Good morning. Thomas Morgan here with your morning NewsMail. Tales of survival are emerging from the flood zone as the weather system bringing a deluge to northern New South Wales begins to track south.

Plus, could the Coalition be back on? After a rollercoaster few days, possibly. And finally, it's a tradition at this point — our news quiz is back to round out the week.

Residents are being warned not to be complacent as New South Wales's flood emergency continues. Three people have so far been killed in the record-breaking deluge, with a fourth person missing. Schools have been closed and evacuation centres stood up across the Mid North Coast. Taree has suffered its worst flooding since 1929 in what is now the wettest May on record in some areas.

'I didn't know if my family would survive':  This past Tuesday began like any other for the Briscoe family. By the next day, floodwaters had engulfed their home of just five months. After her family was airlifted to safety, Seeanna Briscoe tells us she got back to work, pulling a double shift at Taree Hospital. 

The ABC's meteorologist Tom Saunders says a number of gauges in the region have recorded more than 600mm in the past week. The low-pressure system responsible is now moving to Sydney, the South Coast and Victoria . For the worst-affected areas to the north, there is finally some relief.

And if you missed it, our data journalist Catherine Hanrahan has created three maps that show the scale of the Mid North Coast's flooding disaster.

We'll have coverage throughout today on our live blog, with the latest information also available on ABC Emergency and your local ABC Radio station.

Travel influencer or spy? Some of Indian vlogger Jyoti Malhotra's most popular content comes from her visits to Pakistan. But after tensions soured between the two countries, she's one of 14 people recently detained by India on suspicion of spying or leaking sensitive information to the country's intelligence services. The ABC's South Asia bureau has spoken with Malhotra's father, who insists she is "totally innocent".

'Absolute carelessness': The only thing more extraordinary than North Korea's latest naval ship suffering a damaging incident in front of Kim Jong Un and gathered crowds? The fact the country's tightly controlled media covered it. So why has the usually secretive regime not been afraid to admit failure? The reason, as per usual, lies to the south.

Port of Brisbane: Indigenous groups say the port's operator has not properly consulted with them about a plan to dredge navigational channels. But the company says the $3.5 billion project has stuck to the rules, as it presses ahead with a 25-year plan.

Charter schools: Across the Tasman, the New Zealand government is spending a lot of money opening new schools. There's just one element that's caused a stir — they're charter schools, owned and run privately with no adherence to the curriculum but paid for with public funds.

• Stay of execution: There is hope the disintegration of the Coalition might yet be avoided. Frustrated Liberals have unloaded on the Nationals in late-night talks, but the fate of the much-discussed nuclear power policy is becoming clearer. Also weighing in on the situation — Malcolm Turnbull. Follow today's political developments on our live blog.
• Analysis with Michelle Grattan: The Nationals sought to bring Sussan Ley to heel this week, but the newly minted Liberal leader won some praise for standing up against the country party's unilateralism. As it turned out, both sides would still need to give ground to get the Coalition back together.
• Washington DC shooting: The deaths of two Israeli embassy workers out the front of a Jewish museum has again led to calls to crack down on antisemitism, with the suspect behind the shooting now in custody. Here's what we know so far.
• Gaza conflict: Bakeries are reopening in parts of the Palestinian territory after limited aid was allowed to enter. Israel has loosened its 11-week blockade amid international outcry, but warnings persist that Palestinians remain at risk of famine unless far more assistance is allowed in.

— Later this month, Anohni Hegarty's band will take to an Australian stage for the final time.

But Anohni and the Johnsons isn't breaking up, nor has demand for its performances been lacking. Ahead of Vivid Sydney, Double J sits down with Hegarty to thrash out the environment, creativity and why the future is feminine.

PLUS: Indigenous artist Vincent Namatjira gives us a sneak preview of his "massive" Vivid projection ahead of its launch tonight.

Camels with stomachs of steel are making a difference in the Queensland outback, but do you know how?

It's Friday morning (and not hump day), which means it's time again to test your knowledge of the week with our news quiz.

That's it for this morning. Thanks for your company and we'll be back on Monday with the latest. Have a great weekend.

Thomas and the ABC News Digital team.

The death toll has risen to three as NSW floods hammer the Mid North Coast, and authorities say the heavy rain could cause Sydney's Warragamba Dam to spill. Follow live.