The extent of the damage the pandemic has had on social and economic life is beyond comprehension.

She pulled off a deft bit of political maneuvering, probably born of desperation. Now South Korea's president has a sliver of breathing space as impeachment closes in and millions throng the streets to clamor for her to just go away.

Eight years ago, Barack Obama cast himself as the rare candidate who could transcend the polarizing "politics of the past" and bridge divides that had left Washington barely functioning for years. Ultimately, the gulf was too wide — if anything, the political climate in the United States worsened.

Daring to take on China in a territorial dispute in the South China Sea, the Philippines went to an international tribunal for justice, and won big. But it turned out to be a pyrrhic victory.

It's a ruling that China cannot accept, and one that the Philippines must.

For Donald Trump, Sunday's mass shooting in Florida was a moment to redouble his call for tougher action against terrorism and to take credit for "being right" about the threat. For Hillary Clinton, it was a time to choose words carefully and reiterate her call for keeping "weapons of war" off America's streets.