Your Friday Briefing

> An F.D.A. panel gives the Pfizer vaccine the green light. ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0R8aHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMDA2JmxheW91dD1tYXJxdWVlJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OTl8yMDIwMTIxMCZsaT1OTlcDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ [The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0SxaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fMjAyMDEyMTEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjQ5Mjgmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0SxaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fMjAyMDEyMTEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjQ5Mjgmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMi8xMC9icmllZmluZy9ib2tvLWhhcmFtLWJyZXhpdC1wZml6ZXItdmFjY2luZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X2RrXzIwMjAxMjExJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTI0OTI4Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTQ2NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 | [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMi8xMC9icmllZmluZy9ib2tvLWhhcmFtLWJyZXhpdC1wZml6ZXItdmFjY2luZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X05OXzIwMjAxMjExJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTI0OTI4Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTQ2NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Supported by Good morning. We’re covering the steps to approval in the U.S. for Pfizer’s vaccine, a landmark stimulus deal for the E.U. and the Nigerian farmers caught between Boko Haram and the authorities. By Natasha Frost The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s granting of an emergency use exemption is expected to allow vaccinations to begin next week. Jon Elswick/Associated Press An F.D.A. panel gives Pfizer’s vaccine the green light Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine on Thursday [passed a critical milestone](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0TzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMi8xMC9oZWFsdGgvY292aWQtdmFjY2luZS1wZml6ZXItZmRhLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) on the path to approval in the United States, as a panel of experts formally recommended that the Food and Drug Administration authorize it. With rare exceptions, the F.D.A. follows the advice of its advisory panels. The agency is likely to grant an emergency-use authorization within days, prioritizing health care workers and nursing home residents to begin receiving the first shots early next week. This formal blessing may help the nation to slow the spread of the virus just as infections and deaths are surging, reaching a record of [more than 3,000 daily deaths](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbGl2ZS8yMDIwLzEyLzA5L3dvcmxkL2NvdmlkLTE5LWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X05OX3BfMjAyMDEyMTEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjQ5Mjgmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249dG9wTmV3cyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTQ2NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) on Wednesday. More Americans died of Covid-19 Wednesday than were killed on Sept. 11 or in the Pearl Harbor attack. Next steps: Within 24 hours of the vaccine’s being cleared by the F.D.A., an initial shipment of 6.4 million doses will leave warehouses to vaccinate more than three million people across the country. Here are [the latest updates](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbGl2ZS8yMDIwLzEyLzEwL3dvcmxkL2NvdmlkLTE5LWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X05OX3BfMjAyMDEyMTEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjQ5Mjgmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249dG9wTmV3cyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTQ2NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) and [maps of the pandemic](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMC93b3JsZC9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1tYXBzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). In other developments: ■ The French government said [it would delay relaxing some Covid-19 lockdown restrictions](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP4QfAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2xpdmUvMjAyMC8xMi8xMC93b3JsZC9jb3ZpZC0xOS1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy9mcmFuY2Utd2lsbC1kZWxheS1lYXNpbmctc29tZS12aXJ1cy1yZXN0cmljdGlvbnM_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), including pushing back the reopening of theaters and museums, because rates of new cases were not falling as fast as expected. ■ The European Medicines Agency, the European Union’s top drug regulator, whose approval is necessary for countries in the bloc to begin rolling out the coronavirus vaccine, has [begun an investigation](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP4Q0AWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2xpdmUvMjAyMC8xMi8xMC93b3JsZC9jb3ZpZC0xOS1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy90aGUtZXUtYWdlbmN5LWFzc2Vzc2luZy1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy12YWNjaW5lcy13YXMtaGl0LWJ5LWEtY3liZXJhdHRhY2s_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) after it was hit by a cyberattack. ■ Wealthy nations representing 14 percent of the global population have bought over 50 percent of promising coronavirus vaccines, prompting accusations that they are [hoarding vaccines](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP4RMAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2xpdmUvMjAyMC8xMi8xMC93b3JsZC9jb3ZpZC0xOS1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy93ZWFsdGh5LW5hdGlvbnMtYXJlLWFjY3VzZWQtb2YtaG9hcmRpbmctdmFjY2luZXMtdG8tdGhlLWRldHJpbWVudC1vZi1sZXNzLWRldmVsb3BlZC1jb3VudHJpZXM_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) to the detriment of less developed countries. The prime ministers of Hungary and Poland, Victor Orban, left, and Mateusz Morawiecki, were able to to weaken the rule-of-law standards originally proposed. Radek Pietruszka/EPA, via Shutterstock E.U. breakthrough on a $2.2 trillion stimulus package European Union leaders