Promising outlook of COVID-19 vaccine

Pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, has produced a COVID-19 vaccine that may be 90% effective in terminating the spread of the virus.

Although still early, 94 infections have been treated so far in the trial, where tests results have looked promising.

Working alongside German company BioNTech, Pfizer is on the way to applying for emergency use approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Whilst this is all promising news, authorities are still advising it is unlikely the vaccine will be ready by the end of the year.

Military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan ends

Six weeks of heavy fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan have come to an end.

The Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, has stated he has signed a deal with Azerbaijan and Russia’s leaders to cease the military battle over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Mr Pashinyan confirmed the situation on social media, announcing “the decision is made basing on the deep analyses of the combat situation and in discussion with the best experts in the field”.

The declaration is set to come into effect from 8AM Australian Eastern Daylight Time Wednesday.

US stock market rises

The US stock market has risen after the promising outlook of a COVID-19 vaccine was announced by Pfizer and BioNTech.

The release of a potential cure being available soon has raised hopes among the nation, who have endured business shut downs and the death of over 230,000 Americans.

Companies that have suffered the most from the pandemic, such as airlines and cruise operators, have rocketed, as well as banks and oil firms seeing an increase.

Brisbane hospital implements new radiotherapy equipment

The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane have begun operating an advanced radiotherapy system to treat cancer faster and with higher accuracy.

The hospital’s director of radiation oncology, Margot Lehman, advised the new equipment would be used on around 400 patients a year and “improve their post-treatment quality of life.”

The new technology is claimed to be quicker, decreasing the amount of treatments as well as reduced appointment times for patients.

QLD border entry system

From today, the Queensland border entry system will implement an upgraded application process. This system is intended to speed up border entry throughout the ongoing coronavirus restrictions.

The online application process now automatically chooses the type of pass a person will need, based on a series of questions asked. Supporting documents are to be uploaded online, instead of hard copies being shown at the border.

The new arrangement is to help minimise the risk of people trying to enter the state under false

Kevin Rudd petitions against Murdoch media

Kevin Rudd has launched a petition for a royal commission into the Murdoch media, which has now been tabled in parliament.

Over 500,000 Australians signed the online petition in agreeance with Rudd’s calling to investigate what he called “abuse of media monopoly in Australia in particular by the Murdoch media”.

Rudd is hoping this inquiry will offer ways to increase media diversity within Australia.

French label Hermes buys croc farm in Aus

The French fashion label, Hermes, has joined together with Northern Terriotorian Mick Burns, to build Australia’s biggest crocodile farm near Darwin.

The former melon and banana Darwin farm was bought for $7.25 million.

The plan is to construct an area that has the ability to accommodate 50,000 saltwater crocodiles, which will be farmed for skin and meat products.

Fog in Dehli

The Indian capital Delhi faced a toxic smog on Monday that heavily reduced the city’s visibility.

Residents were struggling to get through the thick air, where they claimed it was impossible to see even 200 metres ahead.

The smog is a result of a combination of pollution and winter, and has left many Dehli residents battling to fight through the fog and continue on with their days.

Trump campaign to hold rallies

In the USA, the Trump campaign has announced the plan to hold a series of rallies to claim the election was fraudulent.

Tim Murtuagh, the campaign spokesperson for Trump, reported the party is set to join together to support the president’s unproven allegations of a forged election. The details of these rallies have not yet been announced.

Trump is adamant that the election was falsified, and is still yet to admit defeat.