U.S. Congressional leaders are trying to eliminate the final sticking points of a second coronavirus rescue bill. Yes, you’ve read that before. Democrats first proposed a new bailout in the spring, which Republicans rejected almost instantaneously. Since then, the two sides haven’t been able to make it happen—but this time things might be different. The latest draft, which at $900 billion is one-third the size of what Democrats wanted in May, includes $600 in payments for individuals, $300-per-week in supplemental unemployment payments and help for small businesses. It omits, however, aid to state and local governments (demanded by Democrats) eviscerated by the pandemic and liability protection for businesses (demanded by Republicans) fearful of being sued for their role in Covid-19 infections and deaths. However, the possibility of failure remains. Among the remaining hurdles is one thrown up by Republican Senators Pat Toomey and Mike Crapo, who want the bill to end the Fed’s emergency lending program, thus killing an initiative intended to support struggling small businesses, municipal governments and credit markets. The proposal would also have the effect of damaging the incoming Biden administration’s ability to combat the recession. —David E. Rovella 

Bloomberg is tracking the progress of coronavirus vaccines while mapping the pandemic globally and across America. 

Here are today’s top stories 

A U.S. nuclear weapons agency and at least three states were hacked as part of a suspected Russian cyber-attack that struck throughout the Trump administration. The Energy Department and its National Nuclear Security Administration, which maintains America’s nuclear stockpile, were targeted as part of a larger onslaught by suspected Kremlin hackers. President-elect Joe Biden pledged to impose “substantial costs on those responsible for such malicious attacks.” President Donald Trump, who has been reluctant to criticize Russia or President Vladimir Putin throughout his four years in office, has said nothing. 

A Trident missile, which traditionally carries nuclear warheads, launches from an Ohio-class U.S. missile submarine.

Photographer: Getty Images/Hulton Archive

Trump hasn’t been silent about threatening to veto a spending bill meant to fund America’s military, however, testing his party’s loyalty in the process.

New U.S. unemployment claims spiked to the highest level in three months, auguring a further delay of any U.S. recovery. More than 5 million Americans are already claiming benefits, while untold millions more have exhausted them entirely. Coca-Cola said it will slash 2,200 jobs worldwide because of the pandemic.

Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine won backing Thursday from a panel that advises U.S. regulators, while greater Los Angeles is emerging as America’s hardest hit metropolitan area in this latest infection wave. In the past week, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties have posted 1,415 and 1,102 average daily cases per million residents, respectively, the highest rates among counties of at least a million people. Nationally, the U.S. has surpassed 17 million cases, with 310,000 dead. Globally, 74.7 million infections have been confirmed and 1.6 million have died. In both cases, the actual numbers are thought to be much higher. Here is the latest on the pandemic.

DoorDash shares fell on Thursday after a short-seller attacked the food delivery company’s initial public offering. Here is the markets wrap.

A group of Google artificial intelligence researchers sent a sweeping list of demands to management calling for new policies and leadership changes, escalating a conflict at one of the company’s prized units.

What’s Yakob Peterseil thinking about? The Bloomberg cross-asset editor says that when the Cboe Volatility Index surged to a record high nine months ago, hedge funds that made leveraged bets on market tranquillity imploded. Now, things may be looking up for a strategy that ranks among the most high-profile wipeouts of the Covid crash. A new firm is looking to raise more than $1 billion over the next 12 months to launch strategies that include shorting equity volatility. After taking a beating in March, short-vol strategies have largely remained on the sidelines. But these pros are betting that could be changing.

What you’ll need to know tomorrow

• World's richest banker made $16 billion after a brush with death.
• Emerging markets: These are the nations most likely to win in 2021.
• Guggenheim’s Scott Minerd says Bitcoin should be worth $400,000.
• How Amazon is killing off the middle class warehouse job.
• U.K. expects decision on AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine by January.
• New Zealand announces its largest-ever vaccination program.
• Work from home is here to stay. Get ready for pay cuts.

What you’ll want to read in Bloomberg Real Estate

NYC Dead? Try These Home Sales On for Size

By the end of September, the volume of Manhattan co-op and condo sales was down 43% year over year as sellers held back from listing their apartments and buyers gravitated toward the suburbs. Still, looking at the top residential real estate sales of 2020, it seems one demographic—the super rich—has committed to New York for the long haul. 

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