Latest and Most Recent News from Oceania

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A surging river Thursday flooded and isolated the latest community hit in Australia's deadly flood disaster, straining a levee serving as the main protection between the muddy waters and residents' homes.

Source: Rising Rivers Swamp Another Australian Town

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The iconic image of an Australian with a long cool beer in hand may not hold true forever, with statistics showing Australians are drinking less beer these days than at any time in the past 61 years.

Source: Drinkers Down Under switching from beer to wine

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Mining equipment is submerged by flood waters in Rockhampton. Source: Getty Images AUSTRALIA'S flood crisis has slashed BHP Billiton's Queensland coal output and pundits warn that the big miner could be hit even harder as the effects of the disaster continue.

Source: Flood: Floods cost BHP $563m in exports

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A GEELONG man who evaded police for 30 years over a fatal crash in Portarlington later served jail time in Western Australia over a similar incident, a court has heard.

Source: 'Fatal crash driver' charged after 30 years

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Victoria's record floods are moving north, threatening homes in towns on the Murray River including the regional centre of Swan Hill.

Source: Victorian floods moving towards Swan Hill

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A Forfar student, currently undertaking an exchange year in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, has sent a graphic report on his experiences of last week's devastating floods which hit an area described as larger than France and Germany combined.

Source: Graphic account of the Brisbane floods

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A New Zealand woman was temporarily partially paralysed by a "love bite" on her neck from her amorous partner, reports doctors in the New Zealand Medical Journal.

Source: New Zealander partially paralysed by love bite

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Whereas Sydney is the pits, say its four and a half million inhabitants. Source: News Limited Source: News Limited Sydneysiders vote own city down Radelaide is best, says Adelaidians But how come nobody lives there? SYDNEY has been branded Australia's worst city - by its own residents.

Source: Poll: Who says Sydney stinks? Sydneysiders do

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The new Waitomo Glow Worm Caves visitors centre is a sight worth seeing in itself.

Source: Twinkle, twinkle, little star

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The nation's rich pool of indigenous talent is likely to supply the next Australian of the Year.

Source: Indigenous advocate Aust of the Year tip