Friday's news in under 5 minutes.

1. Brittany Maynard may not end her life on Saturday after all.

Brittany Maynard the 29-year-old terminally ill woman who planned to take her own life this Saturday after a battle with terminal brain cancer has released a new video saying that she may or may not choose to die on that date.

“So if Nov. 2 comes along and I’ve passed, I hope my family is still proud of me and the choices I made,” says Brittany.

Brittany said in the video that she is still finding joy in her everyday life.

On her web site she writes “I did this because I want to see a world where everyone has access to death with dignity, as I have had. My journey is easier because of this choice. “

If you or anyone you know needs help seek out Beyond Blue or call Lifeline on 131 114

 2. Apple CEO addresses his sexuality

The CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, has publicly addressed his sexuality for the first time.

Writing in the magazine, BloombergBusinessweek he said, “I’m proud to be gay.”

“While I have never denied my sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now,”

“So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me. “

He continued ” If hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it’s worth the trade-off with my own privacy.”

His article has proved to be so popular it crashed the Businessweek website.

 3. 18-year old’s death stuns community

The death of an 18-year old student in New Zealand after binge drinking has stunned her family and friends.

Bayli Elliot was reportedly drinking spirits at a high school party on Sunday night.

For more read this post here.

 4. Direct Action passes Senate

The Federal Government’s $2.5 billion Direct Action Climate Change policy has passed the Senate.

The bill was passed with the support of the Palmer United Party and independent senators Nick Xenophon and John Madigan 31 votes to 29.

 5. ICAC to investigate NSW prosecutor

ICAC will investigate deputy senior crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen who has been accused of trying to pervert the course of justice at the scene of a car accident.

The ABC reports that Cunneen is accused of advising her son’s girlfriend to pretend to have chest pains at the scene of a car crash to stop police getting evidence about her blood-alcohol level.

She denies the claims.

6. US Nurse defies Quarantine order

A US Nurse who said she would sue after being kept in an isolation ward in quarantine for three days after returning from treating Ebola patients has defied quarantine orders by going for a bike ride.

Kaci Hickox went for a bike ride with her boyfriend – and in full view of plenty of media.

“I hope that we can continue negotiations and work this out amicably,” Hickox said. “There is no legal action against me, so I’m free to go on a bike ride in my hometown.”

The state of Maine is pursuing a court order to enforce the quarantine through to November the 10th.

Hickox says she is completely healthy and free of symptoms, and that the quarantine is unnecessary and unconstitutional reports The Press Herald.

7. Boy in critical condition

A 12-year old boy is in a critical condition after falling from the roof of an Ipswich primary school.

It is unclear as to why the boy was on the roof.

Police say the incident happened around 8pm.

He was taken to Brisbane’s Mater hospital and is in a critical condition.

8. Asylum Seeker has baby with guard

News Limited and Sydney radio station 2GB are reporting that an asylum seeker who absconded from detention in Brisbane nine months ago has been found at the home of a Serco guard – his lover – who had just given birth to his baby in hospital.

Aziz Ali Abdulkader was arrested yesterday.

9. Deported to Siberia

A teenage girl who was exiled to Siberia by her American parents for misbehaving is having her own revenge for what she says was an unacceptable punishment by writing a book about her experience.

15-year old Sofia Roberts was sent to Siberia under the ruse she was going to meet her estranged biological father reports News Limited.

Her mother and stepfather then told her she was to stay in Siberia until her behaviour improved.

The young girl spent three-years living there – at times playing out her pleas to stay publically on Facebook and through news sites.

In an odd twist she eventually went to live with her mother’s ex-partner in Casablanca and is now writing a book about the years in exile.

 10. BRW Rich List

BRW has released its ‘Young Rich List’ again with the combined wealth of the 100 on the list $8.3 billion, more than double the $3.1 billion of a year ago.

The youngest person on the list is 18-year-old Nick D’Aloisio, worth $23 million, who sold his app, Summly to Yahoo last year.

The richest woman on the list is Carman’s founder Carolyn Cresswell with $83 million, followed by Erica Baxter.

There are only six women on the list of 100.

11. Malala generosity

Malala Yousafzai has donated $90,000 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency to help rebuild schools in Gaza after winning the World’s Children’s Prize.

The 17-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner donated the prize money to help “those children who suffer from the conflict”.

Speaking after she collected the honour, the teenage campaigner said it would help the agency, which is responsible for the welfare of Palestinian refugees, to rebuild 65 schools.

 12. Day for Daniel

Today marks the 10th annual Day for Daniel – which remembers murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe.

Thousands of people will wear red and retrace his steps this morning as they raise awareness of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.

13. Discounted coffee for a please

A café on the NSW South Coast is bringing back good manners the hard way – through customer’s hip pocket.

The Seven Mile Beach Kiosk in Gerroa, south of Kiama offers discounted coffee to customers who say please.

Adding good morning gets you an even bigger discount.

The sign at the door says “A coffee – $5.

A coffee please $4.50

Good morning a coffee please $4.

Seven Mile Beach Kiosk co-owner Kylie Pickett told Fairfax Media that they wanted to encourage people to think about their manners.

 14. Bank insists on dealing with three-year old

A mother wishing to change the bank account details of her toddler was left speechless after the bank demanded they speak with the customer for ‘privacy reasons.’

Michelle Morton told The Herald Sun  “I actually laughed and couldn’t believe it,”

The little boy got stage fright and refused to talk.

Westpac yesterday apologised for the “genuine error.”

“I told them he was only three and it made no difference,” she said. “I understand the need for privacy rules but this was ridiculous.”

Westpac have since apologised “We understand the service was not at the standard we aim to deliver. We have contacted the customer to apologise and to compensate for the inconvenience.”
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