A Brisbane court trial over the 2018 strawberry needle incident which caused national outcry was stalled on the first day. 

The accused woman My Ut Trinh was charged with 8 counts of contamination of goods with intent to cause economic loss. 

The delay comes as a new jury will be selected later today and the finalisation of new legal issues and concerns that have arisen pre-trial involving witnesses and evidence are under review.

AMP Capital’s chief economist Shane Oliver suggested Sydney’s lockdowns may cost up to $7 billion if the lockdown is to continue for another 4 weeks as planned. 

New South Wales accounts for one-third of Australia's output, and according to Oliver, the longer NSW remains in lockdown, the longer it will take for the national economy to recover.

Victoria on high alert as NSW covid outbreak breaches border.

Two new positive cases detected in a Melbourne family returning home from NSW with red zone permits and two members from a NSW removalist crew traveling through Victoria and SA also testing positive.

The cases come after Victoria recorded its 12th day of no locally acquired cases.

Victoria Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael Grainger says an extra 90 officers have been sent to the border on top of the 260 operating there since last week.

The United States government symbolically marked the end of the Afghan conflict as US general Austin Miller relinquished command and departed the country. General Miller is the last 4 star general to serve on the ground. 

This symbolic end marked the conclusion of America’s longest conflict which has lasted just shy of 20 years. While the official end is set for August 31, US generals will continue to support Afghan security forces from overseas. 

Taliban insurgents are currently regaining momentum capturing further territory.

Four people from Sydney have been caught and fined over $4000 each for breaking Sydney lockdown rules by entering Queensland and providing false information. 

The boaties were caught last week and had entered the state via a super yacht.

Maritime Safety Queensland general manager Angus Mitchell said the crew tested negative to Covid 19, which is a relief considering they had been in attendance for the Wallabies versus France rugby match.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison fights accusations the government has been too slow to sign a deal with Pfizer as the country lags behind North America and Europe in getting vaccine supplies. 

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government will purchase additional supplies if needed, as the current contract promises 66 million doses. The federal government current plan has Novavax providing 51 million doses and for Moderna to add 15 million boosters shots.

Researchers from the University of Queensland developed a treatment in helping patients suffering from sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The recent breakthrough shows promise in improving recovery times for heart attacks, extensive burns or major traumas. This developed protein called EphA4-Fc may be able to repair and prevent damage to cell lining blood vessels damaged by inflammation.

UQ’s research commercialisation company, UniQuest partnered with biotech firm CSL Behring to further develop the treatment.

This year’s census conducted by Australian Bureau of Statistics will have 2 new questions added to survey. 

The new questions involve long-term health conditions as well as past or current Australian Defence Force service. These new questions have been added after the ABS conducted a public submission on topics in 2018 and is the first time since 2006 new topics have been added to the survey.

The ABS will drop the question relating to household internet access due to widespread enhancements in technology.

The New South Wales and federal governments set to announce payments to struggling businesses in Covid lockdown. 

The upcoming announcement came as the NSW government had been negotiating with the federal government terms on a financial relief package to provide cash flow and to keep workers employed for many struggling businesses.

The announcement is set for later during the day.