all near the coast to flee to higher ground.

The Meteorological Agency has an early warning system that, using data from seismographs scattered across Japan, enables it to provide advance warning of the estimated intensity and timing of a major quake.

The warning for Friday's quake was issued six minutes before it struck, according to an unnamed official from the Meteorological Agency, who spoke on national television more than an hour after the quake.

A spokesman for TEPCO said the quake had passed off without incident at the wrecked power station.

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Police investigate Victorian MP

POLICE have launched an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office by a member of the Victorian Parliament.

In October, the state opposition asked police to investigate Liberal MP Geoff Shaw after the ombudsman found he had used his taxpayer-funded car and fuel card to run his hardware business.

"Victoria Police can confirm that the crime department is investigating allegations of misconduct in public office by a serving member of the Victorian Parliament," a spokeswoman said on Friday.

In his investigation, Ombudsman George Brouwer also found Mr Shaw might be in contempt of parliament and that matter would be examined by the parliament's privileges committee.

Premier Ted Baillieu has stood by the Member for Frankston, saying he is a good local member.

The coalition holds power in Victoria by just one seat.

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Doctors to determine Duchess's schedule

BACK at her palace after being released from hospital, a cloud hangs over the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge's upcoming royal schedule.

Prince William's wife Catherine, 30, spent three nights at a private London hospital being treated for acute morning sickness after the world learnt on Monday she was in the "early stages" of pregnancy.

On Thursday, she was discharged from King Edward VII Hospital bound for her Kensington Palace base, with orders to rest.

Royal aides have cancelled the Duchess's weekend commitments and it is unknown if Catherine will attend, as planned, Wednesday's UK premiere of The Hobbit.

Numerous British media outlets reported on Friday that a question mark is beside each of Catherine's official engagements through until the end of 2012.

Unnamed royal sources said the Duchess would follow medical advice and plan her engagements accordingly.

William is expected to maintain his royal schedule, but is unlikely to remain at his wife's bedside as he is expected to return to work in Wales as a RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot, British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported.

The Queen's grandson took compassionate leave to be with Catherine during her hospitalisation.

Meanwhile, the Church of England has published a prayer for the expectant royal parents.

Posted on its website, the prayer reads: "We pray for William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge as they prepare to receive the gift of their child."

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Egypt opposition rejects Morsi talks offer

The Egyptian army has moved in to restore order after violent protests in Cairo escalated. Source: AAP

EGYPT'S mainly secular opposition has rejected an offer of dialogue from President Mohamed Morsi, raising the prospect of further escalation of a crisis that already turned bloody earlier this week.

Funerals for several of the seven people killed in Wednesday night clashes between Morsi supporters and opponents - all said to be members of the Muslim Brotherhood which backed him for the presidency - were to be held on Friday, the traditional day of Muslim prayer and rest.

Opposition coalition the National Salvation Front called for more mass demonstrations after the main midday prayers, in a possible test for soldiers and anti-riot police guarding the presidential palace with tanks and barbed wire barricades.

The opposition bloc accused Morsi of rejecting "repeated demands to him to offer consensus solutions... to lift Egypt out of its current disastrous situation."

It accused the president of "dividing Egyptians between his 'supporters of legitimacy'... and his opponents, whom he calls 'thugs'".

In a televised speech late on Thursday, Morsi defended giving himself sweeping new powers by decree last month, and said he would push on with a December 15 referendum to change Egypt's constitution along lines drafted by a mostly Islamist panel.

Morsi said he was ready to hold talks with the opposition on Saturday, but showed little inclination to compromise.

The scene outside the presidential palace was calm ahead of noon prayers but security was tight.

Around a dozen tanks and armoured troops carriers were deployed in the vicinity, with soldiers and riot police massed behind barbed wire barricades.

On Thursday, they had cleared the area.

Protests were expected to swell after the main prayers.

Youth activist group April 6 called for marches from all of Cairo's mosques to converge on the capital's main squares.

The demonstrations seen this week were the biggest since Morsi took office in June.

The street clashes were also reminiscent of the upheaval in February 2011 that toppled veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak.

In his speech late on Thursday, Morsi said the referendum on the constitution would go ahead as planned, adding that "afterwards... everyone must follow its will".

He said: "We respect peaceful freedom of speech but I will never allow anyone to resort to killing and sabotage."

Hundreds of opposition protesters tried to storm the Cairo headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood as he made his speech, but were pushed back by riot police firing tear gas.

