SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " 1.8 " 251 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Is Flutter Entertainment plc (FLUT) A Good Stock To Buy Now?
Is FLUT a good stock to buy? We came across a bullish thesis on Flutter Entertainment plc on r/ValueInvesting by LowKey-Revolution36. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on FLUT. Flutter Entertainment plc’s share was trading at $101.83 as of June 18th. FLUT’s trailing and forward P/E were 121.78 and 13.50 respectively according to Yahoo […]
The state that will tell us who’s winning the Democratic civil war
Longtime Colorado Democrats are facing anti-establishment challenges. Who will prevail?
Katie Couric (@katiecouric)
3,068 likes, 268 comments - katiecouric on June 17, 2026: "Rahm Emanuel has been a major force in Democratic politics for decades—from congressman and White House chief of staff to mayor of Chicago and U.S. ambassador to Japan. As the 2026 midterms approach, he joined me on Next Question to discuss President Trump's second term, why Democrats "lost the plot," why he believes the U.S. should end taxpayer-funded military aid to Israel, and what it will take for the party to reconnect with voters and regain lost ground. 🎧 Watch the full interview on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.".
Schlage’s UWB-enabled smart lock launches this month
The Sense Pro deadlock was announced over a year ago.
Eric Topol
The famed cardiologist discusses how AI has transformed biomedical science
Judge extends block on Trump's $1.8 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that the fund will remain blocked until further notice from the court.
Judge extends block on Trump's $1.8 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says the government is scrapping its plans for the fund after bipartisan backlash
SpaceX Owns a Real Business That Makes Big Money
A simple view of SpaceX is that it’s a low-cost rocket launcher that created the profitable Starlink satellite business and which is now burning cash to build orbital data centers and colonize Mars. Starlink doesn’t have the lead role in SpaceX’s $1.8 trillion initial public offering. But it is the real business inside the company, and the telecoms industry and its regulators can ill afford to be complacent about the disruptive threat it poses.
Watchdog Group Skeptical of Vows to End Trump Administration’s $1.8 Billion Fund
Two sets of lawyers noted that while senior department officials said the fund would not move forward, they declined to offer assurances that this would hold in the future.
ICE funding bill is up for House vote after weeks of Republican delays
The legislation, which the Senate passed Friday, has been held up by disputes over President Donald Trump’s ballroom and the $1.8B payout fund.
Race to Erase MS Gala Honors Disney's Naomi Bulochnikov
Ty Dolla $ign, Richie Sambora and Rachel Platten performed at the 33rd Race to Erase MS Gala, which raised more than $1.8 million.
Congress didn’t kill Trump’s $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponization’ fund. So where does it stand?
Senate Republicans rejected multiple attempts to kill President Donald Trump’s nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund amid bipartisan concerns and a temporary court ruling against it.
Legal battle over Trump's $1.8B 'anti-weaponization' fund rages on
'The Anti-Weaponization Fund presents a threat to our constitutional democracy,' Sens. Cory Booker and Bill Cassidy wrote in a court brief.
Senate rejects an initial attempt to ban Trump's $1.8-billion 'anti-weaponization' fund
It was the second effort in Congress to rebuke President Trump in two days, following the House vote Wednesday to rein in Trump's war powers in Iran.
GOP immigration bill runs into turbulence amid backlash to Trump’s $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
The push to pass a $70 billion GOP immigration enforcement bill has temporarily stalled, with Senate GOP leaders stuck in talks with a trio of Republican holdouts who are so far refusing to vote down a Democratic attempt to kill the Trump administration’s controversial “anti-weaponization” fund.
