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Burning Question: Are Lions Players Buying Into New Serious Approach?
Examining if Detroit Lions players are sensing a change in the team's approach?
What are you actually doing with Gemini?
Further reflecting on Google’s practical focus for Gemini and AI in general at I/O 2026 last week, I still find...
New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Are 'Nearly Ready' to Launch, New Siri Remote Also Rumored
New models of the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini are "nearly ready to go," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Both devices have been ready "for months," but Apple is holding off on launching them until the more personalized version of Siri is available, he said.
Report: New Apple TV, HomePod mini set to launch this fall; Siri Remote 'refresh' possible
According to the latest edition of the Power On newsletter, Apple is gearing up to finally launch new versions of...
Mike Pence says the Trump administration has ‘departed’ from conservative principles
The former vice president also called the Trump administration’s ‘anti-weaponization’ fund “deeply offensive.”
Apple Seeks to Disrupt the Glasses Market the Way It Did With Watches
Also: The latest on iOS 27, iOS 28, new Apple TV and HomePod mini.
Visa issues force South Africa to delay World Cup trip: ‘We are being made to look like fools’
Minister of Sports Gayton McKenzie said the situation was "embarrassing and grossly unfair" for the squad.
Falcons updated 90-man roster with uniform numbers
Examining the Falcons 90-man roster as team enters third week of OTAs
Justice Ministry expands 'top-tier visa' program to attract foreign science and tech talents
More science and technology talent will become eligible for South Korea’s "top-tier visa" starting in June, as part of a government policy aimed at attracting m
Meet Google's New Screenless Gemini Smart Glasses
Discover Google's new audio-only smart glasses, offering all-day battery life, cross-platform compatibility, and advanced Gemini AI features.
Recruiter who was allowed to buy back his insolvent firm falls behind on payments after offering staff Vegas trip
Premier Group Recruitment went into administration with debts of £2.9m – including £647,000 owed to HMRC
Watch: Sturgeon tells BBC's Laura Kuenssberg: 'I will not apologise for crimes of my former husband'
The former first minister of Scotland says she feels she is "serving a sentence for a crime I did not commit".
South Korea Expands Top-Tier Visa to Science, Tech Academics
South Korea Expands Top-Tier Visa to Science, Tech Academics Justice, Science Ministries expand visa to attract 350 global talents with residency, family support by 2030
Greece’s Splintering Politics Raises Specter of Messy Election
New parties are adding to the mix as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis grapples with a cost-of-living crisis ahead of a key vote due next year.
Cancel your Claude sub and get lifetime access to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and more for $60
No monthly fees, and you can even send one prompt to multiple models
J.J. McCarthy getting embarrassed early in Minnesota Vikings QB competition
The NFL has several offseason position battles underway as teams prepare for minicamps and training camp. One of the most closely watched competitions is unfolding with the Minnesota Vikings, where J.J. McCarthy is battling free-agent addition Kyler Murray for the…
‘It’s really scary’: Trump administration green card messaging prompts confusion and anxiety
A Trump administration directive announced last week threatened to require most applicants for permanent residency to wait out the process in their home country.
State Airfields Receive Funding
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Chair of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, has reported that 24 municipal airfields in Mississippi have been awarded just over $20 million for facility improvements. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the third round of FY2026 Airport Improvement Program grants, which meet Airport Safety and Resilient […]
U.S. and Cuban Military Officials Meet Outside of Guantánamo Base
The meeting was the highest-level military engagement since the Trump administration began ratcheting up pressure on the Cuban government this year.
I put Google's 24/7 AI assistant Gemini Spark to work, and it's actually pretty useful
Gemini Spark helps automate everyday tasks, from inbox summaries to local event planning, but it’s unclear why Google made it a separate product.
The Social Sciences Are in Trouble
The National Science Foundation division the covers social, behavioral, and economic sciences is in the Trump administration’s crosshairs.
Google's Agentic AI Tool Gemini Spark Is Now Available
Gemini Spark is currently only available to Google AI Ultra subscribers in the US, meaning you’ll need to spend at least $100 per month to access it.
Fitbit Air Review: Affordable, Minimalist Health Tracking | All Things Mobile
Ebola travel bans stir up Covid-era conflict over outbreak response
The Trump administration has implemented some of the United States’ most stringent travel restrictions for infectious disease ever.
Perplexity gifts Mac Minis in push for Personal Computer tool
Perplexity is sending out Mac Minis for people to test its new Personal Computer technology with.
New 3D silicon chip breakthrough could extend Moore’s Law for years
As traditional chip miniaturization slows, researchers have found a way to pack more computing power into the same space by stacking silicon circuits in multiple layers. The new process uses ultra-thin silicon membranes and low-temperature manufacturing techniques to overcome a major obstacle that has long blocked the production of true 3D chips.
Acer launches Veriton Mini Workstation with Ryzen AI MAX 395 and Core Ultra 200 CPUs
Acer Veriton RA110 mini workstation launches with Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and Radeon 8060S Acer has announced a new Veriton commercial desktop lineup for 2026.
New 3D silicon chip breakthrough could extend Moore’s Law for years
As traditional chip miniaturization slows, researchers have found a way to pack more computing power into the same space by stacking silicon circuits in multiple layers. The new process uses ultra-thin silicon membranes and low-temperature manufacturing techniques to overcome a major obstacle that has long blocked the production of true 3D chips.
