Europe is swiftly shutting down as the unprecedented spike in new cases hits perilous new heights.
The big picture: Cases are growing uncontrollably across most of the continent. While spikes in hospitalizations and deaths have thus far been less sharp in most countries, fears of overcrowded hospitals are growing. The U.S. may be tracking just two or three weeks behind.
The Vatican has said Pope Francis' comments in support of civil unions for homosexual couples were taken out of context and do not signal a change in Church doctrine on homosexual acts, Reuters reports.
Why it matters: The pope’s apparent remarks in the documentary "Francesco" sparked celebration and controversy, as they appeared to represent a break from the Church's position that homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered" and contrary to natural law.
A slew of European countries have announced new lockdowns over the last week in response to uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus.
Between the lines: Many of these countries are facing the threat of overrun health care systems in the near-term future and, potentially, harrowing decisions about how to ration care, the Washington Post reports.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Monday her "incredibly diverse" new 20-member Cabinet, as she revealed Finance Minister Grant Robertson would also serve as deputy prime minister — the first openly gay New Zealander to hold the position.
Of note: Ardern spoke during her first term of the need to improve the gender balance in government and women and members of New Zealand's Māori community are well represented in the new Cabinet.
Super Typhoon Goni killed at least four people as it triggered flash flooding and power outages after twice making landfall in the southern region of the Philippines' main island of Luzon before weakening Sunday, per Reuters.
The big picture: Asia's most powerful typhoon of 2020, also known as Typhoon Rolly, caused nearly 1 million people to evacuate, the BBC reports. The Philippine weather bureau warned the storm remained a risk, with "catastrophic violent winds" and "intense to torrential rainfall" expected ahead of it moving south of Manila and out to the South China Sea by Sunday afternoon.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party has signed a "cooperation agreement" with the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand as she prepares to form a new government.
