World's biggest coronavirus study underway

The world’s biggest vaccine study for the coronavirus got underway today in the US. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( --------------------------------------------------------------- In the news today World's largest coronavirus vaccine study underway in the US [A pharmacist gives Jennifer Haller, left, the first shot in the first-stage safety study clinical trial of a potential vaccine for COVID-19 developed by the NIH and Moderna, March 16, 2020.]( Credit: Ted S. Warren/AP/File Photo The world’s biggest vaccine study for the coronavirus [got underway today in the US](. Developed by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna, the study includes 30,000 volunteers at more than 80 sites across the county. Researchers will be measuring the vaccine's safety and effectiveness. “Unfortunately for the United States of America, we have plenty of infections right now” to get that answer, NIH’s Dr. Anthony Fauci [told the Associated Press](. With COVID-19 cases surging in the US and elsewhere, Vietnam had been heralded for its strict quarantine measures, which kept reported cases slightly over 400 and no deaths. But the country is [now back on high alert]( after the first locally transmitted case in three months was detected in the central city of Da Nang, [forcing the evacuation of 80,000 tourists](. And while the United Kingdom has been criticized for its struggle to contain the coronavirus, its curve is starting to flatten. Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently said the country could return to “normal” by Christmas. But an unexpected announcement over the weekend caught many by surprise: UK health authorities said all travelers to the UK from Spain will now have to quarantine themselves for 14 days, [blindsiding many travelers from Britain]( who are on vacation in Spain, including Britain’s transportation secretary, Grant Shapps. What The World is following Poland’s justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro said Poland [will withdraw from the Istanbul Convention](, a European treaty on violence against women, sparking widespread criticism. Ziobro said Saturday the treaty “contains elements of an ideological nature, which we consider harmful.” Thousands gathered in Warsaw and other cities over the weekend to protest the withdrawal. And, [for the third weekend in a row](, thousands of people took to the streets of Khabarovsk in Russia’s far east to protest the detention of the region’s popular governor, Sergei Furgal, who was arrested on murder charges he denies. --------------------------------------------------------------- From The World [Federal agents could drive 'even further divisions in our city and our country,' says Kansas City mayor]( [Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas, center, walks among protesters Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo., during a unity march to protest against police brutality following the death of George Floyd.]( Credit: Charlie Riedel/AP President Donald Trump announced the expansion of a program to send federal agents to several US cities to crack down on violent crime. The World spoke to Quinton Lucas, the mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, about the arrival of some 200 agents in his city this month. Lucas [takes exception to Trump's use of the word "surge"]( in federal law enforcement. "I do think that it starts to militarize our communities. It creates conflict that's unnecessary. If one is looking at the last several months in America, the protests aren't about tearing apart America. It's about making sure people have more recognition, more voice. And so that's why we want to make sure that that isn't what this operation, or these types of operations, become," Lucas said. [Netflix's ‘Indian Matchmaking’ stirs conversation about tradition, colorism and caste]( [Pradhyuman is seen in an undated handout image from the Netflix series "Indian Matchmaking."]( Credit: Yash Ruparelia/Netflix/Handout via Reuters The Netflix reality show “Indian Matchmaking” follows Mumbai matchmaker Sima Taparia as she flies around the world to meet with Indian clients and their families. They tell her what they’re looking for in a mate, and she sets up the clients on awkward dates. The show is meant to be lighthearted and fun, but for some, it’s controversial. --------------------------------------------------------------- The World's smart speaker show The Number in the News: 33 Oh, sh**! Swearing is good for you? According to a team of psychology researchers in the UK, [swearing can increase a person's pain tolerance]( by 33%. And, no, you can't substitute a PG version like, "Oh, fudge." Only the real thing will do. The Number in the News is The World’s daily smart speaker show, where 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. --------------------------------------------------------------- Bright spot Yeah, it’s hot outside here in the northern hemisphere. Sometimes just a kiddie pool will do the trick … [even if you’re a bear](. [A screen grab of a CNN tweet showing a bear sleeping in a kiddie pool.]( [Credit: Courtesy of Chris Burville, Look Bermuda]( AP and Reuters contributed to this newsletter. --------------------------------------------------------------- In case you missed it on The World - [Blue Jays start the season away from home]( - [Mom makes dolls with scars, hearing aids and cleft lips for special needs children]( - [Turkey's Haghia Sophia holds first Islamic prayers in almost 90 years]( - [Iranian passenger jet and American fighter plane nearly collide]( - [‘The Economist Asks’ a pro-Beijing politician]( - [China orders US Consulate in Chengdu to close]( - [European Uber drivers take company’s algorithms to court]( - [Kansas City mayor on federal agent deployments]( 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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