Grocery groups planning fight against city grocery stores
The administration is planning to have a store open in all five boroughs by the end of its first term in 2029.
Governor Gianforte Announces Montana Secures Federal Funding to Establish Behavioral Health Clinics
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Charlie Brereton today announced the Trump administration selected Montana as one of ten states to receive federal funding to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment across the state.
Google’s Gemini Spark is ready to run your digital errands while your phone is off
You can now give Gemini Spark a task, turn off everything, and it still gets the job done.
Suspected Ebola cases in Congo rise to 1,028, health minister says
Congolese authorities have identified 1,028 suspected cases of Ebola, Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba told reporters late Friday, up from 906 the day before.
Judge says Kennedy Center board violated law putting Trump's name on building, blocks closure
A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump's name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center and blocked the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations.
Romania's political crisis deepens
After Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan’s government fell in early May, Romania's moderate parties have struggled to chart a new course — opening the door for the far right to gain ground.
Trump administration seeks to overhaul federal grant-making process, alarming researchers
The Trump administration has released a sweeping proposal to overhaul the bedrock regulation for all federal grants.
Trump targets science in OMB’s grants revamp
A new administration proposal is part of a larger campaign by the president to exert political control over the federal scientific enterprise.
White House moves to give political appointees more power over federal grants
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration on Friday moved to give political appointees more power over the billions of dollars in grants awarded by federal agencies, a move scientists say puts critical research funding into the hands of partisans without relevant expertise.
White House Moves to Give Political Appointees More Power Over Federal Grants
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration on Friday moved to give political appointees more power over the billions of dollars in grants awarded by federal agencies, a move scientists say puts critical research funding into the hands of partisans without relevant expertise. In what ...
Gemini Spark rolls out to Google AI Ultra in the US: How it works
As previewed last week, Gemini Spark is now available in the US for Google AI Ultra subscribers. Spark is Google’s 24/7 personal agent...
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi hails Trump admin's 'justice and transparency' on Epstein files
In a prepared statement for her interview with a House committee, former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the Trump administration's release of the Jeffrey Epstein files .
Hochul signs measures to limit ICE cooperation, restrict mask use by ICE agents
The package represents one of the primary actions taken by Hochul and the state Legislature to push back against the Trump administration.
After China Orders a Times Reporter to Leave the Country, the U.S. Reciprocates
The Trump administration ejected a Chinese journalist amid fresh concerns about Beijing’s growing pressure on foreign correspondents.
Judge temporarily blocks payouts from Trump's $1.8B 'anti-weaponization' settlement fund
A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from paying any claims through a new $1.776 billion settlement fund for the Republican president's allies who believe they were victims of a weaponized government.
Exclusive | Trump Administration Wants Autos Under USMCA to Be at Least 50% Made in America
The president’s negotiators are to propose half of components and materials come from American sources. The pact currently doesn’t have a U.S.-specific requirement.
Pam Bondi will face a closed-door questioning from House lawmakers over the Epstein files
The transcribed Bondi interview will give lawmakers a chance to dig for information on the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files and other related matters, including the prison sentence of Epstein's former girlfriend and confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Ranking Member Lofgren Slams Trump Administration for Plan to Politicize Research Funding Process, Undermine Expert Review
The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Bondi to face closed-door questioning from House committee over Epstein files
Lawmakers to have fresh chance to dig for information on Trump’s administration’s handling of issue by grilling former attorney-general
How NextEra Energy Wielded Political Power in Florida
NextEra, which is seeking to buy Dominion Energy, has often butted heads with consumer groups, residents and journalists in its home state.
Minister insists Labour will not apply national living wage to all over-18s before election
Torsten Bell says Labour manifesto ‘did not set out the timeline’ for changes to living wage after scale of youth unemployment crisis revealed in Milburn report
Barrett-Jackson spotlighted as Arizona small business success story
The Trump administration is putting Barrett-Jackson in the national spotlight for small businesses.
Google adjusts Gemini’s new usage limits in response to complaints
At I/O 2026, the Gemini app switched to compute-based usage limits. In response to “feedback about hitting limits too quickly,” Google...
The doctor will see you now — in a dazzling new office in South Florida
Medical space for higher-end healthcare services is driving a mini-boom in the South Florida real estate market.
Business Administration & Accounting: AI as a teaching partner
In Saint Michael’s College’s Business Administration and Accounting program, faculty members Nicole Morris and Karen Popovich model a practical,
Americans who get Ebola will go to Europe for treatment, not U.S., officials say
Trump administration officials said the CDC and State Department are working to figure out where those treatment facilities could be.
Lawmakers Push IRS To Issue 'Prompt' Tax Guidance For Marijuana Businesses Now That Rescheduling Is Happening
A group of congressional lawmakers are pressing federal officials to issue “prompt guidance” on tax issues for marijuana businesses in light of the Trump administration’s move to federally reschedule cannabis. A new letter, led by Reps. Steven Horsford (D-NV and Steve Cohen (D-TN), notes that “state-legal cannabis businesses have been denied ordinary business tax deductions […]
Trump's DOJ sues Maine over denying undercover license plates for federal agents
President Donald Trump's administration is suing four states over their refusal to issue undercover license plates to federal agents, the latest front in the wider struggle between the White House and Democratic-led states over the Republican president's immigration crackdown.
