Passport problems for Ukrainians fleeing to Australia, and all the news you need today.

A Ukrainian family who secured visas and flights to Australia has been barred from boarding a flight to Sydney, as their nine-month-old baby does not have a passport.

Iryna Zaiets fled Ukraine when the Russian invasion began on Thursday, with her mother Olena Kuzmych and nine-month-old baby Oksana, leaving her father and husband behind. After making it across the border to Poland, the family secured visas and flights to Sydney.

But when they went to check in for the Emirates flight from Krakow to Sydney via Frankfurt and Dubai, they were told they could not fly.

Iryna’s sister in Sydney, Olha Lyeskakova, said they would have been allowed into Australia on a direct flight, but faced deportation at transit stopovers because baby Oksana did not have a passport.

Olha told AAP she has heard from half a dozen Ukrainian families with small children who are facing the same problem trying to get to Australia.

"I am the first one but there is a queue of people in the same circumstances and they are looking at me for how to manage all this," she said. Olha’s family is staying in emergency accommodation in Krakow but will not be able to remain there long and she believes they are not safe in Poland.

"If Russia starts bombing and uses nuclear weapons, it will not be limited by a border, it will go to Poland, it will go everywhere." 

Friends who are hiding in Kyiv have told her their houses have been leafleted with instructions in case of a nuclear attack. Olha, who is an Australian permanent resident, said that while the European Union is allowing people to cross the border from Ukraine without travel documents, other countries are not.

"The EU will be overwhelmed with Ukrainians who will be willing to depart immediately from Europe to their relatives in Australia, the United States or Canada, but there is no legislation in place at this stage to get it done," she said.

- With AAP.

The latest season of Euphoria has come to an end and once again the series has been dubbed a pop culture phenomenon, an audience favourite and a critical success. And while the series has included some truly stand out performances, particularly from the leading ladies, what’s going on behind the scenes appears to highlight a toxic Hollywood problem.

Brooke Blurton has announced a new TV role, confirming that she will be starring in an upcoming episode of Neighbours. So what does this say about the fate of the long-running Australian series that could soon be gone forever?

And the Screen Actors Guild Awards were held this week, leading to some groundbreaking wins for our favourite TV and movie stars. But what was happening behind the scenes is just as juicy as the winner's list, starting with a damaging Lady Gaga rumour that turned out to be completely false.

Listen to The Spill right here, right now!

A woman in her 80s has died in her flooded home in Northern NSW. The woman, who is yet to be formally identified, was found dead in her flooded Lismore home by a member of the public after a neighbour raised concerns, police said. She is the first confirmed fatality in the Northern Rivers flood zone, although a man died last week on the Central Coast when his car was swept into flood waters.

People are being warned to brace for more fatalities from the "one in 1000-year" flood crisis in the state as 17 councils are declared disaster zones.

“The situation is distressing for many and will affect more. The ultimate focus now is saving lives and getting people to safety,” Premier Dominic Perrottet said. Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said: “We must all prepare ourselves for the possibility that lives have been lost. It is unrealistic that a disaster of this magnitude will mean that there are no lives lost.”

The sad news comes as towns across Northern NSW, including Lismore and Ballina are underwater and rivers are peaking. The unprecedented floods are much worse than anticipated, with 35,000 people ordered to evacuate their homes and another 310,000 warned to be ready to flee.

Hundreds of people are still stuck at their homes around the northern New South Wales city of Lismore, facing its worst floods on record, amid reports of some spending the night on their rooftops pic.twitter.com/w0nnCXJ5WF

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) March 1, 2022

This Is Keen St in Lismore. The footage coming through is absolutely devastating. I honestly don’t think our town will completely recover after this flood.
📷- B Rob#lismore #LismoreFloods #floods pic.twitter.com/cDfMJtkiiN

— Korra_Ryan (@Korra_Ryan) February 28, 2022

Just heartbreaking for Lismore, NSW! They are facing the worst floods in history. 💔 pic.twitter.com/VsN1reWwCf

— BoonBro 🇦🇺🏂❄️ (@BoonBroAus) February 27, 2022

Image: Supplied/Instagram @nswses

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced Australia will spend $70 million on military equipment, including ammunition and missiles, to help Ukraine fight Russia.

The PM fell short of going into any more specifics on the new support because:

"I don't plan on giving the Russian government a heads up about what is coming their way, but I can assure them, it is coming your way."

