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How vaccines will be distributed in rural areas of US
02:45 - Source: CNN
CNN  — 

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    Human-made materials may now outweigh all living things on Earth. And yes, that news is as ominous as it sounds. Here’s what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.

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    1. Coronavirus

    About 20 million people in the US could be vaccinated against the coronavirus in the coming weeks, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. Before that, the FDA needs to officially approve an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. There’s a key committee meeting to discuss that today, and it could clear the way for the FDA to greenlight the vaccine within days. Canada’s health department gave approval to the vaccine yesterday. Even with inoculation plans in place, experts say Americans need to stay vigilant to avoid unthinkable death tolls. They’re already mind-boggling: Yesterday, the US reported a record-high of more than 3,100 new Covid-19 deaths. Elsewhere in the world, Japan is scrambling to contain a resurgence of the virus, and Germany has smashed daily death records, with 590 in one day.

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    Azar explains how first vaccine doses will be distributed in US
    02:44 - Source: CNN

    2. White House transition

    All 50 states and the District of Columbia have now certified their presidential election results. The next major step in the Electoral College process is Monday’s meeting of the electors. President Donald Trump escalated his baseless claims of voter fraud yesterday, asking the Supreme Court to intervene in a lawsuit seeking to invalidate millions of votes cast in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, President-elect Joe Biden still has some key Cabinet decisions to make, including a nomination for attorney general. Alabama Sen. Doug Jones, Judge Merrick Garland and Sally Yates are the top contenders, sources familiar with the situation say. Biden is also trying to sell his choice for defense secretary, retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, to congressional Democrats who are on the fence. Austin’s nomination would require a special waiver because he has only been out of active-duty military service for four years, instead of the required seven years for the post.

    TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump looks on after delivering an update on "Operation Warp Speed" in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC on November 13, 2020. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
    Attorney battling Trump's election team: The people have voted
    04:03 - Source: CNN

    3. Stimulus

    A bipartisan group of lawmakers is trying to finally close a deal on a new federal coronavirus relief package, but as of now, it doesn’t include stimulus checks like the ones sent to more than 160 million Americans earlier in the year. Instead, the proposed deal focuses on unemployment benefits, aid for small businesses and other targeted assistance. The bill would also extend key unemployment programs that run out at the end of the year, so Congress is definitely trying to get something in place before that deadline. One of their goals? Keep the cost of the package under $1 trillion to ensure Republican support.

    The U.S. Capitol stands in the early morning on October 20, 2020 in Washington, DC. Senate Republicans are looking to hold a confirmation vote for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett on Monday, October 26, approximately one week before the Presidential election.(Photo by Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images)
    Lawmakers continue debate over stimulus bill proposals
    01:24 - Source: CNN

    4. Facebook

    The Federal Trade Commission wants Facebook to be broken up, and its biggest assets, like Instagram and WhatsApp, spun off. Dozens of states and the federal government sued the social media giant in two antitrust lawsuits, alleging Facebook has abused its dominance in the digital marketplace and engaged in anticompetitive behavior. Facebook has 3 billion users across its portfolio of apps, a massive number that has raised questions by some legal experts, including US lawmakers, about whether Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg neutralizes competitive threats by gobbling them up. Those actions, the suits allege, squash competition and limit consumer choice. Facebook says its acquisitions of other apps didn’t raise questions at the time, and people use their offerings because of value, not choice deprivation.

    Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers his speech during the VivaTech (Viva Technology) trade fair in Paris, on May 24, 2018. (Photo by GERARD JULIEN / AFP)        (Photo credit should read GERARD JULIEN/AFP/Getty Images)
    This is how Facebook kills its competition
    03:21 - Source: CNN Business

    5. China

    Chinese state-owned companies are starting to default on their debts, and their struggles could affect the global economic recovery. Several major tech and energy companies declared bankruptcy or defaulted on their loans last month, and overall, state firms defaulted on a record $6.1 billion worth of bonds between January and October 2020. Beijing is usually reluctant to let such companies fail, so these possible signs of a changing relationship between the companies and the government could make investors skittish. And if Beijing’s ability to manage such debts are called into question, that could strain the financial market even further. China is the world’s second largest economy, and a weakened recovery or increased uncertainty has implications far outside its borders.

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    Last Look: China's Covid comeback
    03:26 - Source: CNN

    BREAKFAST BROWSE

    Drugs recalled after ‘mix-up’ packages depression medication and erectile dysfunction drug together

    ……………. yikes.

    McDonald’s Happy Meals could get more expensive next year

    “Well you see little Timmy, McDonald’s ended a program with franchisees that subsidized the cost of Happy Meal toys. Do you know what ‘subsidized’ means? Oh Timmy, don’t cry!”

    A SpaceX Mars rocket prototype just exploded. It was still a success

    We don’t make mistakes, we just make happy combustible accidents.

    MLS releases list of 25 greatest ever players

    Soccer fans, debate amongst yourselves.

    Pantone announces two divergent colors of the year: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating

    Sounds about right.

    TODAY’S NUMBER

    22,000

    That’s how many stores Starbucks is planning to open in the next 10 years, bringing its total store count to 55,000.

    TODAY’S QUOTE

    “I wish covid was over so we can hug.”

    Andy, a 5-year-old in California, in his letter to Santa. A heart-wreching review of letters addressed to the North Pole reveals that, alongside the usual requests for video games and Legos, children are wishing for a world without the pandemic.

    TODAY’S WEATHER

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    Winter weather from the Plains to the Great Lakes
    02:50 - Source: CNN

    Check your local forecast here>>>

    AND FINALLY

    What wedding dresses around the world look like 

    The BEAUTY. The CULTURE. We can’t get enough. (Click here to view