Former Catalan president detained
Former leader of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, has been detained in Germany, according to his lawyers.
Puigdemont was held after crossing the border from Denmark to Belgium, after a European arrest warrant was recently reactivated against him.
Mr Puigdemont had been living in self-imposed exile in Belgium since last October's banned referendum that backed Catalonia's bid for secession from Spain.
Australian dog food recalled
An Australian dog food brand has voluntarily recalled some of their products after numerous dogs fell ill with megaesophagus.
Mars Petcare Australia says that the recall is a “precaution”, urging customers to return all Advance Dermocare dry food three, eight and fifteen kilogram bags for a full refund.
The recall came about after dogs with megaesophagus had been euthanized in Victoria and South Australia with the brand stating they will work to get to the bottom of the issue as soon as they can.
NSW and QLD overpaying for energy networks
A new report by the Grattan Institute says Queensland and New South Wales have been hit hard with energy grid costs.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s chairman Rod Sims says the main reason customers' electricity bills have gone up is due to higher network costs, a fact which is not widely recognised.
QLD childcare workers to strike
Childcare employees from across the state are expected to take action this week as part of a national campaign for better pay.
The move comes after the unions lost a major five year equal pay case with the Fair Work Commission in February, where they had applied for a 35 per cent pay rise.
The unions say some early education workers are being paid as little as $21 an hour and hoped the strike highlight the need for a pay rise to match workers’ abilities and qualifications.
The Electric Guitars: Sideways Changeling
- It’s been said of The Electric Guitars that they’re actually two bands. There’s one that makes some pretty classic rock jams, finely crafted and actually pretty easy on the ear. Then there’s the other that rolls out like a shockwave, a pain barrier produced by a carpet of effects pedals, turning those sweet songs into a wall of destruction.
Yo La Tengo: There's A Riot Going On
- Yo La Tengo are a group with a deep history. The first time I heard them was when they covered the Sun Ra epic Nuclear War: a sprawling seven-plus-minute polemic in the form of repetitive expletives sung by children. That was in 2002, so it's been a while since I've checked in with the group that have been dubbed "the quintessential critics band". I guess what I'm saying is these guys don't hold back, and don't shy away from seeing themselves as a serious edifice of the musical canon.
11AM Zedlines
This is Boddhi, Ted, and Matt with your 11AM Zedlines.
Image Source: Pixabay
Purple Aurora named ‘Steve’ by NASA
A mysterious purple aurora over the night skies of Canada nicknamed “Steve” has baffled scientists and physicists.
Eastern Ghouta rebels ceasefire
In an enclave of Eastern Ghouta, the Faylaq al-Rahman, one of the remaining Syrian rebel groups, called for a ceasefire.
Indigenous rangers use tracking app to preserve bilby species
Indigenous rangers will use a new bilingual app developed by the Central Land Council to track bilby sightings and habits in a new “Bilby Blitz” program.