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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Man dead after rolling car in QLD

A MAN has died after rolling his car on a North Queensland road.

The man died at the scene of the crash at Calcium, south of Townsville, shortly after noon on Saturday police say.

Forensic specialists are investigating.

No further information is available.

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Cannabis found at suspicious house fire

CANNABIS worth more than $72,000 and a hydroponic grow kit has been found in a southern Sydney home where a suspicious fire was lit.

No one was inside the Rockdale house when emergency services arrived on Friday night, police said.

But after an inspection the stash of drugs and the cannabis growing set-up was found.

A crime scene has been established and police are asking anyone with information to come forward.

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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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Police hunt teen after farmer threatened

A teenage boy is on the run after allegedly breaking into a farmhouse in NSW, police say. Source: AAP

A FARMER was threatened by a teen armed with a stolen firearm after a break-in on the NSW north coast.

Police say two teenagers forced entry into a farmhouse on Greens Lane at Swan Creek between 2pm and 5pm (AEDT) on Thursday and stole a firearm, two hunting knives and a quad bike before fleeing.

A short time later a farmer confronted the pair on another property, believing they were shooting at his cattle.

Police have been told one of the teenagers pointed the firearm at the farmer before attempting to flee on the quad bike.

They escaped on foot into bushland.

A search for the pair resumed at 7am on Friday after they were spotted on Coldstream Road at Tyndale.

Just after midday a 15-year-old boy was found by a police dog in a cane paddock at Tyndale and is now assisting police.

A search is continuing for the second teenager who was last seen crossing the Clarence River in a stolen boat.

It's believed he is in the Maclean/Yamba area.

He is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, aged in his mid to late teens and approximately 170cm tall, wearing blue shorts and a blue shirt.

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Perth gas odorant leak tracked to centre

THE mystery gas smell which worried hundreds of Perth residents was likely to have been a leak of gas odorant from the industrial centre in Kwinana, south of the city.

An investigation was launched by authorities on Thursday, after hundreds of complaints were made to ATCO Gas Australia, with some residents claiming the smell was so strong it woke them up.

ATCO ruled out a gas leak from any of their infrastructure, with the Department of Environment Regulation (DER) taking over the investigation.

In a statement, DER said it was continuing its inquiry into the cause of the smell, but confirmed they were focusing on premises in the Kwinana industrial area.

"It is likely the odour was the result of a leak of gas odorant which is generally injected into otherwise odourless gases so they can be detected by people," a statement said.

"These gas odorants can be detected in the air at extremely low levels - as little as one part per billion."

The DER said they believed the emissions had ceased, however, investigations were continuing.

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Families of injured Vic officers thankful

THE families of three police officers seriously injured in a Melbourne explosion say words can't express their gratitude for the bravery of strangers who came to their aid after the blast.

Sergeant Tony Scully, First Constable Emma Quick and Constable Varli Blake had been called to a Middle Park flat on Saturday night after reports a man was threatening self harm.

As firefighters and police entered the flat via the balcony, a gas bottle exploded.

The brother of Const Quick, Matthew Quick, praised the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and paramedics for saving the lives of the police.

But he said the families were also overwhelmed by the bravery of neighbours and passers by who helped the officers in the chaotic moments after the blast.

"The stories we've heard about what people have done to help them out, that's what really sits us back in our chairs," Mr Quick said. "Our gratitude, words aren't enough to express what that is.

"Through a horrible, horrible tragedy ... we've all seen the best of people and the best of human nature."

The three police members, along with two firefighters since released from hospital, were injured in the blast.

Police say they are getting closer to finding the cause of the explosion.

Chief Commissioner Ken Lay told reporters on Friday he was hopeful that Victoria Police would be able to make an announcement on how the explosion occurred in coming days.

"Things are starting to develop in relation to what might have happened," Mr Lay said.

"I'd be hopeful that perhaps today or tomorrow there will be a bit more clarity around what was the ignition source."

Police have not spoken to the occupant of the flat, who remains under police guard at The Alfred hospital.

A recovery fund has been set up by the policing community to help ease the financial burden on the officers during a recovery expected to take years.

Victoria Police and the Police Association donated $10,000 each to the fund while BankVic has also made a "sizable contribution".

Mr Quick thanked both the police force and wider community for rallying around the injured officers.

"Humbling is the word that came to mind when we heard that was being set up," he said.

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Young man's death suspicious: police

Police have discovered a man's body on a dirt road in central Queensland. Source: AAP

THE death of a young Rockhampton man whose body was found on a road in central Queensland is being treated as suspicious.

A driver saw the body while travelling down the Jambin-Dakenba Road near Biloela, south of Rockhampton, on Friday morning, police said.

Investigations into the death of the 18-year-old man continue.

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President and PM quit in CAfrican Republic

A TOP regional official has announced that the president and prime minister of Central African Republic are stepping down from power.

The announcement was made on Friday by Ahmat Allami, the secretary-general of the regional bloc of Central African states.

Rebel leader Michel Djotodia seized power in a March 2013 coup when thousands of his fighters stormed the capital. He was later installed as president while longtime opposition leader Nicolas Tiangaye became prime minister.

However, the country has tilted toward anarchy in the months that have followed and the violence has turned Muslim and Christian communities against each other.

A Christian militia attempted a coup in early December, unleashing days of bloodshed on the streets of the capital that left more than 1,000 people dead.

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