Hypnotist dies in Sydney balcony fall

The body of a man, believed to be a touring hypnotist, has been found outside a Sydney unit block. Source: AAP

THE body of a well known touring hypnotist has been found outside a central Sydney unit block.

It's believed Las Vegas showman Dr Scott Lewis fell from an eleventh-floor balcony to the fourth floor of the Pyrmont complex where he was staying with other performers.

His body was found by police on Saturday morning.

Dr Lewis was discovered missing when he failed to meet a bus which was to take him and six other members of the Illusionists 2.0 show to the Sydney Opera House where they were to perform.

"I came out of my room, I could hear someone screaming for help," witness John Breen told the Nine Network.

A crime scene has been established, which has been examined by forensic specialists.

Police aren't treating the death as suspicious.

However, a report is being prepared for the coroner.

Meanwhile, the Sydney Opera House released a statement on Saturday evening, saying it had been informed of Dr Lewis' death.

"We wish to express our deepest sympathies to Dr Lewis' family and friends, as well as to the cast and crew of The Illusionists 2.0," it read.

"Dr Lewis was a wonderful performer and he will be greatly missed.

The show's co-producer Tim Lawson said his colleagues were deeply saddened by the sudden loss.

"The entire company has decided to continue the show in his honour, and send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends," he said.

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Police release image of Boxing Day robber

Police are looking for this man in relation to a robbery in Brisbane's CBD on Boxing Day last year. r. Picture: Queensland Police Source: Supplied

Police are looking for this man in relation to a robbery in Brisbane's CBD on Boxing Day last year. r. Picture: Queensland Police Source: Supplied

POLICE have released the image of a man wanted in relation to a robbery in Brisbane City last year.

The man walked into a Queen St supermarket about 12.25pm on December 26 and approached the counter.
After making demands for money from the attendant, he fled the store with a sum of cash.

He was last seen on Queen Street heading towards Fortitude Valley.

The attendant wasn't physically injured during the robbery.

The man is described as being Asian in appearance, around 35-years-of-age, with black hair and a proportionate build.

He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, grey shorts and grey running shoes.

Police are appealing to anyone that may be able to assist with their investigations to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Turkmen leader fires central bank chief

THE autocratic leader of Turkmenistan has fired the country's chief banker and several other officials.

State television reported on Saturday that President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov dismissed Central Bank head Tuvakmammet Japarov and chiefs of two other state-run banks for unspecified "flaws in their work".

The firings came after Berdymukhamedov issued a reprimand to Japarov and several other bankers for receiving regular bonuses and ordered them to pay them back.

Berdymukhamedov also fired Kakageldy Abdullayev, the head of Turkmengaz state natural gas company over a low output and the failure to properly oversee the use of gas resources.

Turkmenistan boasts rich natural gas reserves estimated to be the fourth largest in the world.

Berdymukhamedov has run the Central Asian country with an iron fist since 2006.

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UK bids to quell WWI Anzac row

DOWNING Street has intervened in an attempt to quell the the latest row to erupt over the WWI centenary commemorations amid claims the role of Australian and New Zealand troops is being ignored.

Prime Minister David Cameron's official spokesman said it was "completely wrong" to suggest the contribution of the Anzacs was being overlooked in the anniversary events.

No 10 was forced to step in after allies of Education Secretary Michael Gove were quoted as expressing concern that there would be no special mention of Australians and New Zealanders in the tributes organised by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

It followed a briefing to Australian journalists by Whitehall officials that led to reports that the Anzacs were being "whitewashed" out of the commemorations in favour of black and Asian servicemen from India, the Caribbean and West Africa.

It was claimed that the emphasis on troops from the "New Commonwealth" was intended to promote "community cohesion" in the UK - leading to accusations in Australia of "blatant politicisation".

The Daily Mail quoted a Whitehall source as saying: "This is awful. The idiot Maria Miller is doing nothing to involve the rest of the Empire, who sent vast numbers of people to help us."

A source quoted in the The Sun said the department's plans to "airbrush out all the countries that helped us during World War I are totally disgraceful".

Cameron's spokesman, however, insisted the role of the Anzacs would be fully honoured in the commemorations next year to mark the centenary of the Gallipoli landings when the Australian and New Zealand forces suffered very heavy casualties.

"The Government is working very closely with the Australian and New Zealand governments on that event," he said.

"I think the focus should be entirely around these very important commemorations rather than anything else."

In all, 62,000 Australians and 18,000 New Zealanders died fighting during WWI.

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ECB leaves rates unchanged

THE European Central Bank has left its key interest rate unchanged at a record low of 0.25 per cent despite concerns over a weak economy and low inflation.

The bank's rate council made the decision at its monthly policy meeting on Thursday.

Lower rates can help growth, but the ECB has little room left to cut.

Analysts think it may try other steps such as offering cheap loans to banks on the condition they loan that money to companies.

The eurozone economy grew only 0.1 per cent in the third quarter.

Inflation, at only 0.8 per cent, remains below the ECB's goal of just under 2 per cent and makes it harder for troubled countries such as Greece to reduce their debt levels.

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Diageo forms new joint venture with Combs

DRINKS company Diageo has formed a new joint venture with rap star Sean "Diddy" Combs and has bought the tequila brand DeLeon.

