India's massive lockdown

Spain has reported more novel coronavirus deaths than China. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( Spain reports the world's second-highest number of deaths due to the novel coronavirus after Italy, as India locks down 1.3 billion people and Zimabwean doctors issue desperate calls for basic medical equipment. The US Senate is likely to vote on a $2 trillion economic stimulus package after days of intense negotiations. And while this summer's Tokyo Olympic Games have been postponed, one Mexican American breakdancer hopes to go for gold in Paris in 2024. --------------------------------------------------------------- Our coronavirus coverage has never been behind a paywall. No paywalls, ever. Many of you have stepped forward and shown your support for The World including some with thoughtful messages like this one: "Thank you for your compelling global journalism — a remarkable combination of compassion, truth, and excellence." Your donations help us make our nonprofit journalism available to everyone. [donate]( --------------------------------------------------------------- In the news today Spain reports more deaths than China, Zimbabwe doctors strike [A policeman wields his baton at an autorickshaw rider as punishment for breaking the lockdown rules, after India ordered a 21-day nationwide lockdown to limit the spreading of coronavirus disease in Mumbai, India, March 25, 2020.]( Credit: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters Spain has reported more [coronavirus deaths]( than China, as more than 435,000 [cases worldwide]( have been confirmed and total casualties near 20,000. Nearly 112,000 people are reported to have recovered from COVID-19. [In Zimbabwe](, doctors are striking over the lack of personal protective gear to fight the virus. "Right now we are exposed and no one seems to care,” said the president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association. The [lack of basic medical supplies]( is not new: Families have been asked to provide necessities such as gloves and even clean water, while doctors use their own money to supply the poorest patients. From The World: [WHO fills gaps to fight COVID-19 in countries with weaker health systems, says spokesperson]( India's 1.3 billion people head into lockdown With just hours' notice, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a [three-week lockdown]( of the country's 1.3 billion population, sending people scrambling to [prepare for 21 days]( with limited access to services. He acknowledged the lockdown would be "very difficult time" for those in poverty. Many laborers have started [long treks home]( — on foot. But the government's [directives have been confusing](. Breaking the lockdown could lead to a year in prison. And though essential services, such as grocery stores, are allowed to remain open, police have reportedly violently cracked down on seemingly sanctioned businesses. India's [health system ranks poorly](, and an outbreak of coronavirus in densely popluated slums could prove devastating. More: [India’s coronavirus lockdown and its looming crisis, explained]( And: [Sanitary workers risk their lives despite spread of coronavirus]( $2 trillion US economic stimulus could head to vote After intense negotiations, the US Senate could pass a [$2 trillion economic stimulus package]( Wednesday that touches almost all aspects of the US economy. If the legislation passes, Democratic leadership hope to pass it by unanimous consent in the House. The legislation — [the biggest in modern history]( — would send checks to some Americans, and create hundreds of billions in lending programs for small businesses and large industries. It would also provide funds for hospitals, as well as provide state and local stimulus money. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell call it a "wartime level of investment." The mammoth bill dwarfs the two previous coronavirus relief bills, which total more than $100 billion in and of themselves. But will it be [enough](? And: [US military issues final furlough notices to nearly half its South Korean workforce, union says]( Also: [Pompeo cuts $1 billion in Afghan aid as two leaders reject push for unity]( --------------------------------------------------------------- The Number in the News: 0 Tuition-free higher education has become a popular idea among Democratic voters. Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden have talked about it, too. But how has the policy of providing free college tuition worked out in other countries? On today’s episode of [The Number in the News](, learn how tuition-free college works in parts of Europe, including Germany and Norway. 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. [Australia detained this family on a remote island — alone]( Two-year-old Tharunicaa has spent nearly all of her life imprisoned. She and her family are being held in a [remote Australian detention center]( in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The family members have been the only people detained on Christmas Island until the government made the controversial decision earlier this year to use the center as a temporary quarantine site for Australian COVID-19 evacuees. The move brought [renewed attention to a family]( that has been isolated there, largely out of sight and out of mind, for seven months. [Could the US win gold — in breakdancing?]( [A competitor performs breakdance moves at the Breakdancing Northeast Regionals in suburban Washington, DC, on March 8, 2020.]( Credit: Courtesy of Monica Chang The Tokyo Olympic Games have been postponed to next year, but Antonio Castillo already has his eyes on 2024. A Mexican American immigrant and breakdancer, Castillo is behind an effort to field the first [Team USA for breakdancing]( — which could debut as an Olympic sport as soon as the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. “We have to make sure, when the time comes, that we have a national team that can represent the birthplace of hip hop culture and [hopefully win gold](," Castillo said. --------------------------------------------------------------- Morning meme Can you TikTok to The World's theme music? We're listening at [myworld@theworld.org](mailto:myworld@theworld.org?subject=Here's%20my%20Tik%20Tok%20of%20The%20World's%20theme) 🎧 --------------------------------------------------------------- In case you missed it on The World - [Manu Dibango died on Tuesday]( - [Family detained alone on remote island]( - [Company switches to making hand sanitizer instead of gin]( - [US cuts financial aid to Afghanistan]( - [Turkey underplaying coronavirus threat]( - [Safety for California farmworkers]( - [British sports commentator gives mundane play-by-play]( - [Latino vote in Georgia]( - [UK lockdowns]( - [The pandemic with no or slow internet]( - [Lockdowns and other restrictions]( 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](. 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