Michel Barnier: French PM to resign after government collapse  

BBC News,

France’s Prime Minister Michel Barnier is expected to resign following a no-confidence vote in Parliament, marking the collapse of his government just three months into his tenure. The motion was passed overwhelmingly, with 331 votes in favor, surpassing the required 288. The prime minister will likely remain in a caretaker role while President Emmanuel Macron selects a successor, a process that may take several weeks. This marks the first time in over 60 years that a French government has been voted down. Barnier’s controversial decision to use special powers to pass his budget, which was heavily criticized by both the far-right National Rally and the left-wing New Popular Front, led to his downfall. While Macron’s position remains unaffected by the resignation, opposition parties are now openly calling for his resignation and early elections.

China bans exports to US of gallium, germanium, antimony in response to chip sanctions  

AP News,

China has banned the export of gallium, germanium, antimony, and other critical materials used in technology and military applications to the United States. This move follows the U.S.’s expansion of export controls on Chinese semiconductor manufacturing equipment, which were put in place to curb China’s technological advancements. The Chinese government expressed strong opposition to what it described as the U.S. “abusing export controls” and overstepping national security boundaries. The ban targets materials crucial for manufacturing semiconductors, mobile phones, cars, solar panels, and military tech. With China controlling a significant portion of the global supply of these materials, the move is expected to have wide-reaching effects on industries in the U.S.

US blasts China’s export ban on key minerals, vows ‘necessary steps’  

South China Morning Post,

The United States has condemned China’s recent decision to restrict the export of gallium, germanium, and graphite, key minerals used in both military and civilian technologies. U.S. officials have promised to take “necessary steps” to mitigate the impact and prevent further actions they deem coercive. This ban follows a series of U.S. actions aimed at limiting China’s access to advanced technologies, including restrictions on semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The U.S. Department of Commerce has expanded its own export controls, adding 140 Chinese companies to its entity list. China produces a vast majority of these minerals, making this a significant blow to U.S. industries reliant on these materials for everything from 5G infrastructure to defense applications.

India’s ‘blockbuster’ drugs to combat antibiotic-resistant superbugs  

BBC News,

India is making strides in the battle against antibiotic-resistant “superbugs,” with several locally developed drugs showing promise in treating severe, drug-resistant infections. Enmetazobactam, the first antimicrobial drug developed in India to be approved by the U.S. FDA, targets the defense mechanisms of bacteria rather than the bacteria itself, preserving the effectiveness of last-resort antibiotics. Mumbai-based Wockhardt is also testing a new antibiotic, Zaynich, which has shown promising results in treating superbugs in critically ill patients. With drug-resistant infections causing thousands of deaths annually in India, the development of these new antibiotics is a significant step forward. However, experts warn that responsible usage and proper prescription practices will be crucial to ensuring the long-term success of these drugs.

Australia is banning social media for people under 16. Could this work elsewhere — or even there?  

AP News,

Australia has enacted a law banning children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. The new regulation, which will take effect in 2025, aims to protect children from the harmful effects of social media, including mental health issues and exposure to inappropriate content. The law holds social media companies liable for fines of up to $33 million Australian dollars for failing to prevent underage users. While the move has garnered support from some parents and child safety experts, others have raised concerns about the impact on free speech and privacy. Experts also question how effective the enforcement will be and whether it might have unintended consequences for youth socialization.

‘Accidental discovery’ creates candidate for universal memory – a weird semiconductor that consumes a billion times less power 

Live Science,

Scientists have discovered a breakthrough in memory technology that could revolutionize data storage. Using indium selenide, a unique material, researchers have found a way to reduce the energy consumption of phase-change memory (PCM) by up to a billion times. PCM is a promising technology that could combine the benefits of both short-term memory (RAM) and long-term storage (SSDs), allowing devices to store data with minimal power usage. The new discovery, which bypasses the traditional high-energy melt-quench process, could lead to the development of low-power memory devices for electronics. Researchers are excited about the potential for this discovery to enhance memory technologies and make them more sustainable for future applications.