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The Lead The V&A;'s "Rising Voices" exhibition attempts to condense three decades of art from across Asia, Australia, and the Pacific into just three rooms, creating both an impressive display and significant limitations in telling the full story of the region's diverse artistic traditions. The Exhibition's Cultural Treasures The opening room features an array of remarkable works including bark cloth paintings from Papua New Guinea, Indigenous Australian abstracts, shark sculptures from the Torres Strait, and Tahitian textiles. Indigenous and First Nations artists form the heart of the exhibition, with stunning pieces like Lila Warrimou and Pennyrose Sosa's hypnotic bark cloth paintings where every shape carries specific cultural meanings. Aline Amaru's Tahitian quilt tells the story of her husband's dynastic lineage, representing the rich cultural heritage preserved through art. Art as Historical and Political Resistance Many works in the exhibition carry the heavy burden of colonial history. Elisabet Kauage depicts Melanesian figures being transported in Captain Cook's ship, while Sri Lankan artist Pala Pothupitiye paints over historical colonial maps to expose injustices. Brenda V Fajardo portrays Filipino women enduring under colonial rule. Beyond historical contexts, many artists created work under political oppression—Svay Ken painted quietly through Cambodia's Khmer Rouge regime, Heri Dono produced his grotesque cubistic works under President Suharto's dictatorship, and Maryam Ayeen and Abbas Shahsavar depict contemporary Iranian life pressures. The Exhibition's Design Limitations The presentation of this vibrant art faces significant criticism. The exhibition employs "dull, grey and depressing lighting more akin to a funeral home" that fails to showcase the bright, colorful nature of the works. A single, mournful piano ballad loops loudly throughout the space, creating an unwelcoming atmosphere that discourages prolonged viewing. These design choices undermine the powerful and often beautiful artworks they're meant to highlight. The Challenge of Comprehensive Representation The fundamental issue lies in the exhibition's scope—attempting to represent art from dozens of countries, countless Indigenous populations, and multiple continents in just three rooms. Each segment—Pakistani miniature painting, Indigenous Australian photography, Papua New Guinean textiles—deserves its own comprehensive exhibition. The current format offers merely "a barely cracked window into a vast world" without providing a cohesive narrative thread connecting these diverse artistic traditions. The Future of Global Art Exhibitions The "Rising Voices" exhibition highlights both the richness of Asia-Pacific art and the challenges of representing such diversity within institutional constraints. Future exhibitions of this scale must either commit to comprehensive, in-depth explorations of specific artistic traditions or develop stronger curatorial frameworks that can meaningfully connect diverse works without reducing their cultural significance. The V&A; has presented a glimpse into a vast world of art, but there remains immense opportunity to more fully celebrate the incredible diversity of contemporary art from across this region.

The Legacy of a Scientific Pioneer My husband Peer Bork, who has died unexpectedly aged 62, was a bioinformatician with a remarkable ability to identify new directions in science and carry out world-class research to push them forward. Revolutionizing Microbiome Research During his career, he progressed from the statistical analysis of the sequences of individual protein molecules, via the analysis of the human genome, to the bioinformatics analysis of whole microbial communities. Peer pioneered the computational analysis of the human microbiome, introducing the concept of gut enterotypes – in work that was highlighted in many newspaper articles as well as on the radio and TV. He went on to study microbial ecosystems worldwide and, at the time of his death, was involved in expanding a consortium that he had initiated to systematically document coastal ecosystems in Europe. All these studies required the creation of bioinformatics tools – software and curated datasets – which are now widely used by the scientific community in academia and industry. A Life in Science Peer was born in the former East Berlin, where his father, Joachim, worked in economic statistics, and his mother, Regina, had an administrative job in the construction industry. Owing to his mathematical abilities, he won a place at a high school specialising in mathematics and science, the Heinrich-Hertz-Oberschule. After military service on the border between East and West Germany, he studied biochemistry at the University of Leipzig. He followed this with a PhD in bioinformatics under the supervision of Jens Reich at the Central Institute for Molecular Biology of the Academy of Sciences of the GDR in Berlin. International Scientific Career After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Peer joined the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg in 1991 as a visiting scientist. He and I met there and married in Canterbury, Kent, in 1994. We had two sons, Udo and Robin, and family life involved many trips between Germany and Britain. EMBL became Peer's scientific home and he rose up the ranks to become interim director general in 2025. He was dedicated to furthering EMBL – an intergovernmental research organisation with six sites, including the European Bioinformatics Institute near Cambridge. He was an outstanding mentor. Awards and Recognition He made science both challenging and fun. Among his awards, which included honorary doctorates and the 2009 Royal Society and Académie des Sciences Microsoft award, he was particularly proud of the Nature award for mentoring in science he received in 2008. Final Scientific Journey He died in Taiwan, where he was due to speak at an international conference on the microbiome. He loved to travel and make friends all over the world. Peer is survived by me, his sons, by a granddaughter and his mother.