in Brussels on Thursday reached an [agreement on $2.2 trillion in budget and stimulus funds](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0T3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMi8xMC93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvZXUtZGVhbC1wb2xhbmQtaHVuZ2FyeS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X05OX3BfMjAyMDEyMTEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjQ5Mjgmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249dG9wTmV3cyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTQ2NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)after weeks of negotiations with Poland and Hungary that had held up the hefty financial package. The compromise will still tie the funding to rule-of-law standards, such as an independent judiciary and transparency in spending, two principles that have weakened under Hungary and Poland’s illiberal governments, but it watered down these measures. Brexit: With little movement on Brexit trade negotiations, the European Commission on Wednesday published no-deal contingency measures that aim to [prevent chaos on Jan. 1](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMi8xMC93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvZXUtY29udGluZ2VuY3ktcGxhbnMtYnJleGl0Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Britain and the E.U. have until Sunday to strike a deal on the country’s departure from the bloc. Boris Johnson: As a newspaper reporter decades ago, the British prime minister made enemies of officials in Brussels with [inflammatory, and not always accurate, anti-Europ](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP4QEAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMTIvMTAvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL2JvcmlzLWpvaG5zb24tYnJ1c3NlbHMtdHJhZGUtYnJleGl0Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)e articles. Now, those same officials may determine his political fate. The funeral of 43 farm workers in Zabarmari, in northeastern Nigeria, last month after they were killed by Boko Haram fighters in rice fields near the village of Koshobe. Audu Marte/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images The dozens of farmers slaughtered by Boko Haram Just over a week ago, more than 70 subsistence farmers from Zabarmari, a village in northeastern Nigeria, [were executed by Boko Haram militants](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0TzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMi8xMC93b3JsZC9hZnJpY2EvbmlnZXJpYS1ib2tvLWhhcmFtLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), who accused the agricultural workers of betraying them and reporting the fighters’ presence to the Nigerian Army. People in rural areas of northeastern Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, have largely been left at the mercy of Boko Haram by a government whose security forces have mainly retreated from the countryside to protected garrison towns. Villagers have been caught in a deadly Catch-22, in which reporting the militants runs the risk of gruesome reprisals, while staying silent may incur the wrath of the Nigerian military, which has been [accused of routinely shooting villagers dead](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP4QoAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFtbmVzdHkub3JnL2VuL2xhdGVzdC9uZXdzLzIwMjAvMTIvbmlnZXJpYS1vbGRlci1wZW9wbGUtb2Z0ZW4tYW4taW52aXNpYmxlLWNhc3VhbHR5LWluLWNvbmZsaWN0LXdpdGgtYm9rby1oYXJhbS8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) and burning down their houses during raids. Quote: “Everything is shattered now,” said Ibrahim Abubakar. Four of his friends were beheaded, he said. If you have 9 minutes, this is worth it Are cities a safe place to live during a pandemic? Tim Peacock When the pandemic struck, coronavirus cases rose rapidly in dense urban centers like New York, rekindling the age-old debate over town versus country and sending the wealthy scurrying to rural idylls — many of which are now experiencing surging case loads of their own. We asked seven experts if [the anti-city backlash was warranted](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMi8wNy93ZWxsL2xpdmUvY29yb25hdmlydXMtY2l0aWVzLXNhZmUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9OTl9wXzIwMjAxMjExJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTI0OTI4Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPWxvbmdSZWFkJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). PAID POST: A Message From XBrand Renewable Energy in Today's Age Look around you...All of the things that you love about this planet can be used to power it. the sun, rain, wind, tides and waves. We are creating renewable enery that benefits you and our planet, more efficiently and inexpensively. Recharge today with something different. [Learn More](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJlXzIwMjAxMjExJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTI0OTI4Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtZXVyb3BlLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTQ2NjI2JnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKADtqC9Nfs3o6rFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) Here’s what else is happening Beirut port explosion: The Lebanese judge investigating the fatal explosion in the port of Beirut in August [charged the acting prime minister, Hassan Diab, and three former ministers with negligence](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0T-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMi8xMC93b3JsZC9taWRkbGVlYXN0L2JlaXJ1dC1leHBsb3Npb24tY2hhcmdlcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X05OX3BfMjAyMDEyMTEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjQ5Mjgmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249d2hhdEVsc2Umc2VnbWVudF9pZD00NjYyNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKADtqC9Nfs3o6rFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Death penalty: Brandon Bernard on Thursday night [became the ninth man executed by the U.S. federal government](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMi8xMC91cy9icmFuZG9uLWJlcm5hcmQtZXhlY3V0aW9uLWRlYXRoLXBlbmFsdHkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9OTl9wXzIwMjAxMjExJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTI0OTI4Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPXdoYXRFbHNlJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) since July despite a high-profile campaign for clemency. Mr. Bernard, who was 18 at the time of his involvement in a 1999 double murder-robbery, apologized to the family of the victims and to his own family in the moments before his death by lethal injection. Airbnb: The [vacation rental company became the year’s biggest I.P.O.