US records over 3,000 Covid deaths in a day for first time – live updates

• 3,124 deaths sets new record two weeks after Thanksgiving holiday
• President Trump makes no public comment on death toll
• Crunch time for intensive care beds as US faces dark pandemic winter
• Biden reportedly set to nominate Katherine Tai as top US trade envoy
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8.15pm GMT

In a meeting with civil rights leaders, president-elect Joe Biden said that Republicans “beat the living hell out of us” during the election because of the “Defund the Police” movement, according to the Intercept, which got ahold of leaked audio from the meeting

In the meeting, held Tuesday, the civil rights leaders urged Biden to use executive orders to carry out policy measures Democrats are pushing for.

Civil rights leaders warned Biden that picking Vilsack could backfire in Georgia, where Shirley Sherrod is still a hero. He responded by saying the real threat in the runoffs was “defund the police.” https://t.co/NSykP8rN0L

7.54pm GMT

An advisory committee to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently hearing testimony from Pfizer, which is arguing the agency should should approve its Covid-19 vaccine on an emergency basis.

At the hearing, experts are now questioning Pfizer about the data it has provided, and tire kicking is expected to continue through the afternoon. But some key themes are already emerging.

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