ITALY: The global toll of recorded deaths due to COVID-19 topped 400,000 and total confirmed cases passed 7 million over the weekend. The United States has nearly 111,000 confirmed virus-related deaths. Pope Francis warned, “Don’t cry victory too soon,” as Italy and other European nations reopened and the pontiff again recited prayers from his balcony at the Vatican.

UNITED STATES: Controversy has only grown over the Trump administration’s violent clearing of protesters near the White House ahead of the President Donald Trump’s somber walk Monday evening to St. John’s Church to pose for a photo holding a Bible. On Tuesday, the president signed an executive order dramatically raising international religious freedom as a priority in U.S. foreign policy, but Monday’s events overshadowed it.

IRAN: China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran all in recent days carried out provocations, taking advantage of a preoccupied United States—where 100,000 people have died of the coronavirus and six days of protests over racial injustice have activated military and National Guard units in 21 states.

CHINA: Beijing’s National People’s Congress, delayed since March, opens on Friday as the government of President Xi Jinping lashes out at those who blame China for aiding the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Monday, President Donald Trump announced he may permanently freeze U.S. funding to the World Health Organization and reconsider its membership unless the WHO enacts reforms.

SUDAN: In a unanimous ruling on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court handed what representatives for the plaintiffs called “a huge win” to victims of the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings, ruling that Sudan owes victims both compensatory and punitive damages. The decision in Opati v. Republic of Sudan vacates a lower court ruling and goes against arguments from the U.S.

INDONESIA: Missionary pilot Joyce Lin, 40, died on Tuesday when her plane crashed en route to delivering COVID-19 rapid test kits and other supplies to a clinic in the Papua highlands.

INDIA this week begins a complex process of reopening its vast economy across three zones based on COVID-19 levels, but factory owners and others worry not enough progress has been made as confirmed cases of the coronavirus surge. Plans to gradually restart passenger train service on Tuesday will be an early gauge.