Month: August 2022

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed a semiconductors investment bill in a bid to boost the competitiveness of the country’s industry against China.

Biden has termed the CHIPs and Science Act as a “once in a generation investment in America itself,” and said the bill will create good jobs, employ workers and help grow the US economy.
“Today, I sign into law the CHIPS and Science Act. It’s a once-in-a-generation law that invests in America by supercharging our efforts to make semiconductors here at home. Today represents a more secure economy, jobs, and a stronger future for our nation. America is delivering,” Biden tweeted.

The US Senate last month passed a USD 280 billion Industrial Policy bill to counter China and bolster American competitive edge and national security.

In an earlier statement, Biden said Americans are worried about the state of the economy and the CHIPS bill is one answer.

He said this bill will accelerate the manufacturing of semiconductors in America, lowering prices on everything from cars to dishwashers.

The legislation reflected a remarkable and rare consensus in an otherwise polarized Congress in favour of forging a long-term strategy to address the nation’s intensifying geopolitical rivalry with Beijing.

It promises to create jobs and result in more resilient American supply chains. The bill is expected to pave the way for the construction of factories across the country and, along with that, an estimated tens of thousands of jobs.

The bill, a convergence of economic and national security policy, would provide USD 52 billion in subsidies and additional tax credits to companies that manufacture chips in the United States.

It also would add USD 200 billion in scientific research, especially in artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum computing and a range of other technologies, The New York Times reported.

Many senators, including Republicans, saw the legislation as a critical step to strengthen America’s semiconductor manufacturing abilities at a time when the nation has become perilously reliant on foreign countries — especially an increasingly vulnerable Taiwan — for advanced chips.

Enactment of the legislation is considered a critical step to strengthening America’s semiconductor abilities at a time when the share of modern manufacturing capacity in the United States has plummeted and left the nation increasingly reliant on foreign countries. (ANI)

JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar is likely to take oath as Bihar’s chief minister again on Wednesday afternoon, according to a tweet by his new alliance partner Rashtriya Janata Dal.

“The swearing-in ceremony of Honorable Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister will be held tomorrow at 2 pm at Raj Bhavan,” the party said in a tweet from its official handle.

While the RJD tweet did not mention any names, it is widely expected that Nitish Kumar would be the chief minister while Tejashwi Yadav would become his deputy.

In a day of fast-paced political developments, Bihar’s chief minister Nitish Kumar twice met Governor Phagu Chauhan, first to hand over his resignation as NDA chief minister and then after being elected leader of the RJD-led `Mahagathbandhan’ (grand alliance) to stake claim for the top job in the state once again.

Kumar said he submitted a list of 164 MLAs to the governor who will decide when the oath-taking can take place. The effective strength of the state Assembly is 242 and the magic figure is 122.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday lashed out JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar’s decision to resign as the Chief Minister of Bihar and stake claim to form a government with Opposition parties in the state, saying that ‘Kumar has disrespected the mandate of Bihar’s people’.

Addressing a short presser in Patna today, Prasad said, “Nitish Kumar has left and said that BJP was trying to destroy his party…BJP made him a union minister several times. He was also made a Chief Minister. Why did he re-think his decision on alliance with RJD in 2015 and come to BJP in 2017?.”

“Nitish Kumar is disrespecting the mandate of Bihar’s people. It’s baseless allegation that BJP was trying to destroy JD(U),” said BJP MP RS Prasad today.

Hours after resigning as Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said that he has submitted a list of 164 MLAs to the Bihar Governor and staked claim to form a new government.

“We submitted a list of 164 MLAs to the governor and staked claim to form a new government. He will let us know when oath-taking can take place,” Nitish told reporters.

Notably, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar has been elected as the leader of Mahagathbandhan or the Grand Alliance.

Nitish Kumar called off the alliance between the JD(U) and BJP in Bihar and resigned as the state’s chief minister on Tuesday. Nitish Kumar met Tejashwi Yadav after resigning as CM and the duo met the Governor to stake claim to the government.

After meeting the Bihar Governor, JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar said, “We have the support of seven parties and one Independent MLA. The letter of support has been signed by all.”

Former Union minister RCP Singh, who quit JD(U) amid a rift with Nitish Kumar, said that JD(U) snapping ties with BJP and joining hands with Tejashwi Yadav is a betrayal of the 2020 mandate.