Governor Ivey Encourages Alabama Small Businesses to Pitch Big for America 250 -
MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday is encouraging eligible Alabama small businesses and entrepreneurs to submit a pitch for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) national “Freedom 250” Patriot Pitch Competition, a nationwide contest celebrating America’s 250th anniversary by … Continued
Apple reportedly trying to distill Google's multi-trillion-parameter Gemini AI to run on iPhone
As Apple tries to shrink Gemini for the iPhone, a cloud component is probably inevitable.
Vikes Views: Veteran Free Agents Still Available
As the Minnesota Vikings ramp up the meat of the offseason program with OTAs and minicamp just days away, the roster is largely set but not necessarily finished. Often, veteran free agents remain available who can still make a meaningful impact. The Vikings are going to depend more on younger players at DL and LB […]
Worldwide Caution – Updated Public Health Arrival Restrictions and Enhanced Ebola Disease Screening – May 28, 2026 - U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic
Worldwide Caution – Updated Public Health Arrival Restrictions and Enhanced Ebola Disease Screening – May 28, 2026 Event: U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals who have been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of arrival in the United States must only enter through designated airports for enhanced screening. Review the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information on what travelers need to know about returning to the United States from DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan for the list of designated airports. The CDC and the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will apply enhanced public health screening at the designated airports in response to the Ebola disease outbreak. This requirement applies to all U.S. citizen and U.S. national passengers who were present in those countries. For travel information regarding non-U.S. citizens, including lawful permanent residents (LPRs), review the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information on what travelers need to know about returning to the United States from DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan. Please be prepared for flight changes or cancellations. Actions to take: Review the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information on what travelers need to know about returning to the United States from DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan. Read the Department of Homeland Security Alert on Enhanced Ebola Screening. Read the Modification of List of Designated Airports – May 21, 2026. Read the Modification of List of Designated Airports – May 24, 2026. Review Consular Information for Americans Regarding the Ebola Outbreak. If you are planning to travel to the United States, contact your airline to confirm your flight and route. You may also contact the State Department – Consular Affairs: Phone: +1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444 Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive safety and security updates.
Beyond the EHR: Why one CIO believes AI will dwarf every prior health IT shift
Dave Lundal of Children's Minnesota says health systems must move quickly to build governance, vision and flexibility as artificial intelligence rapidly evolves.
Democrats question payments to kill offshore wind projects
House Democrats say the Trump administration’s recent payments to stop offshore wind projects are a “bribe.”
New details on Apple-Google AI deal revealed, including Nvidia chips: report
Apple’s big unveiling of iOS 27, the new Siri, and other WWDC reveals are little more than one week away....
Veterans and Small Businesses Gain Federal Contracting Insight at Pharr Global Business Hub
The Pharr Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC), the APEX Accelerator, and the U.S. Small Business Administration, hosted the first session of its 3-part Government Contracting Series at the Pharr Global Business Hub.
Donald Trump administration tells prosecutors to stand down on Venezuela leader
The Venezuela leader has been on federal investigator's radar as far back as 2018.
Polish scientists and students rally in campaign for 3% funding target
Polish scientists and students have been flooding social media with calls on the government to raise research and development spending as part of 3% for Science, 100% for Poland, a campaign born earlier this month out of frustration with chronic underfunding in the academic sector. On May 27, thousands took the slogan on to the streets.The EU has been trying to convince member states to raise their R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP for more than two decades, but the idea has never gained traction in capitals. Finance ministers were too busy plugging budget holes created in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, then the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and now the war in Iran.Critics say that countries missed or ignored the target because it is voluntary, but also because research communities have rarely raised their voice to put pressure on national governments. The European Commission hopes to make the target legally binding in the upcoming European Research Area Act, an EU-wide regulation that should be announced by the end of the year. Academia in Poland has been faced with a funding crisis for years, often leaving its members with no other choice but to work abroad in order to access better resources, or leave the sector altogether in the hope of earning a decent living. The risk, in the long-term, is that brain drain stifles local innovation capacity and technological competitiveness.In just a few weeks, the movement rallied nationwide support, including from major academic bodies and trade unions such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its public petition collected more than 23,000 signatures. On May 27, it formed the first large protest for science in Poland, gathering thousands of people in front of the parliament building in Warsaw.Ilona Uryga-Bugajska, representative of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Poland Chapter, was there. “The protest was peaceful, with no incidents reported, and the entire event took place in a respectful and calm atmosphere,” she said. Banners she saw in the crowd carried slogans such as “A little longer and I’ll be teaching in a supermarket,” “National culture, starvation salary,” “Stop the destruction of science,” “Passion will not pay the rent,” “Without action, don’t expect a better future,” and “Pull science out of the hole.” She also observed a strong presence of young researchers, who are on the frontline of Poland’s academic crisis.