DOJ looks to expand powers

World leaders are desperately asking their populations to social distance as more than 350,000 cases of the novel coronavirus are confirmed. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( World leaders are urging their populations to stay at home as the number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases rises exponetially. Students sent home from school are finding new challenges when it comes to accessing online courses. And Dominica is setting new standards as it rebuilds from Hurricane Maria in 2017. The small island nation is working to become the world's first climate-resilient country. --------------------------------------------------------------- Our coronavirus coverage has never been behind a paywall. No paywalls, ever. Your donations help us make our nonprofit journalism available to everyone. [donate]( --------------------------------------------------------------- In the news today Confirmed coronavirus cases exceeds 350,000 [A woman wearing a protective mask walks outside Castel Sant'Angelo, as Italy tightens measures to try and contain the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, Italy March 23, 2020.] Credit: Remo Casilli/via Reuters World leaders are desperately asking their populations to social distance and stay home as more than [350,000 cases]( of the novel coronavirus are confirmed around the world and more than 15,000 people have died. Gatherings in Germany have been limited to [two people](, and there are signs that the [spread might be leveling off]( in the country. At least [one in five Americans]( has been ordered to stay home, as the number of confirmed infections in the US rises to the third-highest in the world. [Cuban doctors]( are on their way to help virus-ravaged Italy, where nearly 5,500 have died. [Funerals have been banned]( in the country, and crematoriums have not been able to manage, making final goodbyes even more tragic. And: [You can't practice social distancing if you're a refugee]( Photos: [Europe on lockdown]( DOJ seeks expanded powers as senators negotiate economic package The US Justice Department has pushed Congress to expand its emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic, including the ability to detain people indefinitely without trial, [Politico reports](. And a nearly [$2 trillion economic package]( failed in the Senate Sunday, as Democrats raised concerns the proposed package was a corporate giveaway with too little congressional oversight. They said it also lacked sufficient emergency food aid, resources for workers, student loan relief, as well as funding for state and local governments. Negotiations continue, and a new vote will likely take place Monday. And: [Fed announces unlimited bond purchases to help U.S. economy]( Also: [Chinese coronavirus test kits approved for use across Europe, US]( From The World: [Trump invokes Defense Production Act, but execution is unclear, former DHS adviser says]( --------------------------------------------------------------- We're listening: How are you surviving quarantine across The World? As we spend more time at home during the coronavirus pandemic, we're recalibrating our routines. Instead of the gym, some of us are taking online exercise classes, picking up new or neglected hobbies, or finding new online groups to chat. We want to hear the most important part of your stay-at-home routine. Send us a voice memo at [myworld@theworld.org](mailto:myworld@theworld.org?subject=Surviving%20quarantine) and tell us us your name, the city you live in and what stroke of isolation creativity you are proud of. [International students displaced by COVID-19 face online headaches]( Over the last few weeks, as universities responded to COVID-19, international students had to make quick decisions that may have consequences for years to come. Some have had to find new housing as colleges shut down dormitories. Others have taken a chance on leaving to be with their families in their home countries. As spring break ends, classes for many begin online next week, there may be a new set of headaches. Usually, an international student visa in the US only allows for one online course. The rest must typically be in person. So [students panicked]( as colleges announced that classes were moving online. And: [US students are being asked to work remotely. But 22% of homes don't have internet]( --------------------------------------------------------------- The Number in the News: 2 Are you working from home right now? More of us are being told to work from home, and perhaps going a little stir crazy. Enter the new app, QuarantineChat, which randomly connects people across the world stuck inside due to the coronavirus outbreak. On today’s episode of [The Number in the News](, Max Hawkins, CTO of Dialup, which is behind the app, explains why it’s so important to stay connected to other people. The Number in the News is The World’s daily smart speaker show. You’ll learn one number you won’t forget and why it’s in the news today. [Click here]( to add The Number in the News to your Amazon or Google flash briefing and hear a new episode seven days a week. Under sanctions, Iran rejects offer of US assistance [Iranian leaders have rejected US offers of assistance]( to battle the coronavirus. Iran has faulted US sanctions with hampering the response in the country, which now has more than [23,000 cases]( and nearly 2,000 deaths from the virus. The US has refused to lift sanctions but did offer humanitarian assistance. “Several times Americans have offered to help us to fight the pandemic. That is strange because you face shortages in America," [said]( Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who also vowed to defeat the virus. [How a small Caribbean island nation is trying to become climate resilient]( [The small Caribbean island of Dominica has been building back since Hurricane Maria flattened much of the island in 2017. It’s trying to build back stronger, and become what it calls the first climate-resilient nation.] Credit: Carolyn Beeler/The World Dominica, devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017, wants to be an example of [how to build back better](. Billboards around the capital advertise Dominica’s efforts toward resilience and urge residents to read updated building codes online. Work on a small, geothermal plant is soon to begin, and communities around the island are preparing themselves for the upcoming hurricane season. These changes are signs of Dominica’s ambitious new national goal — to become the [world’s first “climate-resilient” country](. That goal emerged just five days after the storm; Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit made it to the United Nations General Assembly in New York and asked for help creating a new era of green economic development. --------------------------------------------------------------- Morning meme Editor's note: Pictures of cute animals have buoyed spirits across the internet during the pandemic. But [National Geographic]( warns that many such stories have been faked, including Friday's "morning meme" of elephants asleep in a tea garden. But animal lovers can still build some non-human connections — and provide much-neede relief for shelters — as some look to [foster and adopt]( pets and urban farm animals. --------------------------------------------------------------- In case you missed it on The World - [Radio fans: You’ll Never Walk Alone]( - [International students scramble]( - [Israeli surveillance during coronavirus]( - [Americans stuck in Morocco]( - [Washing your hands when you don’t have water]( - [Drug trials and potential treatment options]( - [US-Canada border crisis affects this Canadian border town]( - [Lessons learned for the climate crisis]( - [Congolese musician Aurlus Mabele dies]( - [Uber drivers during coronavirus]( - [Defense Production Act]( - [The week in coronavirus]( Don't forget to subscribe to The World's Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: [RadioPublic](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Stitcher](, [Soundcloud](, [RSS]( [The World logo]( [The World on Facebook]( [The World's Twitter account]( [Donate]( | [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( Top of the World is written weekday mornings by the team at [The World](. [The World]( is produced by [PRX](, [WGBH](, and the [BBC](.