Crocs CEO leaving ahead of investment

THE company that makes Crocs shoes is getting a $US200 million ($A226.3 million) bailout from a private equity fund, and its CEO is retiring.

Crocs shares peaked in 2007 as buyers snapped up the clogs known for being comfortable but ugly. But it hasn't been able to add new products with the same popularity.

Its shares rose 10 per cent in premarket trading on Monday.

Crocs says it will use the money from Blackstone for a $US350 million share buyback.

As part of the deal, Blackstone gets two seats on the Crocs board. And CEO John McCarvel is retiring and giving up his board seat around the end of April.

Crocs says fourth-quarter revenue will be at the low end of what it had expected, and its quarterly loss will match its worst prediction.

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Sydney NYE to be 'absolutely spectacular'

SYDNEYSIDERS are in for "absolutely spectacular" fireworks this New Year's Eve as the harbour city gears up to ring in 2014.

Tuesday night's fireworks will include 11,000 aerial shells and 25,000 shooting comets that will explode from seven barges spread across 6km of Sydney Harbour.

For the first time in a decade, 1000 fireworks will also be shot from the top of the Opera House, as well as from the Harbour Bridge and jet skis stationed in the harbour.

Fireworks displays will explode across the harbour at 9pm, 10.30pm and midnight.

Sydney New Year's Eve producer Aneurin Coffey said there was "something for everybody" in the pyrotechnic extravaganza.

"Plan your night ahead so work out where you want to go and work out a backup location in case that area is full," Mr Coffey said.

"It'll be absolutely spectacular, there's some really new stuff this year."

For those heading to the foreshore, organisers say the Sydney Opera House and Dawes Point usually see the first trickle of spectators from about 5am (AEDT), with Bradfield Park, Blues Point Reserve and Observatory Hill Park also popular early.

With 1.5 million people expected to flock to Sydney for the celebrations, organisers are also urging people to seek vantage points outside the CBD.

Emergency services will be out in high numbers, with 2500 police on the beat in Sydney and 3000 across NSW.

This year's top-secret bridge effect,a highlight of the midnight display, is said to be as big as a 12-storey building and 72 metres wide.

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Shots fired at German ambassador's home

GERMAN Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has condemned an attack on the residence of the German ambassador in Athens, saying the act would not affect German-Greek relations.

"This is an act that we are taking very seriously. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, can justify such an attack on a representative of our country," Steinmeier said in Berlin.

The foreign minister said the assailants would not succeed in "damaging the good relations between Germany and Greece and between Germans and Greeks".

Greek police said shots were fired from a Kalashnikov assault rifle at the residence of Wolfgang Doldt in the Athens district of Chalandri at 3am on Monday.

No one was injured in the attack.

At least 20 shots were fired, according to a report by the radio station Skai. Four bullets reportedly lodged in the garden gate.

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras had telephoned Chancellor Angela Merkel about the attack.

He said Merkel wished Greeks a good EU presidency over the next six months, saying that Greece could count on German support.

A spokesman for Steinmeier stated that the reaction by Greek authorities to the shooting was "quick and circumspect".

The Greek government also assured Germany that security measures would be strengthened at the site and that everything would be done to apprehend and prosecute the culprits.

According to press reports, anti-terrorism police have arrested three people.

The German ambassador's residence was the target of a terrorist attack in 1999 when an anti-tank weapon was fired at it.

Many in Greece blame Germany's stance on austerity measures for their economic troubles.

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Many 'think coffee causes cancer'

A leading charity's found many adults mistakenly think coffee causes cancer. Source: AAP

MANY adults mistakenly think that coffee causes cancer, a leading charity has found.

A UK poll reveals the extent of the British public's misconceptions about coffee, with nine per cent of those polled believing drinking it can lead to the disease.

One in 10 think caffeine is the key to weight loss, according to the survey of 2000 adults.

But the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) said there's no scientific evidence for either assumptions.

In fact, the latest analysis of research has shown that it can have a preventative effect against womb cancer and there are suggestions it may protect against liver cancer, the WCRF said.

Meanwhile, more than one in five believe caffeine is the "most dangerous" substance in coffee, when the highest health risk associated with the drink is sugar and full-fat milk or cream that is added to it, the charity said.

