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  • Ireland’s renewable transport fuel policy provides some clarity for providers and investors

    Ireland’s renewable transport fuel policy provides some clarity for providers and investors

    Garrett Monaghan and Shani Stallard, energy experts at Pinsent Masons, were commenting after the Irish government published its renewable transport fuel policy 2025-27 (27 pages/1 MB PDF), a strategic plan to cut emissions from petrol and diesel vehicles by increasing the use of renewable fuels across the transport sector. The policy, published by the Department of Transport, is part of Ireland’s efforts to meet its national EU climate targets by 2030.

    The policy includes the renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO), a legal requirement for fuel suppliers to blend a certain percentage of renewable fuels into their products. Under the new plans, this obligation will increase every year, with aims to ensure a steady rise in the share of renewables in Ireland’s fuel mix.

    The new policy sets out how Ireland will reduce the environmental impact of road, rail, and public transport by blending more biofuels and other renewable alternatives into traditional fossil fuels. It also introduces a series of reforms to accelerate the transition to cleaner transport while supporting the country’s climate action plans and the EU Renewable Energy Directive. 

    While electric vehicles (EVs) are central to Ireland’s long-term climate strategy, the government acknowledges that widespread EV adoption will take time. In the meantime, the government is urging the use of biofuels made from plants, waste, or residues in the vehicles already on the roads.

    Monaghan said: “Using biofuels in our existing vehicles is a quick and cost-effective way to cut emissions right now. It acts as a bridge while cleaner technologies, like electric cars, are being scaled up – meaning we can start lowering transport emissions immediately without waiting for everyone to switch to electric vehicles. That said, we need to always prioritise the importance of a cohesive renewables policy across the lesser developed areas of heat and transport. The government needs to accelerate the publication and delivery of the renewable heat obligation scheme for renewable gas.”

    From 2026, the RTFO will expand to include fuels used in rail transport and will also begin awarding credits for renewable electricity used to charge EVs at public charging points.

    Further, the policy places a strong emphasis on advanced biofuels – those made from waste products or non-food sources – and renewable fuels of non-biological origin, such as green hydrogen and synthetic e-fuels. These ‘next generation’ fuels are seen as essential for decarbonising sectors that are harder to electrify, such as heavy goods vehicles and aviation. By 2027, a growing portion of the RTFO target must be met using these advanced fuels.

    The policy comes with a detailed 19-point action plan, with deadlines between 2025 and 2027 to make sure all goals are achieved. For example, new laws will be passed in the second half of this year to enforce higher blend rates, include rail fuels in the obligation, and give credits for EV charging. There will also be support for industry guidance to improve the quality of fuel application and reduce processing delays as well as quarterly publication of performance data in a bid to ensure transparency and accountability.

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  • The silent threat: effects of PM2.5 exposure on perinatal complications and neonatal outcomes | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

    The silent threat: effects of PM2.5 exposure on perinatal complications and neonatal outcomes | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

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  • Iran suspends cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog – World

    Iran suspends cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog – World

    Iran on Wednesday formally suspended its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, a measure drawn up in the wake of unprecedented Israeli and US strikes on the Islamic republic’s nuclear sites.

    The war between Iran and Israel, which broke out on June 13 and lasted for 12 days, has intensified tensions between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    On June 25, a day after a ceasefire took hold, Iranian lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in favour of the bill to suspend cooperation with the agency.

    State media said today that the legislation had cleared the final hurdle and was in effect.

    The text, published by Iranian media, states that the legislation aims to “ensure full support for the inherent rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran” under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, and “especially uranium enrichment”.

    The issue of enrichment was at the core of disagreements between Washington and Tehran in nuclear negotiations that had been derailed by the war.

    Israel and some Western countries had for long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons — an ambition Tehran has consistently denied.

    The text of the law did not specify concrete moves linked to the suspension of cooperation with the IAEA, whose inspectors have had access to declared nuclear facilities.

    Following the parliament vote, the bill was approved by the Guardian Council, a body tasked with vetting legislation, before a final ratification from the presidency.

    Iranian President “Masoud Pezeshkian promulgated the law suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency”, state TV said today.

