Scientists on the International Space Station have tossed a net out into space to catch junk from spacecrafts orbiting Earth.

Texas-based company NanoRacks, who developed the space net, published a video on Twitter of the net being deployed catching debris in orbit.

The 5-metre microsatellite deployer travelled around six metres before wrapping around it’s target, and will eventually fall out of orbit and burn up.

Drought conditions in Australia have spread to Indonesia, with hot and dry air circulating northwards and impacting 5 million Indonesians who are experiencing an extended dry season.

With no rain for 4 months, 4,000 villages are suffering a water shortage, and rice growers are feeling the impact in particular as crop growing stifles.

One farmer says he has harvested only 5 sacks of rice, compared to 5 tonnes last year.

Appearing before a senate enquiry this morning, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has defended the $444 million grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation when he was Environment Minister.

Labor Senator Kristina Keneally says if they’re elected to Government, they will take the money back and spend it through the public sector agencies that are tasked and resourced to look after the reef.

Health experts are now calling for refugees, mainly women and children, to be moved off of Nauru immediately.

President of the Australian Medical Association Tony Bartone says increasing health risks to refugees physical and mental wellbeing will only end in tragedy if measures are not taken.

The call to the government comes amidst continuing concern and agitation across the AMA membership and the medical profession due to ongoing cases of health concerns.

Farmers have criticised Coles implementation of the drought levy on milk, calling for a boycott of the supermarket.

The levy will only apply to 3 litre cartons, which the Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation says will push customers to avoid the drought levy by purchasing the discounted 2 litre milk option.  

The organisation is pushing for the levy to be applied to all milks of all sizes.

Australia's largest owl, the endangered Powerful Owl, has been spotted in Brisbane’s suburbs.
 

Birdlife Australia has launched the Powerful Owl Project, including a host of information on the nocturnal bird and an app for citizen scientists to help track the majestic creature.

They are the only owl in south-eastern Australia with a classic double 'hoo-hoo' call.

Adobe Systems has today announced they will acquire software giant Marketo Inc for $4.75 billion, in what will be Adobe’s largest ever acquisition.

Marketo, a company selling marketing and engagement software, will build upon Adobe’s ‘Experience Cloud’.

Adobe claims this addition will put them well ahead of competition for their for Business to Business and Business to Consumer services, in a year that saw Adobe stock rise by 78 per cent.

E-commerce giant, Amazon, is considering expanding its Amazon Go retail store initiative with as many as 3,000 stores by 2021.

The first store Amazon opened was in Seattle which offered customers a cashier-free shopping experience that tracks purchases through video cameras and sensors in store shelves.

The stores could also expand their products to freshly-prepared lunch-time meals to attract crowds during their breaks.