The government is also putting around $35 million toward humanitarian support to help Ukrainians fleeing the country.

More to come.

Hundreds of flood rescues are again underway in Lismore today as the town grapples with the worst flooding in history.

This aerial footage shows the true scope of the damage:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mamamia (@mamamiaaus)

Over $500,000 has been raised across more than 150 GoFundMe pages to help those impacted by flooding in both northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. 

You can find a list of verified fundraisers here: The GoFundMe Flood Relief Hub.

Good morning everyone!

It's been a big 24 hours in the world of entertainment. As Brielle mentioned below, yesterday was the Screen Actors Guild awards - and it really felt like our first major, back-to-normal awards show in a long time. 

A few viral moments to discuss:

1. GERRI AND ROMAN KISSED.

ROMAN GERRI KISS 🔥🍸🥰😭✨ pic.twitter.com/qrXcqC7ABv

— ilona ❄️ (@ilona_jazz) February 28, 2022

2. The Romy and Michele reunion: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mamamia (@mamamiaaus)

And 3. The game-changing wins of CODA star, and deaf actor, Troy Kotsur, West Side Story's Ariana DeBose and Squid Game stars Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon.

Another interesting moment for me was Jessica Chastain taking out Best Actress over Nicole Kidman. Normally the SAGs and the BAFTAs are a good indication of how the Oscars will look, but neither Chastain or Kidman are nominated for the BAFTA this year. This really opens up Oscars race, and may see Chastain prevail over favourite Kidman. I love awards season!

For all the SAG Awards fashion, you can check out our round-up here: Every single sparkly look from the 2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards red carpet.

Oh, and just before I go... I have to mention the Euphoria finale. Did you watch? What did you think?

On one hand, it emotionally destroyed me. On the other, I cannot get the sound of Cassie's head banging against the wall out of my mind. There's likely a long wait until season three, but at least we have the memes.

me waiting for elliot’s song to be over after he sings the chorus for the 3rd time #euphoria pic.twitter.com/LMjS404svw

— Jonah (@interntkneegrow) February 28, 2022

Morning pals! If you're wondering why your social media feeds are filled with celebrities in sparkly dresses, it's all thanks to the 2022 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards. 

Many of Hollywood's biggest names were in attendance and my colleague Shannen Findlay rounded up all the best looks from the red carpet for you right here.

But before you get stuck in, let's get you up to speed with the biggest news stories women will be talking about today, Tuesday March 1. 

1. At least a dozen missing in NSW floods, as whole town submerged.

Right now large parts of Lismore, in northeastern NSW, are submerged under 16 metres of flood water as heavy rain and strong damaging winds continue and move south. 

Hundreds of people across the region have been left stranded on their rooftops as state and federal emergency services struggle to reach impacted areas. 

'COMPLETE AND UTTER DEVASTATION'

There are fears this morning that hundreds are still unaccounted for in Lismore, as floodwaters fall from their overnight highs. It comes as a new evacuation order is announced for low-lying areas of Ballina. #9Today pic.twitter.com/Vvqo2UuXVr

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) February 28, 2022

Instead rescuers in a flotilla of tinnies and inflatables plucked their neighbours from their flooded homes and took them to safety.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg says up to 1000 people are still waiting to be rescued.

In Lismore we have done floods for ever. This is not a flood - this is catastrophic. This is extreme. This is climate change. Lismore needs back up. People are on and in their roof some are screaming for their lives and water is still rising. Friends are rescuing friends. pic.twitter.com/NwikdHTX0V

— Sue Higginson (@SueHigginson_) February 27, 2022

Premier Dominic Perrottet, who described the floods as "unprecedented" and "distressing", said there were 17 evacuation orders in place across the state's north on Monday while 21 areas were under evacuation warnings, covering around 62,000 people.

SES Commissioner Carlene York told A Current Affair around a dozen people are missing in NSW floods but the exact number is not confirmed.

⚠️ Major #Flood Warning updated for the #RichmondRiver. Major at #Kyogle, #Coraki, #Bungawalbyn and #Woodburn. Moderate at #Casino. See https://t.co/AdztI2rqg1 for details and updates; follow advice from @NSWSES. #NSWFloods pic.twitter.com/flOw3R7Svp

— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) February 28, 2022

2. Queensland death toll rises as flooding causes widespread damage.

 A Gold Coast man and his dog have been swept to their deaths as Queensland's flooding crisis moves south.