At least four of Morsi's advisers have quit over the crisis, and the Cairo stock market has taken a heavy hit.

The United States and European Union have called for dialogue to resolve the crisis.

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Tanks deployed near Egypt president palace

Tanks have been deployed outside Egypt's presidential palace following a night of deadly clashes. Source: AAP

EGYPT'S army has deployed tanks outside the presidential palace after a night of deadly clashes between opponents and supporters of President Mohamed Morsi.

Three tanks and three armoured personnel carriers were stationed metres from the front gate of the palace in northern Cairo on Thursday as hundreds of Morsi's partisans chanted slogans in support of the president.

The military pledged on Thursday not to use violence against protesters.

General Mohammed Zaki, head of the Republican Guard tasked with protecting the president, said that "the armed forces, and the Republican Guard, will not be an instrument of oppression against protesters," the official MENA news agency reported.

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Migrant bus driver strike stuns Singapore

FOUR Chinese immigrant bus drivers accused of inciting Singapore's first labour strike in 26 years have been granted bail in a case that highlighted growing social friction caused by an influx of foreign labour.

A fifth Chinese driver has already been sentenced to six weeks in prison even though prosecutors said he was not an instigator of the strike, which was called to demand equitable pay.

Walking off the job in protest is almost unheard of in Singapore, and the swift prosecution following the November 26-27 strike was a clear sign the government of this strictly-enforced country will not brook any disobedience from its work force.

Three of the men who appeared in court on Thursday were allowed a bail of 10,000 Singapore dollars ($A7,880).

A fourth driver, He Jun Liang, who faces an additional charge of making an online post in Mandarin, was given a bail of $S20,000.

It is not clear if they will be able to raise the money to get out of detention before their case resumes on December 12.

A Chinese embassy official who was present at the hearing declined to comment on the cases.

If found guilty, all four men face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $S2,000.

The four drivers and the fifth already in jail were among 171 Chinese bus drivers of a state transport company who went on strike in protest at being paid nearly a quarter less than their Malaysian colleagues.

The labour action disrupted about five per cent of the city-state's bus services.

Singapore requires essential service workers to give 14 days' notice of a strike.

The last strike in the country was in 1986 by shipyard workers.

The government revoked the work permits of 29 other drivers and deported them to China.

The remaining drivers in the group were issued warnings, and will be allowed to remain and work in Singapore.

Authorities say a police investigation found the strike was premeditated and the drivers were absent from work without reason.

The bus company's chief, Desmond Kuek, has said the Chinese drivers' salary was fair.

He said the Chinese were paid less than the Malaysians because the company bore their expenses for transport, accommodation and utilities.

Singapore relies on hundreds of thousands of immigrants from countries such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, China, Malaysia and Myanmar (Burma) to work as maids, construction workers, waiters, rubbish collectors and at other jobs deemed unappealing to many locals.

But the massive influx of foreigners has created much resentment among locals who see them as undisciplined and noisy.

They also blame the foreigners for the overcrowding that has put pressure on infrastructure, and for raising housing prices because of bigger demand on limited supply.

The case has not caused any diplomatic rift between Singapore and China, a major trading partner.

But activists in Hong Kong staged a protest outside the Singapore consulate on Wednesday.

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Fatal WA car crash followed altercation

AN altercation between two drivers near Perth has led to the death of another man, whose vehicle collided head-on with one of their cars.

Police said it was believed two men in separate vehicles were involved in an incident shortly before 2pm (WST) on Thursday.

One of the vehicles then drove off and shortly after smashed into another car that was travelling in the opposition direction along South Western Highway in Byford, on Perth's southeastern fringe.

The man in the third vehicle died, while the driver in the other car was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital.

The driver who'd been involved in the earlier altercation left the area.

He is now helping police with their inquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The South Western Highway has been closed in both directions, between Thomas Road and Larsen Road.

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Italian police recover stolen sphinx

ITALIAN police say they have recovered a 2000-year-old Egyptian sphinx statue that was stolen from a necropolis near Rome and was about to be smuggled out of the country.

"The investigation began with a random check of an industrial vehicle during which police found a decorative ceramic object from an excavation as well as many photos of the Egyptian sculpture," the police said in a statement.

A search of the driver's residence turned up the statue from the Ptolemaic era (4th-1st centuries BC) packed into a crate and hidden in a greenhouse.

