Tag Archives: oceania

Estimated 10,000 homes damaged as 31 emergency flood warnings remain

2025-05-23 FreeNews

An estimated 10,000 homes have been damaged by floodwaters on the NSW Mid North Coast, the SES has said.

Clean-up efforts and assessments have begun in some parts of the state where floodwaters have been receding as rainfall has slowed.

The state emergency service has estimated that 10,000 properties have been damaged in the flooding event, which began four days ago.

KEMPSEY is still under an emergency flood warning

"We're seeing conditions improve and we will have an increased number of volunteers out in force today to start the damage assessment process, which is likely to take some time to complete," SES Chief Superintendent Paul McQueen said.

"This is important work to allow us to assess any access and safety issues before de-escalating evacuation orders."

There are still 31 emergency warnings in place, including in Lake Macquarie, Taree and Kempsey, with floodwaters rising as the flow moves downstream.

NSW floods

There were 56 Watch and Act warnings in place as of 6am, and 64 advice warnings.

"I reiterate this is still a dangerous situation where significant impacts to infrastructure and properties are likely to have occurred," McQueen said.

"Unfortunately, it is not possible to let people return to their homes until water further subsides and we're sure they can access their homes and communities safely.

"Homes and businesses may need to be inspected by a qualified electrician."

Residents are still being urged to avoid driving or walking through floodwaters, with 85 rescues in the past 24 hours.

Macksville flooding

There are still 50,000 residents who have been left in isolation due to flooding in Hinton, Seahamm, Paterson, Clarence Town, Taree, Manning Point, Croki, Rawdon Island, Fredrickton, Bowraville, Thora, Kempsey, Wingham, Gloucester and Dungog.

"We will continue to resupply those isolated residents by land, water and air as part of our multi-agency response, McQueen said.

"We ask you to be patient, remain in a safe location and please don't be tempted to drive through floodwaters or go sightseeing."

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Celeb-backed ‘health’ trend researchers say can cause ‘serious harm’

2025-05-23 FreeNews

The bizarre social media trend of "mouth taping" to stop snoring can lead to "serious health harm", researchers are warning.

Celebrities and influencers including Gwyneth Paltrow, Emma Roberts, Ashley Graham, and Jimmy Fallon have all previously spoken about their adoption of the practice, which involves going to sleep with a piece of tape holding your lips closed.

Backers say it prevents mouth-breathing, which is linked to sleep-disordered breathing, including everything from snoring to sleep apnea.

However, researchers say the online fad probably has little benefit and could pose serious asphyxiation risks.

Western University's Dr Brian Rotenberg and a number of research colleagues evaluated the results of 10 separate studies into the effects of sealing the mouth while sleeping.

Two suggested that, among a subset of people with mild obstructive sleep apnea, mouth taping may be associated with some slight improvement in a standard measure of sleep apnea severity known as the apnea-hypopnea index.

Gwyneth Paltrow

However, other studies found no evidence that mouth taping might help treat mouth breathing, sleep-disordered breathing, or sleep apnea.

Four of the 10 studies included discussion of a potentially serious risk of asphyxiation for people whose mouth breathing is caused by serious restriction or blockage of nasal airways.

Serious nasal obstruction could result from conditions such as hay fever, chronic rhinitis, deviated septum, sinonasal disease, or enlarged tonsils.

The authors of the new survey, published in the journal PLOS One, found the evidence currently supports the practice of mouth-taping, but said further research was needed.

"Mouth taping is a contemporary practice that is often celebrity-endorsed, but is not necessarily scientifically accurate," the authors said.

"Many people are not appropriate for mouth taping, and in some cases it can lead to risk of serious health harm."

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Astronaut’s groundbreaking image from space among award-winning Milky Way shots

2025-05-23 FreeNews

"There are over eight billion people that call this planet home. There are seven of us that can say the same for space station."

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‘What have I done?’: Aussie dad handed notice that would be illegal today

2025-05-23 FreeNews

Arafath Mannan was blindsided to receive a notice that would be illegal in NSW today.

The now 38-year-old moved into a home in Riverwood, in south-west Sydney, in 2017.

He remained there through several full-time jobs, surgeries, the COVID-19 pandemic, being made redundant, getting married and the birth of his daughter.

Arafath Mannan was blindsided to receive a notice that would be illegal in NSW today.

The father renewed his lease in August last year and copped a rent hike, which brought the weekly total up from $650 to $720.

Mannan struggled to keep up, but his situation deteriorated after he was hit with a no-grounds eviction notice just two months later.

The no-grounds eviction notice, seen by 9news.com.au, meant that Mannan was not given a reason why he had to leave, but had 90 days to do so.

Mannan said he was blindsided.

"I just didn't know what to do, literally, because I know how the market is," he said.

"I just was thinking that I was secure, because my rent went up two months ago… the lease period just started."

Mannan was told the owner planned to move in and renovate the home.

But, in the months after the eviction, he discovered the Riverwood property was back on the market at the same price.

"They kicked me out, the owner did not move in, and they tried to put the property back in the market, exactly the same price," he said.

"What have I done wrong? I was actually hurt. It just felt personal. They just kicked me out for no reason whatsoever."

After some time on the market, the property's rent was reduced to $700 per week.

Mannan luckily found another rental just 150 metres down the road from his former address.

In the end, he lost about $630 of his bond to repairs and over $300 for moving fees.

New rental reforms that ended no-grounds evictions came into effect in NSW this week.

Now, agents and landlords are required to provide a specific reason for eviction, including a tenant breaching their lease, damaging the property or not paying rent, the landlord wanting to sell the property or the property no longer being used as a rental.

Agents and landlords who fail to comply will be dealt with under the Rental Taskforce.

"For too long, renters have lived with the fear of being kicked out for no reason. That ends today," Housing and Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson said earlier this week.

While the changes were welcomed by some, Mannan said he did not believe they would have much material change because landlords could still decide to increase the rent, effectively evicting tenants who cannot afford the hike, or sell the property.

"I know, in the paper and in the books, it looks really nice… but it doesn't secure us. We need more property to be built, it's a simple solution. There's no supply," he said.