Trump said he doesn’t know if his $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponization’ fund is dead, and called it a ‘beautiful thing’
May's top PlayStation games by copies sold
Yesterday’s State of Play gave us an idea of where PlayStation’s heading next. But we’ve had our May estimates for a couple of days now (we always update our data daily for clients), so it’s time to look at what performed best on PlayStation last month. We’ve got a new IP at the top, two evergreens doing their evergreen thing, FC26 smashing it ahead of the World Cup Plus pivot, and a quiet but promising result for Lego Batman. Let’s have a look at the state of Play…Station’s top games for May. 007 takes #001 007 First Light sold 1M copies on PS5 in May, easily making it the month’s top PS5 game by copies sold. Over 80% of those May copies were digital, which is broadly in line with where PlayStation’s digital share has settled for new releases this year. To date, 007 First Light has sold through 2.2M copies across platforms (so no unsold retail copies in that figure). The platform split is 55.1% PS5, 33.1% Steam, and 11.8% Xbox (console, Windows, and cloud combined). In gross revenue terms, 007 First Light has generated $150M. Owing to regional pricing and audience composition differences, the consoles make up a higher share of revenue than they do copies. Of the $150M, 60.5% came via PlayStation, 27.6% via Steam, and 12.9% via Xbox. Part of this is because over two-thirds of 007 First Light‘s PlayStation audience is in North America (43.4%) or Western Europe (23.2%), where local currency means the game generates more revenue per player. On Steam, under half of First Light‘s audience is from those same regions (31.8% North America, 15.1% Western Europe). As we covered in last week’s 007 Steam piece, the Steam version is pulling in higher-than-expected numbers in China, which now accounts for 17.3% of First Light‘s Steam audience. 007 is the equivalent of $44 USD in China, which is roughly 37% cheaper than the US price and about 44% cheaper than Western Europe. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe The crossover data backs up what we’ve seen all year about launch-window cohorts. 11% of PS5 players who played 007 First Light in May also played Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, which launched just a few days before. Last month was a great month for Denmark! IO Interactive is Copenhagen-based, and Lego Group is headquartered in Billund (TT Games is UK-based but produces work under Lego Group licence and direction). Speaking of which… A very blocky #2 and #3 Minecraft sold another 788K copies on PlayStation consoles last month. Business as usual, since Minecraft hasn’t sold fewer than 760K copies in a single month all year. With over 350M copies sold across all platforms, Minecraft is the best-selling game in history and one of the strongest brands in the world. Every month, a new cohort of children reaches Minecraft age, which guarantees a constant volume of new sales regardless of what the broader market is up to. The demographic refresh rate is truly impressive, with the audience renewing itself faster than it’s churning. Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight shifted 757K copies on PS5 last month, bringing its lifetime total on the platform to over 800K. Across all platforms, Legacy of the Dark Knight has now passed 1.5M sold through, so PlayStation accounts for over half of the game’s players. The May crossover data for Legacy of the Dark Knight on PS5 is also useful. 27% of those players also played Fortnite, 16% Roblox, 16% FC 26, and 14% NBA 2K. That’s the household-and-family cohort showing up, plus the launch-window cohort of core gamers who buy practically everything. FC 26 gets players through the door ahead of the World Cup FC 26 sold 411K copies on PlayStation last month (90% via PS5), the fewest copies FC 26 has sold all year and down heavily from April’s 700K. Part of this dropoff is because FC 26 has been available as a PlayStation Plus monthly game since 6 May, cannibalising premium sales. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe The strategic logic is straightforward for EA, which is sacrificing premium unit sales in May to build up the player base ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off on 11 June. Obviously, a bigger player pool going into the tournament means a bigger pool of potential Ultimate Team spenders during the period when football attention is at its peak. The early returns are around what you’d expect, with 4.4M new players accessing FC 26 via PS Plus last month – a substantial new spender pool. Anecdotally, a few of my mates who were ‘’skipping FIFA and Ultimate Team this year’’, were drawn back in via PS Plus. Lo and behold, one of them is buying packs like it’s going out of fashion. Whether this is all a smart trade for EA depends entirely on the Ultimate Team conversion rate over the next six weeks. Either way, the short-term engagement impact on the game as a whole is evident. FC 26‘s MAUs hit a record 24M on PlayStation in May, up 30% from the previous record set in April. GTA V does what GTA V always does Rounding out the top five is another evergreen title. Grand Theft Auto V shifted another 387K copies on PlayStation last month. No matter what else is happening in the industry, GTA V keeps pulling players in. It’s sold another 1.8M copies on PS5 in the first half of this year alone, helping the franchise pass the 230M-sold milestone across all platforms. Subscribe for free to get the most accurate games estimates in your inbox twice a week 🫶 Subscribe I have a theory that Minecraft and GTA V are doing the same thing at different demographic levels. Both are functioning as generational gateway games that the audience ages into faster than it ages out of. Minecraft captures kids around age 6-10, GTA V captures much of the same audience around age 12-15 (unofficially, of course). The crossover data suggests this: 40% of GTA V‘s monthly PlayStation players typically play Fortnite in any given month, while 30% play Roblox. Household accounts aside, that’s not the original GTA V audience from 2013. Of course, the under-12 audience would love to get their hands on GTA, too. It’s always been the way of things, and some parents are happy to oblige. Mine did too back in the day, and I turned out just fine. Right? Right!? Want to get your hands on our data for yourself – for free? We’re offering a free trial of our platform for games companies. Send us a message here, or reply to this email, and we’ll set you up. The last word Reply to this email – or reach out here – if you have any feedback for the newsletter – or want to request a game for us to cover. [Alinea Analytics boasts the most accurate PC and console estimates in the business. Game makers use our platform to understand their audience, keep an eye on the competition, monitor sales trends, and spot new opportunities. We equip game studios and financial institutions with accurate data and the confidence to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Want to talk about all things games market data? We’d love to chat!]