Earlier, in the JD(U) meeting today, all MLAs and MPs of the party supported chief minister Kumar’s decision and said that they were with him. They also asserted that they will continue to support Kumar in his decision. (ANI)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigned on Tuesday breaking his alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Kumar, earlier in the day, held a meeting with the JD(U) leaders to discuss his next future political moves. He then sought time from Governor Phagu Chauhan.
Around 4 pm, Kumar arrived at Raj Bhavan and met Governor Phagu Chauhan and apprised him of his decision to quit as the state chief minister.

Earlier, in the JD(U) meeting today, all MLAs and MPs of the party supported chief minister Kumar’s decision and said that they were with him. They also asserted that they will continue to support Kumar in his decision.

Police personnel were seen deployed in force outside the chief minister’s residence.

According to sources, many JD(U) legislators told chief minister Kumar in today’s meeting that the alliance with the BJP had weakened them since 2020.

Without naming Chirag Paswan, the legislators are reported to have recalled the actions of former Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief during the 2020 state assembly polls while warning the CM that if they were not alert, it would not be good for the party.

Paswan had fielded rebel BJP candidates in all seats fought by the JD(U) in the 2020 polls, in what some have alleged was part of a plot of the BJP to wedge its way into the ruling coalition in the state.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan opposition alliance was also held here today at former chief minister Rabri Devi’s residence with the participation of leaders of the CPI-ML and the Congress – part of the Opposition ‘Mahagathbandhan’ alliance in the state.

According to sources, after the meeting Rashtriya Janata Dal MLAs, MLCs and Rajya Sabha MP authorised party leader Tejashwi Yadav to take a decision and asserted their support to him. According to sources, Congress and Left parties MLAs have also expressed their supported to Yadav.

Sources said that RJD party supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav is closely watching the developments but everything was being done by Tejashwi Yadav.

Meanwhile, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter Rohini Acharya took to Twitter to post about an impending political change in the state.”Get ready for the coronation, lantern holder”, she tweeted in Hindi and added a ‘victory’ emoticon to it.

The RJD-led Opposition in the state has said that it will welcome any re-alignment in Bihar’s ruling coalition without the BJP.

Ahead of the RJD convened meeting today, Congress Bihar legislature party leader Ajit Sharma said: “If Nitish Kumar comes, we’ll welcome him. If he comes we will support him.A meeting of Mahagathbandhan is being held. We should take a decision to support (him) by considering Nitish Kumar as the CM but we’ll be able to tell you only after the meeting.”

Bihar BJP leaders also met at deputy chief minister Tarkishore Prasad’s residence in Patna on Tuesday. (ANI)

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu on Tuesday said China used the military drills to influence the international community’s freedom of navigation in the waters and airspace of the Taiwan Strait and to prepare for an invasion.

Addressing an international press conference, Wu said China’s decision to carry out military exercises in areas surrounding Taiwan is a gross violation of Taiwan’s rights under international law and gravely threatens regional peace and security.
“…China has used the drills in its military playbook to prepare for the invasion of Taiwan. It is conducting large-scale military exercises and missile launches, as well as cyberattacks, disinformation, and economic coercion, in an attempt to weaken public morale in Taiwan,” he said.

“…in terms of the range of its missile tests, China is clearly trying to deter other countries from interfering in its attempt to invade Taiwan,” he added.

Tensions erupted in the Taiwan strait last week after the visit of US Congressional delegation, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Taiwan welcomed the visit saying said this trip “once again emphasizes the rock-solid US commitment to Taiwan.”

This high-stakes visit marked the first visit by a US House Speaker in 25 years since Newt Gingrich came to Taiwan in April 1997. It was also Speaker Pelosi’s first trip to Taiwan in over two decades.

China started conducting a number of military exercises near Taiwan which Beijing regards as its breakaway province. More than 100 Chinese warplanes and 10 warships have taken part in the live-fire military drills surrounding Taiwan over the last few days. Multiple Chinese planes and ships were detected around Taiwan Strait, simulating an attack on its main island.

Wu said these joint exercises have had a serious impact on international transportation and trade and hindered the normal operations of one of the busiest air and shipping routes in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Taiwanese minister described large-scale military exercises as a serious provocation and strongly condemned China’s extremely irresponsible behaviour.