“Academics are usually people who prefer discussion, analysis, dialogue and compromise. We are not a group that protests easily,” said Katarzyna Marzec, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and AGH University of Krakow, who also took part. “But many of us feel that we have been pushed against the wall.”Aleksandra Rutkowska, translational neuroscientist and research group leader at the Medical University of Gdańsk, agreed. “Frustration in the scientific community is very high,” she said. “Science is often used politically as a symbol of innovation and modernity, but the everyday reality inside many institutions is much more difficult. There is a large gap between the public narrative and the actual condition of the sector.”Maria Wiktoria Górna, head of the structural biology group at the University of Warsaw and one of the organisers of the movement, told Science|Business that the campaign would continue without proven results. This might involve another strike in the autumn, she said. “Empty promises are not enough by now.”Campaign demandsAccording to Uryga-Bugajska, the organisers officially presented their demands and concerns to representatives of the government present at the event. These included Marek Gzik, deputy minister of science and higher education, and Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, secretary of state of that same ministry.The headline demand, for the government to increase national spending on R&D to 3% of GDP by 2030, should be within Poland’s economic capacity, Rutkowska said. “The real question is whether there is genuine long-term political commitment to treating science as a strategic priority rather than a slogan.”In 2024, R&D expenditure in Poland stood at 1.41% of GDP, which is slightly above the average for central and eastern Europe, with countries such as Czechia recording 1.82%, Hungary 1.31% and Romania 0.46%. However, it falls noticeably short of the EU average of 2.24%, which just a handful of countries exceed, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden.Campaigners are also asking for fair wages for scientific staff, including PhD stipends and junior academic salaries, which are widely considered uncompetitive. Starting doctoral scholarships amount to some €843 gross per month, when the statutory minimum wage stands at €1,135. By pushing early-career researchers out of Poland, growing precarity has caused a generational gap in the academic workforce, with just 25% of lecturers aged under 40. In this context, the movement fears that scientific careers could soon be accessible to a privileged minority only.Grzegorz Spólnik is a case in point. After 15 years working in mass spectrometry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he decided to leave partly “to earn enough money to live a normal life,” he said. “At that time, my earnings were similar to those of people working in grocery shops, and the work-life balance is something that does not exist in science, or is very hard to achieve.”Now a senior field service engineer for Polish laboratory equipment supplier Bioanalytic, he would consider going back to research, “but never in the public sector, maybe some start-up or a big private company with ambitious R&D.”The campaigners want to see more support for basic research and have called for €236 million to be added to the budget of the National Science Centre (NCN) in 2027 so that the average grant application success rate does not fall below 25%.“At the protest, there was a banner I particularly liked: ‘NCN is not a lottery.’ Unfortunately, for many researchers, it increasingly feels exactly like one,” Marzec said. “Personally, I am one of the lucky ones. I work at two of the strongest institutions in the country, where the research standards are very high. I know that in many other institutions, the situation is much worse and obtaining funding for research at an early-career stage is becoming nearly impossible.”Rutkowska also considers herself fortunate. After studying abroad and holding a postdoctoral position, she returned to Poland, where her pay was supported through an NCN-funded project linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. “This also made me very aware that good research conditions in Poland often depend on external competitive funding rather than on stable support from the system itself,” she said.Long-term strategyBeyond the lack of funds for both salaries and grants, scientists believe that the issue is structural. “The biggest problem at the moment is the complete lack of a clear long-term strategy for the development of science and research from the current government,” Marzec said. “Everything ends with declarations and promises that are never truly followed by concrete actions or structural reforms.”Rutkowska agreed, citing a lack of infrastructure, continuity and long-term institutional support.“Running a research group in Poland often means functioning as an entire institution at once,” she said. “I am a principal investigator, a mentor, a recruiter, a project administrator and, when needed, still someone who returns to the lab bench to help with experiments,” she went on. “This creates a large hidden workload that takes time and energy away from actual science. At times, it feels as though scientists are no longer expecting extra help; we simply hope the system will stop creating additional obstacles that make research unnecessarily difficult.”Related articlesStrategic thinking: Germany funds joint research with Poland and FrancePoland to transfer €30M of regional funds to boost Horizon Europe participationPoland is funding fewer basic research grants as high inflation hitsIn short, “academics are expected to teach, publish papers, apply for grants and conduct high-quality research, while funding and salaries remain very limited,” said Uryga-Bugajska, who returned to her home country after 13 years in the UK.According to Marzec, another issue is the way that research institutions are evaluated. Previously, this took place every four years, with a clear differentiation between stronger and weaker institutions. “The current government, perhaps to avoid political backlash, effectively concluded that everyone is doing well, so in practice no meaningful evaluation took place,” she said.But in her view, “some form of serious assessment is necessary” to ensure the excellence and international competitiveness of Polish institutions, and to determine how to best use public resources and where institutional structures need reform. “Some institutions may need to rethink hiring practices in order to attract ambitious young researchers who are capable of obtaining competitive grants and building internationally visible research groups.” Rutkowska has already had to adapt. “When hiring PhD students, I often have to combine different funding sources creatively to make positions attractive enough for talented people to stay in science,” she said. “Many young researchers do not see a stable future in academia in Poland, and that is deeply worrying.”