The statue is believed to have been stolen from the Etruscan necropolis of Montem Rossulum near Viterbo, some 100 kilometres from Rome.

The police "prevented the sculpture, as well as a series of ancient objects from being put on the clandestine international market," the statement said.

The granite statue measures 120 centimetres and 60 centimetres.

Egyptian sculptures began to be shipped to Italy following the Roman conquest of Egypt in the 1st century BC.

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UN chief warns Syria on chemical weapons

A mortar has slammed into a ninth-grade classroom in Damascus, killing nine students and a teacher. Source: AAP

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Syria's regime against using its stockpile of chemical weapons, warning of "huge consequences" if Bashar al-Assad resorts to such weapons of mass destruction.

Ban also suggested that he would not favour an asylum deal for the Syrian leader as a way to end the country's civil war and cautioned that the United Nations doesn't allow anyone "impunity".

"I again urge in the strongest possible terms that they must not consider using this kind of deadly weapons of mass destruction," Ban told The Associated Press on Wednesday, speaking on the sidelines of a climate conference in Qatar.

"I have warned that if in any case this should be used, then there will be huge consequences. And they should be accountable," he said of the Syrian regime.

Syria is believed to have hundreds, if not thousands, of tons of chemical agents, including mustard gas, a blistering agent, and the more lethal nerve agents sarin and VX, experts say.

Assad has said he would not use such weapons on his own people even if it had them. Syria is party to the 1925 Geneva Protocol banning chemical weapons in war.

US intelligence has seen signs that Syria is moving materials inside chemical weapons facilities recently, though it is unsure what the movement means. Still, US officials said the White House and its allies are weighing military options should they decide to secure Syria's chemical and biological weapons.

In Qatar, the UN chief was asked about the potential for an asylum deal that would remove Assad from power. The Syrian president vowed in an interview with Russia Today last month that he would never be forced into exile and that he would "live and die in Syria".

"Whoever commits (a) gross violation of human rights must be held accountable and should be brought to justice. This is a fundamental principle," Ban said.

Ban's warnings came as fighting around the Syrian capital, Damascus, was closing in on Assad's seat of power.

Clashes between rebels and regime troops have intensified in the suburbs ringing the city in recent weeks. The area has been a stronghold of predominantly Sunni Muslim rebels, who are fighting to topple Assad's regime, dominated by Alawites, an offshoot Shi'ite group.

The increased pressure of the opposition fighters on the capital has raised worries that Assad or his forces will resort to desperate measures, perhaps striking neighbours Turkey or Israel, or using chemical weapons.

Syria's uprising began with peaceful protests in March 2011 and later escalated into a civil war that the opposition says has killed more than 40,000 people. So far, both sides have refused international calls for a negotiated solution.

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More than 50 bushfires as Qld temps hit 40

MORE than 50 bushfires burned across Queensland on Tuesday, as temperatures soared to 40 degrees Celsius across much of the state.

New records for December were set in the southeast, where Tewantin on the Sunshine Coast hit 39.7C - its hottest December temperature on record.

"Their previous record was set in 1901," senior weather bureau forecaster Michelle Berry told AAP.

Brisbane reached 38C - the city's hottest December day since 2001.

"Gold Coast got to 35.1C at Coolangatta, the hottest December reading since 2004," Ms Berry said.

"Charters Towers got to 40.5C, which is its hottest December day since 2002, and Rockhampton reached 39.1C, its hottest December day since 2008."

With more dry air forecast to blow across the state on Wednesday, fire danger will remain in the severe to near-extreme range in many areas.

"The highest readings are across the Darling Downs and Granite Belt, into the Lockyer Valley district," Ms Berry said.

"Some of the highest readings have been occurring around the Oakey, Dalby and Warwick areas, but we've also had severe fire danger values further west towards Birdsville, Longreach and up towards Mt Isa.

"We say anything over 50 is severe and we've been getting readings of about 85 around the Oakey area, which is near extreme."

Temperatures are forecast to ease a little on Wednesday, but the bureau says it will still be warmer than the December average.

"That, combined with the dry air and gusty southwest winds, means we will still have enhanced fire dangers through the southern, western and central parts of the state," she said.

As temperatures peaked in the mid-afternoon, 54 bushfires were burning around Queensland but a few hours later that number had fallen to 35.

A number of people voluntarily evacuated their homes in the face of a large blaze near Miles in south central Queensland as 12 fire crews and two water-bombing aircraft fought to bring it under control.