    Iranian officials have sharply criticised the IAEA for what they described as the agency’s “silence” in the face of the Israeli and US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.

    Germany said on Wednesday that Iran’s decision to suspend cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog sends a “disastrous signal”.

    “For a diplomatic solution, it is essential for Iran to work with the IAEA,” foreign ministry spokesman Martin Giese told reporters after Tehran formally enacted the suspension.

    ‘Deceptive and fraudulent’

    Tehran has also lambasted the UN agency for a resolution adopted on June 12 that accuses Iran of non-compliance with its nuclear obligations.

    Iranian officials said the resolution was among the “excuses” for the Israeli attacks.

    Senior judiciary official Ali Mozaffari said today that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi should “be held accountable” for what he called “preparing the groundwork for the crime” against Iran, referring to Israel’s air raids.

    Mozaffari accused Grossi of “deceptive actions and fraudulent reporting”, according to Iranian news agency Tasnim.

    Iran has rejected a request from Grossi to visit nuclear facilities bombed during the war, and earlier this week Pezeshkian decried his “destructive” conduct.

    Iran has said Grossi’s request to visit the bombarded sites signalled “malign intent” but insisted there were no threats against him or against inspectors from his agency.

    France, Germany and Britain have condemned unspecified “threats” against the IAEA chief.

    Iran’s ultra-conservative Kayhan newspaper has recently claimed that documents showed Grossi was an Israeli spy and should be executed.

    ‘Serious’ damage

    On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the parliament vote to halt cooperation with the IAEA reflected the “concern and anger of the Iranian public opinion”.

    The 12-day war began when Israel launched a major bombing campaign on Iran and killed top military commanders, nuclear scientists, and hundreds of civilians, with Tehran responding with waves of missiles and drones launched at Israel.

    On June 22, Israel’s ally the United States launched unprecedented strikes of its own on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz.

    More than 900 people were killed in Iran, according to the judiciary.

    Iran’s retaliatory attacks killed 28 people in Israel, according to authorities.
    US President Donald Trump said the US attacks had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme, though the extent of the damage was not clear.

    Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has admitted “serious” damage to nuclear sites.

    But in a recent interview with CBS’s Evening News, he said: “One cannot obliterate the technology and science… through bombings.”

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  • Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Assistant coach

    Giovanni van Bronckhorst arrived at Liverpool FC as assistant coach in June 2025.

    Van Bronckhorst – who joined Arne Slot’s backroom staff following the departure of his former Netherlands international teammate, John Heitinga – brings a wealth of coaching experience that has been amassed following a distinguished playing career.

    Like Slot, Van Bronckhorst won both the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup as head coach of Feyenoord, where he came through the youth ranks as a player.

    Having taken charge in his first managerial post ahead of the 2015-16 season, Van Bronckhorst delivered the cup in his maiden campaign at De Kuip, the league title in his second and then the cup again in his third.

    Following one season with Chinese club Guangzhou R&F, Van Bronckhorst took over …

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  • Pakistan flash floods: 64 killed, 117 injured; locals slam rescue delay

    Pakistan flash floods: 64 killed, 117 injured; locals slam rescue delay

    At least 64 people have died and 117 others have been injured across Pakistan in the past week due to flash floods and heavy rain, a government agency said on Wednesday. The worst-hit area was the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 23 people, including 10 children, lost their lives. In Punjab province, another 21 people were killed—11 of them children—mainly due to homes collapsing in the rain, reported news agency AFP. Over the weekend, torrential rain triggered sudden floods in the Swat Valley. In one incident, 12 members of a family from Mardan were swept away while picnicking near the river. Locals said there were no immediate rescue efforts despite repeated calls for help. Videos from the scene showed people clinging to rocks and screaming as waters surged. “We kept dialling the emergency numbers, but no one came. By the time they did, it was too late,” Kabeer, a local vendor who helped retrieve bodies, told TOI earlier. Swat residents expressed frustration at repeated government failures in disaster response. “This valley has lived through terrorists, military operations, and devastating floods. Every time, we’re promised lessons will be learned, but nothing changes,” said Khan Sher from Mingora. Despite its push for climate justice globally, Pakistan’s domestic preparedness remains weak. Locals in tourist towns like Bahrain and Kalam, where riverside hotels were hit hard, said the floods turned busy market areas into danger zones within minutes. “Each year we mourn our dead, patch up the roads, and brace for the next disaster,” said Liaquat Bacha, a farmer whose fields were destroyed. Rescue efforts are ongoing.


