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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.

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 EU's New Rail Booking Proposal The European Commission has proposed new rules to transform the complex experience of booking cross-border train tickets in Europe. The goal is to enable passengers to plan, compare, and purchase multimodal journeys across borders with a single ticket. Simplifying Cross-Border Train Bookings Under the proposed rules, major railway companies such as Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, and Trenitalia would be required to sell competitors' tickets on their websites and share data with booking platforms. This would enable the offer of single tickets for long cross-border journeys. Enhanced Consumer Protection Passengers would be entitled to help in the event of a missed connection. The operator that caused the delay would ensure the passenger has the right to hop on the next train, or reimbursement, food, and accommodation, depending on the circumstances. The Impact on the Rail Industry The plans have faced opposition from train operators, who argue that the proposals would give too much power to large tech companies operating as booking platforms. However, consumer groups have welcomed the plans, citing the complexity of current booking systems. The Future of Rail Travel The EU transport commissioner, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, predicts that ticket prices will fall as a result of greater transparency and competition. The proposals are expected to be agreed upon by EU member states and the European parliament before they become law.

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, is facing a standards investigation after a $6.7 million personal gift from Thailand‑based billionaire Christopher Harborne was disclosed. The inquiry arrives just days after Reform UK emerged as the top winner in England’s local and regional elections.Details of the Gift and the Parliamentary InquiryThe Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards opened a probe to determine whether Farage breached rules that require MPs to declare donations received in the year before an election within one month of taking office. Farage maintains the money was a personal, unconditional gift intended for his security and not a political donation.Gift amount: $6.7 million (≈£5 million)Donor: Christopher Harborne, billionaire and crypto investor based in ThailandPurpose claimed by Farage: personal security ahead of the 2024 national electionInvestigation announced: 13 May 2026Financial Scale and Funding BreakdownElectoral Commission data shows that about two‑thirds of Reform UK’s funding last year came from Harborne, underscoring the donor’s outsized influence on the party’s finances.Reform UK’s total funding (2025): roughly £7.5 millionHarborne’s contribution: ~£5 million (≈66%)Political Repercussions for Reform UK and the UK ParliamentThe probe intensifies scrutiny of Reform UK’s rapid rise, especially after it topped national opinion polls and secured victories in traditionally Labour‑leaning councils. Opponents argue the overseas funding contradicts Farage’s populist image, while the party’s deputy leader Richard Tice contends voters were already aware of the gift.Potential sanction: suspension from the House of Commons for 10 days or moreConsequence of a 10‑day suspension: triggers a recall petition, possibly leading to a by‑electionPotential Outcomes and Future ScenariosIf the commissioner finds a serious breach, Farage could face suspension and a recall petition, jeopardising his seat. Even without a breach, the episode may fuel calls for tighter rules on foreign donations and could affect Reform UK’s momentum ahead of the next general election.

Trump's Arrival Signals a Diplomatic ResetOn May 13, 2026, Donald Trump touched down in Beijing for a scheduled two‑day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The meeting follows months of diplomatic overtures by the current U.S. administration, aiming to stabilize a relationship strained by trade wars, technology bans and regional security disputes.Agenda Highlights and Expected Talking PointsTrade imbalances and potential tariff adjustments.Technology transfer restrictions and semiconductor supply chains.Security concerns in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.Climate cooperation and joint infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.Absence of Immediate Economic FiguresThe summit has not yet released concrete financial commitments or trade figures. Both delegations have emphasized that any agreements will be announced after detailed negotiations, leaving markets to await official statements.Strategic Implications for U.S.–China RelationsThe meeting could reshape the geopolitical landscape by:Providing a channel for de‑escalation of military posturing in the Indo‑Pacific.Potentially reopening dialogue on tariff reductions, which could affect global supply chains.Testing the new U.S. administration’s willingness to engage directly with a former president’s personal diplomacy.Outlook: What May Follow the SummitAnalysts anticipate that any breakthroughs will be incremental, focusing on confidence‑building measures rather than sweeping policy shifts. A successful summit could pave the way for a follow‑up working group on trade and technology, while a stalemate may reinforce the status quo of strategic competition.

The Etihad Showdown: City's Title PushManchester City hosts Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.The match kicks off at 8pm (19:00 GMT) on May 13, 2026.Described as a "crunch late-season match," this fixture is critical for the hosts' championship aspirations.Stakes and ImplicationsWith the season reaching its climax, Manchester City enters this fixture as a title hopeful. A victory here is not merely about securing three points; it is about maintaining momentum against a resilient Crystal Palace side that could disrupt the title race.Shaping the Title RaceThis match represents a pivotal juncture in the English Premier League. The outcome could significantly alter the final standings, potentially separating the genuine contenders from the chasing pack in the final stretch of the campaign.Match OutlookExpect a high-intensity atmosphere as Manchester City looks to capitalize on home advantage to edge closer to the championship trophy.