But Peter Varley from Queensland Fire and Rescue Service said the day could have been a lot worse.

"There has been nothing that's caused us any major concerns - I think we've got off pretty lightly considering the conditions," Mr Varley told AAP.

"Tomorrow, and possibly on Thursday as well, there'll be milder temperatures but an increase in the wind speed and low humidity.

"Of the three factors, temperature is our least worry."

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WA fire threats ease at two communities

RESIDENTS of a community in Western Australia's Great Southern region are being allowed back into their homes after the threat from a bushfire eased, while another fire in a national park in the state's southwest is generating lots of smoke.

There were fears the summer tourist destination of Bremer Bay could be threatened by a bushfire on Wednesday, while another fire in a national park near Augusta in the state's southwest is being held in check by water bombing.

But both fires were under control on Wednesday evening with threat levels decreased from watch and act to advice in both cases.

Bremer Bay residents were told they could return to their homes after improved weather conditions lowered the threat from the bushfire, which was started by lightning and has burned more than 11,000 hectares.

"Although there is no immediate danger you need to be aware and keep up to date," WA's department of environment and conservation said in a statement.

A Bremer Bay primary school, however, will remain closed for a third day.

"We are not taking any chances and must protect students and staff from fire, which is why we have closed the school," Department of Education deputy director-general of schools David Axworthy said on Wednesday.

Many of the town's residents had taken refuge after hearing earlier warnings, but winds in the area ended up being weaker than forecast.

Shire of Jerramungup president Robert Lester said some protective backburning had also been conducted in the area.

Bremer Bay has a population of around 300 residents, but the township can swell in size to 10,000 in January, he said.

The second bushfire, roughly 7km west-north-west of Augusta, in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park is generating a lot of smoke but poses no immediate danger.

Authorities plan on updating residents again on both fires by 11am (WST) on Thursday.

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Banks' small cuts forcing RBA's hand: Lowe

A RESERVE Bank of Australia official says the RBA has cut its cash rate more than it normally would because the banks are not passing on the rate reductions in full.

RBA deputy governor Philip Lowe said in a speech in Sydney on Wednesday that for most of the decade before the global financial crisis it was normal for lending rates to move in lock-step with the RBA's cash rate.

"This has obviously changed over recent years as bank funding costs, and hence mortgage rates, have risen relative to the cash rate," he told the Australian Business Economists (ABE) Annual Conference.

"The board of the RBA has taken account of this in its monthly policy decisions.

"As a result, the cash rate today is around 1.5 percentage points lower than it otherwise would have been."

Dr Lowe said when funding costs ease the banks could return to passing on the RBA's cash rate cuts in full to borrowers.

"We are seeing some lessening of the pressure on bank funding costs. The wholesale spreads that the banks are paying are coming down," he said, answering questions after his speech.

"Perhaps we are seeing signs that the intense competition in the deposit market is easing off a fraction. It's a bit early to conclude that with confidence, but there are signs that is occurring.

"If both those trends were to continue, then you would expect to see some stabilisation in the spread between the cash rate and the mortgage rate and hopefully some decline.

"I don't think we're there yet but we are getting closer to it than we have been."

After the RBA's decision to cut the cash rate by 25 basis points to three per cent on Tuesday, three of the four big banks said they would cut their standard variable home loan rate by only 20 basis points.

The ANZ will review its variable rates on December 14.

When the central bank cut the cash rate by 25 basis points at its October board meeting the NAB, Commonwealth and ANZ banks cut their standard variable rates by 20 basis points and Westpac cut by 18 basis points.

In his speech on Wednesday night, called What is Normal, Dr Lowe also spoke about the strength of the Australian economy and the contrasting lack of consumer and business confidence.

He said Australia has had 20 years of uninterrupted economic growth and this had affected how Australians viewed the economy.

"Twenty years of good economic performance and rising asset prices raised our expectations of what is normal," Dr Lowe said.

"I suspect that this is one factor that explains why the public mood has been a bit flat over recent times, despite many observers outside our country viewing the Australian economy with some envy."

"If something happens year after year, there is a tendency to think it can continue to happen and some people start to make their plans accordingly."

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Bid for anti-pedophile alliance

OFFICIALS from the 27 EU member states and 22 other countries, including the US, Australia and New Zealand, are launching a global alliance targeting online child sexual abuse.