US captain Jim Furyk has warned that the United States must make the Ryder Cup a year‑round priority if it hopes to break a streak of losses, outlining both an immediate goal of winning at Adare Manor in 2027 and a longer‑term cultural blueprint.Furyk’s Call for a Cultural Overhaul Ahead of the 2027 Ryder CupFuryk, appointed captain for a second time, said his job is to “create a culture, a chemistry amongst them” and to set two sets of goals: a short‑term aim to win on foreign soil and a long‑term plan to build continuity for future players and captains.Recent Ryder Cup Record Highlights US StrugglesUS have won 2 of the last 8 Ryder Cups.Victory for Europe at Bethpage in 2025 left the US trailing.Furyk was captain when the US were “trounced” in Paris 2018.Short‑Term Blueprint: Targeting Victory at Adare ManorThe immediate objective is to “scratch and claw” for a win at the 2027 event in Ireland, a feat the US has not achieved on foreign soil for many years.Long‑Term Vision: Building Continuity and Year‑Round FocusFuryk wants to establish a “blueprint” that ensures consistent preparation, player continuity, and a permanent emphasis on the Ryder Cup each year.Potential Backroom Role for Tiger Woods and European CounterpartsFuryk indicated interest in involving Tiger Woods in the backroom team, despite Woods’ ongoing recovery from a March car crash. Across the Atlantic, European captain Luke Donald confirmed that the recent dispute involving Jon Rahm and the DP World Tour has been resolved, keeping Europe’s squad unified.Outlook: US as Underdogs with a Chance to UpsetWhile Europe enters the 2027 Ryder Cup as heavy favourites, Furyk believes the US can relish the underdog role and that his cultural shift could narrow the gap.

The Plight of India's Salt Workers India faces brutal heatwaves each year, but few places are as punishing as the salt pans of the western state of Gujarat, where tens of thousands of workers endure near-unliveable conditions to keep the industry running. Life on the Salt Flats Up to 50,000 seasonal workers migrate to the remote Little Rann of Kutch region for about eight months, living on the salt flats without electricity, healthcare or permanent shelter. A tanker delivers water for drinking and washing only once every 25 days. Summer temperatures in the region routinely exceed 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) and can climb to 47-48C (117-118F). The dry heat makes the desert ideal for salt production, with Gujarat accounting for roughly three-quarters of India's salt output. Salt Production and Worker Challenges Salt is produced by pumping saline water from bore wells into shallow pans, where it is left to evaporate in the sun and wind. Workers rake the surface daily to ensure even crystallisation, then break and pile the thick crust into mounds. "We work in staggered timing, … doing our work in early mornings and after sunset," 42-year-old salt worker Babulal Narayan said. "During the hottest hours, it is too hot to stand." Improvised Cooling Techniques and Shelters With no trees or natural shade, workers build their own shelters: frames of sticks covered with coarse homespun cloth and plastered with wild donkey dung. "We sit here every two to three hours so that we do not feel weak or dizzy," 17-year-old Bhavna Rathore said. The dung blocks the sun and lets heat escape while the rough fabric allows some air to pass through, she explained. Others rely on improvised cooling techniques, such as hanging a bottle wrapped in a damp cloth from a string, using evaporation to cool drinking water. Some workers drink black tea during the day, saying the hot drink triggers sweating that cools the body in the dry air. Health Risks and Economic Strains The consequences can be deadly. Workers report fatigue, dizziness and nausea, symptoms of heat stress that can lead to organ failure. Studies have found high levels of dehydration, heat stress and early signs of kidney malfunction among salt pan communities. Unseasonal storms are also adding to the strain. "A big dust storm hit us last month, destroying salt worth 200,000 rupees [$2,100]," Narayan said. He and five relatives earned a profit of about 250,000 rupees ($2,635), roughly $450 each for eight months of labour. A Vicious Cycle Yet most say they have little choice but to return year after year. "What else will we do?" 65-year-old worker Rasoda Rathore asked. "We have no land to farm, no livestock to earn our livelihood from. … This is all we know."

