1. It’s US election day. Lock up your stores and doors!

Shop owners from east to west coast cities across America are boarding up windows as they brace for unrest following the US election, whatever the result. Retailers from Los Angeles’ Rodeo Drive, Saks 5th Avenue in New York, Nordstrom stores and pharmacy chain CVS across the country are all taking precautions.

National polls suggest a healthy lead for challenger Joe Biden over current US President Donald Trump, though Biden's lead is narrower in the handful of states that could decide the result. Our Department of Foreign Affairs updated its travel advisories, warning Australians against travel to the US in part due to anticipated violence. "Take precautions to keep safe during the election season," it says. "Avoid areas where protests and demonstrations are occurring." More than 100 million Americans cast their votes early, putting the country on course for its highest turnout in a century.

2. NSW & Victoria border could open in 3 weeks

NSW could open its border to Victoria within three weeks, with Premier Berejiklian reportedly seeing November 23 as a potential date for allowing quarantine-free travel from Victoria. The state government will meet on Wednesday to discuss the potential opening date, which will be subject to no spikes in the number of coronavirus cases.

3. US bulls to charge

In a note to investors earlier this week, US investment bank JPMorgan said that the US stock market is poised to resume its bull market rally after the election, with nearly 50% upside still left to climb over the long term.

4. The plight of our koala bears

With bushfire season rapidly approaching – it’s no wonder many Aussies are on high alert after the devastating fires last Summer. Apart from the tragic loss of human life, our wildlife took a hit, with South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, renowned for its biodiversity and a sanctuary for our much loved koala. Sources say that 50,000 koalas lived on the island before the bushfires ravaged but it’s feared as few as 5,000 are left.

5. The US stock market rallies

The Dow Jones has ended Election Day in the US 554.98 points or 2.06% higher to 27,480.03, the S&P gained 58.92 points or 1.78% higher to 3,369.16 and the Nasdaq lifted 202.96 points or 1.85% to 11,160.57.