Turkish journalist freed in Syria

A TURKISH journalist who went missing in Syria in August and was believed to have been held by government troops has been freed and handed to Turkish MPs touring the country.

"I am very happy, I am doing well," Cuneyt Unal was quoted by the Anatolia news agency as saying by telephone from Syria on Saturday.

One of the MPs, Hasan Akgol of Turkey's main CHP opposition party, told the agency that the cameraman was in good health.

The journalist and MPs were due to return to Turkey later in the day, Akgol said.

Cameraman Unal and his Jordanian colleague Bashar Fahmi, who were working for US broadcaster Al-Hurra, disappeared in the northern city of Aleppo on August 20.

The Anatolia report had no immediate information on Fahmi's whereabouts or fate.

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Afghan govt, Taliban urge inmate releases

THE Afghan government and Taliban said they wanted to see more of the latter's inmates released from Pakistani jails, in a move seen as a step to bring militants to the negotiating table before NATO's 2014 withdrawal.

An agreement was reached this week at a meeting between Pakistani government officials and Afghanistan's High Peace Council (HPC) in Islamabad that resulted in the release of a group of Taliban in Pakistan.

"We hope the releasing of Taliban prisoners from Pakistani jails continues and more Taliban who are willing for talks are released," the chief of Afghanistan's HPC, Salahuddin Rabbani, told reporters on Saturday in Kabul.

Afghan officials have pressed for the release of senior Taliban leaders held in Pakistan, believing they could help to bring militants to the negotiating table, to end over a decade of war ahead of the 2014 pull-out of US-led NATO troops.

Rabbani said nine members of the Taliban were released but the group did not include its former deputy leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who was captured in Pakistan in 2010.

"Those who were released were also important members and they can help us in peace and negotiations," he said.

The Taliban - whose government was toppled by a US-led invasion in 2001, leading to an 11-year insurgency to regain power - welcomed the move, calling it a "positive step" to "increase trust between two neighbouring nations and people".

They also "requested the rest of the prisoners ... to be released", in a statement posted on one of their websites.

The militants have always publicly refused to negotiate directly with Kabul, calling the government of President Hamid Karzai a US puppet.

Preliminary contacts between the US and the Taliban in Doha were broken off in March when the militants failed to secure the release of five of their comrades held at the Guantanamo Bay prison on the US base in Cuba.

Support from Pakistan, which backed the Taliban regime that held power in Kabul from 1996 to 2001, is seen as crucial to peace in Afghanistan.

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Indian Hindu leader Bal Thacker dies

INDIAN firebrand nationalist politician Bal Thackeray, who founded the right-wing Hindu party Shiv Sena, has died after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Thackeray, 86, has "breathed his last", his physician Jalil Parkar told a huge crowd assembled outside the veteran politician's house in India's financial hub of Mumbai.

Thackeray is one of the best known and most controversial figures in the western state of Maharashtra and its capital, which his party renamed from Bombay to Mumbai.

Shiv Sena's main goals have been keep people who are not from Maharashtra out of the state and stem the spread of Islam and western values.

Thackeray's Sena held power in Mumbai from 1995 to 2000.

Sena became synonymous with deadly communal violence during its campaign to protect local Marathi-speaking people from migrant workers.

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Thousands rally against Slovenia austerity

THOUSANDS of people are protesting against salary cuts and other austerity measures in Slovenia, a struggling eurozone member that is in danger of needing an international bailout.

Saturday's rally in Ljubljana was organised by several workers unions who say government's austerity package would not end the downturn but only deepen the poverty.

Union leader Dusan Semolic says "workers' salaries did not cause this crisis." A huge banner reads: "No to Destructive Policies."

The rally appeared peaceful unlike similar gatherings in several European cities last week that erupted in street battles with police.

Slovenia has faced recession linked to the crisis in the 17-member zone using the euro.

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Buddhist monk self-immolates in France

A BRITISH monk died in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in France after he poured petrol over his clothes and set himself alight, police said Friday.

The 38-year-old Briton, whom police did not name, had been living at Nalanda monastery near the southwestern village of Labastide-Saint-Georges for the past five years.

He carried out the act on Thursday in the garden of the monastery, which is home to 25 monks and 20 lay people and which on its website describes itself as "a unique monastery for Western monks in the Tibetan Geluk tradition".