US Attorney-General Eric Holder and European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrm will launch the alliance in Brussels on Wednesday, building on the success of cross-border police operations that have dismantled international pedophile networks.

The participating nations are making a commitment to caring for victims, enhancing efforts to prosecute offenders, increasing children's awareness of online risks and reducing the availability of child abuse material online.

Representatives from outside the EU are from Albania, Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Georgia, Ghana, Japan, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, the Philippines, Serbia, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the US, Ukraine and Vietnam.

Last year, a US-led law enforcement operation charged 72 defendants in the US and targeted more than 500 people for investigation overseas in the largest US prosecution of an international criminal network organised to sexually exploit children.

The participants allegedly belonged to Dreamboard, a members-only online bulletin board to promote pedophilia and encourage sexual abuse of very young children.

In an initiative called Project Safe Childhood, the Justice Department's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section trains prosecutors in US Attorneys' offices around the United States to help assemble criminal cases against perpetrators of child sexual abuse.

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Asian markets mixed after weak US data

ASIAN markets have closed mixed following weak US manufacturing data and fears over US talks aimed at averting the fiscal cliff.

The euro touched a six-week high against the dollar at one point on Tuesday, helped by news Greece had begun a debt-buyback program and eurozone finance ministers had nodded through a bailout for Spain's troubled banks.

Tokyo fell 0.27 per cent, or 25.72 points, to 9,432.46, Sydney eased 0.62 per cent, or 27.9 points, to 4503.6 and Seoul lost 0.25 per cent, or 4.84 points, to close at 1,935.18.

Hong Kong was 0.15 per cent higher, adding 32.12 points to end at 21,799.97 while Shanghai was up 0.78 per cent, or 15.37 points, at 1,975.14.

Both markets rebounded after posting heavy losses the previous day.

US shares turned down on Monday after the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said its index on manufacturing activity for November showed contraction following two months of expansion.

The purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to 49.5, below the 50 breakeven level, from 51.7 in October.

Businesses surveyed by the ISM blamed the slow global economy and uncertainty over the fiscal cliff battle in Washington. It followed positive manufacturing numbers across Asia, while Europe also saw a marginal improvement.

The Dow slid 0.46 per cent, the S&P 500 fell 0.47 per cent and the Nasdaq shed 0.27 per cent.

US politicians have until the end of the month to agree a deal on cutting the country's huge deficit and avoid the fiscal cliff of huge tax hikes and spending cuts widely expected to tip the economy into recession if they take effect.

However, there has been little progress, with Republicans and Democrats blaming each other for the stalemate.

On Monday the Republicans put forward a proposal to the White House that calls for $US800 billion ($A770 billion) in increased tax revenue, half of what President Barack Obama has proposed, while it also includes huge cuts to Medicare and other programs. The plan was immediately rejected.

In Europe, Greece began its program to buy back privately held debt at a big discount, the underlying condition for it to receive its next tranche of bailout funds from the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

Eurozone finance ministers also gave the green light to a 39.5 billion euros ($A50 billion) recapitalisation of Spain's banks next week.

A preliminary plan for a bailout for Cyprus worth 17 billion euros was also drawn up.

The euro climbed at one point to $US1.3081 - its highest since October 22 - before easing slightly to $US1.3074, while it also bought Y107.21 in early European trade, compared with $US1.3051 and Y107.36 in New York late on Monday.

The dollar was slightly lower at Y82.02 from Y82.24.

The Australian dollar rose to US$1.0454 from the $US1.0421 seen just before the central bank cut interest rates by 25 basis points to three per cent citing problems in the global economy, in particular Europe and the United States.

Oil prices eased, with New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in January, down 43 cents to $US88.66 a barrel in the afternoon and Brent North Sea crude for January shedding 53 cents to $US110.39.

Gold was at $1,705.44 at 1055 GMT (2155 AEDT) compared with $US1,717.75 late on Monday.

In other markets:

- Singapore's Straits Times Index closed down 0.12 per cent, or 3.62 points to 3,062.12.

Olam International gained 1.59 per cent to Sg$1.60 and Singapore Telecommunications added 0.61 per cent to Sg$3.31.

- Wellington fell 0.82 per cent, or 33.40 points, to 4,015.69.

Fletcher Building was off 0.88 per cent at NZ$7.91 and Telecom ended down 1.94 per cent at NZ$2.28.

- Manila closed 0.59 per cent higher, adding 33.58 points to 5,706.28.