The Lead: Preserving Environmental HistoryOver four years in the 1820s, Charles Waterton built a 9ft-high, 3-mile-long wall around the parkland and lake of Walton Hall in Yorkshire, creating what could be the world's first nature reserve. Now, the overlooked achievements of this innovative reserve and the crumbling wall that still surrounds Waterton's former home are being remembered through WallFest, a programme of 60 community events organised by a charity dedicated to protecting the wall and preserving its legacy.The Historic Wall: Engineering Environmental ProtectionThe wall, built between 1820-1824, was designed to be fox- and poacher-proof, enclosing Waterton's estate and creating a sanctuary for wildlife. After completing the wall and banning hunting and shooting, Waterton recorded 5,000 wildfowl on his lake and 123 species of birds, including those widely persecuted at the time, such as herons and kestrels. The boundary allowed hedgehogs and so-called vermin, like weasels, to roam freely through his reserve.Waterton's Environmental Legacy: A Pioneer Ahead of His TimeWaterton, an eccentric, controversial and pioneering environmentalist, implemented innovative conservation practices long before they became mainstream. He built nest boxes, special banks for sand martins and innovative bird hides, and offered local people sixpence for every hedgehog they brought into his reserve. Unlike sportsman-naturalists of the day, Waterton abhorred shooting and got into fistfights with armed poachers, thwarting their attempts to kill birds by placing dummy birds made from metal and wood in the trees.Waterton's environmentalism began after experiencing the natural wonders of the rainforests of Guyana, where he managed his father's sugar plantations. Upon returning to his family home in rapidly industrializing West Yorkshire, he was dismayed at the polluted state of waterways, woodlands stripped of birdlife and workers looking ill.The Conservation Challenge: A Wall in PerilToday, the historic wall has collapsed in places and is in urgent need of repair. Some sections have completely deteriorated, threatening the physical boundary that Waterton created and the historical significance it represents. The Friends of Waterton's Wall charity was created after Covid when local residents realized the wall they walked beside daily might not last another century.Waterton also launched one of the first known environmental legal actions, against a nearby soap works for releasing pollutants that killed trees and damaged his lake. Despite his visionary environmentalism, Waterton is mostly remembered for his eccentricity rather than his groundbreaking conservation efforts.WallFest: Community Action for HeritageThe WallFest events, taking place during May around the village of Walton, West Yorkshire, and in Waterton's former home (now a hotel), will help raise funds to repair the crumbling wall. The festival includes a short film supported by David Attenborough and various community activities designed to raise awareness of both the wall's condition and Waterton's environmental legacy."We're keen to raise the profile of the first nature reserve in the world," said John Smith, the chair of trustees of Friends of Waterton's Wall. "Waterton was a pioneering environmentalist, probably the first in this country. We also want to raise the profile of the wall itself and the need to preserve our heritage for future generations."The Future Outlook: Rediscovering an Environmental PioneerAccording to Barbara Phipps, a local resident and author of a biography of Waterton, his historical portrayal as "an amusing and strange fellow," in the words of Charles Darwin, was partly because he was a Catholic and was discriminated against, being excluded from mainstream careers in politics, law and the military.John Whitaker, a curator at Wakefield council's museums and castles and a trustee of the charity, also attributed the lack of acclaim for Waterton to his Catholicism. "He was a marginalised aristocrat, which is a weird situation to be in. He was never in the establishment. He was massively affectionate and incredibly progressive in many ways but also hugely contradictory."As WallFest aims to raise both funds and awareness, there's hope that Waterton's true legacy as an environmental pioneer will be properly recognized and that the historic wall will be preserved for future generations to appreciate.