The Latest: Trump keeps immunity from tax probes while scrapping $1.8 billion compensation fund
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Trump administration has definitively scrapped a $1.8 billion fund to compensate President Donald Trump’s allies, but the White House is sticking with the part of the deal that permanently drops tax claims against him
The Latest: Trump keeps immunity from tax probes while scrapping $1.8 billion compensation fund
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Trump administration has definitively scrapped a $1.8 billion fund to compensate President Donald Trump's allies, but the White House is sticking with the part of the deal that permanently drops tax claims against him.
WATCH LIVE: Blanche testifies in House hearing as Trump considers dropping 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is set to return to Capitol Hill on Tuesday after the Trump administration signaled it was pausing contentious plans to move forward with a nearly $1.8 billion fund that could compensate allies of President Donald Trump who believe they have been unjustly investigated and prosecuted.
Trump retreated on his payout fund, but some Republicans want proof it’s dead
The Justice Department backed off a court fight over the nearly $1.8 billion fund for alleged victims of unfair prosecution. GOP senators say a pause isn’t a promise.
Trump pauses $1.8B fund amid legal, political setbacks
The Justice Department said it will abide by a court ruling freezing the fund
Blanche to return to Capitol Hill as Trump reconsiders $1.8 billion fund
Many Republican senators have pushed the administration to impose limits or scrap the idea altogether
Republican senators want more answers on $1.8 billion settlement fund as Trump considers its future
Senate Republicans are meeting to discuss next steps in a standoff with the White House
AP report: Trump is reconsidering $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund as DOJ temporarily pauses it
The potential retreat is a recognition of the legal setbacks the fund has encountered since it was announced two weeks ago.
Trump administration signals to GOP congressional leaders it will back off $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
The Trump administration has signaled to Republican congressional leaders that it plans to drop the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, though it was unclear how firm or permanent that plan is, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Trump's $1.8-billion fund unravels amid court setbacks, bipartisan pushback
Democrats say the concession is not enough, and are pushing legislation to ensure no president can ever attempt the creation of such a fund again.
Trump admin will pause $1.8 billion fund, complying with court order
The move announced Monday follows a ruling by a federal judge in Virginia that halted plans for the fund pending additional arguments later this month
Trump Backs Off Plan for $1.8 Billion Fund That Drew Political Backlash
The fund has drawn backlash from critics who said it was a scheme to reward President Trump’s political allies with public benefits.
Trump’s payout fund on shaky ground as Republicans push for retreat
The Justice Department said it would obey a court order pausing the nearly $1.8 billion fund, potentially signaling a broader pullback.
Trump administration says it will comply with court order that temporarily paused $1.8 billion compensation fund
The announcement from the Justice Department comes in response to a Friday court ruling by a federal judge in Virginia who ordered plans for the fund halted pending additional arguments later this month.