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  • New strategy enhances immunotherapy effectiveness against glioblastoma by utilizing gut microbes

    New strategy enhances immunotherapy effectiveness against glioblastoma by utilizing gut microbes

    Advanced treatments, known as immunotherapies that activate T cells—our body’s immune cells—to eliminate cancer cells, have shown limited efficacy as standalone therapies for glioblastoma, the most lethal form of brain tumor. This is due to their minimal response to glioblastoma and high resistance to treatment.

    Now, a KAIST research team has now demonstrated a new therapeutic strategy that can enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy for brain tumors by utilizing gut microbes and their metabolites. This also opens up possibilities for developing microbiome-based immunotherapy supplements in the future.

    KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on July 1 that a research team led by Professor Heung Kyu Lee of the Department of Biological Sciences discovered and demonstrated a method to significantly improve the efficiency of glioblastoma immunotherapy by focusing on changes in the gut microbial ecosystem.

    The research team noted that as glioblastoma progresses, the concentration of ‘tryptophan’, an important amino acid in the gut, sharply decreases, leading to changes in the gut microbial ecosystem. They discovered that by supplementing tryptophan to restore microbial diversity, specific beneficial strains activate CD8 T cells (a type of immune cell) and induce their infiltration into tumor tissues. Through a mouse model of glioblastoma, the research team confirmed that tryptophan supplementation enhanced the response of cancer-attacking T cells (especially CD8 T cells), leading to their increased migration to tumor sites such as lymph nodes and the brain.

    In this process, they also revealed that ‘Duncaniella dubosii‘, a beneficial commensal bacterium present in the gut, plays a crucial role. This bacterium helped T cells effectively redistribute within the body, and survival rates significantly improved when used in combination with immunotherapy (anti-PD-1).

    Furthermore, it was demonstrated that even when this commensal bacterium was administered alone to germ-free mice (mice without any commensal microbes), the survival rate for glioblastoma increased. This is because the bacterium utilizes tryptophan to regulate the gut environment, and the metabolites produced in this process strengthen the ability of CD8 T cells to attack cancer cells.

    This research is a meaningful achievement, showing that even in intractable brain tumors where immune checkpoint inhibitors had no effect, a combined strategy utilizing gut microbes can significantly enhance treatment response.”


    Professor Heung Kyu Lee

    Dr. Hyeon Cheol Kim of KAIST (currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Biological Sciences) participated as the first author. The research findings were published online in Cell Reports, an international journal in the life sciences, on June 26.

    This research was conducted as part of the Basic Research Program and Bio & Medical Technology Development Program supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea.

    Source:

    KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)

    Journal reference:

    Kim, H. C., et al. (2025). Gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by brain tumors modulates the efficacy of immunotherapy. Cell Reports. doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115825.

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  • What is the weather forecast for the 2025 British Grand Prix?

    What is the weather forecast for the 2025 British Grand Prix?

    Great Britain will host Round 12 of the 2025 F1 season this weekend, but what does the weather have in store for the drivers at Silverstone?

    As things stand, it looks like mixed conditions could be on the cards across the three days of action, with sunshine early on making way for potential showers as the weekend progresses.

    McLaren were the team to beat last time out in Austria, where temperatures became increasingly hot throughout the event. The squad will be hoping for more of the same this time around, though the forecast suggests that Silverstone will not be quite as warm.

    Mercedes, meanwhile, are known to prefer cooler weather, with the W16 seeming to go well on occasions where the temperatures have dropped. How will the Silver Arrows fare this weekend?

    Scroll down for a more detailed look at the forecast for the weekend.

