American biotechnology company Moderna is seeking emergency approval for its COVID-19 vaccine after reporting it is almost 100 percent effective in preventing severe cases. 

The company claims full results from a late-stage study show it was 94.1 percent effective against the disease, with no serious safety concerns.

Moderna says the vaccine is effective across all age groups and genders, and aims to prevent severe, life threatening cases of the disease.

The Bureau of Meteorology says Northern Territory has experienced its hottest November in 100 years.

According to BOM, most places in central Australia saw their average temperatures grow by 3 degrees.

Rainfall was also below average throughout the territory due to a lack of cloud coverage.

Queensland’s budget will be released today after being delayed due to COVID-19. 

This will be Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick’s first state budget, and he’s saying there will be no surprises. 

He has not yet made a commitment about emergency tax relief for business as the state moves into a recovery period.

Guatemalans returned to the city streets this week to protest against President Alejandro Giammattei’s government. 

The protests started on November 21, after Congress approved a $12.8bn funding cut for human rights agencies, healthcare, education, and the judiciary.

More than 2,000 protestors gathered in Guatemala City’s central plaza this Saturday - frustrated with the government’s budget decisions, their mixed response to the COVID-19 pandemic and recent hurricanes that hit Guatemalan communities.

Female-led Australian film, Babyteeth, won 9 awards at this year’s AACTA awards.

The film, which stars Eliza Scanlen, tells the story of a teenager with cancer who falls in love for the first time.

Directed by Shannon Murphy, produced by Jan Chapman and Alex White, the film was nominated in 12 out of 13 possible film categories this year.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says Queensland’s border will remain closed to Adelaide for another week.

She said the decision was made following the advice of Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young, so free travel would be possible by Christmas time. 

Queensland has classed 20 local government areas in Adelaide as official hotspots

Border restrictions for other states like Victoria and New South Wales will be removed from December 1.

Anthony Fauci, American’s Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has warned that the US could face a surge of coronavirus cases in the coming weeks.

Mr Fauci told CNN that the surge would be ‘almost certain’, due to millions of Americans travelling for Thanksgiving weekend.

The United States is the worst affected country, with 266,074 coronavirus deaths.