Trump administration says it will comply with court order to pause $1.8 billion compensation fund
The Trump administration says it will comply with a court ruling temporarily blocking a nearly $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate allies of President Donald Trump
Trump halts $1.8bn ‘anti-weaponisation’ fund amid bipartisan backlash
The announcement comes after Trump met with congressional Republicans over concerns about his settlement with the IRS.
Trump’s $1.8B ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund Dead—Reportedly After GOP Threats
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Republicans are in discussions with the White House about changing the fund.
White House still has not offered solution to GOP concerns over ‘weaponization’ fund, leaving immigration funds in limbo
Many Senate Republican remain furious at the Trump administration’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and are refusing to advance a separate bill to fund immigration enforcement until guardrails are put in place.
A New ‘Wounded Bear Caucus’ in the Senate Means More Trouble for Trump
Here is why the GOP’s split with the White House over a $1.8 billion fund could be the first of many public fights.
Trump’s $1.8bn slush fund: has the Don gone too far?
Such ‘brazen corruption’ makes the Watergate scandal look ‘almost quaint’
Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization fund’ is stalled, and some allies are urging him to scrap it entirely
President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” is currently stalled, with some allies urging the White House to scrap it altogether amid an unusually intense backlash from multiple Senate Republicans, sources familiar with the matter said.
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.
Judge temporarily blocks payouts from Trump's $1.8B 'anti-weaponization' fund
Judge Leonie Brinkema also barred the government from moving forward with the fund's creation while litigation is pending to challenge it
Women make up 53% of science & technology ranks
In 2025, more than 81.6 million people in the EU aged 15 to 74 were employed in science and technology, a 1.8% increase from 2024 (corresponding to 1.5 million of people) and a rise of 25.3% over the last decade. Of the 81.6 million people, 52.5% were women (42.8 million), working mainly in service activities. Their share increased by 2.3% compared with 2024 and by an impressive 27.9% compared with 2015, corresponding to an absolute increase of more than 9.3 million women in science and technology...
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.”
Business group helps save a flagship Florida climate program
Nationally prominent Resilient Florida has spent $1.8 billion since 2021 on flood protection. But it faced a huge cut in state funding.
‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ revives yearslong fight over Democrat-backed settlements
President Donald Trump’s nearly $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” is triggering bipartisan concern on Capitol Hill while simultaneously reigniting a years-old conservative argument against administrations from both parties using the Treasury Department’s Judgment Fund to finance politically sensitive settlements with little congressional oversight. The fund stems from Trump’s settlement with the Internal Revenue Service over the […]
Is Sony Group (TSE:6758) Pricing In Recent Entertainment And Gaming Momentum?
If you are wondering whether Sony Group stock at ¥3,598 is giving you a fair deal or not, a clear look at its valuation can help you decide how it might fit into your portfolio. The share price return is flat over the past week at 0.1%, while the stock shows a 12.2% gain over 30 days, a decline of 11.8% year to date, a 1.6% return over 1 year, 45.0% over 3 years, and 80.6% over 5 years. Taken together, these figures give mixed signals about how the market has been reassessing the stock over...
Politics chat: Tulsi Gabbard steps down, lawmakers oppose proposed $1.2 billion fund
President Trump posts that negotiations with Iran are progressing. Meanwhile, there's discontent within his own party over his midterm primary endorsements and $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund.
Politics: Trump reaches controversial $1.8 Billion IRS settlement
President Donald Trump last week reached a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service to end his $10 billion lawsuit over the leak of his tax returns, which includes a $1.8
Lawsuits and political blowback don’t dim interest in $1.8B ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’
Trump allies, Jan. 6 defendants and those pardoned for crimes during the Biden administration say they’d like a piece of the massive money pot. But challenges remain.
‘Senators are not happy’: How Trump pushed the GOP to the breaking point this week
President Donald Trump’s relationship with Senate Republicans has hit a new low after a revolt over his $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund surfaced deep divisions over the direction of the party and its priorities.
NVIDIA Earnings: New Segments And A $200B CPU TAM Reveal A Business Beyond Hyperscale
NVIDIA (NVDA) reported its 2027Q1 earnings on 5/20/2026 after the market closed. The stock had a muted reaction, falling slightly by -1.8% on 5/21/2026, the next day. However, underneath all the headline noise, what do these earnings results mean for a regular investor? We unpack below.
