Queensland researchers and a US team have developed a world-first COVID-19 antiviral therapy that targets the virus in the body. The antiviral therapy has killed off the COVID-19 viral load in mice infected by the virus 99.9% as lead researcher Professor Nigel McMillian from Griffith University says it’s a “seek and destroy mission” The collaborative research between the Menzies Health Institute Queensland and the US research institute City Of Hope began in April last nyear and the treatment could now be available by 2023.

The Queensland Government is launching a $2 million agritourism campaign in an effort to capitalise on the domestic tourism boom.  With international travel still out of the question for Australians, the ‘Taste Farm Life’ campaign will encourage people looking for a getaway to take part in a range of farm and food-related experiences in Queensland’s regions. Agriculture and Rural Communities Minister Mark Furner says rural Queensland is a COVID-safe and accessible destination for people from coastal communities to explore more of their own state.

An outbreak of the sexually transmitted infection Syphilis is spreading rapidly through Melbourne’s outer south-east and west.1400 cases of syphilis were recorded in Victoria last year while 560 infections have been detected so far this year but the cause behind this sudden surge is still unknown. Epidemiologist Eric Chow who is studying Victoria’s outbreak says more sexual health services are needed in the affected areas.

Cyclone Tauktae has made landfall in India’s Gujarat state, narrowly missing the country’s most populous city Mumbai. The cyclone is classed as ‘extremely severe’ and hit the Gujarat coast with winds as fast as 160 kilometres per hour. Cyclone Tauktae only compounds public safety issues in India as the country continues to grapple with the world’s most severe COVID-19 outbreak.

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.