The U.S. government announced Monday a $6.4 billion subsidy for South Korean tech giant Samsung to build advanced computer chip manufacturing facilities in the Austin area, the latest wave of government funding meant to bring more chip-making production to the United States.
Washington
U.S. gives Samsung $6.4 billion to build new chip factories in Texas
The deal with Samsung comes a week after the government announced a $6.6 billion subsidy for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., or TSMC, to expand its operations in Arizona. The payments are part of the 2022 CHIPS Act, which includes a pot of $39 billion in subsidies to encourage U.S. and foreign companies to build in the United States. So far, the government has allotted around $23 billion of that money to a handful of companies.
“The whole chain, R&D to packaging, is concentrated in a couple of Asian locations and that leaves the U.S. supply chain incredibly vulnerable to disruption. That’s untenable,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in a call with reporters ahead of the announcement. “We are now making these investments which will allow the United States to once again lead the world.”
Although U.S. companies like Intel and Nvidia design many of the most advanced computer chips, they are overwhelmingly built in a small handful of facilities in Taiwan and South Korea. TSMC makes the vast majority of the world’s most advanced chips in Taiwan, raising concerns that if China invades or increases its influence over the island, the United States could be cut off from a technology that has become crucial for every industry, as well as the U.S. military.
The artificial intelligence boom, which demands the most advanced chips to train and run AI algorithms, has only added more urgency to calls from industry and national security leaders to expand U.S. chip-making capacity.
Building the most advanced computer chips, which are many times smaller than a human red blood cell, is a devilishly difficult task. A single chip factory, known as a “fab,” can take a decade and $20 billion to build. In Taiwan, they run 24 hours a day, monitored by highly specialized engineers in dust- and static-free “clean rooms.”
U.S. companies moved production overseas decades ago, seeking lower labor costs in an extremely competitive industry. But as Asian companies developed ever more advanced manufacturing techniques, the United States fell behind. TSMC executives have complained that U.S. workers and engineers aren’t up to the task of constructing and running such a difficult manufacturing process.
The Samsung deal includes around $40 million for job training, and the government expects the project to create over 17,000 construction jobs and 4,500 manufacturing positions in the next five years, according to a press release from the Commerce Department.
DE Dawuane Smoot, LB Foyesade Oluokun, TE Brenton Strange, S Eric Murray, and S Antonio Johnson speak with the media after practice on Thursday ahead of the Wild Card Matchup vs. Bills.
0:00 – 2:28 – DE Dawuane Smoot
2:29 – 6:24 – LB Foyesade Oluokun
6:25 – 9:25 – TE Brenton Strange
9:26 – 11:32 – S Eric Murray
11:33 – 13:46 – S Antonio Johnson
DUBAI, Jan 11 (Reuters) – Iran warned President Donald Trump on Sunday that any U.S. attack would lead to Tehran striking back against Israel and regional U.S. military bases as “legitimate targets”, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told parliament.
Israel is on high alert for the possibility of a U.S. intervention to support a nationwide protest movement in Iran, sources said.
Sign up here.
Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by William Mallard
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Washington
Washington National Opera cuts ties with the Kennedy Center after longstanding partnership | CNN Politics
The Washington National Opera on Friday announced it is parting ways with the Kennedy Center after more than a decade with the arts institution.
“Today, the Washington National Opera announced its decision to seek an amicable early termination of its affiliation agreement with the Kennedy Center and resume operations as a fully independent nonprofit entity,” the opera said in a statement.
The decoupling marks another high-profile withdrawal since President Donald Trump and his newly installed board of trustees instituted broad thematic and cosmetic changes to the building, including renaming the facility “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
The opera said it plans to “reduce its spring season and relocate performances to new venues.”
A source familiar with the dynamic told CNN the decision to part ways was made by the opera’s board and its leadership, and that the decision was not mutual.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said in a statement, “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with the WNO due to a financially challenging relationship. We believe this represents the best path forward for both organizations and enables us to make responsible choices that support the financial stability and long-term future of the Trump Kennedy Center.”
Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell, who was appointed by Trump’s hand-picked board, said on X, “Having an exclusive relationship has been extremely expensive and limiting in choice and variety.”
Grenell added, “Having an exclusive Opera was just not financially smart. And our patrons clearly wanted a refresh.”
Since taking the reins at the center, Grenell has cut existing staff, hired political allies and mandated a “break-even policy” for every performance.
The opera said the new policy was a factor in its decision to leave the center.
“The Center’s new business model requires productions to be fully funded in advance—a requirement incompatible with opera operations,” the opera said.
Francesca Zambello, the opera’s artistic director, said she is “deeply saddened to leave The Kennedy Center.”
“In the coming years, as we explore new venues and new ways of performing, WNO remains committed to its mission and artistic vision,” she said.
The New York Times first reported the opera’s departure.
Founded in 1956 as the “Opera Society of Washington,” the group has performed across the district, taking permanent residency in the Kennedy Center in 2011.
The performing arts center has been hit with a string of abrupt cancellations from artists in recent weeks including the jazz group The Cookers and New York City-based dance company Doug Varone and Dancers who canceled their performances after Trump’s name was added to the center – a living memorial for assassinated President John F. Kennedy.
The American College Theater Festival voted to suspend its relationship with the Kennedy Center, calling the affiliation “no longer viable” and citing concerns over a misalignment of the group’s values.
American banjo player Béla Fleck withdrew his upcoming performance with the National Symphony Orchestra, saying that performing at the center has become “charged and political.”
The Brentano String Quartet, who canceled their February 1 performance at the Kennedy Center, said they will “regretfully forego performing there.”
CNN has reached out to the Kennedy Center on the additional cancellations.
The opera said, “The Board and management of the company wish the Center well in its own future endeavors.”
CNN’s Betsy Klein and Nicky Robertson contributed to this report.
Illinois2 minutes ago
Illinois lawmakers to tackle Chicago Bears stadium, pensions, taxes
Indiana8 minutes ago
It’s been a predictably tough year for Indiana, even with Pascal Siakam playing like an All-Star
Iowa14 minutes ago
James Madison transfer Trent Wilson details commitment to Iowa football
Kansas20 minutes ago
Kansas Bird Flu Tops Nation
Kentucky26 minutes ago
Kentucky Lawmaker Proposes Bill Targeting CAW
Florida1 year ago
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Connecticut2 years ago
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
Oregon2 years ago
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Virginia1 year ago
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Education2 years ago
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Politics6 hours ago
Rep Ro Khanna demands prosecution of ICE agent in Minneapolis fatal shooting
World7 hours ago
Syrian army sends troops to rural Aleppo to stop any SDF attempt to regroup
News7 hours ago
Iran acknowledges mass protest deaths, but claims situation under control as Trump mulls response
Videos15 hours ago
The Mayor of London explains why he thinks London is getting safer | BBC Newscast
News17 hours ago
Video: What Our Photographer Saw in Minneapolis
-
Detroit, MI1 week ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology7 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX4 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Delaware4 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Montana3 days agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says
-
Dallas, TX1 week agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Iowa7 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Virginia3 days agoVirginia Tech gains commitment from ACC transfer QB