SM Prime Holdings gained 2.72 per cent to 16.60 pesos while BDO Unibank rose 1.34 per cent to 72 pesos. Empire East Landholdings was unchanged at 1.03 pesos.

- Taipei was flat, edging up 1.07 points to 7,600.98.

Smartphone maker HTC rose 4.53 per cent to Tw$278.5 while chip giant TSMC fell 1.34 per cent to Tw$96.6.

- Kuala Lumpur shares edged up 0.26 points or 0.02 per cent to close at 1607.61.

British American Tobacco gained two per cent to 56.62 ringgit while Petronas Chemicals Group rose 1.2 per cent to 5.73. UEM Land Holdings lost 2.4 per cent to close at 2.08 ringgit.

- Jakarta ended down 32.79 points, or 0.76 per cent, to 4,269.65.

Lender BCA fell 7.9 per cent to 8,750 rupiah, car maker Astra International slipped 4.17 per cent to 6,900 rupiah, while cigarette maker Gudang Garam climbed 0.19 per cent to 53,850 rupiah.

- Mumbai's Sensex index rose 0.22 per cent or 42.80 points to 19,348.12 points.

Mahindra & Mahindra was down 1.75 per cent at 938.95 rupees and Tata Power was up 4.0 per cent at 111.75 rupees.

- Bangkok edged down 2.86 points or 0.21 per cent to close at 1,330.06.

Coal producer Banpu lost 1.28 per cent to 387.00 baht while energy giant PTT Plc gained 0.62 per cent to 327.00 baht.

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Man charged over Pitt St office rapes

A MAN alleged to have sexually assaulted other men at an office in Sydney's Pitt Street has been charged by police.

The alleged offences date back to 1995 to 2004, involving four victims.

Strike Force Woodcliff was formed to investigate the alleged sexual assaults by the man, who worked in the Pitt Street office.

The alleged offender, aged 60, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with seven offences including sexual intercourse without consent and indecent assault.

He was granted bail to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on January 22, 2013.

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Egyptians to march on presidential palace

OPPONENTS of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi are planning to march on the presidential palace to protest against his power grab and a controversial draft charter, as the country plunged deeper into crisis.

Five marches were set to take off at 4pm local time on Tuesday (0100 AEDT Wednesday) from several mosques in Cairo towards the Itihadiya presidential palace in the upscale neighbourhood of Heliopolis, organisers said.

Security measures have been tightened around the capital, with some schools and businesses closing early for the day.

A November 22 decree issued by Morsi expanding his powers and enabling him to put to a December 15 referendum a draft constitution - rejected by liberals, leftists and Christians - has sparked strikes and deadly protests.

Independent and opposition newspapers refused to publish their Tuesday editions in protest at the lack of press freedom in the constitution.

The move was in order to "stand up to tyranny," independent daily Al-Tahrir said on its website.

"The Egyptian Independent objects to continued restrictions on media liberties, especially after hundreds of Egyptians gave their lives for freedom," read a message on that newspaper's website, its only viewable content on Tuesday morning.

Daily Al-Masry Al-Youm said the papers were "protesting against the articles on the press in the draft constitution ... and reject (Morsi's) November 22 decree."

As he faces his worst crisis since taking office in June, Morsi insists the measures are aimed at ending a tumultuous transition following the popular uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

But his opponents have accused him of choosing the same path of autocracy that finally cost Mubarak his presidency.

Morsi's decree not only placed his decisions beyond judicial oversight but also barred any judicial body from dissolving the Islamist-dominated panel that drafted and approved the new constitution, sparking a conflict with the country's judges.

The constitution has become the focal point of a political and ideological battle in Egypt between Islamists who support Morsi and the largely secular-leaning opposition.

The charter has been criticised for failing to protect key rights and for paving the way to a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

In Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square, hundreds of protesters have been camping out since Morsi issued his decree.

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Bomb kills five in southern Afghanistan

AT least five people, including two women, are dead after a bomb targeting an army vehicle exploded in southern Afghanistan.

The remote-controlled bomb was placed on a motorcycle and hit an Afghan army patrol truck as it was passing in Trin Kot the capital of Oruzgan province, officials said on Monday.

"Two Afghan army soldiers and three civilians were killed in the blast," provincial police spokesman Farid Ayal said.

The Oruzgan governor's spokesman, Abdullah Hemat, said two women were among those killed.

