The death toll in the Gaza strip has now risen above 200 as conflict between Israel and Gaza’s ruling party Hamas enters its eighth day. The United Nations says tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are also internally displaced as a result of Israeli air strikes, with many taking refuge in UN-run schools. Despite growing international condemnation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country will continue its offensive on the Gaza strip with “full force” as his country “wants to levy a heavy price” from Hamas.

Judging for the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show will kick off at the Brisbane Showgrounds today, with dairy products up first.

Sixteen judges will spend the next four days tasting 422 entries in the Cheese and Dairy Produce Show, including 184 ice cream, gelatos and sorbets.

The judges will oversee 59 classes in cheese and dairy including eight in the non-cow's milk section featuring camel, goat, buffalo and sheep milk products, with the winners to be crowned on 21 May 2021.

New mufflers will be installed on Brisbane KittyCat ferries by the end of June following concerns of the fleet’s noise. 

Brisbane City Council’s public transport chairman Ryan Murphy said the muffler system will be fully compliant with Australian standards for onboard and offshore noise levels. 

The Kittycats were first introduced in January 2021 to replace the previous wooden hull ferries.

The Queensland Government has appointed 96 new members to eleven fishery working groups across the state to assist with the rollout of their Sustainable Fisheries Strategy.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner says the new panel members “represent a range of stakeholders including commercial and recreational fishers, charter operators, seafood marketers and processors, scientists and conservationists”.

Lauren Jackson was named in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2021, being the first ever Australian athlete to be inducted. In accepting the award, Ms Jackson said everyone in her life and basketball career share in the same honor from the induction. 

Currently Head of Women in Australia Basketball, Ms Jackson is a seven-time WNBA all star and three-time WNBA most valuable player. 

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability has been extended after a request from the Commission Chair, Ronald Sackville QC.

The final report for the Royal Commission will now be due on 29 September 2023.

Advocate groups have welcomed the extension, with Priscilla Atkins of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services saying the “extension is essential in order to implement measures to reduce the mistreatment, harm and marginalisation” of First Nations people.

China has successfully landed a spacecraft on Mars, only the second country to be able to do so while maintaining communications.

The six-wheeled spacecraft, known as Tianwen1, spent 17 minutes after landing unfolding its antenna and solar panels before sending signals back to Chinese scientists and engineers confirming the success of the mission.

The United States and Russian space agencies have both offered their congratulations for the mission.

From today, all Queenslanders above 50 are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination from their General Practitioner.

The vaccine was previously only available to over-50’s through special vaccination hubs and respiratory clinics, but a recent agreement between the state and federal government extended the rollout capabilities. 

Issues with the AstraZeneca vaccine and breaches in the supply chain have slowed the vaccine rollout, but State Health Minister Yvette D'Ath says Queensland is "on track in delivering our vaccinations, as planned".