Monday’s fatalities include people who died in their homes when soldiers began firing in the streets, says local rights group

Source: Myanmar protests: bystanders among 20 killed by security forces | Myanmar coup | The Guardian

Source: Coronavirus tracker: California’s cases of virus down 90% from previous high as of Sunday – San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu continue to report a surge in Covid-19 daily cases and account for 78.41 per cent of the new infections, the Union health ministry said. Source: India’s 78% of Covid-19 cases emerging from 5 states amid fears of second wave | Hindustan Times

With the new federal infusion, local officials can breathe a sigh of relief — forestalling drastic potential cuts in city services.  The ARP money for local cities is significant. Pasadena, for example, is slated to get $52 million; El Monte nearly $44 million; West Covina $20 million; and Whittier $19 million. Given the magnitude of the funding, cities will be under tremendous pressure to burn through the money — or stash some of it in their reserves. Just patching budgets, won’t fulfill President Biden’s promise to “build back better.” Source: Biden plan delivers big-time for California cities – Pasadena Star News

CVS is expanding its COVID-19 vaccination efforts in California, adding another 119 pharmacies statewide capable of administering doses to residents Sunday.

The new locations add to the 167 CVS stores already vaccinating people in the state, bringing the total to 286 different locations that eligible Californians can choose from to get inoculated.

Vaccines at participating CVS pharmacies will be available to those 65 and older, health care workers, emergency services personnel, food and agriculture workers, and school teachers and staff and childcare workers.

To get the shot, people have to make an appointment online. Those without internet access can call customer service at 800-746-7287.

Source: 119 more CVS pharmacies join effort to vaccinate Californians against COVID-19 | KTLA

A report by AP News and The Marshall Project has found that prison employees across the country are frequently rejecting the vaccine at higher rates than prisoners. Some of the reasons prison employees have given for rejecting the vaccine include concerns about its effectiveness and side effects; some cited debunked conspiracy theories peddled by far-right websites; and others simply have a lack of faith in the prison system given how poorly they have handled mitigating the effects of the virus.

This is concerning for a multitude of reasons: Prisons are natural hotspots for the virus, as the cramped living conditions, questionable hygiene practices, and an inability to effectively distance makes it easier to transmit the virus. FCI Miami, a federal prison in Miami, experienced two outbreaks last year. The first, which happened last July, resulted in over 400 of the prison’s 852 incarcerated people contracting the virus. In December, another 100 people also wound up contracting the virus.

Despite that, less than half of the prison’s 240 employees have been fully vaccinated, despite the vaccine being made available to them for well over a month.

Source: Prison Guards Across the Country Refusing to Take Covid Vaccine

Source: The Greenland ice sheet may be more vulnerable than we knew to global warming, new study shows – The Washington Post

Lebanon sank deeper into economic collapse and chaos over the weekend amid the pound’s free-fall against the US dollar with all the grave consequences this entails for the country’s crumbling economy and the lives of the Lebanese who are threatened with poverty as a result of an unprecedented financial downturn. Source: As Lebanon sinks deeper into turmoil, leaders unmoved by int’l warnings | News , Lebanon News | THE DAILY STAR

Deb Haaland has been confirmed as the secretary of the interior, making her the first Indigenous cabinet secretary in US history.

The 60-year-old from New Mexico will be responsible for the country’s land, seas and natural resources, as well as overseeing tribal affairs.

‘I’ll be fierce for all of us’: Deb Haaland on climate, Native rights and Biden

Haaland is a member of the Laguna Pueblo, one of 574 sovereign tribal nations located across 35 states.

Source: Deb Haaland confirmed as first Indigenous US cabinet secretary | Deb Haaland | The Guardian