Lawsuit Argues Trump’s $1.8 Billion Fund Excludes Those He Targeted
The constellation of individuals and groups involved claims to have suffered partisan attacks by the federal government under Trump, yet would not be compensated.
The D.N.C. Chairman, Trump’s $1.8 Billion Fund and More Politics News
He has focused on internal politics, building a loyal base despite tactical disputes.
Trump’s ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ hit with another legal challenge
The Trump administration’s newly created nearly $1.8 billion fund for allies of President Donald Trump who say they were wrongly targeted by the government was hit with a second lawsuit on Friday, adding to the growing legal and political backlash facing the White House.
Trump’s new ‘slush fund’ for his pals
This week, Donald Trump dropped a personal $10bn lawsuit he had against the Internal Revenue Service in exchange for a so-called anti-weaponisation fund. The $1.8bn fund will be used to compensate those who think they have been unfairly investigated by the government in the past. Jonathan Freedland speaks to the legal analyst Kristy Greenberg about why critics are calling this fund ‘corruption on steroids’
In a Rarity, Republicans Stand Up to Trump
President Trump faced a wall of opposition from Senate G.O.P. lawmakers, in part over his plan to create a $1.8 billion fund to reward his allies.
GOP immigration enforcement bill stalls amid backlash to $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund
Senate Republicans abruptly left Washington on Thursday without voting on a roughly $70 billion bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies, frustrated with the White House and at an impasse over whether to try to block a new $1.776 billion settlement fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they have been politically prosecuted.
GOP senators balk at Trump's $1.8-billion 'anti-weaponization' fund, force delay in key vote
The discord marked a potential turning point for Congress, which has been largely sidelined under the second Trump administration on the war in Iran and other issues.
Read the DOJ’s memo to Republican senators on how Trump’s $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund will work
PBS News obtained the one-page summary given to Republican senators Thursday on the $1.776 billion billion fund.
Republicans recoil as Trump's billion-dollar DOJ 'slush fund' for allies threatens ICE, Border Patrol plan
Senate Republicans break with Trump over his $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, raising concerns about who gets the money and where it comes from.
A Look At WEBTOON Entertainment (WBTN) Valuation After Weak User Trends And IP Adaptation Slowdown
WEBTOON Entertainment (WBTN) is back in focus after first quarter 2026 results and fresh guidance highlighted pressure on user metrics and IP adaptation revenue, despite stable revenue and comments around paid content and advertising. See our latest analysis for WEBTOON Entertainment. The stock is trading at US$11.64 after a 2.28% 1 day share price gain. However, recent momentum has cooled, with a 7 day share price return down 15.84% and a year to date share price return down 11.88%, even as...
Data breach on New York public health system claims 1.8M victims, leaking biometric data to hackers
First revealed in March, the incident was confirmed to be months long. NYC Health + Hospitals blamed the intrusion on an unnamed third-party vendor. Stolen data includes medical records, finger and palm prints, and location data from patients and workers alike.
Why legal experts say Trump's new 'anti-weaponization' fund is unprecedented
President Donald Trump’s administration has created a nearly $1.8 billion fund to pay people who say they were victims of government “weaponization,” raising questions about whom among his allies and supporters – including those who rioted at the Capitol on Jan. 6 – might get payouts from taxpayers, as well as what kind of influence Trump will wield over the fund.
One GOP congressman is vowing to end Trump’s $1.8 billion compensation fund for allies
One Republican congressman says he is exploring ways to end the Trump Justice Department’s move to establish a tax-payer fueled “anti-weaponization” fund, a move likely to draw the ire of President Donald Trump.
Jan. 6 officers sue to block payouts to rioters from $1.8B fund
The officers' attorneys filed the federal lawsuit on Wednesday, a day after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the fund's creation
The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) • Instagram photos and videos
800 likes, 218 comments - theshaderoom on May 19, 2026: "#TSRHairDosAndDonts: #ClaressaShields says she’s back to business 🥊! (Swipe for previous post) ✍🏾: #TSRStaffST".