The blast also wounded eight others, including two soldiers, he said.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but in the past such attacks have been claimed by the Taliban, who are waging an 11-year old insurgency to topple the US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai.

The attack in Oruzgan comes a day after Taliban suicide attackers struck at a NATO base on an Afghan city airport, killing five people and wounding several foreign troops.

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Clashes as workers join fire protest

BANGLADESHI garment workers have clashed with police with some 10,000 protesting over the deaths of 110 people in the country's worst clothing factory fire for a second week.

Industrial police deputy director Moktar Ali said on Monday a false rumour about another fire in a plant sparked the latest protests as workers gathered in the streets of Ashulia, a manufacturing hub of 500 plants outside the capital Dhaka.

"There were around 10,000 workers. They barricaded a road at Ashulia and attacked some vehicles and factories," Ali said.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the "unruly" protesters who fought back by hurling stones, he added, saying about 50 factories had shut fearing further attacks and vandalism.

The fire at the Tazreen Fashion factory on November 24 in Ashulia led to 110 deaths, mostly women paid as little as $US37 ($A35.60) a month who were unable to escape the blaze or who jumped from elevated windows.

The factory was supplying clothes to a variety of international groups including US giant Walmart, Dutch retailer C&A, Hong Kong supplier Li & Fung as well as to the brand owned by US rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Activists and industry workers have staged demonstrations demanding better safety almost every day at Ashulia and in Dhaka since the tragedy.

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P-plater caught doing 198km/h

A P-PLATER has been caught driving at 198km/h in Sydney's south.

Police intercepted the male driver about 3.40pm (AEDT) on Monday travelling at 198km/h in a 110km/h zone on the F6 freeway at Helensburgh.

He was issued with an infringement and had his licence suspended.

In a separate incident, a female P-plater was nabbed travelling in excess of 140km/h in a 90km/h zone about 2.40pm on the M4 motorway at Westmead.

The 17-year-old was also issued with an infringement and had her licence suspended.

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Crash driver five times over alcohol limit

A WOMAN was allegedly more than five times over the legal alcohol limit when she lost control of her car and crashed through two fences.

The 55-year-old was attempting a right hand turn in her Toyota Corolla in Mooroolbark, in Melbourne's east, just before 5.30pm (AEDT) when her car mounted the kerb.

It ploughed through a fence, narrowly missed a trampoline where a child had been playing minutes earlier, crashed through a second fence and came to rest against a caravan.

Police said a breath test returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.285 per cent.

Her licence was immediately suspended.

Senior Constable Aidan Williams said it was lucky the crash didn't end in tragedy.

"I am amazed that no one was injured in this incident," he said in a statement.

"There was a child jumping on the trampoline only minutes before this incident and a number of other cars on the road."

The woman, from Mooroolbark, will be summonsed to court at a date to be fixed on charges of drink driving and other traffic offences.

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Bomb kills five in southern Afghanistan

AT least five people, including two women, are dead after a bomb targeting an army vehicle exploded in southern Afghanistan.

The remote-controlled bomb was placed on a motorcycle and hit an Afghan army patrol truck as it was passing in Trin Kot the capital of Oruzgan province, officials said on Monday.

"Two Afghan army soldiers and three civilians were killed in the blast," provincial police spokesman Farid Ayal said.

The Oruzgan governor's spokesman, Abdullah Hemat, said two women were among those killed.

The blast also wounded eight others, including two soldiers, he said.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but in the past such attacks have been claimed by the Taliban, who are waging an 11-year old insurgency to topple the US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai.

The attack in Oruzgan comes a day after Taliban suicide attackers struck at a NATO base on an Afghan city airport, killing five people and wounding several foreign troops.

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Clashes as workers join fire protest

BANGLADESHI garment workers have clashed with police with some 10,000 protesting over the deaths of 110 people in the country's worst clothing factory fire for a second week.

Industrial police deputy director Moktar Ali said on Monday a false rumour about another fire in a plant sparked the latest protests as workers gathered in the streets of Ashulia, a manufacturing hub of 500 plants outside the capital Dhaka.

"There were around 10,000 workers. They barricaded a road at Ashulia and attacked some vehicles and factories," Ali said.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the "unruly" protesters who fought back by hurling stones, he added, saying about 50 factories had shut fearing further attacks and vandalism.

The fire at the Tazreen Fashion factory on November 24 in Ashulia led to 110 deaths, mostly women paid as little as $US37 ($A35.60) a month who were unable to escape the blaze or who jumped from elevated windows.

