July 22, 2025 • By Chris Simms

A palm swamp peatland in the Peruvian Amazon has switched from being a strong carbon sink to being carbon neutral, according to a study published in Geophysical Research Letters. The peatland, which is dominated by moriche palms, normally absorbs more carbon than it releases, but in 2022, it was found to be releasing as much carbon as it absorbed. The change is attributed to two factors: prolonged cloudless periods and higher sun intensities, which limited photosynthesis, and lower water levels, which exposed more of the peat to oxygen, leading to increased decomposition and carbon release. Experts say that while the findings may seem troubling, they should be put into perspective, and it's uncertain whether the peatland will return to being a carbon sink or progress to releasing huge volumes of stored carbon. The study highlights the importance of peatlands in the carbon cycle and the need to protect them from human disturbance and climate change.

July 22, 2025 • By RTÉ News

A Dublin lingerie saleswoman, Karrin Breslin, has been awarded €15,800 for constructive dismissal due to a "toxic" work environment. Breslin, who worked for Chantelle Lingerie Ltd for nearly 20 years, claimed she was forced to quit her job due to the health impact of workplace stress. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that the company repudiated her contract by failing to address grievances about under-staffing and rostering, which led to her health deteriorating over two years. Breslin had raised concerns about her physical and mental health, including anxiety, low mood, and high blood pressure, but the company failed to respond adequately. The WRC adjudicator found that the company failed in its duty of care to protect Breslin's health, safety, and wellbeing, and upheld her unfair dismissal claim.

July 22, 2025 • By Sickr

The Pokémon Company hosted a special "Pokémon Presents" stream, revealing new details and announcements for various Pokémon games and projects. Highlights include: * Pokémon Legends: Z-A, launching October 16, 2025, with new gameplay features and a vibrant city to explore. * Pokémon Champions, coming in 2026, with a new recruitment system and battle modes. * A teaser for "Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd & Pichu," a stop-motion animated series in collaboration with Aardman, releasing in 2027. * Pokémon Friends, a new puzzle game available now on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices. * New cards and expansions for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, including the Mega Evolution expansion. * Updates and new experiences for other Pokémon titles, such as Pokémon Scarlet, Pokémon Violet, Pokémon GO, and more. The stream did not include any information about Generation 10, which was not expected to be announced at this time. Fans can watch the full Pokémon Presents stream on the official Pokémon YouTube channel for more information.

July 22, 2025 • By Associated Press

The global transition to renewable energy has reached a "positive tipping point," with solar and wind power becoming cheaper and more widespread, according to two United Nations reports. In 2023, 74% of the growth in global electricity generation came from green sources, with 92.5% of new electricity capacity added coming from renewables. The cost of solar power has decreased by 41% and wind power by 53% compared to the lowest-cost fossil fuel. Despite this progress, the switch to renewable energy is not happening fast enough, with the Global South lagging behind due to high capital costs. The UN reports also highlight the need for increased investment in renewable energy, with $2 trillion invested in green energy last year, surpassing fossil fuel investments.

July 22, 2025 • By Miona Aleksic (Miona Aleksic)

Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has partnered with Dell Technologies to integrate Canonical LXD with Dell PowerFlex software-defined infrastructure. This native integration provides reliable and cost-effective virtualization for modern IT infrastructure, enabling optimized performance, reliability, and feature utilization. The combined solution allows for streamlined communication between the virtualization layer and storage infrastructure, minimizing latency and enhancing IOPS. The integration also simplifies management, allowing developers and administrators to manage storage resources directly from LXD's UI, command-line interface, or API. This collaboration aims to provide a robust and reliable solution for enterprise environments, accelerating cloud transformations and fostering innovation across industries.

July 22, 2025 • By Dave Knapper

Visitors to Hanley Park in Stoke-on-Trent are being warned to avoid contact with the lake water due to the presence of blue-green algae. The algae can cause skin rashes and serious illness if swallowed, and can also harm pets. The council is advising people to keep dogs on leads and avoid any contact with the water. The Environment Agency notes that blue-green algae can produce toxins, block sunlight, and stop plant growth, posing a risk to wild animals and domestic pets.

July 22, 2025 • By Marius Müller

Players are enjoying Descenders Next's gameplay and varied maps, but the physics engine needs improvement, making snowboard rides feel "floaty" with limited control. Multiplayer mode is also criticized for lacking shared achievements. The game is still in Early Access, with a full release expected in about two years, allowing time to address these issues.

July 22, 2025

The food inspection devices market is expected to reach $5.08 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 9.3% from 2025 to 2030. The market is driven by rising global food safety concerns, surging demand for processed and packaged foods, and strict regulatory standards. The spectroscopy devices segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by increasing demand for rapid and accurate food inspection methods. The food manufacturers and processors segment is expected to account for the largest market share, driven by the need to maintain product quality and ensure regulatory compliance. North America is expected to hold the second-largest market share, driven by stringent food safety regulations and advanced food processing infrastructure. Key players in the market include Mettler-Toledo International Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., and Ishida Co., Ltd.

