India’s Supreme Court Rebukes Aviation Authority Over Air India Crash Probe

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source: Faarea Masud, BBC

India’s Supreme Court has sharply criticized the country’s aviation authorities for their handling of the investigation into the Air India plane crash that killed 260 people in June, leaving just one survivor.

The flight, a Boeing Dreamliner traveling from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 passengers on board and 19 people on the ground. The court said it was “irresponsible” for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to allow suggestions through media leaks that pilot error caused the tragedy.

The judges also condemned the “selective and piecemeal” release of information from the preliminary report issued by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in July. That report indicated that fuel supply to the aircraft’s engines had been cut off within seconds of takeoff. A cockpit voice recording captured one pilot asking, “why did he cut off,” with another responding that he did not. The exchange, however, did not clarify who made the remarks.

The findings have been challenged by the Safety Matters Foundation, an aviation watchdog petitioning for an independent inquiry. During the hearing, one Supreme Court justice said suggestions that the pilots deliberately cut off fuel were “very unfortunate and irresponsible.” The court has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response before making its ruling on the petition.

The disaster has reignited debate over air safety in India. In July, the DGCA defended the country’s record, insisting “India’s skies have always been safe.” Yet its own audit uncovered 51 safety violations at Air India in the previous year.

Families of four victims have also filed lawsuits in the United States against Boeing and Honeywell, accusing the companies of negligence and claiming they ignored design flaws linked to the crash. Both companies have yet to comment on the allegations.

As legal battles mount and grieving families demand accountability, the Supreme Court’s rebuke highlights growing concerns about transparency and trust in India’s aviation oversight. The final outcome of the case could have lasting consequences for both regulators and the aviation industry at large.

Nvidia’s $100 Billion Investment in OpenAI Sparks Global Semiconductor Rally

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Business

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Image Source: Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images

Global semiconductor stocks surged on Tuesday after Nvidia confirmed a $100 billion investment to support OpenAI’s ambitious plans to deploy massive computing infrastructure powered by millions of its chips.

According to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI intends to build and run Nvidia systems that will require 10 gigawatts of power, equivalent to between 4 million and 5 million graphics processing units (GPUs). The scale of the project underscores the extraordinary demand for advanced AI infrastructure and highlights Nvidia’s central role in the artificial intelligence boom.

The announcement sent ripples through equity markets worldwide, particularly benefiting companies tied to Nvidia’s supply chain. In Taiwan, shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), which produces Nvidia’s advanced chips, jumped 3.5%. South Korea’s SK Hynix, a supplier of high-bandwidth memory critical for Nvidia’s GPUs, closed up more than 2.5%, while Samsung added 1.4% on speculation it may soon secure approval to supply similar chips to Nvidia. Japanese equipment maker Tokyo Electron also posted gains.

“Ultimately this is a broad market with lots of suppliers. It certainly isn’t a zero-sum game with only one winner, and indeed it appears investors are recognising that,” Ben Barringer, global technology analyst at Quilter Cheviot, told CNBC. “While this deal may be negative in the short term for Nvidia’s competitors, it is a sign that the AI trade is alive and well.”

The rally extended into Europe, where shares of STMicroelectronics, Infineon, and BE Semiconductor rose in early trading. However, the positive sentiment was tempered by Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASM International, which warned its fourth-quarter revenue would come in below expectations, dragging down its stock and weighing on other equipment manufacturers such as ASML.

Despite the mixed picture in Europe, analysts emphasized that the strengthening AI ecosystem will benefit equipment makers over time. “Companies like ASML and ASMI will ultimately gain from sustained demand by TSMC, Nvidia’s key manufacturing partner,” wrote Stephane Houri, head of equity research at ODDO BHF, in a client note.

The Nvidia-OpenAI partnership signals both the scale of investment flowing into artificial intelligence and the broad market implications for global chipmakers, as AI continues to reshape technology and financial markets worldwide.

South Korea Moves to Curb Anti-China Protests as Seoul Seeks to Mend Ties with Beijing

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source:Park Chan-kyong, SCMP

A sweeping U.S. immigration enforcement operation at a Hyundai-LG joint venture plant in Georgia has triggered diplomatic tensions with South Korea, where officials are demanding better protections for their citizens and clearer visa arrangements.

On September 4, federal agents detained nearly 475 workers at an electric vehicle battery plant under construction in Bryan County, Georgia. Among them were more than 300 South Koreans, many of whom are alleged to have been working without valid immigration documentation or on expired visas. The operation has been described by U.S. authorities as one of the largest work-site raids in recent history, aimed at enforcing immigration laws in sectors with rising enforcement activity.

The detentions provoked strong reactions in Seoul, including public outrage over reports that some workers were shackled during transit, handcuffed, or restrained with plastic ties. One issue of contention was whether the detained workers should be physically restrained while being moved, and whether their departure from the U.S. would be handled as voluntary or mandatory. The South Korean government objected to what it saw as degrading treatment and called for assurances that its citizens be treated fairly and humanely.

Negotiations between South Korean and U.S. officials moved quickly in the aftermath. The U.S. offered the detained workers the option to stay rather than be expelled. South Korea insisted on protections for its nationals, and eventually, most of them over three hundred agreed to return under a chartered flight once administrative procedures were handled. Only a very small number chose to remain in the U.S., citing family or other personal ties.

President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea publicly criticized the U.S. visa system, warning that foreign investors may become more reluctant to build factories in America if there is risk of such enforcement actions. He emphasized that many foreign companies employ specialist technical workers from abroad for short periods to install or maintain complex equipment, and that visa uncertainties make planning difficult. The raid, he said, could deter future investment and undermine trust between the two allied countries.

From the U.S. side, the Trump administration defended the raid as a necessary enforcement of immigration laws, noting that violations included working without authorization and overstaying visas. At the same time, U.S. leaders expressed interest in ensuring that foreign talent could legally contribute to U.S. manufacturing projects, especially in high-tech sectors such as batteries and electric vehicles. There were signals of willingness to calibrate enforcement with the needs of industry, including discussions about improved visa options.

Corporate leaders also expressed concern about the impact. The plant’s startup is expected to be delayed, in part because of the disruptions caused by the detentions, administrative complications, and potential reputational damage. Hyundai and LG, both heavily invested in the U.S. through this project, faced pressure to respond to worker welfare concerns, compliance with immigration laws, and the diplomatic fallout.

As both governments assess the aftermath, several issues remain unresolved: how to balance enforcement with attracting skilled foreign labor; how to overhaul or clarify the U.S. visa regime to prevent similar incidents; and how to rebuild trust so that foreign companies feel secure investing in large industrial projects in the United States. The Georgia raid has become a flashpoint for broader debates about immigration policy, economic competitiveness, and the treatment of foreign workers in the U.S.