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP4QpAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMTIvMTAvdGVjaG5vbG9neS9haXJibmItdG9wcy0xMDAtYmlsbGlvbi1vbi1maXJzdC1kYXktb2YtdHJhZGluZy1yZXZpdmluZy10YWxrLW9mLWEtYnViYmxlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj13aGF0RWxzZSZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTQ2NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), fueling talk of a new stock market bubble, a day after the food delivery start-up DoorDash had its first day of trading. Airbnb’s offering raised $3.5 billion, compared with DoorDash’s $3.4 billion. Climate crisis: Wildfires in California over the summer [destroyed countless ancient redwoods](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP4QyAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2ludGVyYWN0aXZlLzIwMjAvMTIvMDkvY2xpbWF0ZS9yZWR3b29kLXNlcXVvaWEtdHJlZS1maXJlLmh0bWw_YWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrJmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X05OX3BfMjAyMDEyMTEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjQ5MjgmbW9kdWxlPVRvcCtTdG9yaWVzJm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcGd0eXBlPUhvbWVwYWdlJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj13aGF0RWxzZSZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTQ2NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), hundreds of giant sequoias and more than one million Joshua trees. After last year’s catastrophic wildfires, Australia is experiencing its [first major blaze in this wildfire season](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0T4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMi8xMC93b3JsZC9hdXN0cmFsaWEvZmlyZXMtZnJhc2VyLWlzbGFuZC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X05OX3BfMjAyMDEyMTEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjQ5Mjgmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249d2hhdEVsc2Umc2VnbWVudF9pZD00NjYyNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKADtqC9Nfs3o6rFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Time ‘Person of the Year’: Time magazine named President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as its [person of the year](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0TuaHR0cHM6Ly90aW1lLmNvbS9wZXJzb24tb2YtdGhlLXllYXItMjAyMC1qb2UtYmlkZW4ta2FtYWxhLWhhcnJpcy8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj13aGF0RWxzZSZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTQ2NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), on the grounds that the two had “offered restoration and renewal in a single ticket.” Middle East: Morocco is the latest Arab nation to [normalize relations with Israel](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0T6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMi8xMC93b3JsZC9taWRkbGVlYXN0L2lzcmFlbC1tb3JvY2NvLXRydW1wLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj13aGF0RWxzZSZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTQ2NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) — following Bahrain, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates — as part of a major foreign-policy effort by the Trump administration. The U.S. also recognized Morocco’s [claim of sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP4QLAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMTIvMTAvd29ybGQvYWZyaWNhL21vcm9jY28td2VzdGVybi1zYWhhcmEtY29uZmxpY3QtZXhwbGFpbmVkLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj13aGF0RWxzZSZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTQ2NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Laetitia Vancon for The New York Times Snapshot: The town of Ansbach in Bavaria, above, [allowed only a few of the usual Christmas market stands](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP4QHAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMTIvMTAvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL2dlcm1hbnktY2hyaXN0bWFzLW1hcmtldHMtY29yb25hdmlydXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9OTl9wXzIwMjAxMjExJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTI0OTI4Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPXdoYXRFbHNlJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) to open. City and town squares across Germany are empty of the usual huts, sounds, scents and lights, as the coronavirus forces the country to skip its beloved annual Christmas markets. Lives Lived: As the nation’s first nationally syndicated lesbian columnist who wrote about gay life, Deb Price covered both the everyday for same-sex couples and more pointed issues like the debate over gay people in the military. [She died last month](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0TyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMi8xMC9idXNpbmVzcy9tZWRpYS9kZWItcHJpY2UtZGVhZC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X05OX3BfMjAyMDEyMTEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjQ5Mjgmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249d2hhdEVsc2Umc2VnbWVudF9pZD00NjYyNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKADtqC9Nfs3o6rFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) at 62. What we’re listening to: This [episode of the podcast “Bill Gates and Rashida Jones Ask Big Questions.”](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly9vcGVuLnNwb3RpZnkuY29tL2VwaXNvZGUvMWZ1dDVTYmdwUE4xMFRKVldvZzFEaT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9OTl9wXzIwMjAxMjExJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTI0OTI4Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPXdoYXRFbHNlJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) It’s an exploration of inequality, featuring a great interview with the economist Raj Chetty. ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMDAzJmxpPU5OJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OTl8yMDIwMTIxMFcDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NDMzNjc4JmxpPU5OJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OTl8yMDIwMTIxMFcDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTY0NzQ4JmxpPU5OJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OTl8yMDIwMTIxMFcDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ Now, a break from the news Julia Gartland for The New York Times. (Photography and Styling) Cook: [A big pot of beans](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP4QdAWh0dHBzOi8vY29va2luZy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9yZWNpcGVzLzEwMjA5NDctYmlnLXBvdC1vZi1iZWFucz9hY3Rpb249Y2xpY2smY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJhbms9NyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnJlZ2lvbj1TYW0rU2lmdG9uJTI3cytTdWdnZXN0aW9ucyZzZWN0aW9uPWFCcmVhayZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTQ2NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). A Parmesan rind adds an extra savory note. Peruse: Shopping for the person who has everything? [Consult our gift guide](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMC8xMi8xMC9zdHlsZS9naWZ0cy1mcm9tLWN5YmVyc3BhY2UtMjAyMC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X05OX3BfMjAyMDEyMTEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjQ5Mjgmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249YUJyZWFrJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), equal parts bizarre and delightful, for the best in chicken wing key chains and giant acrylic frogs. Listen: “[Evermore,](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP4QCAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMTIvMTAvYXJ0cy9tdXNpYy90YXlsb3Itc3dpZnQtc3VycHJpc2UtYWxidW0tZXZlcm1vcmUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD01MSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9OTl9wXzIwMjAxMjExJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTI0OTI4Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPWFCcmVhayZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTQ2NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoAO2oL01-zejqsUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)” Taylor Swift’s surprise second album entirely written and recorded in quarantine, is out today. “To put it plainly, we just couldn’t stop writing songs,” the singer wrote on Twitter. Make the most of your time indoors with our [At Home collection of ideas](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0TUaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3BvdGxpZ2h0L2F0LWhvbWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj1hQnJlYWsmc2VnbWVudF9pZD00NjYyNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKADtqC9Nfs3o6rFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) on what to read, cook, watch, and do while staying safe at home. And now for the Back Story on … The case against Facebook The U.S. government and more than 40 states [sued Facebook on Wednesday, saying it illegally crushed competitors](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8xMi8wOS90ZWNobm9sb2d5L2ZhY2Vib29rLWFudGl0cnVzdC1tb25vcG9seS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTUxJmVtYz1lZGl0X05OX3BfMjAyMDEyMTEmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MjQ5Mjgmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249YmFja1N0b3J5JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NDY2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgA7agvTX7N6OqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) and demanding that the company undo its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. Shira Ovide, our On Tech writer, [broke down what’s next](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhtZBqP4QAAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMTIvMTAvdGVjaG5vbG9neS90aGUtZmFjZWJvb2stbGF3c3VpdHMtZXhwbGFpbmVkLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NTEmZW1jPWVkaXRfTk5fcF8yMDIwMTIxMSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0yNDkyOCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj1iYWNrU3Rvcnkmc2VnbWVudF9pZD00NjYyNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKADtqC9Nfs3o6rFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). What’s the argument from the government and from Facebook? Shira: Trying to reduce competition by purchasing rivals is an explicit violation of America’s antitrust laws. The tricky thing, however, is that the government had given Facebook permission to buy Instagram and WhatsApp in 2012 and 2014. Facebook’s argument is that it’s unfair for government officials to try a do-over now. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, speaking before an antitrust hearing in July. Pool photo by Graeme Jennings How will the lawsuits affect people who use Facebook? Lawsuits like this might take years to resolve. Anything dramatic — like a government-imposed rewinding of the WhatsApp and Instagram acquisitions — might not happen for years, if ever. Your experience with Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger won’t suddenly be different tomorrow. Why is this happening now? Some government officials had tough words for Facebook. But they left off one important point: They are suing Facebook only after years of their failures to restrain its power and because there is now political will to do so. Will this hold Facebook back? It is possible that Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple or even Microsoft could alter their behavior because they’re bogged down by court cases or worried about looking like bullies. Companies fearful of unwanted scrutiny could also change things we like about their products and services. That’s it for this briefing. Have a restful weekend. — Natasha Thank you Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh provided the break from the news. You can reach the team at [briefing@nytimes.com](mailto:briefing+pm@nytimes.com?subject=Briefing%20Feedback&te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_NN_p_20201211§ion=endNote). 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