Police were seeking to establish whether the victim had been depressive or if he might have committed suicide in an act of solidarity with Tibetans in China.

More than 30 people have set themselves on fire in China's Tibetan-inhabited regions since March 2011 in protest at what they say is religious and cultural repression by the Chinese authorities.

Tibetans have long chafed under China's rule over the vast Tibetan plateau, accusing Beijing of curbing religious freedoms and eroding their culture and language.

The tensions have intensified over the past year, but Beijing insists that Tibetans enjoy religious freedom and have benefited from improved living standards brought on by China's economic expansion.

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Fast worker took office on road

TEXTING while driving is nothing. German police say they nabbed a driver who had wired his Ford station wagon with an entire mobile office.

Saarland state police said Friday the 35-year-old man was pulled over for doing 130 km/h in a 100 km/h zone while passing a truck.

Built on a wooden frame on his passenger seat they found a laptop on a docking station tilted for easy driver access, a printer, router, wireless internet stick, WLAN antenna, and an inverter to power it all.

A navigation system and mobile phone mounted to the windshield completed the array.

Since there was no evidence he used the office while moving, he got away with a 120 euro ($A149.61) speeding ticket and a possible fine for having unsecured items in his car.

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Royals wave goodbye to New Zealand

Prince Charles (L) and wife Camilla will tour Christchurch on the final day of their tour of NZ. Source: AAP

PRINCE Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, have waved goodbye to New Zealand and are winging their way back home to Britain.

The royals departed Christchurch Airport late on Friday night, having spent six days in the country on the last leg of their Diamond Jubilee tour representing the Queen.

The final day of the tour was spent in quake-ravaged Christchurch, where the couple checked out work being done to rebuild the city.

There were blue skies overhead as the couple arrived at the 150th Canterbury A&P show for their final public engagement on Friday afternoon.

After presenting the award for supreme animal in show, the prince and duchess wandered around some of the stalls, picking up a bottle of Lone Goat wine along the way.

Camilla also sampled some cheese at the Neudorf Dairy stall, which she said was "delicious".

Earlier, the duchess was taken for a twirl on a makeshift dance floor in the Christchurch central business district by the founder of the student volunteer army, Sam Johnson.

Mr Johnson asked Camilla for a dance at the dance-o-mat, a temporary space created in response to the loss of many dance studios and performance spaces around the city as a result of the quakes.

Not to be overshadowed, Prince Charles swayed on to the mat, followed by Christchurch mayor Bob Parker and his wife, Jo Nicholls Parker.

The youthful army was formed in response to the need for volunteer help in the wake of the February 2011 quake which killed 185 people and destroyed the centre of Christchurch.

The demolition work didn't stop for the visit, with concrete tumbling from one of the nearby buildings carefully being pulled down in the CBD red zone and dust lingered in the air as the royals wandered through Cashel Mall.

Thousands of Cantabrians lined the mall hoping to catch a glimpse of the prince and duchess.

On her visit to the shipping container mall, Camilla picked up some items from one store, Hapa, including a merino scarf, a jumper, and five kiwi toys which she said were for her grandchildren.

Her press secretary tried to pay for the items, but the shop owner refused the money.

The royals had arrived in the city about midday and were welcomed at Christchurch City Council by the mayor, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) chief executive Roger Sutton.

The couple then met privately with 20 people seriously injured in the 2011 quake and their caregivers.

The tour has also included visits to Auckland, Wellington and Feilding.

It was Camilla's first trip to New Zealand, while Prince Charles was last there in 2005.

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Uganda records rise in gorilla numbers

THE population of Uganda's mountain gorillas has grown to 400, up from 302 in 2006, according to a census conducted last year.

This brings the total number of mountain gorillas in Africa to 880, giving hope to conservationists trying to save the critically endangered species.

Uganda is now home to nearly half of the world's mountain gorillas remaining in the wild, a source of confidence for a country that has come to depend heavily on the popular apes for substantial tourism revenue.

The rest of the surviving mountain gorillas - the species Gorilla beringei beringei - are in Congo and Rwanda.

"The increase in the population of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is testimony to the sound natural resource management policies that are being implemented in the protected areas," Uganda's Ministry of Tourism said in a statement on Friday.

