World News: A breakthrough in the fight against COVID-19

Wednesday, December 2

A breakthrough in the fight against COVID-19

The U.K. says the most vulnerable will get COVID-19 vaccine next week and more things to start your Wednesday.

Good morning, Daily Briefing readers! It's Jane, bringing you Wednesday's news.

The United Kingdom will become one of the first countries to start vaccinating its population against COVID-19 next week. Georgia is expected to finish its second election ballot recount. And when one mysterious monolith mystery ends, another begins. Scroll to the bottom to find out what's going on.

Here's today's news:

UK becomes first country to approve Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine

The United Kingdom became the first Western country to approve widespread use of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by drug companies Pfizer and BioNTech , the British government announced Wednesday. The move makes the U.K. one of the first countries to begin vaccinating its population as it tries to curb Europe's deadliest COVID-19 outbreak. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said the first shots will be given next week. Other countries aren't far behind: The U.S. and the European Union also are vetting the Pfizer/BioNTech shot, which studies show is 95% effective, along with a similar vaccine made by competitor Moderna.

•	Will there be side effects from a COVID-19 vaccine? When can you get it? We answer your vaccine questions
•	Deliver a safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine in less than a year? Meet Moncef Slaou
•	CDC-convened committee votes to add nursing home residents to first phase of vaccine access
•	Coronavirus updates: At least 41 infected after New Orleans swingers convention
•	US coronavirus map: Tracking the outbreak

Trump campaign's second Georgia recount request expected to finish

Georgia is expected to conclude its second recount of the presidential election ballots on Wednesday as the state grapples with threats of violence targeted against election officials and workers. Earlier this week, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger pushed back at new conspiracy theories spread by President Donald Trump's allies after an initial state-ordered recount affirmed that President-elect Joe Biden won the state by 12,284 votes. Trump, who is refusing to concede the election despite signing off on Biden's transition, has blasted Raffensberger and Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp over the recounting process and has leveled baseless claims of voter fraud to argue the election was stolen from him.

•	'It has to stop': Georgia official calls on Trump to 'stop inspiring' death threats over election
•	Attorney General Barr: Justice Dept. finds no evidence of fraud to alter election outcome
•	Lawsuit by Trump allies challenging Pennsylvania election results reaches Supreme Court
•	'Fantastic claims, half-truths, misinformation': Georgia official says Trump supporters misled

Democrat Mark Kelly to be sworn in as Arizona's new senator

Arizona Democrat Mark Kelly, who defeated Republican Sen. Martha McSally on Nov. 3, will be sworn in Wednesday . Kelly will take office ahead of the new group of senators-elect from across the nation because he won in a runoff election. He will serve the final two years of the six-year term won in 2016 by the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who died in 2018. Kelly has said his immediate focus is on advocating for a financial stimulus package to help families, businesses and communities reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic.

•	'Time to get to work': Mark Kelly prepares to join Senate in early December, hopes to use John McCain's desk

Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting kicks off holiday season

Christmas season in New York City has a different feel this year, including the 88th Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony . While the typical tree lighting draws massive crowds, this year's ceremony will be closed to the public as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. But NBC's annual special, "Christmas in Rockefeller Center," which features the tree lighting, will still air live on Wednesday night (8 EST/delayed PST). During the special, viewers will see performances by Kelly Clarkson, Jimmy Fallon, Brett Eldredge, Goo Goo Dolls, Tori Kelly, Leslie Odom Jr., Pentatonix, Earth, Wind & Fire, Dolly Parton, Gwen Stefani and Meghan Trainor.

•	Peak 2020: Early Christmas cheer hilariously crushed by 'saddest' Rockefeller Center tree
•	Rocky, the owl stuck in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, is now a free bird

More news you need to know:

•	Court documents: DOJ reviewing 'secret' pardon for money scheme targeting White House officials
•	California boat captain indicted on manslaughter charges for 2019 fire that killed 34 aboard Conception
•	Southern Oregon confronts its 'problem with racism' after fatal November shooting of Black teen Aidan Ellison
•	'Changed our lives': Tennessee baby born from 27-year-old frozen embryo breaks record
•	Black Friday slumps, but some retailers are OK with that
•	NFL postpones Ravens-Steelers game, matchup now set for Wednesday

Mystery solved: Here's why that strange Utah monolith vanished

So it wasn't aliens that removed Utah's mysterious monolith after all. Humans were behind the disappearance of the 10-foot metal object, which garnered international attention after it was discovered in the remote Red Rock Country last month. It went viral before vanishing without a trace over the weekend. Travel photographer Ross Bernards then revealed that four unidentified men showed up to remove it, an event also witnessed by Bernards' friend, Mike Newlands. "They took it away for a few reasons," Newlands told USA TODAY. "It's litter – public lands are to be respected, and this was out of place." The incident appears to have sparked a trend in disappearing monoliths — another metal pillar that appeared last week in northern Romania also has disappeared, "as quietly as it was erected," said Robert Iosub, a journalist with the local newspaper Ziar Piatra Neamt. The identity of the culprits behind that incident remains unclear.