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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Novartis faces legal trouble in Japan

SWISS pharmaceutical group Novartis is facing criminal proceedings in Japan and a public lawsuit in the US for allegedly using unsound marketing tactics for two of its medications.

Japan's Health Ministry on Thursday filed a criminal complaint with prosecutors against the drug giant's Japanese arm over alleged exaggerated advertising for a popular blood pressure drug.

Novartis in Tokyo used two Japanese universities' clinical studies of the drug, Diovan, that contained false data.

The ministry said it suspects Novartis continued to use ads citing the studies even after they became aware that clinical data in them had been manipulated.

Novartis apologised online "for causing trouble and concern" with the advertising.

The company said it "took the situation extremely seriously and will continue to cooperate fully with authorities".

Novartis has conceded employee involvement in the flawed research, but has claimed it was not aware of the false data in the studies. It also said clinical trials in other countries showed similar results.

In New York, prosecutors charged on Wednesday that Novartis had defrauded public health care services by offering the BioScrip pharmacy company kickbacks, which in return aggressively marketed Exjade, a Novartis blood transfusion medication.

BioScrip had contacted patients and recommended they continue taking the drug, "while understating Exjade's serious, potentially life-threatening side effects", the US attorney's office for the southern district of New York said.

Novartis said it stands behind its programs to get patients to stick to drugs like Exjade, which are difficult to administer but important for chronic patients.

The European Union announced last month that it would fine Novartis and Johnson and Johnson a total of 16 million euros ($A25 million) for delaying the launch of a generic painkiller in the Netherlands.

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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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UK's first koala gets Aussie name

DESPITE being thought to be the first koala born in the UK, Edinburgh Zoo's recent arrival has been a decidedly Down Under name.

The joey was born at the zoo last May but keepers waited until he had fully emerged from mother Alinga's pouch before they started to handle him.

After being found to be male, the joey was named Yooranah - the Aboriginal word meaning "loving".

Senior keeper Donald Gow said it was exciting to see the joey grow.

"This is the first time that a koala joey has been born in the UK so it is amazing to see him develop from being pink and hairless into a fully-formed, if tiny, koala," he said.

"At the moment he seems to be all ears! He is also starting to develop his own personality - he can be quite feisty like his mother Alinga and father Goonaroo."

Yooranah is an indigenous Australian word meaning "loving".

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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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