"This result confirms beyond reasonable doubt that Uganda's conservation efforts are paying off."

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a network of forested jungle deep in the country's southwestern frontier, is recognised by UNESCO as a heritage site of world value.

A permit to track gorillas there costs at least $US500 ($A485) and the World Wildlife Fund estimates that each gorilla brings in up to $US1 million in revenue each year for the East African country.

The census shows a stunning recovery for a species that once faced a real threat of extinction.

Mountain gorillas in the wild still face threats ranging from habitat loss to poaching, especially in Congo, where lawlessness in the country's vast eastern territory has allowed illegal hunters to prosper.

Mountain gorillas are hunted for their meat in Congo, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Even a common cold can kill a mountain gorilla, as the species is particularly vulnerable to respiratory diseases usually associated with humans.

The conservation group Gorilla Doctors said the population growth was partly due to "extreme conservation" methods such as daily ranger monitoring in the forest.

Ugandan wildlife officials have been able to build successful partnerships with local communities in part by pouring some of the revenue into local projects, converting previously hostile groups into friendly advocates for the gorillas' survival.

"The mountain gorilla is the only non-human great ape that is actually growing in number," said Mike Cranfield of Gorilla Doctors.

"The growth of the mountain gorilla population can be attributed to the intensive conservation and collaboration between multiple conservation groups and government authorities."

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ASEAN rights pact on track despite protest

SOUTHEAST Asian nations are on course to endorse a human rights declaration despite complaints from rights groups and the UN that it falls below global standards, Cambodia says.

Leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations "will adopt the declaration" when they gather for an annual summit in Phnom Penh from Sunday, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters on Thursday.

United Nations rights chief Navi Pillay and leading rights groups have called for the proposed declaration, which has yet to be officially published, to be postponed amid fears it undermines universal human rights agreements.

Campaigners have also slammed the lack of transparency and the absence of consultation with civil society groups during the drafting.

"Of course, this declaration will not totally satisfy some civil society groups," said Hor Namhong.

"This is the first step," he said, adding that the bloc might consult with civil society groups in the future to improve the text.

More than 60 rights groups, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, issued a statement on Thursday urging ASEAN to revise the draft declaration.

In its current form, the pact was "a betrayal of the hopes of the people of Southeast Asia", HRW's deputy Asia director Phil Robertson told AFP.

"As written, the declaration provides giant loopholes for ASEAN governments to justify abusing rights in the name of national security or local context," he said.

Pillay voiced similar worries last week, urging the bloc "to take the necessary time to develop a declaration that fully conforms with international human rights standards".

ASEAN is comprised of 10 countries with disparate political systems and different levels of economic development, ranging from freewheeling democracies like the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia to the authoritarian regimes of Vietnam and Laos.

Human rights has been a sensitive issue for some ASEAN members, with the grouping's policy of non-interference in members' internal affairs often preventing the issue from being discussed thoroughly at annual meetings.

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US hits Asia markets, weak yen lifts Tokyo

MOST Asian markets have closed lower after Barack Obama challenged Republicans to accept tax hikes for the rich as part of a deal to avert a fiscal cliff.

Japan's Nikkei surged on Thursday thanks to a weakening yen after the leader of the country's opposition vowed unlimited monetary easing to kickstart the economy if, as expected, he wins a general election slated for next month.

A close eye was also being kept on Beijing, where China unveiled its leaders for the next 10 years, with investors hoping for some clarity on future policy in the world's number two economy.

Sydney shed 0.89 per cent, or 39.2 points, to 4,349.2, and Seoul slumped 1.23 per cent, or 23.32 points, to 1,870.72.

But Tokyo climbed 1.9 per cent, or 164.99 points, to 8,829.72.

Hong Kong fell 1.55 per cent, or 333.06 points, to 21,108.93, while Shanghai lost 1.22 per cent, or 25.13 points, at 2,030.29, as investors bet the new-look Chinese leadership unveiled earlier in the day was unlikely to embark on any economy-boosting measures any time soon.

Obama, in his first news conference since re-election, on Wednesday laid out his terms for a deal on avoiding the fiscal cliff of tax hikes and spending cuts that are due on January 1 and could tip the US back into recession.

