➀ Russia fines Google an astronomical amount of 2 undecillion rubles for blocking pro-Russian channels on YouTube; ➁ The fine is described as 'a case with many, many zeroes'; ➂ Google's Russian subsidiary declared bankruptcy in 2022 but still operates services in Russia.
Recent #Russia news in the semiconductor industry
1. Russian President Vladimir Putin is pushing for the development of a domestic gaming console to compete with Xbox and PlayStation. 2. The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade is seeking a company to help create the console and is also discussing with businesses to assess the feasibility of the project. 3. Experts are skeptical about the project's success without significant government subsidies, considering the high costs and time required to develop a competitive console.
➀ On March 26, 2000, Vladimir Putin won the Russian presidential election, succeeding Boris Yeltsin.
➁ Over the next 25 years, Putin has tightened his grip on power, switching roles between president and prime minister.
➂ In 2020, Putin amended the constitution to allow him to run for re-election in 2024 and 2030, potentially extending his rule until 2036.
➀ The world's total nuclear power capacity stands at 396 GW with 299 GW underway; China is set to become the leader with 176 GW if all planned reactors are completed. ➁ The US plans to add 7 GW, while France, Russia, and India are also expanding their nuclear capacity. ➂ Poland, France, the US, and Iran are among countries planning to build new nuclear plants.
➀ Russia unveils a plan to develop its own EUV lithography machines; ➁ The machines will use a laser with a 11.2nm wavelength, incompatible with existing EUV infrastructure; ➂ The development is divided into three stages, with the first focusing on foundational research.
➀ Dutch Minister of Asylum and Migration has imposed a 20-year entry ban on a former ASML employee.
➁ The ex-employee, a 43-year-old Russian engineer, is also facing charges for violating sanctions regulations.
➂ He is accused of stealing ASML and Mapper Lithography chip technology documents over the years.
➀ Two internet cables between Sweden and Finland suffered damage, one caused by construction and the other under investigation; ➁ The incident highlights the vulnerability of communications cables and the potential for global internet chaos; ➂ While the damage is not related to tensions between Russia and NATO, it raises concerns about cybersecurity and the importance of undersea cables.
➀ Russian court imposes a massive fine of 2 undecillion roubles on Google; ➁ Fine relates to blocking access to 17 Russian TV channels; ➂ Penalty could increase if Google does not comply within nine months.
➀ Russia has allocated over 240 billion rubles ($2.54 billion) to support the development of domestic semiconductor manufacturing equipment, CAD tools, and raw materials. The goal is to achieve domestic substitution for about 70% of foreign semiconductor equipment and materials by 2030. ➁ Over 50 organizations are involved in the implementation of this plan, with 110 projects in total. ➂ The Russian government aims to develop domestic alternatives for about 70% of the equipment and raw materials required for microelectronics production, focusing on technologies from 180nm to 28nm.
➀ NATO believes Russia could disrupt global internet and GPS services. ➁ Russia is suspected of mapping undersea fiber optic cables and has already carried out smaller-scale attacks. ➂ NATO is enhancing surveillance and developing systems to reroute communications via satellite in response.
❶ The U.S. Commerce Department reports a 20% drop in shipments of high-performance processors to Russia from China and Hong Kong. ❷ Despite this, Hong Kong remains a crucial hub for sanctions evasion, facilitating the flow of restricted components to Russia. ❸ The decline in illicit shipments is attributed to aggressive enforcement by U.S. authorities and proactive engagement with companies to prevent diversion of products to Russia.
1. Russian chip entrepreneurs are discouraged by mistrust of government funding and reluctance of foreign investors; 2. The Russian Electronics Corporation (REC) has not effectively invested in the sector; 3. Despite potential, there is no significant fabless chip industry in Russia due to lack of technology transfer and outside expertise.
1. Space scientists from various countries, including Russia, gathered in Florence for the annual COSPAR meeting and a four-day symposium. 2. The meeting focused on atmospheric physics and satellite tracking, with significant contributions from American and British scientists. 3. Russian achievements included launching sounding rockets and a Venus probe, though contact with the probe was lost.
1. The Russian government is actively seeking a company to develop a domestic game console or a Steam Deck analog. 2. This initiative is part of Russia's efforts to promote homegrown technology despite facing significant technology and scale issues. 3. The project aims to reduce reliance on foreign technology and foster domestic innovation in the gaming sector.
1. The U.S. has strengthened sanctions against Russia, adding several companies, including Beijing Deepcool Industries Co Ltd, to an embargo list. 2. Deepcool is accused of supplying over $1 million worth of CHPL items to Russian companies, allegedly supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. 3. This sanction means Deepcool's U.S. branch must cease operations immediately, and sales of Deepcool products in the U.S. may also be halted.