"New evidence from our Continuous Update Project (CUP) suggests drinking coffee may decrease the risk of womb cancer, but there are still too many unanswered questions - such as how many cups we should drink, or how regularly - for us to provide any advice on coffee drinking," said Dr Rachel Thompson, head of research interpretation at the charity.

"The CUP has found no consistent evidence that suggests coffee increases or decreases the risk of any other cancers but we are continually reviewing the evidence to see if this changes."

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David Campbell to swing on NYE in Perth

Entertainer David Campbell will perform swing favourites at Crown Perth on New Year's Eve. Source: AAP

CROONER, cabaret star, television host, actor, musical theatre performer - David Campbell has it covered.

The entertainer will perform on New Year's Eve in Perth, singing classic swing hits including Mack the Knife and Can't Take My Eyes Off You.

The host of television program Mornings, Campbell has not done a swing show in more than a year.

"It's something that is close to my heart and I wanted to dip my toe back into it," he told AAP.

Campbell often performs for New Year's Eve but has not worked the event in Perth since 1999.

The singer plans to record an album next year and says he will try some of the songs on New Year's Eve.

"The album is not a new year's resolution, but it's a new year's intention," he said.

Campbell also said he was interested in touring with his father, Cold Chisel rocker Jimmy Barnes, and his sister Mahalia, who found fame through The Voice.

"I think Cold Chisel is going to push us out next year," he said.

"So maybe in 2015-16 ... if we don't get distracted."

Next year is shaping up to be a big one for Campbell, who is part of a group setting up a cabaret and musical theatre venue in Sydney.

Their first show will be performed in February and Campbell said he hoped later productions could tour.

He said he was pleased to see musicals achieving success in films, such as Les Miserables and Mamma Mia.

He said there were also many successful revivals on stage, such as Grease and the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

"It's a very, very healthy base, where it's all coming from at the moment, and I think it's only going to grow," he said.

* David Campbell will perform at Crown Perth on New Year's Eve. Tickets are still available.

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Family reunions recommended in WA prisons

A prison inspector says male and female inmates of the same family should be able to mix in prison. Source: AAP

WESTERN Australia's prison inspector has recommended male and female inmates from the same family be allowed to visit each other in jail - despite serious reservations of guards.

In a report into young female prisoners in WA, Inspector of Custodial Services Neil Morgan revealed a "wish list" of teenaged girls being held at Banksia Hill young offender's prison in Perth's south.

As well as asking for a water fountain in the prison's outdoor area, many of the girls said they wanted the ban lifted on visiting male family members in the same jail.

Mr Morgan concluded it was a good idea.

"During the 2013 inspection no such interaction was occurring at all," Mr Morgan wrote.

"The female detainees said that they would like to be able to have visits with male relatives at Banksia Hill ... however no such visits were occurring or seemed even to be under management consideration.

"The apparent perception of some staff being that interaction between male and female detainees should be avoided at any cost."

Despite this, Mr Morgan recommended the Department of Corrective Services should introduce inter and intra-prison visits for detainees and their family members, a recommendation the report says has been supported by Banksia Hill.

Mr Morgan also recommended that some adult female prisoners be housed alongside younger girls at Banksia Hill, to make education and training courses more economical.

"This recommendation is not made lightly, for ... the Young Offenders Act, in line with the provisions of United Nations conventions, is premised on the separation of adults and children," Mr Morgan said.

"However, in the interests of the community, more needs to be done for incarcerated young women and girls."

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New Down Syndrome test "reduces risks"

A study has revealed that a new non-invasive test for Down Syndrome would increase detection rates. Source: AAP

A NEW, non-invasive test for Down Syndrome in unborn babies could significantly increase detection rates if it was available to all expectant mothers, according to a new study.

Scientists at Perth's Curtin University have found the new test could increase detection rates and significantly reduce the need for invasive diagnostic procedures, which can cause miscarriages.

The study reviewed 32,478 single baby pregnancies screened between January 2005 and December 2006 in WA.

It found the new non-invasive test would have reduced the number of invasive diagnostic procedures while procedure-related miscarriages would have been reduced in high-risk women by 88 per cent.

The results showed if all pregnant women identified as high-risk had adopted this non-invasive testing method, up to seven additional cases of the genetic disorder could have been confirmed.