The Lead: Deadly Israeli Strikes in LebanonA series of Israeli airstrikes targeting vehicles in Lebanon has resulted in 12 fatalities, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the two neighboring nations. The attack, which occurred on May 13, 2026, has drawn international attention to the already volatile Middle East region.The Event Details: Coordinated Airstrikes on Civilian VehiclesAccording to reports from Al Jazeera, Israeli forces conducted precision strikes on multiple vehicles in Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals. The nature of the targets and the specific locations within Lebanon have not been fully disclosed, though the strikes appear to have been carefully planned and executed.The Data Analysis: Casualty Count and Regional ImplicationsThe confirmed death toll of 12 represents a significant loss of life in the context of the ongoing Israel-Lebanon tensions. This incident follows a pattern of sporadic cross-border exchanges between Israeli forces and Lebanese groups, though the scale of this particular attack suggests a deliberate escalation by Israeli authorities.The Impact Analysis: Escalating Middle East TensionsThis attack is likely to further destabilize an already fragile peace in the region. Lebanon, which is still recovering from its own economic crisis and political instability, may face increased pressure as a result of these strikes. The international community, including the United Nations, is likely to respond with calls for de-escalation and restraint from both sides.The Prediction: Future Outlook for Israel-Lebanon RelationsIn the coming days, we can expect heightened diplomatic activity as various nations attempt to mediate the situation. The Lebanese government will likely protest the attacks, while Israel may justify them as necessary security measures. This incident could potentially trigger a broader conflict if not carefully managed by international stakeholders.

The Global Obesity Landscape: Not a Uniform EpidemicA continuing rise in obesity around the world is not inevitable, research suggests, with rates in some countries levelling off or potentially in decline. Researchers say focusing on what has been described as a global epidemic of obesity hides large variations in trends across different countries, sexes and age groups.Majid Ezzati, a professor of global environmental health at Imperial College London and author of the study, said: "I think the thing that's really important is this diversity exists even across countries that have really similar economic, environmental, technological features. So countries may look the same on the surface of it but obesity looks different."Comprehensive Analysis Reveals Complex PatternsWriting in the journal Nature, the international team, which involved a network of almost 2,000 researchers, described how for each country they calculated the change in the prevalence of obesity each year between 1980 and 2024. They drew on data from 4,050 population-based studies involving 232 million participants aged five years and above.They found that the prevalence of obesity increased in almost all countries over the 45-year period. However, in most high-income countries, a rapid rise in the prevalence of obesity has been replaced by a slower increase, a plateau, or a potential decline.Regional Variations in Obesity PrevalenceThe rate of growth in obesity is slowing in adults in the US and UK, reaching a prevalence of 40-43% and 27-30% respectively in 2024. Obesity is increasing steadily in Finland, has plateaued in Germany and may have started to decline in France, where 24-25%, 20-23% and 11-12% of adults respectively were thought to have the condition in 2024.Slowdowns were often seen in children and adolescents before adults. For the former group, the slowdown started as early as 1990 in Denmark and rates stabilised in most high-income countries by the mid-2000s. Obesity has plateaued in boys and girls in the UK, US, Germany and Japan at prevalences of 10-12%, 20-23%, 7-12% and 3-7% respectively.Meanwhile, obesity among young people and adults in many low-income and middle-income countries continues to rise and in some cases this is accelerating.Understanding the Drivers Behind Divergent TrendsThe team say it is important now to unpick what is behind the trends in different countries. The situation is complex: while there may be shared reasons for obesity, such easy access to unhealthy foods or a decrease in physical activity, the team say country-specific factors rooted in social, economic and policy considerations could also be important, from perceptions around body image to the presence or absence of interventions such as healthy school meals.Naveed Sattar, a professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, who was not involved in the work, said the study highlighted how obesity trends were diverging sharply across countries. "English-speaking nations are doing particularly poorly, with the UK now among the countries with the highest obesity levels worldwide," he said.Sattar said it was encouraging that some countries appeared to have reached a plateau in obesity rates. "Understanding what has worked in those settings is crucial as it could help shape more effective public health strategies for the UK," he said, although he noted there could be country-specific aspects or customs at play.Future Outlook and Potential InterventionsHe said the rapid rise in obesity across many developing countries was especially concerning, not least as it could result in increases in diabetes and cardiovascular conditions.He added: "Looking ahead, it will be important to see how wider use of effective weight-loss medicines affects obesity trends, particularly in the UK and the United States. Recent signs of stabilisation in the USA suggest there may be room for cautious optimism. Combining evidence-based medicines with strong public health measures could begin to shift obesity rates in the right direction."

