GLOBAL: Led by increases in the United States, Brazil, India, and South Africa, the World Health Organization reported a record number of global coronavirus cases on Sunday, with the total rising by 230,370 in 24 hours.

Ten reasons why we should take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously—a good overview.

SYRIA: Authorities reported the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Idlib, where protracted fighting has displaced about 1 million Syrians and destroyed hospitals. Medical personnel believe they have been treating COVID-19 cases for weeks but lack testing to be sure, one nongovernmental organization leader told me.

HONG KONG: “We have no more freedom in Hong Kong,” said a prayer meeting organizer as a national security law took effect last week for the once independent territory. The law establishes a Committee for Safeguarding National Security under the supervision of China’s central government, working in secret and outside of judicial oversight.

Like office workers across Europe, Luiza Chrzanowska found herself sidelined by COVID-19. A day job as an economist with the European Commission at its headquarters in Brussels turned into teleworking from home, alone. The ecumenical choir she leads, Chapel for Europe, took a sudden sabbatical as the coronavirus canceled events.

When COVID-19 hit the Westervier nursing home—a residential care center in the Belgian city of Bruges—it struck with swift severity.

“We had residents talking in the living room in the morning. Then they became short of breath. Then drowsy. And in the evening they were gone. It went very fast,” said Dirk Snauwaert, director of Westervier.

If you think about it, everything comes down to a meal.

Eve in the Garden must’ve been looking for something to eat. The Passover Seder meal became the linchpin for Old Testament Jews. The hoped-for Messiah took bread and gave thanks with His disciples before beginning His journey to the cross. After, He cooked them fish to launch a new kind of journey.

IN-DEPTH: Michael Pack, the new CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, fired the heads of at least three U.S.-funded global news outlets: Radio Free Asia, Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe, and the Middle East Broadcasting Network. Pack also removed current members of the board of each network to install his own team.