It was estimated that implementing this new testing method would increase the public health system's cost of prenatal screening for Down syndrome by less than 10 per cent.

The test is currently available only in Australia's private health sector.

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Stott Despoja to visit Nauru

Ex-Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja will become Australia's ambassador for women and girls. Source: AAP

SHE was critical of offshore processing of asylum seekers but now Australia's new ambassador for women and girls, Natasha Stott Despoja, is not sure how she can help people in detention.

The former Democrats leader, who takes over the ambassadorship from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade diplomat Penny Williams, has been a vocal critic particularly of the detention of women and children seeking asylum.

She told the ABC on Monday she was not sure yet what she could do for people in detention as it was her first day in the job.

She is planning to visit the detention centre on Nauru.

"I am not sure what role I will have," she said.

"Having said that, I don't think the (foreign affairs) minister (Julie Bishop) would expect anything less than honest, upfront advice and views from me."

The former South Australian senator says she has had a lifelong commitment to gender equality.

She will remain based in Adelaide, but will promote greater opportunities for women and girls throughout the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.

She said she was proud of the work Australia did in the region through its aid program and that Ms Bishop had made it clear she wanted gender equality and empowerment to be a strong priority.

The position was created by former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard.

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India inflation soars to 14-month high

INDIA'S worrisome inflation rose to 7.52 per cent in November - the highest level in more than a year - driven by soaring food and fuel prices.

This increases pressure on the central bank to raise interest rates this week.

The wholesale price index was up from 7 per cent in October. The sharp increase was the highest since September 2012 and was led by food prices jumping by 19.9 per cent over the previous November, dashing hopes that favourable monsoon rains would slow the runaway food inflation. Prices for fuel were also up 11.1 per cent.

Higher prices for food and fuel hit the hundreds of millions of poor Indians living on $2 a day particularly hard because they spend roughly half of their income on the staple items.

The grim inflation numbers increase the likelihood that the Reserve Bank of India will raise interest rates when it meets on Wednesday.

The central bank's new chief, Raghuram Rajan, has made battling inflation a priority since taking office two months ago, rising the key interest rate twice since September to its current 7.75 per cent.

It's unclear, though, whether the interest rate hikes have much effect on food inflation. Some analysts argue that Indian food prices are largely structural, driven by an inefficient distribution system that results in 30 per cent of produce spoiling before reaching markets.

Rajan has been under pressure from some corners to freeze or even cut interest rates to try to revive stalling growth in India's wider economy. Asia's third-largest economy expanded by 4.8 per cent in the July-September quarter, far below the 8 per cent rate the country averaged a few years ago.

Some business leaders have argued for lower interest rates to encourage businesses to borrow and invest and consumers to spend.

Rajan has said, however, that unchecked inflation will do greater damage to the economy in the long run since consumers will have less money to spend on manufactured goods and other items.

He has also made it clear he thinks the government should do more to foster investment by easing regulations and reviving stalled infrastructure projects.

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Asylum seekers to sign conduct code

ASYLUM seekers in Australia could have their bridging visas cancelled or government payments cut if they breach a new code of conduct prohibiting anti-social behaviour.

The Australian Greens have described the immigration minister's new code of behaviour for people on bridging visas as a political stunt and have vowed to push to disallow the legislative instrument that underpins the code as soon as they can.

An explanatory statement about the code says it is designed to make people who receive a bridging visa more accountable for their actions.

"The government has become increasingly concerned about non-citizens who engage in conduct that is not in line with the expectations of the Australian community," the statement says.

There are 20,000 asylum seekers on bridging visas living in the community without work rights.

They will be required to sign the code, and if they don't they may have the visas cancelled, income support reduced or returned to detention.

The explanatory statement says the rules are compatible with human rights because, while they may limit human rights, the government considers those limitations are "reasonable, necessary and proportionate".

The code says people on bridging visas must not disobey Australian rules, engage in sexual conduct with anyone without consent or get involved in bullying, disruptive, violent or criminal behaviour.

They must also cooperate with the immigration department and provide documents when officials tell them.

"The legislative instrument is compatible with human rights because to the extent that it may limit human rights and the government considers those limitations are reasonable, necessary and proportionate," the statement says.

The Greens say in a statement that having one set of rules for some people and a different set of rules for others offends the ideals of a decent democratic society.

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