Editor's note

Salt causes high blood pressure and this is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which causes about 40% of deaths in China. It has long been known that salt consumption in China is high but no one had put an accurate figure on it. Monique Tan has done an analysis. Adults in China consume 10.9g of salt per day, which is more than twice the maximum 5g recommendation set by the World Health Organisation – and one of the highest salt intakes in the world. Perhaps more worrying is that children aged six to 16 are exceeding the maximum salt intake for adults at (8.7g per day). Chinese public health officials have their work cut out for them.

The IMF throws out a lifeline to countries that have hit a rough financial patch. As part of its assistance the IMF insists that they take bitter medicine to deal with the root causes of their financial woes. But Tim Forster, Bernhard Reinsberg and Thomas Stubbs say the IMF’s medicine leaves behind a bitter aftertaste of adverse social implications, primarily inequality.

Clint Witchalls

Health + Medicine Editor

Top Stories

HandmadePictures/Shutterstock

Salt: China’s deadly food habit

Monique Tan, Queen Mary University of London

Salt consumption in China is among the highest in the world.

The IMF headquarters in Washington DC. Shutterstock

IMF says it cares about inequality. But will it change its ways?

Timon Forster, Freie Universität Berlin; Bernhard Reinsberg, University of Glasgow; Thomas Stubbs, Royal Holloway

The IMF has increasingly turned its focus to growing inequality worldwide. Ironically, research shows that policy reforms it mandated exacerbated income inequalities.

Business + Economy

3 myths to bust about breaking up ‘big tech’

Bhaskar Chakravorti, Tufts University

Advocates and opponents of breaking up Facebook, Google and other technology giants are falling prey to some serious misconceptions.

How immigrants give American companies a powerful boost against Chinese rivals

Benjamin A.T. Graham, University of Southern California

While the US is a nation of immigrants, China is not. That's a huge competitive advantage when doing business in emerging markets.

Politics + Society

The army is being used to fight Cape Town’s gangs. Why it’s a bad idea

Lindy Heinecken, Stellenbosch University

The biggest problem with using the military to fight rime is that soldiers are not trained for law enforcement, but warfare, using maximum force.

US House condemns Donald Trump’s racist tweets – why his language is so dangerous

Natasha Lindstaedt, University of Essex

President Donald Trump has appealed to his base by attacking four Democratic Congresswomen of colour.

En français

Du dealer de crack au vendeur de tortillas : l’étonnant parcours d’ex-membres de gangs

Dennis Rodgers, Graduate Institute – Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement (IHEID)

Être membre d’un gang de trafiquants de drogue peut avoir certains avantages si on cherche à se forger une vie loin de toute activité illicite.

Qu’est-ce qui pollue les cours d’eau français ?

Hélène Blanchoud, Sorbonne Université

En France, les pesticides constituent la première source de pollution des cours d’eau. Mais de nombreuses autres substances restent difficiles à détecter.

En español

Los cómicos invaden radios y televisiones: quién, cómo y por qué

Javier Rodriguez Pequeño, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

Monólogos, 'late nights', programas en televisión, radio, mayores audiencias... Los cómicos en nuestro país están experimentando un renacer. ¿A qué se debe?

La tecnología informática de las misiones Apolo se adelantó una década a su tiempo

Juan Antonio Maestro de la Cuerda, Universidad Nebrija

La proeza del alunizaje del Apolo 11 fue también informática. Medio siglo después, recordamos el valor de estas tecnologías.