The Undisclosed £5m GiftNigel Farage has been dogged by questions about his finances since the Guardian revealed he received a £5m gift from a donor in 2024. Although he insists the gift did not have to be declared, several important questions remain unanswered.The sum was given shortly before Farage decided to stand in the 2024 general election – and it came from a Reform UK mega-donor, the Thai-based crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne. In recent days, Farage has attempted to deflect attention away from the gift, saying on several occasions that the money was to pay for his personal security, and that he would rather talk about it another time.Financial Questions RemainAmong the key questions is whether this was the only gift Farage received in the run-up to the 2024 general election and beyond. Reform UK did not respond to questions about whether any other gifts were made after the one in 2024 or if any other donors made any other gifts to Farage or other senior figures in Reform.There is also uncertainty about exactly what the money was used for. Farage initially claimed the money "was given to me so that I would be safe and secure for the rest of my life" because he did not receive taxpayer-funded security. However, according to Zia Yusuf, the former head of policy at Reform, Farage was receiving some public funding for his security as recently as 2025 – more than a year after he had accepted the £5m gift.The Clacton House PurchaseAnother area of Farage's personal finances that has attracted scrutiny is how his partner, Laure Ferrari, managed to buy an £885,000 home in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. Ferrari has confirmed in an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde that she did not cover the full cost with any inheritance from her family, despite Farage previously stating that she could afford it herself because she comes from a "very successful French family."It would have been legal for Farage to give or lend her the funds, and thereby avoid paying £44,000 of additional stamp duty on the purchase. But he has consistently denied providing any financial assistance for the property.Political ImplicationsFarage's political opponents have seized on the disclosure. Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative party chair, has said Farage was "obliged" to declare the gift. The Reform leader may soon face questions from the Electoral Commission or the parliamentary standards watchdog, both of which have received reports related to the gift.On Wednesday, the parliamentary standards commissioner opened a formal inquiry into the gift. Reform has put great weight on the idea that this was a personal gift and that it was made prior to Farage's decision to stand for parliament, with deputy leader Richard Tice stating: "The state wouldn't provide the funding, and this was a personal gift based around safety and security."Future Investigations LikelyWith the parliamentary standards commissioner now having opened a formal inquiry, Farage faces increasing pressure to provide transparent answers about the £5m gift. The investigation could potentially lead to further scrutiny of other financial transactions involving Farage and senior Reform figures.This controversy comes at a critical time for Farage and Reform UK, as the party continues to establish itself in British politics. The handling of this situation could significantly impact public perception of the party's commitment to transparency and ethical standards.

Record-Breaking International Schedule UnveiledThe league disclosed a nine‑game international slate—the largest in its history—covering seven countries on four continents. This ambitious rollout introduces the NFL to Australia (Melbourne) and France (Paris) for the first time.Matchup Lineup Across Seven CountriesKey pairings include:Week 1 (10 September): San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia.Week 3 (27 September): Baltimore Ravens vs Dallas Cowboys at the Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Week 4 (4 October): Indianapolis Colts vs Washington Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London.Week 5 (11 October): Philadelphia Eagles vs Jacksonville Jaguars at the same London venue.Week 6 (18 October): Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium, London.Week 7 (25 October): Pittsburgh Steelers vs New Orleans Saints at Stade de France, Paris.Week 8 (8 November): Cincinnati Bengals vs Atlanta Falcons at Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain.Week 9 (15 November): New England Patriots vs Detroit Lions at Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany.Week 10 (22 November): Minnesota Vikings vs San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Banorte, Mexico City, Mexico.Financial and Market Implications of Global ExpansionWhile the announcement does not include specific revenue figures, the nine‑game overseas package represents a clear strategy to tap new fan bases, broadcast markets, and sponsorship opportunities across Europe, South America, and Oceania. The inclusion of marquee venues such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Stade de France positions the NFL to negotiate premium venue fees and local partnership deals.Strategic Impact on NFL’s Global FootprintBy staging games in markets that have historically been peripheral to American football, the NFL aims to accelerate brand awareness and grassroots participation. The back‑to‑back London fixtures for the Jacksonville Jaguars also test the viability of consecutive overseas home games, potentially reshaping future scheduling models.Outlook: What the Next Season Could Hold for International NFLWith the full regular‑season schedule slated for release on Thursday, analysts expect the league to evaluate attendance, TV ratings, and merchandise sales from this record‑setting international slate. Strong performance could lead to additional games in new territories or the extension of multi‑year deals in existing markets, further cementing the NFL’s status as a truly global sport.

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."