Polish scientists and students rally in campaign for better conditions
Polish scientists and students have been flooding social media with calls on the government to raise research and development spending as part of 3% for Science, 100% for Poland, a campaign born earlier this month out of frustration with chronic underfunding in the academic sector. On May 27, thousands took the slogan on to the streets.The EU has been trying to convince member states to raise their R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP for more than two decades, but the idea has never gained traction in capitals. Finance ministers were too busy plugging budget holes created in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, then the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and now the war in Iran.Critics say that countries missed or ignored the target because it is voluntary, but also because research communities have rarely raised their voice to put pressure on national governments. The European Commission hopes to make the target legally binding in the upcoming European Research Area Act, an EU-wide regulation that should be announced by the end of the year. Academia in Poland has been faced with a funding crisis for years, often leaving its members with no other choice but to work abroad in order to access better resources, or leave the sector altogether in the hope of earning a decent living. The risk, in the long-term, is that brain drain stifles local innovation capacity and technological competitiveness.In just a few weeks, the movement rallied nationwide support, including from major academic bodies and trade unions such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its public petition collected more than 23,000 signatures. On May 27, it formed the first large protest for science in Poland, gathering thousands of people in front of the parliament building in Warsaw.Ilona Uryga-Bugajska, representative of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Poland Chapter, was there. “The protest was peaceful, with no incidents reported, and the entire event took place in a respectful and calm atmosphere,” she said. Banners she saw in the crowd carried slogans such as “A little longer and I’ll be teaching in a supermarket,” “National culture, starvation salary,” “Stop the destruction of science,” “Passion will not pay the rent,” “Without action, don’t expect a better future,” and “Pull science out of the hole.” She also observed a strong presence of young researchers, who are on the frontline of Poland’s academic crisis.“Academics are usually people who prefer discussion, analysis, dialogue and compromise. We are not a group that protests easily,” said Katarzyna Marzec, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and AGH University of Krakow, who also took part. “But many of us feel that we have been pushed against the wall.”Aleksandra Rutkowska, translational neuroscientist and research group leader at the Medical University of Gdańsk, agreed. “Frustration in the scientific community is very high,” she said. “Science is often used politically as a symbol of innovation and modernity, but the everyday reality inside many institutions is much more difficult. There is a large gap between the public narrative and the actual condition of the sector.”Maria Wiktoria Górna, head of the structural biology group at the University of Warsaw and one of the organisers of the movement, told Science|Business that the campaign would continue without proven results. This might involve another strike in the autumn, she said. “Empty promises are not enough by now.”Campaign demandsAccording to Uryga-Bugajska, the organisers officially presented their demands and concerns to representatives of the government present at the event. These included Marek Gzik, deputy minister of science and higher education, and Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, secretary of state of that same ministry.The headline demand, for the government to increase national spending on R&D to 3% of GDP by 2030, should be within Poland’s economic capacity, Rutkowska said. “The real question is whether there is genuine long-term political commitment to treating science as a strategic priority rather than a slogan.”In 2024, R&D expenditure in Poland stood at 1.41% of GDP, which is slightly above the average for central and eastern Europe, with countries such as Czechia recording 1.82%, Hungary 1.31% and Romania 0.46%. However, it falls noticeably short of the EU average of 2.24%, which just a handful of countries exceed, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden.Campaigners are also asking for fair wages for scientific staff, including PhD stipends and junior academic salaries, which are widely considered uncompetitive. Starting doctoral scholarships amount to some €843 gross per month, when the statutory minimum wage stands at €1,135. By pushing early-career researchers out of Poland, growing precarity has caused a generational gap in the academic workforce, with just 25% of lecturers aged under 40. In this context, the movement fears that scientific careers could soon be accessible to a privileged minority only.Grzegorz Spólnik is a case in point. After 15 years working in mass spectrometry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he decided to leave partly “to earn enough money to live a normal life,” he said. “At that time, my earnings were similar to those of people working in grocery shops, and the work-life balance is something that does not exist in science, or is very hard to achieve.”Now a senior field service engineer for Polish laboratory equipment supplier Bioanalytic, he would consider going back to research, “but never in the public sector, maybe some start-up or a big private company with ambitious R&D.”The campaigners want to see more support for basic research and have called for €236 million to be added to the budget of the National Science Centre (NCN) in 2027 so that the average grant application success rate does not fall below 25%.“At the protest, there was a banner I particularly liked: ‘NCN is not a lottery.’ Unfortunately, for many researchers, it increasingly feels exactly like one,” Marzec said. “Personally, I am one of the lucky ones. I work at two of the strongest institutions in the country, where the research standards are very high. I know that in many other institutions, the situation is much worse and obtaining funding for research at an early-career stage is becoming nearly impossible.”Rutkowska also considers herself fortunate. After studying abroad and holding a postdoctoral position, she returned to Poland, where her pay was supported through an NCN-funded project linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. “This also made me very aware that good research conditions in Poland often depend on external competitive funding rather than on stable support from the system itself,” she said.Long-term strategyBeyond the lack of funds for both salaries and grants, scientists believe that the issue is structural. “The biggest problem at the moment is the complete lack of a clear long-term strategy for the development of science and research from the current government,” Marzec said. “Everything ends with declarations and promises that are never truly followed by concrete actions or structural reforms.”Rutkowska agreed, citing a lack of infrastructure, continuity and long-term institutional support.“Running a research group in Poland often means functioning as an entire institution at once,” she said. “I am a principal investigator, a mentor, a recruiter, a project administrator and, when needed, still someone who returns to the lab bench to help with experiments,” she went on. “This creates a large hidden workload that takes time and energy away from actual science. At times, it feels as though scientists are no longer expecting extra help; we simply hope the system will stop creating additional obstacles that make research unnecessarily difficult.”Related articlesStrategic thinking: Germany funds joint research with Poland and FrancePoland to transfer €30M of regional funds to boost Horizon Europe participationPoland is funding fewer basic research grants as high inflation hitsIn short, “academics are expected to teach, publish papers, apply for grants and conduct high-quality research, while funding and salaries remain very limited,” said Uryga-Bugajska, who returned to her home country after 13 years in the UK.According to Marzec, another issue is the way that research institutions are evaluated. Previously, this took place every four years, with a clear differentiation between stronger and weaker institutions. “The current government, perhaps to avoid political backlash, effectively concluded that everyone is doing well, so in practice no meaningful evaluation took place,” she said.But in her view, “some form of serious assessment is necessary” to ensure the excellence and international competitiveness of Polish institutions, and to determine how to best use public resources and where institutional structures need reform. “Some institutions may need to rethink hiring practices in order to attract ambitious young researchers who are capable of obtaining competitive grants and building internationally visible research groups.” Rutkowska has already had to adapt. “When hiring PhD students, I often have to combine different funding sources creatively to make positions attractive enough for talented people to stay in science,” she said. “Many young researchers do not see a stable future in academia in Poland, and that is deeply worrying.”
