What we're reading

Officials aim to boost preparedness as the dangers of the coronavirus subside

From the worsening hunger crisis to a threat to the bourbon industry, here’s a snapshot of key food and drink stories from around the world:

There is good evidence that masks can protect ‌‌people who use them correctly and consistently

Under government pressure, Chinese scientists have retracted studies and withheld or deleted data

Leaders on the continent have vowed that if there is another pandemic, they won’t be shut out of the vaccine market.

What went wrong—and right—with America’s COVID response shows how Americans faced the worst peacetime catastrophe of modern times

Since May 1, 2018, every alcoholic drink sold in Scotland has had minimum unit pricing (MUP) of £0·50 per unit

India has a young, vast work force that is expanding as China’s ages and shrinks. But the country’s immense size also lays bare its enormous challenge

New findings from 350,000 people make the strongest case yet that exercise improves cognition. A small study shows it raises BDNF, a brain chemical

Bitcoin mines cash in on electricity—by devouring it, selling it, even turning it off—and they cause immense pollution

The red flags have been there for years. The world deserves much better than contaminated medicine and children poisoned by cough syrup

Experts often cite mistrust of the government as a key reason certain communities ‌have suffered disproportionately during deadly outbreaks