The man, aged in his 50s, and his dog died when their car was swept away in torrential rain on Currumbin Creek Road around 3am on Monday.

NEW: Queensland's flood death toll has risen to eight after Gold Coast surf life savers found a man and his dog dead in a submerged car in the Currumbin Valley.

Police say the man drove his car about into floodwaters on Currumbin Creek Rd about 3am before it was washed away.

— @MartySilk (@MartySilkHack) February 28, 2022

More rain is set to inundate southeast Queensland in the next few days, prolonging devastating flooding and disrupting clean-up efforts across the region.

"Severe thunderstorms are possible mid and late week over south-eastern parts of Queensland," Bureau of Meteorology's Dean Narramore said, adding "they can bring heavy rain and damaging winds and large hail". 

There are also "grave concerns" for two men missing in floodwaters in inner Brisbane and at Glen Esk.

A team of engineers have this morning managed to board an oil tanker pontoon that broke free of its moorings yesterday and drifted down Brisbane river.

3. Ukraine seeks to join EU as talks with Russia go nowhere.

Ukraine has applied to join the European Union while the first round of Ukraine-Russia talks aimed at ending the fighting has concluded with no deal but an agreement to keep talking.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posted photos of himself signing the EU application, a largely symbolic move for now that could take years to become reality and is unlikely to sit well with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long accused US and its European allies of trying to pull Ukraine into its orbit.

President @ZelenskyyUA signed #EU membership application for #Ukraine. This is the choice of 🇺🇦 and Ukrainian people. We more than deserve it. pic.twitter.com/FRhLTfyjvJ

— Denys Shmyhal (@Denys_Shmyhal) February 28, 2022

A top Zelenskiy adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said the talks, held near the Ukraine-Belarus border, were focused on a possible ceasefire and that a second round could take place "in the near future".

As the discussions wrapped up, several blasts could be heard in the capital city of Kyiv.

Social media video showed residential areas being shelled, with apartment buildings shaken by repeated, powerful blasts. Authorities in Kharkiv said at least seven people had been killed and dozens injured. They warned that casualties could be far higher.

4. WA tightens COVID restrictions. 

Western Australia will move to introduce the nation's toughest COVID-19 public health restrictions from Thursday. 

Under new rules, year three students and above will be required to wear face masks in public and home gatherings will be limited to 10 people.

Hospitality venues will avoid being subjected to a four square metre density rule but will be limited to 150 patrons.

A short time ago, we held a meeting of the State Disaster Council to discuss the current situation and consider the CHO’s latest health advice.

In Australia, data shows that once a jurisdiction hits 1,000 cases a day, the peak of the Omicron outbreak is only a few weeks away. pic.twitter.com/tDWF9XaNIN

— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) February 28, 2022

Premier Mark McGowan insisted the strict new "level two" rules were necessary to manage an outbreak which the government now expects to peak at about 10,000 daily cases within two to three weeks.

He said he was hopeful they would only need to remain in place for a month.

On Monday, the state recorded a further 1140 infections with 11 patients in hospital, none of which are in intensive care. 

5. Aged care industry says reform is critical. 

A once-in-a-generation opportunity to reform aged care is slipping through Australia's grasp, peak industry bodies warn.

On the first anniversary of the royal commission's damning final report which urged sweeping reforms, the Australian Aged Care Collaboration says there is still so much work ahead to solve the key structural issues identified. 

"We need the government to step up and commit to funding a pay rise for aged care staff and to put resources into recruitment and retention of staff as well as training," AACC spokesman Sean Rooney said. 

"Current funding levels mean that most providers are unable to do this."

One year on from the Aged Care Royal Commission, there’s so much more to do. Reflections from @ACSANational @LASANational @k_eagar @richardmcolbeck @GregHuntMP @ClareONeilMP among others. #agedcare #auspol https://t.co/6KFRjVBgUY

— Paul Sadler (@PaulSadlerCnslt) February 26, 2022

And you're all up to speed. We'll keep you updated with more of the biggest news stories throughout the day. 

- With AAP. 

Unfortunately, even in 2022, asking women if they're pregnant or not is still something that...happens. 

It seems not everyone has received the memo that discussing women's bodies, and making assumptions on them, is not okay. 

To find out why this is still such a common problem, The Quicky speaks to one of our resident mums who had a very complicated journey to parenthood.

READ: 

• What women were talking about on Monday.

Feature Image: Getty.