Domestic

The $1.9 trillion COVID relief package was officially passed on March 10, marking a major victory for the Biden administration. The relief bill will grant $1,400 stimulus check payments for people making under $75,000 and couples making $150,000. The deal is being praised by Democrats as one of the greatest anti-poverty bills in modern history.

Merrick Garland has been approved by the Senate as the Biden administration’s attorney general on March 10. Garland promised lawmakers that the department would take larger efforts in combating domestic terrorism, while pursuing other relevant issues such as police reform.

International

After analyzing video and photos from the protests in Myanmar, Amnesty International has concluded that the Myanmar military is using lethal tactics and battlefield weapons against peaceful protesters. Since the February 1 military coup, daily protests have engulfed the country in a state of political crisis, with international criticism directed at the military for its response to the civil disobedience campaign.

Brazil’s COVID outbreak hits an all-time high, topping daily death records from previous peaks in the winter and previous spring. On Wednesday the country reported that it had 79,876 new positive COVID cases within its borders. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has faced widespread criticism for his downplaying of the threat of the virus and his government’s response to the pandemic.