    2025 British Grand Prix weekend weather forecast

    FRIDAY, JULY 04 – FP1 AND FP2
    Conditions: Sunny start then clouds building up but dry afternoon expected. Gentle west-south-westerly breeze. FP1: 24°C // FP2: 25°C
    Maximum temperature expected: 25 Celsius
    Minimum temperature expected: 16 Celsius
    Chance of rain: <20%

    SATURDAY, JULY 05 – FP3 AND QUALIFYING
    Conditions: Cloudy but dry at first before a rainy weather front crossing England from late afternoon. Timing and intensity tbc (2-5mm max). Moderate southwesterly wind with gust up to 55kph. FP3: 19°C // Q: 20°C
    Maximum temperature expected: 20 Celsius
    Minimum temperature expected: 15 Celsius
    Chance of rain: 60%

    SUNDAY, JULY 06 – RACE
    Conditions: Behind the front, unsettled with showers sometimes moderate (up to 5mm through the day) driven by a constant westerly wind. Race start: 19°C
    Maximum temperature expected: 19 Celsius
    Minimum temperature expected: 15 Celsius
    Chance of rain: 60%

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  • ‘Squid Game’ on Fortnite: Learn All About the New Skins and Items

    ‘Squid Game’ on Fortnite: Learn All About the New Skins and Items

    The brutal, dystopian thriller Squid Game is one of the most popular shows Netflix has ever produced, spawning a cottage industry of pop culture merchandise and endless memes. Now the brightly colored styles of Squid Game are colliding with the incredibly popular online fighting game Fortnite.

    As the third season of Squid Games airs on Netflix, learn all about the Squid Game skins, wraps, emotes and back bling that have been added to Fortnite.

    What is Squid Game adding to Fortnite?

    • A new island, Squid Grounds, has been added to the Fortnite battle royale mode, Reload. 
    • Squid Game skins items like back bling, wraps and emotes have also arrived on Fortnite. 
    • Squid Game-themed skins in the shop include the red-clad guards and green-clad competitors. 
    • “You’ll recognize plenty of returning weaponry for the Squid Grounds update, though the Glider and Boogie Bomb are making their first-ever appearance in Reload,” a representative for Fortnite promises in the caption for the YouTube trailer showing off the game additions.

    And on Fortnite.com, the game goes into a bit more detail. 

    “Find familiar playground locations from the games, complete with staged town sets and a hollowed-out labyrinth cutting underneath the island’s rolling hills,” the site says. “You can even play Red Light, Green Light at your own risk.”

    How to win playing Fortnite Squid Game

    After the new map, skins, emotes and other items, there’s still more to come. 

    • Squid Grounds Console Cash Cups, which are Battle Royale Duos tournaments, will be available on July 18, July 25 and Aug. 1,
    • The games are open to players on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. 
    • Top performers earn cash prizes.

    How much do Squid Game skins in Fortnite cost?

    Squid Game game focuses on people so far in debt they must risk their lives. Some Fortnite players are joking about that similarity, because playing with the new skins can be pricey. 

    • The Squid Game main bundle currently costs 3,000 V-Bucks (the game’s currency), although it shows that it has been marked down from 15,000 V-Bucks. Fortnite.com says that the bundle includes the Games Guard outfit, the Ddakji Defender outfit, the Green Light Guardian, Marble Maven, Dalgona Destroyer, Tug of War Titan, Pentathlon Perfector, Jegi Juggler, Flying Stone Fighter, Gong-gi Great, Games Manager outfit and Glass Bridge Survivor outfit.
    • The Squid Accessories bundle currently costs 700 V-Bucks, although it also shows that it has been marked down, this time from 1,600 V-Bucks. The bundle includes the Lil’ Prized Piggy Bank emote, Delicious Dalgona back bling, Ddakji Box back bling and Squid Shapes wrap.
    • Guard and manager skins are both currently selling for 1,500 V-Bucks each, and the male and female player skins cost 1,200 V-Bucks each. Maybe you can find a deadly tournament to enter to win enough … oh, wait.

    Fortnite fans seem excited about the new additions regardless.

    “The fact that we’re getting elimination-based gaming inside elimination-based gaming is peak 2025 meta,” said one X user.

    fortnite-squid-game-red-light-green-light-doll.png

    Remember the deadly version of “Red Light, Green Light” from Squid Game? That game, and a version of its unnerving robot doll, show up in Fortnite, too.