The Chinese military drills that started last week in at least six areas around the island, were slated to end on Sunday. But the Chinese military today said it will continue drills near Taiwan focused on anti-submarine and air-to-ship strikes.

In an interview with CNN, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister said he is not sure whether the leadership in Beijing “have made up their mind” to use force to take Taiwan.

“The important thing for us is that we need to be prepared,” he said in the CNN interview. “We want to defend the freedom and democracy that we enjoy over here. Nobody can take that away from us.” (ANI)

Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin today informed his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan that the Mullaperiyar Dam is safe in all aspects.

Earlier on August 5, the Kerala CM wrote to Stalin seeking his intervention in regulating water discharge from Mullaperiyar dam, where the water level has gone beyond the permissible level of 136 ft.
In a reply to that letter, the TN CM said, “I wish to reassure that Mullaperiyar Dam is safe in all aspects and flood regulation of the dam is being done as per the Rule curve and gate operation schedule approved by Central Water Commission in February 2021.”

“Our dam management team is very focused on the precautionary measures to be taken on time for ensuring the safety of the people residing downstream of the Mullaperiyar Dam,” Stalin further said.

Vijayan said in his letter to Stalin “As you are aware, the State of Kerala has been experiencing heavy rainfall for the last few days. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has already issued a red alert in several districts of Kerala, including Idukki, and the water level of Mullaperiyar Dam is nearing 136 feet. If this situation persists, there will be a drastic rise in the water level in the dam due to the heavy inflow into the dam”.

Vijayan also requested the TN CM that “Kindly give directions to the authorities concerned to ensure that the outflow/discharge from the dam is more than the inflow, taking into consideration the heavy rainfall in the catchment area of Mullaperiyar Dam”.

However, accusing the ruling government, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O Panneerselvam said, “When AIADMK was in power, the Mullaperiyar dam was held up to 142 feet several times but this system was not followed for two years after DMK came to power.”

Following this, there have been reports that the Tamil Nadu government has released 534 cubic feet of water per second from the Mullaperiyar dam to the Kerala region without consulting the farmers of Tamil Nadu.

Farmers from Madurai, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts of Tamil Nadu who benefit from the Mullaperiyar dam claim that the “rule curve” is the reason why the Mullaperiyar dam does not store water up to 142 feet. The agricultural unions have also strongly condemned this “rule curve” provision.

This “rule curve” rule is said to be the reason for the release of water from the Mullaperiyar dam.

A rule curve is a measure that defines the storage or the vacant space maintained in a reservoir at different times of the year. (ANI)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has sought an appointment with Governor Phagu Chauhan, sources said on Tuesday.

This came after the chief minister chaired a meeting of JD(U) legislators and MPs at the residence of Kumar in Patna following the resignation of party leader RCP Singh on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Congress and Left party leaders and MLAs also converged today at the residence of Rabri Devi here for a meeting convened by the opposition RJD.

The BJP also held a meeting of its top leaders at Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishor Prasad’s residence here. (ANI)

Almost a week before the 75th Independence Day of the country, an incident of firing on Assam Rifles troops by militant groups from across the Indo-Myanmar Border took place in the gen area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap Changlang on Tuesday, Defence PRO of Tezpur informed.

According to the Defence PRO, the incident took place while the troops were undertaking enhanced patrolling activities in view of heightened vigil for the forthcoming Independence Day.
One Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) sustained a minor injury in his hand. No other injury or damage has been reported so far.

Enhanced surveillance by own troops to continue. (ANI)

Uttar Pradesh police on Tuesday arrested Srikant Tyagi, who was recently seen in a viral video assaulting and abusing a woman at Grand Omaxe in Noida’s Sector 93 and was on a run ever since.

He was arrested by the police near Noida.
The police had already recovered four luxury vehicles owned by Tyagi and had bulldozed his residence in the society, following which the other people in the society distributed sweets amongst themselves.

The Noida administration began the demolition of illegal construction at the Sector 93 residence of Tyagi on Monday.

The demolition exercise came a day after an FIR was lodged against Tyagi after a group of his supporters entered the society on Sunday and started shouting slogans and creating a ruckus in the society.

Police had also invoked the Gangster Act against Tyagi who was on the run.

Tyagi, who claims to be a member of Bharatiya Janata Party’s Kishan Morcha, has been accused of allegedly abusing and pushing a woman who is a resident of Grand Omaxe society in Noida’s Sector 93B, during an argument.