July 22, 2025 • By Adrian Bridgwater, Senior Contributor, Adrian Bridgwater, Senior Contributor https://www.forbes.com/sites/adrianbridgwater/

Composio, a newly established company, is providing a foundational skill infrastructure service for AI agents to learn and optimize their performance across enterprise applications. The company's platform addresses a gap in the AI ecosystem by allowing autonomous agents to interact more intelligently with software tools and workflows. Composio's service enables AI agents to learn from their interactions, incorporate human and machine feedback, and develop nuanced, practical skills. The company's CEO, Soham Ganatra, emphasizes that raw intelligence is only part of the puzzle, and that business impact happens when intelligence can learn from its interactions with the world. Composio's platform is being used by over 100,000 developers, with tens of millions of requests every day. The company is part of a growing market, with other players such as Dynatrace, IBM, New Relic, Cisco, Splunk, and ServiceNow also offering agentic infrastructure management technologies.

July 22, 2025 • By finance.yahoo.com

Here is a concise summary of the news article: The article suggests buying a specific dividend stock, likely Starbucks, before July 29. The company is undergoing a turnaround plan with positive results and is expected to report favorable earnings on July 29. The stock's dividend yield is also attractive, making it a potentially good investment opportunity.

July 22, 2025 • By Katherine Fung

Newsweek has announced its inaugural AI Impact Awards, recognizing 38 companies for innovative solutions to everyday problems. Five companies were awarded in the "Best of" category, including Ex-Human, which creates customizable AI humans for interaction, and Fal.ai, a platform for generating AI audio, video, and images. Ex-Human's founder, Artem Rodichev, aims to address the growing loneliness epidemic by creating empathetic AI characters that can connect with users on an emotional level. Fal.ai's co-founder, Gorkem Yurtseven, believes AI-generated media has a promising future, particularly in advertising and marketing. Another winner, EY, developed a responsible AI framework compliant with the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act, emphasizing the importance of responsible AI integration. The awards highlight the rapid evolution of AI and the need for initiatives to address potential dangers and ethical concerns.

July 22, 2025 • By Editorial Team

Wise and Revolut, two fintech companies, offer affordable transfers and a range of expanding services. Revolut has a more comprehensive approach, including stock trading and lifestyle perks, but faces regulatory scrutiny. Both companies are growing internationally, with Wise showing a 10% increase in quarterly revenues in 2025 Q2 compared to the previous year. Their large fintech ecosystems provide opportunities for monetization, driving revenue growth.

July 22, 2025 • By Caitlin Johnstone

The article "Israel's Depravity Will Always Find New Ways To Shock You" by Caitlin Johnstone discusses the recent actions of Israel in Gaza, which the author describes as "genocidal" and "evil". A doctor in Gaza reports that Israeli snipers are shooting civilians in different body parts on different days, and the Israeli military has attacked the residence of World Health Organization staff, detaining medical workers. The Gaza Health Ministry announced that 99 Palestinians were killed while trying to obtain food from aid sites. The author criticizes Israel's actions and its apologists, who claim that the healthcare infrastructure in Gaza is being demolished because it is full of terrorists. The article also mentions Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's vote against an amendment to block funding for Israel's missile defense system and her subsequent public tantrum on social media. The author argues that AOC's actions are hypocritical and that she cannot be both a champion of the left and a supporter of Israel's genocidal actions.

July 22, 2025 • By Eddie Makuch

Supermassive Games, the developer of The Dark Pictures Anthology, has announced another round of layoffs, affecting up to 36 staff members. The company cited a "challenging and ever-evolving environment" in the video game industry as the reason for the restructuring. As a result, the release of Directive 8020, the latest entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology, has been delayed to the first half of 2026. However, the development of Little Nightmares III remains unaffected. This is the second round of layoffs for Supermassive Games, following a previous cut of up to 150 positions in February 2024. The company is owned by Nordisk Games, which also owns Avalanche Studios.

July 22, 2025 • By Steven A. Cook

Here is a concise summary of the news article: Eight months after the fall of the Assad regime, Syria remains a source of instability in the Levant. Recent violence in the southwestern province of Suwayda highlights the ongoing sectarian, ethnic, and tribal conflicts. The US should exercise caution in getting involved, but President Trump can leverage his unique standing with Middle Eastern leaders to increase the chances of peace. A potential "Trump Plan for Syria" could address the Israel-Turkey issue, which has become increasingly tense, and incentivize neighboring countries to support Syria's reconstruction and development. The plan could have five components, including setting limits on Syria's neighbors and promoting trade and investment. By taking a pragmatic approach, Trump can create an environment that improves the prospects for Syria's reconstruction and redevelopment, benefiting all parties involved, including Israelis.

July 22, 2025 • By Steven A. Cook

Here is a concise summary of the news article: Eight months after the fall of the Assad regime, Syria remains a source of instability in the Levant. Recent violence in the southwestern province of Suwayda highlights the ongoing sectarian, ethnic, and tribal conflicts. The new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has pledged to build a "Syria for all Syrians," but his ability to govern is uncertain. The US can play a role in promoting peace by leveraging President Trump's diplomatic capital with Middle Eastern leaders. Trump should set limits on Syria's neighbors and incentivize them to support reconstruction and development. A potential "Trump Plan for Syria" could address the Israel-Turkey conflict and create an environment for trade and investment, potentially benefiting Syria and its neighbors. The plan would not impose governance conditions on Sharaa, but rather focus on preventing Israeli and Turkish overreach, allowing for investment and trade to flow into Syria.