    Fortnite/Screenshot by CNET

    Another user said they’d prefer to see Squid Game take a role in the standard battle royale Fortnite game.

    “This seems like a good idea, but why is Squid Game in Reload and not the Battle Royale game mode?” they asked on X. “I don’t know a lot of people who play Reload, me including [sic]. The last time I played Reload was when the game mode first came out.”

    Another person suggested this might be because the Battle Royale season theme — superheroes — doesn’t fit with Squid Game.


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  • ‘A much more reliable method’

    ‘A much more reliable method’

    Scientists at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne have developed a solution that prevents fusion reactors from overheating, Phys.org reported.

    The breakthrough centers on a clever design called the X-point target radiator. This innovation adds a second magnetic control point to tokamak fusion reactors, creating a safety valve that sheds dangerous excess heat before it can damage the reactor walls.

    Fusion reactors face a massive heat management problem. These doughnut-shaped devices, called tokamaks, use powerful magnetic fields to contain plasma heated to over 100 million degrees Celsius. When this superhot plasma touches the reactor walls, it can cause severe damage that shortens the reactor’s lifespan and hurts performance.

    The Swiss research team discovered that adding a secondary X-point along the reactor’s heat exhaust channel creates localized radiation that pulls heat away from sensitive areas. Think of it like adding a second drain to prevent your bathtub from overflowing.

    “Reducing divertor heat loads is a key challenge for future fusion power plants,” Kenneth Lee, first author of the paper, told Phys.org.

    The EPFL team used its TCV tokamak’s unique magnetic shaping abilities to test this concept. Experiments showed the X-point target radiator stays stable across a range of operating conditions, making it much more reliable than previous heat management approaches.

    Watch now: How bad is a gas stove for your home’s indoor air quality?

    “We found that the X-point target radiator is highly stable and can be sustained over a wide range of operational conditions, potentially offering a much more reliable method for handling power exhaust in a fusion power plant,” Lee said.

    Fusion energy could change how we power our world. Unlike coal and gas, fusion creates massive amounts of electricity without producing harmful gases or long-lived radioactive waste. A single fusion plant could power entire cities on fuel extracted from seawater.

    The X-point target radiator makes fusion power plants more practical by solving the overheating problem that has plagued reactor designs. This means fusion plants could run longer and more efficiently, reducing electricity costs for everyone.

    Commonwealth Fusion Systems and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology plan to include the X-point target design in their upcoming SPARC reactor, which looks to demonstrate commercial fusion power.

    Diversifying our energy sources with fusion power would dramatically reduce air pollution from coal and gas plants. Cleaner air means fewer respiratory problems, heart disease cases, and premature deaths in communities near power plants.

    Fusion power could slash electricity bills once the technology scales up. The fuel comes from abundant hydrogen isotopes found in seawater, making long-term operating costs extremely low.

    Cities and companies investing in fusion power could reap major savings compared to volatile coal and gas prices. The stable costs of fusion electricity would help businesses plan budgets and keep energy affordable for residents.

    The SPARC reactor incorporating this heat management technology is scheduled for testing in the coming years. If successful, commercial fusion plants using the X-point target radiator could begin operating in the 2030s.

    The researchers will continue refining their approach with high-power experiments and simulations.

    Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.

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  • Turkey shuts livestock markets to control foot and mouth disease

    Turkey shuts livestock markets to control foot and mouth disease

    File photo. [AP]

    Turkey said on Wednesday it will shut down all livestock marketplaces to control the spread of highly contagious foot and mouth disease.

    The Agriculture Ministry said it detected a new serotype of the disease that heightened the outbreak, due to animal movement after the Muslim religious holiday of Eid al Adha, which is typically marked by slaughtering livestock.

    The decision was taken to prevent further spread as teams continue to vaccinate animals against the disease, the ministry said. It will gradually lift the restrictions once the entire livestock population is vaccinated.

    The ministry also said the temporary closure will not disrupt supply and demand for meat and dairy products in Turkey.  [Reuters]


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