He said he wanted to extend tax cuts for 98 per cent of Americans but insisted any agreement could not include breaks for the wealthiest two per cent, a position most Republicans have rejected.

Wall Street reacted negatively on fears the president's position could spell out a long battle between the bitterly divided Republicans and Democrats that could end with no compromise.

The Dow tumbled 1.45 per cent to its lowest close since June 26, while the S&P 500 lost 1.39 per cent and the Nasdaq fell 1.29 per cent.

However, dealers welcomed confirmation by the ruling party of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of a national poll on December 16, bringing an end to months of speculation.

The election is expected to be won by the Liberal Democratic Party, whose leader Shinzo Abe - a former prime minister - on Thursday said he would seek more control of the central bank and push for unlimited monetary easing to spur the economy and lift inflation to two to three per cent.

"Only by implementing unlimited easing to achieve this target will the market show reaction," Abe said.

An equity trading director at a foreign brokerage told Dow Jones Newswires: "A potential LDP return to power may bode well for a slew of industries, including nuclear power, consumer finance and others, in light of business-friendly comments already made regarding taxes and regulations."

On forex markets the dollar and euro added to gains made in New York on Wednesday.

In the afternoon the euro was at Y102.94 and the dollar bought Y80.78, compared with Y102.19 and Y80.23 in New York. They are both well up from Y101.11 and Y79.50 earlier on Wednesday in Asia.

The European single currency traded at $1.2743 on Thursday, compared with $1.2734 late in New York.

In China there were few surprises as Xi Jinping was unveiled as the new head of the Communist Party and the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, the country's top decision-making body.

"The major good thing about (the change in leadership) is that it takes away at least one of the major uncertainties about China," said David Chang, regional head (Greater China) at Franklin Templeton Investments in Hong Kong.

Investors are now hoping for some clarity on future policy for the world's number two economy.

But BOC International analyst Shen Jun told AFP: "It's unlikely the new leaders will introduce fresh macroeconomic policies and market-moving measures in the short term."

Eurozone fears remained in place as anti-austerity strikes kicked off around the continent, hitting Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece.

Adding to worries was another steep fall in gross domestic product for Athens and Lisbon, while dealers nervously await data for Germany, Spain, Italy, France and the eurozone later in the day.

In Tokyo Sony slumped almost nine per cent to more than 30-year lows on the Nikkei after it said it would issue bonds worth Y150 billion ($A1.81 billion) to raise cash for investment and repay debts, fuelling fears of stock dilution.

Oil was slightly higher. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in December gained eight cents to $US86.36 a barrel in the afternoon and Brent North Sea crude for December delivery added 27 cents to $US109.88.

Gold was at $1,723.86 by 1050 GMT (2150 AEDT) compared with $US1,725.78 late on Wednesday.

In other markets:

- Taipei fell 0.22 per cent, or 15.91 points, to 7,143.84.

Smartphone maker HTC rose 1.5 per cent to Tw$237.50 while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. was 0.33 per cent lower at Tw$90.20.

- Wellington fell 0.1 per cent, or 4.06 points, to 3,951.50.

Air New Zealand fell 0.8 per cent to NZ$1.235, and Contact Energy was off 1.52 per cent at NZ$5.19.

- Manila closed 0.66 per cent lower, shedding 36.27 points to 5,414.82.

Metropolitan Bank fell 1.04 per cent to 95.05 pesos and Philippine Long Distance Telephone dropped 1.88 per cent to 2,502 pesos.

- Bangkok lost 0.41 per cent, or 5.27 points, to close at 1,274.02.

PTT dropped 0.63 per cent to 314.00 baht, while Advanced Info Service gained 3.17 per cent to 195.00 baht.

- Singapore closed down 1.08 per cent, or 32.11 points to 2,945.92.

United Overseas Bank sank 1.21 per cent to Sg$18.03, and Jardine Cycle and Carriage fell 2.26 per cent to Sg$45.94.

- Mumbai slid 0.79 per cent, or 147.5 points, at 18,471.37 points.

United Breweries fell 10.39 per cent to 783.8 rupees, and Tata Motors also plunged 2.66 per cent to 375.75 rupees.

- Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur were closed for public holidays.

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