Noida Police had said that IPC sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 447 (punishment for criminal trespass) have been added to the FIR registered on Friday.

Additional DCP Ranvijay Singh said, “A separate FIR under IPC sections 419 (punishment for cheating by personation), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 482 (punishment for using a false property mark) has been registered against the accused in light of the Fortuner car recovered from the society premises on Saturday. (ANI)

Amid reports of an ongoing rift between Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar, MLAs and leaders of the Rashtriya Janata Dal arrived at the residence of Rabri Devi, wife of party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in Patna on Tuesday.

The meeting of the RJD convened by its leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the son of Lalu Yadav also saw leaders of the CPI ML and Congress – part of Mahagathbandhan, the grand Opposition alliance in the state, according to Ajit Sharma, Congress Bihar legislature party leader
The RJD leaders arriving for the meeting were asked to hand over their mobile phones ahead of the meeting.

Rumours of a growing rift between the BJP-JDU) ie the NDA alliance in Bihar intensified after Kumar skipped a key meeting of the NITI Aayog, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday and JD(U) leader RCP Singh tendered his resignation from the party. Singh, once considered a close aide of Nitish Kumar had announced his exit from the party after being served a notice seeking an explanation on allegations of corruption.

The RJD-led Opposition in the state has meanwhile said that it will welcome any re-alignment in Bihar’s ruling coalition without the BJP.

“For a long time the people of Bihar had been wanting the government with BJP to go and a people’s government to be formed. The BJP which has captured the Parliament wanted to do the same in Bihar assembly but we will not let their intentions succeed. We will support the overthrow of the BJP from power,” said Mahboob Alam, MLA of the CPI (ML) who arrived for the RJD meeting today.

Bihar Congress chief Madan Mohan Jha said “There seems to be a situation of instability and in such a situation then definitely something will come out. The Central government has been using the central agencies. The situation has never been right for the past one year.”

The Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahani had earlier said that the BJP is indulging in politics of finishing its own alliance partners in many states. “It tried to break the JD(U) but Kumar took action. Earlier too, it did politics through Chirag Paswan. It’s better to take timely action,” Sahani said.

Separately, chief minister Nitish Kumar has also called a meeting at his official residence here of members of both houses of Parliament and the state legislature. JD(U) MLC Kumud Verma and party MP Sunil Kumar were seen arriving at the residence of Chief Minister.

The RJD had emerged as the single-largest party in the 2020 Assembly elections in which the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 125 seats- BJP won 74 , the JD(U) bagged 43, the Vikassheel Insaan Party got 4 and Hindustan Awaam Party (Secular) bagged 4 seats. (ANI)

The Monsoon Session of the Parliament ended four days ahead of schedule.

The ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, which began on July 18, entered its final week, and though the session was scheduled to conclude on August 12, both the Houses of the Parliament adjourned sine die.

Today, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu were accorded a farewell in the House with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top leaders in attendance. Naidu demits office on Wednesday and his successor Jagdeep Dhankhar will take the oath of office on August 11.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hailed M Venkaiah Naidu’s wit and one-liners as he praised his five-year term as vice president and Rajya Sabha chairman during which the “productivity of the House increased 70 per cent”.

In his farewell speech for Naidu in Rajya Sabha, PM Modi said the outgoing chairman encouraged dialogue and has set standards and legacy that will continue to guide his successors. Naidu completes his five-year term on August 10.

“We are not enemies, we are rivals. We must work hard to outshine others in competition but not run down others. My wish is that Parliament functions well… I’m thankful and moved by your love and affection,” said M Venkaiah Naidu, in his last remarks as the Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President.

Members cutting across party lines Monday bade farewell to vice president M Venkaiah Naidu, lauding his role as Rajya Sabha chairman and recollecting how he inspired and allowed them to speak in their native languages. While some Opposition members urged him to pen an autobiography, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge appreciated how Naidu functioned despite being “under pressure”.

Throughout the session, which began on July 18, the government and opposition have been at loggerheads over a host of issues, including inflation, alleged misuse of central agencies against opposition leaders, etc. During the second week, as many as 24 MPs (20 from Rajya Sabha and 4 from Lok Sabha) were suspended. However, the suspension of the Lok Sabha members – all from Congress – was later revoked. (ANI)