The 50/50 partnership between Diageo and Combs Wine & Spirits allows the brand to take advantage of Diageo's distribution network, together with Combs' star power in marketing luxury brands.

DeLeon has variants of tequila, which have suggested retail prices ranging from $US120 ($A135) to over $US1000.

In a statement on Wednesday, Combs says DeLeon appeals to "those who love exceptional tequila in a distinctive bottle".

Diageo also has a separate "strategic alliance" with Combs Enterprises to develop and grow the vodka brand, Ciroc.

The alliance began in 2007, and has grown from 50,000 cases a year to nearly two million cases.

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Ralph Lauren's niece fined over air rage

THE niece of fashion designer Ralph Lauren has been fined 2000 euros ($A3000) for pushing an air hostess and swearing at airline staff.

Jennifer Lauren pleaded guilty to breaching the peace and being drunk on board a transatlantic Delta Air Lines flight which had to be diverted to Shannon Airport in the west of Ireland on Monday afternoon.

The 41-year-old appeared before Ennis District Court in Co Clare, where her solicitor claimed Lauren was upset and embarrassed by her actions, which she said were out of character and caused by a reaction to alcohol mixed with medication.

More than 200 passengers and crew were on board the flight from Barcelona to New York when the air rage incident took place.

The diversion cost Delta $US43,000 ($A48,500).

Lauren bit her lip and looked to the ground in the dock while Garda Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court she had been loud-mouthed, abusive and threatening on the aircraft.

He said the flight, bound for New York's JFK airport, had been in the air for two hours when an air hostess noticed the defendant crying in her seat, which would not recline properly.

He said Lauren told stewardess Constance Topping to "get the f*** out of my face" as she tried to help, and when told to calm down she became more abusive.

The court heard Topping went to brief her supervisor Jennifer Simpson at the top of the plane and Lauren followed her through first class and in the galley "at speed" where she ranted, roared and shouted incoherently.

"She told the air hostess she was going to go ballistic and pushed the air hostess hard and she hit her back against the wall of the aircraft," Mr Kennedy said.

He revealed her frightening experience continued with Lauren calling her a "f***ing ugly, blonde bitch" and called Simpson a "fat ugly, unhappy, blonde bitch".

A pilot on a rest break in the cabin also intervened and was called "an asshole" by the defendant, Kennedy added.

Lauren, dressed in a black jumper, burgundy velvet skirt and boots, looked back to her friends for reassurance as the details were outlined to the packed courtroom.

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Climate change may slug leaping sea snails

The effects of climate change could alter sea snails abilities to evade predators researchers say. Source: AAP

THE effects of climate change could hinder sea snails' extraordinary ability to leap away from predators on one foot, Queensland researchers have found.

The study shows conch snails, found in sandy areas off coral reefs, find it difficult to make the quick decision to jump out of reach of prey when exposed to higher levels of carbon dioxide.

Lead researcher Dr Sue-Ann Watson of James Cook University says the chemical disrupts the snail's neurotransmitter receptor, causing it to have a delayed response.

The snail either stops jumping or takes longer to jump when exposed to the levels of carbon dioxide projected for the end of this century, the marine biologist says.

This leaves the three to four centimetre snail more vulnerable to the poisonous dart of its slow-moving nemesis, the cone shell.

"Snails normally move slowly and crawl around on their one big foot," Dr Watson told AAP.

"But this snail uses its foot in a very special way as it has a strong foot and uses it to push up rapidly on the sand."

The conch snail normally jumps backwards and can leap the equivalent of its body height.

Dr Watson says the broader effects on the ocean's ecosystem could be quite profound.

"Altered behaviours between predators and prey have the potential to disrupt ocean food webs," she said.

Study co-author Professor Goran Nilsson, from the University of Oslo, says results of the study suggest carbon dioxide emissions directly alter the behaviour of many marine animals, including seafood.

The study appears in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

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HK movie mogul Run Run Shaw dies at 107

Hong Kong movie producer Run Run Shaw has died at the age of 107, a TVB statement says. Source: AAP

PIONEERING Hong Kong movie producer Run Run Shaw has died at the age of 107.

No cause of death was given in a statement from Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB), which Shaw helped found in 1967.

Shaw was one of the most influential figures in Asia's entertainment industry.

His Shaw Brothers Studios churned out nearly 1000 movies as it popularised the kung fu genre that influenced Quentin Tarantino and other Hollywood directors.

Shaw's movie studio, once among the world's largest, helped launch the careers of powerhouses including director John Woo.

His television empire helped actors including Chow Yun-fat rise to fame.

He also produced a handful of US films, including the 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner.

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Global disasters kill more, cost less

THE German insurance company Munich Re says about 20,000 people died in natural disasters last year, about twice as many as in 2012.

Most of the deaths resulted from Typhoon Haiyan that hit the Philippines, Vietnam and China in November with a loss of almost 6100 lives.

This was followed by floods in India that killed about 5500 people in June.

Munich Re's annual disasters report released on Tuesday found the economic cost of natural catastrophes was lower last year.

About 880 events cost about $US125 billion ($A139.86 billion), with insured losses of $US31 billion.

This compares with costs of $US173 billion and insured losses of $US65 billion in 2012.

The costliest natural disasters were summer hailstorms in Germany, floods in Central Europe, and storms and tornadoes in the United States.

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