The LeadFrench authorities have temporarily prevented 1,233 passengers and 514 crew from leaving the British cruise ship Ambition docked in Bordeaux after nearly 50 suspected gastroenteritis cases were reported on board. The vessel, carrying mostly British or Irish nationals, arrived in southwestern France on Tuesday evening, prompting immediate health precautions.Cruise Ship Quarantine in BordeauxThe Ambition had traveled from Belfast and Liverpool before arriving in France. In a statement on Wednesday, the regional health authority confirmed there was no indication the apparent stomach flu outbreak was linked to a hantavirus cluster reported on another luxury ship. Officials emphasized that the restriction on disembarkation was a precautionary measure while medical tests were carried out.Health Response and Passenger ImpactCruise operator Ambassador Cruise Line reported that 48 passengers and one crew member were displaying gastrointestinal symptoms as of Wednesday morning. The company immediately enhanced sanitation and prevention measures on the vessel. All shore excursions at Bordeaux were canceled, and affected passengers were offered full refunds. Ambassador Cruise Line confirmed that once clearance is granted, guests will be permitted to disembark.Industry Implications for Cruise TravelThis incident highlights the ongoing challenges cruise ships face regarding health outbreaks in enclosed environments. Gastrointestinal illnesses are relatively common on cruise ships because viruses can spread quickly. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has already reported four outbreaks on cruise ships this year, including cases linked to E coli and the norovirus. Ambassador Cruise Line, a no-fly British operator targeting passengers above the age of 50, was founded in 2021 by Christian Verhounig, the former chief executive of Cruise & Maritime Voyages, which went into administration in 2020.Public Health DistinctionHealth officials stressed that gastroenteritis, often referred to as stomach flu, commonly causes vomiting and diarrhea. While highly contagious, it is usually not serious although it can sometimes lead to complications such as dehydration. They emphasized that this illness differs significantly from the hantavirus, which has a much higher fatality rate but rarely spreads between people and generally requires close contact for transmission.Tragic Incident Unrelated to OutbreakOne 92-year-old British passenger had died on board of cardiac arrest on Monday during a stop in Brest, Brittany, in northwestern France. The Gironde prefecture confirmed that this death did not appear to be associated with the gastrointestinal outbreak at this stage, providing some relief to health officials managing the situation.

Amazon Unveils “Alexa for Shopping” to Replace RufusOn 2026‑05‑13, Amazon announced Alexa for Shopping, a personalized AI shopping assistant powered by Alexa+. The new tool supersedes the 2024 generative AI bot Rufus and is embedded directly into the main search bar and a dedicated chat window on mobile, desktop, and Echo Show devices.Launch Timeline and Availability2026‑05‑13: Public announcement and rollout to U.S. customers.Immediate availability on Amazon’s website, mobile app, and Echo Show smart displays.Replaces Rufus, shifting focus from product discovery to deeper personalization and automated ordering.How the Assistant Works: Voice, Text, and “Buy for Me”Customers can type or speak queries such as “What’s a good skincare routine for men?” or “When did I last order AA batteries?” The assistant leverages purchase history, preferences, and browsing habits to deliver tailored answers, compare products, track price changes, and schedule recurring orders. A notable feature, “Buy for Me,” lets Alexa complete purchases on third‑party sites, raising both convenience and privacy questions.Strategic Impact on E‑commerce and AI CompetitionThe rollout aligns with Amazon’s broader push to embed AI throughout the shopping journey, complementing recent initiatives like the Amazon Now 30‑minute delivery service and real‑time conversational audio responses. By offering a unified AI layer across its ecosystem, Amazon aims to lock in user data, increase basket size, and differentiate itself from rivals such as Google Shopping and Microsoft’s AI‑driven retail tools.Future Outlook: Expanded Retail Partnerships and Privacy ConcernsAnalysts expect Amazon to extend Alexa for Shopping beyond the U.S., integrate more third‑party retailers, and refine the “Buy for Me” automation. However, the feature’s cross‑site purchasing capability may attract regulatory scrutiny over data handling and AI autonomy, prompting Amazon to bolster transparency and consent mechanisms in upcoming updates.