Friday's headlines

07 Feb 2014

Snowboarder Alex Pullin to carry Australia’s flag for the Sochi Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. In entertainment news, Phillip Seymour Hoffman sent his friend a text, asking for company, the night he died.

Snowboarder announced as flag bearer

Australian snowboarder Alex Pullin has been announced as Australia’s flag bearer for the Sochi Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. Pullin is a two-time snowboard cross champion and competing in his second Olympics. Read more.

Campaign to have MS drug listed on PBS

Families of those who suffer from progressive multiple sclerosis have ramped up their campaign to have a new drug listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The drug, Fampyra, is a potassium blocker that will allegedly help those with MS get around more easily. ABC News has more.

Giant jellyfish washes up on Tasmanian beach

A mysterious giant jellyfish measuring 1.5 metres has washed up on a Tasmanian beach. The CSIRO is working to classify the new species. Several other giant jellyfish have been seen in waters off the state. See the amazing picture and read more on Seven News.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s last text received too late

Oscar-winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman sent a text message just moments before he died to the friend who eventually found him. David Bar Katz received a text from the actor, asking him to join Seymour Hoffman to watch a basketball game, but saw the text too late. He later found the actor dead in his apartment. News.com.au has the full story.

Coca Cola to release recipes

Coca Cola allegedly has plans to let customers make its soft drinks at home, approaching a coffee-machine company to produce a machine for cold drinks at home. Read more.

Father’s plea moves multi-billion dollar company

John Berlin used the power of social media to reach one of the biggest, richest companies in the world, Facebook. When Berlin’s son Jesse died in January, the father wrote numerous letters to Facebook in the hopes of gaining access to his account. With the release of Facebook’s ‘Look Back’ Berlin was able to see his son’s story. Read more.