Blanche defends nearly $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund
The acting attorney general told lawmakers there will be quarterly reports with information about payout recipients
Trump DOJ sets up $1.8B fund for Trump’s allies
The fund was part of a settlement agreement by Trump to drop his lawsuit against the IRS
Blanche will face questions from lawmakers over a nearly $1.8B fund to compensate Trump allies
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appears on Capitol Hill for his first congressional testimony since taking over at the Justice Department.
What Flutter Entertainment (FLUT)'s Strong Q1, Leadership Shuffle and Buyback Completion Means For Shareholders
In early May 2026, Flutter Entertainment plc reported Q1 2026 revenue of US$4,304 million versus US$3,665 million a year earlier, alongside lower net income of US$218 million, refreshed full‑year revenue guidance, leadership changes at FanDuel and the international division, and completion of a US$1,241.88 million share buyback program. At the same time, stronger‑than‑anticipated Q1 operating performance, new FanDuel loyalty and product features, and a reconfigured management team sharpened...
What to know about Trump’s $1.8 billion taxpayer-fueled fund for his allies
The unprecedented lawsuit President Donald Trump brought against the Internal Revenue Service over the unauthorized disclosure of his tax returns years ago has led to an unprecedented arrangement that will make nearly $1.8 billion in taxpayer funds available to allies of the president who say they were unfairly investigated by the government in the past.
What is Trump’s $1.776 Billion ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund?
The Trump administration is creating a $1.8 billion fund to compensate people it says were wronged by the federal government, a group that could be largely made up of the president’s allies.
NYC Health and Hospitals says hackers stole medical data and fingerprints during breach affecting at least 1.8 million people
The New York public healthcare system said hackers stole personal and medical data, and scans of biometrics — including fingerprints — in one of the largest recorded breaches of 2026.
Trump drops lawsuit against IRS amid talks of establishing a $1.8 billion fund for allies
President Donald Trump is dropping his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, according to court documents, a signal that the administration is preparing to go forward with a plan to set up $1.8 billion fund that would compensate those who believe they were subject to unfair investigations under previous administrations.
Evers blames politics for tax deal failure
(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s governor says politics sank last week’s $1.8 billion tax deal, but he is also saying that he didn’t do much to help the deal.
Viltrox 75mm f/1.8 EVO for Fujifilm X – Additional Images and Shipping in June
Last month we reported about Viltrox launching two new autofocus lenses for Fujifilm X mount. Viltrox 75mm f/1.8 EVO Viltrox 90mm f/2.2 EVO While we now a lot about the Viltrox AF 90mm f/2.2 EVO, since it is listed at Amazon here with all specs and images, we knew little about the Viltrox AF 75mm…
Vast majority support $1.8B state spending plan in our reader survey
Nearly 200 readers sent in their thoughts about lawmakers' $1.8 billion compromise, with more than three-quarters saying lawmakers should pass it.
Evers, GOP leaders reach $1.8B deal to lower taxes, boost school funds
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican legislative leaders have struck a nearly $2 billion deal to deliver new funding to schools and provide tax relief.
Why Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) Is Down 6.2% After Q1 Earnings, CEO Exit And Major Buyback
In the first quarter of 2026, Flutter Entertainment reported sales of US$4,304 million, lower net income of US$218 million, and confirmed the completion of a US$1,241.88 million share buyback while announcing the departure of FanDuel CEO Amy Howe and expanded leadership roles for Christian Genetski and Dan Taylor. The combination of softer earnings, a leadership reshuffle at FanDuel, and continued capital returns via buybacks gives investors fresh information on how Flutter is balancing U.S...
Alabama college receives $1.8 million grant to improve maternal and child health
UAB’s School of Public Health will receive $1.8 million over the next five years from the Health Resources and Services Administration as a Center of Excellence in Maternal and Health Education.
Metabolic liver disease to hit 1.8bn by 2050, and other health stories
Top health news: Metabolic liver disease is on the rise; Global pandemic treaty deadline missed again; Hantavirus cases linked to cruise ship.