The factory was supplying clothes to a variety of international groups including US giant Walmart, Dutch retailer C&A, Hong Kong supplier Li & Fung as well as to the brand owned by US rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Activists and industry workers have staged demonstrations demanding better safety almost every day at Ashulia and in Dhaka since the tragedy.

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P-plater caught doing 198km/h

A P-PLATER has been caught driving at 198km/h in Sydney's south.

Police intercepted the male driver about 3.40pm (AEDT) on Monday travelling at 198km/h in a 110km/h zone on the F6 freeway at Helensburgh.

He was issued with an infringement and had his licence suspended.

In a separate incident, a female P-plater was nabbed travelling in excess of 140km/h in a 90km/h zone about 2.40pm on the M4 motorway at Westmead.

The 17-year-old was also issued with an infringement and had her licence suspended.

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Crash driver five times over alcohol limit

A WOMAN was allegedly more than five times over the legal alcohol limit when she lost control of her car and crashed through two fences.

The 55-year-old was attempting a right hand turn in her Toyota Corolla in Mooroolbark, in Melbourne's east, just before 5.30pm (AEDT) when her car mounted the kerb.

It ploughed through a fence, narrowly missed a trampoline where a child had been playing minutes earlier, crashed through a second fence and came to rest against a caravan.

Police said a breath test returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.285 per cent.

Her licence was immediately suspended.

Senior Constable Aidan Williams said it was lucky the crash didn't end in tragedy.

"I am amazed that no one was injured in this incident," he said in a statement.

"There was a child jumping on the trampoline only minutes before this incident and a number of other cars on the road."

The woman, from Mooroolbark, will be summonsed to court at a date to be fixed on charges of drink driving and other traffic offences.

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Weapons seized, cars impounded after brawl

A CHISEL, a knife, a soccer corner post and spanner were all used as weapons during a western Sydney soccer brawl.

About 4.30pm on Sunday police were called to Peter Van Hasselt Park at Willmot where up to 30 people were reported to be fighting.

Police say the brawl included men and women from their late teens to early 20s.

Police established a crime scene which spread across two kilometres.

Investigators arrested one man and five others were taken to hospital, three to Westmead and two to Nepean, one of whom remains under police guard.

Police seized numerous weapons including a chisel, soccer corner post, spanner and knife.

Items of clothing were taken for forensic examination and five cars were impounded at the scene.

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Melbourne man charged with killing mate

MELBOURNE, Dec 2 AAP - A man has been charged with killing his mate in a dispute over his ex-girlfriend in Melbourne's southeast.

Scott Alan Parker, 26, punched 31-year-old Beau Lawson in the face, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head last Thursday, an out-of-sessions court hearing was told on Sunday.

Lawson had raised his hand to prevent Parker from following Parker's ex-girlfriend, who they had earlier run into at a pub at Carrum Downs.

Lawson, of Carrum Downs, died the following afternoon in hospital.

Parker was charged on Sunday with manslaughter, recklessly threatening serious injury, criminal damage and breaching a court order.

The Bail justice refused Parker, also of Carrum Downs, bail, and remanded him in custody to appear for a filing hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.

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UK debt-cutting slower than expected

BRITAIN'S Treasury chief has acknowledged the government is not meeting its self-imposed economic targets, but insists he will not waver from his policy of tax hikes and spending cuts.

George Osborne said on Sunday the government has set goals of cutting debt as a share of national income by 2015/16 and of balancing the current budget.

He admitted "it is taking longer to deal with our debts but we are making progress".

He told BBC television that "to turn back now would be a complete disaster".

Osborne said he would introduce new tax measures for the rich in a fall budget statement on Wednesday.

Critics say the government's austerity policy has failed to kick-start the economy, which has been through two periods of recession since 2008.

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Israel to withhold Palestine tax transfers

ISRAEL says it will withhold more than $US100 million ($A96.31 million) in taxes and other funds the Jewish state collects on behalf of Palestinians to punish them for their successful bid to win UN statehood.

Israel's Cabinet on Sunday also passed a resolution saying it would not negotiate on the basis of the UN General Assembly's recognition of a state of Palestine in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip.

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said the government would use the money it was to transfer to the Palestinians to pay down their debt to the Israel Electric Corporation and other Israeli bodies.

This was the second act of reprisal by Israel.

On Friday, Israel announced it would press ahead with plans to build thousands of settler homes.

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