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Submission + - Foxconn Tells Wisconsin It Never Promised To Build an LCD Factory (theverge.com) 1

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: In October, Wisconsin denied Foxconn subsidies because it had failed to build the LCD factory specified in its contract with the state. As The Verge reported, it had created a building one-twentieth the size of the promised factory, taken out a permit to use it for storage, and failed to employ anywhere near the number of employees the contract called for. Nevertheless, Foxconn publicly objected “on numerous grounds” to Wisconsin’s denial of subsidies. Documents obtained through a records request show Foxconn’s rationale: it doesn’t think it was specifically promising to build an LCD factory at all. According to a November 23rd letter to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), Foxconn does not think the factory specified in the contract, an enormous Generation 10.5 LCD fabrication facility, was actually a “material” part of the contract. (“Material” is a legal term that means relevant or significant.)

“As you confirmed on November 10, 2020, the only reason the WEDC made the determination that the Recipients are ineligible for tax credits is because the WEDC believes the Recipients have failed to carry out the ‘Project,’” Foxconn wrote. “Thus, WEDC’s determination of ineligibility is based off its belief that the Generation 10.5 TFT-LCD Fabrication Facility is a material term of the Agreement.” Rather, Foxconn claimed it and WEDC had a “mutual understanding” that it would build something more vaguely defined, “a transformational and sustainable high-tech manufacturing and technology ecosystem in Wisconsin that brings long-term investment and jobs.” However, Foxconn did express openness to amending its contract to allow for more flexibility in what it was building in exchange for lower subsidies. [...] WEDC ended the letter by reiterating it was open to amending the contract to reflect Foxconn’s current plans. [...] But such an amendment hinges, as always, on Foxconn telling Wisconsin what it is actually building.

Submission + - Chang'e 5 Returns to Earth with Lunar Sample (scmp.com) 2

Submitted by cusco
cusco writes: In the first return of a lunar sample since the Soviets in 1976 the Chang'e 5 spacecraft landed in Inner Mongolia with 2 kilograms of material drilled from as much as two meters below the surface. Launched November 24 from the spaceport in Hainan the lander separated from the orbiter a week later and touched down in Oceanus Procellarum near Mons Rumker on the near side. Two days later, on December 3, the ascent stage took off from the moon with the sample, docking with the orbiter three days later. After jettisoning the ascent stage the orbiter returned to Earth and was recovered December 17.

Fairly bad video of the drilling and sample acquisition: https://youtu.be/Py5cndfk3Jw

Video of the recovery, with a IR camera shot showing the hot lander and what appears to be a fox running past: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

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