A Scientific Method of Resisting
This post originally appeared on If You Can Keep It, a publication of Protect Democracy. The second Trump administration has set about dismantling the institutions of American science. Over the past 16 months, the administration has eliminated thousands of federal scientific positions, imposed
The YOLO Caucus Is Growing. What Does It Have Planned? | WSJ Politics Newsletter for May 28
Plus, President Trump says Iran is miscalculating his urgency to end the war, and the administration’s new bank accounts for children goes live
Ebola spreads as concerns grow over US response
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is fast outpacing containment efforts in the region as questions and concerns mount in the U.S. over the Trump administration’s preparedn…
"Catastrophic collision of disease and conflict": Ebola grips eastern Congo
Mongbwalu, a once-thriving gold-mining town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, is now emerging as the epicenter of the country's latest Ebola outbreak.
Minimum wage rise has made it difficult for employers to hire young people, says Alan Milburn
Government-commissioned report on young people not in employment, education or training to be published by review chair Milburn today
France to reimburse weight-loss drugs from mid-June, health minister says
France will reimburse the cost of weight-loss drugs for severely obese patients from mid-June, Health Minister Stephanie Rist said on Thursday in an interview with TF1 channel.
Germany news: Health care staff protest plan for major cuts
Medical staff in Germany are protesting proposed cuts that ministers say are necessary to stop spiraling costs. Meanwhile, a World War II bomb meant thousands were evacuated from their homes. DW has more.
Germany news: Healthcare staff protest plan for major cuts
Medical staff in Germany are protesting about cost-saving plans that ministers says are necessary to stop spiraling costs. Meanwhile, a World War II bomb meant thousands were evacuated from their homes. DW has more.
Exclusive | The Trump Administration Is in Talks to Fund U.S. Drone Companies
Neros and Donald Trump Jr.-linked Unusual Machines are among the companies in deal talks.
Exclusive | The Trump Administration Is in Talks to Fund U.S. Drone Companies
Neros and Donald Trump Jr.-linked Unusual Machines are among the companies in deal talks.
Trump’s latest immigration move clouds the path to green cards
When President Donald Trump's administration announced last week that it would require green card seekers to apply from their home countries instead of in the U.S., immigration attorney Flavia Santos Lloyd’s phone began ringing off the hook with clients worried about the implications for them.
3 States Challenge Trump DOJ’s Schedule III Cannabis Rule
Nebraska, Indiana and Louisiana filed a petition for review in federal court, arguing that immediately rescheduling medical cannabis violates administrative procedures.
Americans will be sent to Kenya for Ebola care, Trump administration says
As an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo grows, the Trump administration says it is focused on keeping the disease out of the United States.
Brooklyn Park Fulfillment Company Named Veteran-Owned Small Business of Year
KSP Fulfillment has been named Minnesota's Veteran-owned Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Google Home can now use what cameras see as automation starters, Android widget improved
The latest Google Home update lets you tap into Gemini's camera scene understanding for automations, while there are...
Mini world near Pluto is far more active than it should be – and experts are baffled | BBC Science Focus Magazine
A miniature world beyond Neptune appears to have an atmosphere, despite being too small to hold onto one
Capgemini says AI widens client spending pool
Capgemini on Thursday said artificial intelligence was opening access to client spending beyond traditional information technology budgets, as the French technology services group sought to ease investor concerns that the technology could disrupt its business model.
Google is bringing Gemini to smart glasses, and they come with one big advantage
During the Google I/O 2026 keynote, the company announced a major expansion of the Android XR platform, unveiling a new line of "Intelligent Eyewear." Built in collaboration with Samsung and...
Hands on: Sony Bravia 9 II review
This isn't RGB Mini LED TV, it's True RGB – and it looks glorious in action
Inside Optum Health's push to make AI practical for clinicians
A phased rollout of AI-powered chart summarization is reducing administrative burdens while testing how healthcare organizations can responsibly scale artificial intelligence.
Sports Minister: ‘Not appropriate’ for Italy to take World Cup spot
Italy’s Minister for Sport, Andrea Abodi, asserts that it is neither ‘possible’ nor ‘appropriate’ for the Azzurri to be considered for admission to the World Cup as a replacement for Iran.It...
UCF Computer Science Students Expand Technology Supporting Military Operations
Today, Reserve Mercury streamlines administrative work for thousands of U.S. Army Reservists, transforming a once paper-heavy process through a platform developed by computer science students.