Cameo, speeches, pushing gold bullion: how Farage has made millions since becoming an MP
After two years in parliament, Reform UK leader has brought in £1.8m on top of his Commons salary
How credit unions help small businesses grow in Albuquerque and New Mexico
Albuquerque businesses share how local credit unions help them manage growth, avoid cash crunches and stay rooted in community.
EU business investment rate hit 21.8% low in Q4 2025
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the EU business investment rate reached 21.8%, the lowest point since the third quarter of 2015. Since 2014, the EU’s non-financial corporation investment rate has shown 2 clear trends, with notable spikes. Between 2014 and 2018, the investment rate rose steadily from 22% to nearly...
Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) Is One Of The Best Dip Stocks To Buy According To Billionaires
With billionaire investments in the stock totaling $1.89 billion, Flutter Entertainment plc (NYSE:FLUT) earns a spot on our list of the best dip stocks according to billionaires. As of April 22, 2026, Flutter Entertainment plc (NYSE:FLUT) has the confidence of 80% of covering analysts, who remain bullish on the stock. Despite the 50.56% one-year decline, […]
Apollo to buy auto interiors business from Forvia
The carve-out values the unit at more than €1.8bn
Apollo Acquires Forvia’s Auto Interiors Unit for €1.82 Billion
Apollo Global Management Inc. agreed to buy Forvia SE’s auto interiors business for an enterprise value of €1.82 billion ($2.1 billion), according to an announcement Monday.
Forvia to sell its interiors business to Apollo Funds for $2.1 billion
French car parts supplier Forvia will sell its Interiors business to Apollo Funds for 1.82 billion euros ($2.13 billion), it said on Monday.
FORVIA to Sell its Interiors Business Group to Apollo Funds
FORVIA, a global automotive technology supplier listed on Euronext Paris, today announced that Apollo-managed funds (“Apollo Funds”) have agreed to acquire the FORVIA Interiors business group, based on an enterprise value of €1.82 billion (the “Transaction”).
PENN Entertainment (PENN) Near Breakeven Q1 Loss Tests Bullish Profitability Narratives
PENN Entertainment (PENN) opened Q1 2026 with revenue of US$1.8b and a basic EPS loss of US$0.02, alongside net income excluding extraordinary items of a US$2.3m loss. The company’s quarterly revenue moved from US$1.7b in Q1 2025 to US$1.8b in Q1 2026, while EPS shifted from a profit of US$0.73 to a small loss in the latest quarter, creating a mixed picture of topline scale against continued pressure on profitability and margins. See our full analysis for PENN Entertainment. With the headline...
Elevance Health raises 2026 outlook as it posts $1.8B in Q1 profit
Elevance Health is raising its guidance for 2026 even as its Q1 profits declined year-over-year. | Elevance Health is raising its guidance for 2026 even as its Q1 profits declined year-over-year.
Coachella wraps up today with Karol G.
This is also your last chance to catch any performances you might have missed. Last week I missed out on Clipse, Young Thug, The Rapture, and Tomora, so they’re my priority. But I also am looking forward to Röyksopp, who didn’t make the stream last weekend. Head over to the official Coachella YouTube channel. [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Coachella-2026-Livestream-Set-Times-Weekend-2-V3-Sunday-April-19.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]
A Look At AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC) Valuation After Recent Share Price Momentum
AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC) has recently drawn fresh attention as the share price moved to US$1.86, with a one-month return of 89.7% and a three-month return of 15.5%. See our latest analysis for AMC Entertainment Holdings. While the recent 1 month share price return of 89.7% suggests strong short term momentum, the 1 year total shareholder return decline of 33.1% and 5 year total shareholder return decline of 96.6% highlight how volatile the ride has been for long term holders. If fast...
Dodgers fan awarded $11.8 million by jury after partial blinding by LAPD during World Series celebration
Esports player Isaac Castellanos was out celebrating the Dodgers' 2020 title when he was hit in the eye with a less-lethal projectile.
Hochuls rake in $1.86 million in income in 2025, tax documents show
Hochul raked in $250,000 as the nation’s highest-paid governor.
The Final Frontier Is Becoming Big Business. Here Are 3 Space Stocks to Buy Now.
The space economy is projected to grow to $1.8 trillion over the next decade, and these three stocks could be big winners.