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Philippe Tabarot, minister of transport, speaks on the topic of transportation in the Ile-de-France region, at the public session of questions to the french...
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Emmanuel Macron (R), President of France, and Roumen Radev (L), prime minister of Bulgaria, pose and wave to the press on the stoop at the main entrance before...
Ebola, chemical plants and health, hantavirus, common colds, heat and more
As they say, bugs have ears. Public health has had a relentless May. Chemical plant (near) explosions, Ebola, hantavirus, and that's before you even get to the usual suspects: common colds, heat, and ticks. Here’s an attempt to keep you up to speed and, more importantly, what it means for you and your community. But first, an announcement: World Cup The World Cup starts in 15 days (not like anyone is counting down), and we are hanging TVs in the Health Security Operations Center. It’s going to be a gorgeous, chaotic celebration of basically every culture on earth. And it’s going to take a team effort—from communities to individuals, from public health to health care—to keep people healthy. That’s where you come in. If you’re going to the games or live within 30 miles of a stadium, we would love to hear from you. Sign up for a weekly survey here. Thanks to the more than 1,280 people who have already signed up…you will be hearing from us soon!! Global disease “weather report” Hantavirus: Two more cases The global count of cruise ship passengers with hantavirus has now increased to 13 cases (11 confirmed), with three deaths. The two new cases are overseas and among people who were already quarantining: A crew member in the Netherlands. A Spanish national passenger who was quarantining at home tested positive through daily monitoring. They are now in a biocontainment unit. In the U.S., everyone remains negative. There may be more cases, given that the incubation period of hantavirus (the time from exposure to infection) is 45 days. But this week, we will reach a major milestone: the median incubation window is 18 days, and that will pass on May 29. What this means for you: Your risk from this cruise ship outbreak remains essentially nil at this point. Ebola rages on in Central Africa Big thanks to Dr. Craig Spencer, a humanitarian physician who has treated and survived Ebola, for jumping in to provide the YLE community with an update. Craig, take it from here… The combined confirmed and suspected Ebola cases in DRC are now more than 1,000. All signs are pointing to a very long and catastrophic outbreak in Central Africa: This is a vast undercount. We know this because the test positivity rate is hovering around 50%, only 20% of contacts are being traced (and in some areas, no contacts at all), and more cases keep popping up with no known connection. This all points to widespread and undetected community transmission. This is in only a week of detection. Compared to previous outbreaks, the growth is very fast, as the huge West Africa outbreak in 2016 was first detected at 49 cases and rose to 208 cases a month later. It took four months for that outbreak to reach the size of the current one in the DR Congo. The cases are spread out across 16 health zones. There are now multiple epicenters, making containment very difficult. Next door in Uganda, the case count is seven. While this number is low compared to DRC, a concerning development is that two health care workers recently tested positive with uncertain exposure histories. If they weren’t treating known Ebola cases, this means it’s spreading undetected in Uganda as well. On the ground, backlash, including the burning of health centers, has emerged, a pattern seen in nearly every outbreak and rooted in deep community distrust. It often stems from outside actors working in communities without fully understanding or addressing local priorities. Affected populations may recognize the severity of Ebola while still holding other concerns as more pressing, such as where their loved ones are buried. Community trust is essential to an effective response, but difficult to build during an active emergency. It is best established long before a crisis begins. U.S. priorities are made clear, and may backfire. The U.S. Administration has shown that its first priority is keeping Ebola out, with helping end the outbreak in the DRC a secondary concern. That's meant travel restrictions broader than anything we've imposed before — covering travelers from across the region, and reportedly some green card holders and permanent residents as well. For example, just these past two days, news broke that high-risk American travelers will be subject to a mandatory quarantine in Kenya before they are allowed to return. If an American is infected, the U.S. government plans to send them to a hospital it is standing up from scratch in Kenya. (Currently, Americans who were in the area are allowed to return but are diverted to three airports—Houston, Atlanta, and DC—for further screening.) Past administrations have used travel notices and stepped-up screening; this goes much further. At first blush, these strict precautions may sound prudent. But this approach could backfire in three ways: Restrictions this blunt give people every reason to hide where they’ve been and whom they’ve been near — making the people we most need to find harder to track, not easier. They also breed a false sense that this is someone else’s problem. But diseases are humbling. They find the small cracks in even the most impenetrable-seeming defenses. Lives lost. There is no treatment for this Ebola strain, which means survival depends heavily on the quality of the health system. We have that system in the States, but we are choosing not to use it for infected Americans. This is unbelievable and infuriating. (See a deeper dive from me here.) The only real way to lower the risk to Americans — and everyone else — is to end the outbreak in the DRC and across the region. What this means for you: If you have travel plans to this region, it’s time to cancel them. This is a high-risk situation in Central Africa, and CDC released a Level 4 Travel Advisory. There is also great uncertainty if and when the Administration will let you back in. To the general public in the U.S., your risk remains very, very low right now. U.S. disease “weather report” Ticks: past peak season? Good news, especially for people in the Northeast and Midwest: tick numbers continue to decline. Though we are at the peak of the season, this unusually early year is trending favorably. Heat-related illnesses in the North Heat risk is certainly not blanketing the entire country yet, but this week it will be moderate in the Midwest and the Southeast. What this means for you: Be sure to check the CDC HeatRisk tool. A red day isn’t the best day for that soccer game for a kid with asthma, and a stretch of orange days is a great time to check on your elderly neighbor. Common colds surging As far as respiratory viruses go, the only thing really going around right now is the common cold. It is higher this year than last year, but should peak very soon before returning this fall. Spotlight: Chemical plants Over the weekend, YLE California covered the serious situation that unfolded around a chemical plant in Orange County, California. Thankfully, the worst-case scenario (a chemical explosion) was mitigated, but only through luck. The health implications in a densely populated area could have been catastrophic. As the situation was winding down, another chemical explosion struck Washington State. This one was fatal. Health officials say the risk to surrounding residents from chemicals in the air and ground remains low, though the community deserves far greater clarity. Clean air and clean water consistently rank as Americans’ top public health concerns — yet when chemical disasters strike, communities are too often met with reassurances rather than transparency and accountability. Residents near the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio train derailment, for example, are still waiting to understand the long-term impact on their health, with few clear answers. What this means for you: Many are wondering if facilities processing potentially dangerous materials are in their neighborhoods. This interactive map allows you to enter your ZIP code and see all facilities monitored by the EPA, including any violations. Good news Ebola vaccines and treatment for the Bundibugyo species are in development. Two vaccine platforms are being explored, at least one of which may be deployable in as little as 2 months. One vaccine is being developed by Oxford, and the other uses the same biotechnology as the FDA-approved Zaire species of Ebola. (It may provide cross-protection, but it’s unclear at this point.) On the treatment side, two promising monoclonal antibody cocktails are likely to be deployed, though doses are limited and logistical hurdles remain significant challenges. Anni over at The Biotech Tea had a great explainer about the Ebola vaccine gap, if you want to read more. [ The Biotech Tea The Ebola vaccine gap, reading vessel damage, & the Makary exit 🗝️ Paid subscribers get the Biotech Term of the Week at $30/year (~$2.50/month). I try to keep it intentionally accessible, but if cost is ever a barrier, send me a message. A few people asked about expensing your subscription, so I put together a short email template… Read more 6 days ago · 10 likes · Annicka Evans, PhD ](https://www.thebiotechtea.com/p/the-ebola-vaccine-gap-reading-vessel?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been officially renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), following more than a decade of debate and input from roughly 22,000 clinicians, researchers, and patients worldwide. This is good because the old name was medically misleading, leading to patients without visible cysts being dismissed or overlooked entirely. The WHO estimates that 70% of people with the condition remain undiagnosed. A more accurate name should improve recognition, reduce stigma, and ultimately help the millions of people living with this condition get diagnosed and treated sooner. Poll Loading... Bottom line Public health situations are everywhere right now. Staying healthy takes public health professionals and systems working tirelessly behind the scenes and each of us showing up for our neighbors and communities. Love, YLE Big thanks to Ed Nirenberg for staying on top of the Ebola vaccines, Hannah Totte for all the figures, Dr. Craig Spencer for the Ebola insight, and Dr. Matt Willis for covering the chemical situation in CA. Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) comprises a team of experts, ranging from physicians to immunologists to epidemiologists to nutritionists, working together with one goal: to “Translate” ever-evolving public health science so that people are well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. YLE suite of newsletters reaches over 475,000 people across more than 132 countries. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below: Subscribe
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Marina Ferrari, minister of sports, youth and associative life, Jean Pierre Farandou, minister of labor and social affairs, David Amiel, minister of action and...
How Donald Trump is insulating himself from future investigations
The deal that President Donald Trump reached with his own administration to set-up an “anti-weaponization fund” for his allies is the latest example of how his second stint in the White House has focused on undermining checks on presidential power and insulating himself from future investigations.
New Witcher 3 Expansion Revealed: "Songs of the Past" Continues Geralt's Story More Than A Decade On
Plus: new minimum requirements, effective from the next patch.
Greece's leftist firebrand Tsipras makes comeback with new political party
Former prime minister Alexis Tsipras, the leftist firebrand who ran Greece at the height of its debt crisis in 2015, has launched a new political party, promising to fight corruption and seek inclusive economic growth.
“The last of the gentlemen Republicans”: John Cornyn’s four-decade political career ends with a MAGA uprising
A former state Supreme Court justice, Texas attorney general and a four-term U.S. senator, Cornyn had held on in the Republican Party as it transformed from the party of Bush, to the Tea Party movement and eventually the dominion of Trump.
LA TIMES: In deal with business leaders, $30 minimum wage for L.A. hotel and airport workers will be delayed - UNITE HERE Local 11
In May 2025, the council approved a proposal that would have increased the minimum wage to $30 in July 2028 and also raised an hourly payment for healthcare coverage. In response, a coalition of airline and hotel businesses gathered enough signatures to place a measure on the Nov. 3 ballot that took aim at the city’s gross […]
Google I/O 2026: tech giant launches autonomous AI era, transforming search at cost to core business
Google unveils Gemini agents and a generative search overhaul in a direct push against OpenAI and Perplexity, risking ad revenue, publisher ties, privacy and margins as it tries to preserve its internet dominance
3 things to know about Trump’s order raising the U.S. refugee cap only for white South Africans
President Donald Trump is easing his administration’s cap on the number of refugees who can enter the United States, according to a forthcoming White House memo.