Korean Air inks record $50b US aviation deal

Korean Air, South Korea’s flagship carrier, on Tuesday announced a sweeping $50 billion deal to purchase next-generation aircraft from Boeing and spare engines from GE Aerospace and CFM International, its largest-ever investment aimed at fueling long-term growth.

The deal, signed during President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Washington, includes $36.2 billion for 103 Boeing aircraft, $690 million for 19 spare engines, and a $13 billion long-term engine maintenance contract.

Attending the signing ceremony in Washington were Walter Cho, chair and CEO of Korean Air and Hanjin Group; Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Russell Stokes, CEO of Commercial Engines & Services at GE Aerospace.

The fleet order spans a wide mix of models: 20 Boeing 777-9s, 25 Boeing 787-10s, 50 Boeing 737-10s, and eight Boeing 777-8F freighters. Deliveries will be phased through the end of the 2030s.

Korean Air will also acquire 11 spare engines from GE Aerospace and eight from CFM International, alongside a 20-year maintenance service agreement with GE covering 28 aircraft.

The deal represents a strategic effort to reinforce ties with the US aviation industry and a proactive step toward sustained growth following Korean Air’s merger with Asiana Airlines.

“Through proactive, large-scale investments in aircraft, we aim to secure future growth momentum and deepen the mutually beneficial partnership between Korea and the United States,” the company said in a statement. “This strategic investment in the US market will enhance our operational capabilities and global competitiveness.”

The company added that, with major carriers pulling forward aircraft orders in the wake of the pandemic, the deal serves as a proactive step aligned with its long-term fleet strategy.

It would allow Korean Air to streamline its fleet around five high-efficiency aircraft families: the Boeing 777, 787 and 737, along with the Airbus A350 and A321neo.

The shift is expected to ensure stable capacity growth, generate economies of scale through fleet simplification, improve fuel efficiency, lower carbon emissions and enhance the overall customer experience, the company explained.

Korean Air opened its first US cargo route to Los Angeles via Tokyo in April 1971, and a year later launched its first passenger service to the city via Tokyo and Honolulu.

That legacy of cooperation continues today through the airline’s trans-Pacific joint venture with Delta Air Lines. Korean Air currently collaborates closely with a broad range of US-based aviation companies, including Pratt & Whitney, General Electric, Hamilton Sundstrand and Honeywell.

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10562107

Korea Inc pledges $150 bn US investment; KAL buys new planes, Samsung, Hyundai Motor vow extra spending

Korean firms signed 11 MOUs in various sectors, including in ship MRO, nuclear fuel, SMR and LNG projects.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –South Korea’s biggest conglomerates have committed $150 billion in fresh investment in the US in a sweeping package that spans semiconductors, shipbuilding, batteries and strategic minerals. Their pledges further cement Seoul’s efforts to anchor a new industrial and technology alliance with Washington.

The announcement was made on Monday at a White House business roundtable following a bilateral summit between Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump.

A delegation of 16 top Korean business leaders, including the Big Four — Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Jay Y. Lee, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Co. Chairman Chung Euisun and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo — participated in the roundtable.

Other major Korean participants were HD Hyundai Co. Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun; Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae; Doosan Enerbility Co. Chairman Park Gee-won; Celltrion Inc. Chairman Seo Jung-jin; CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun; GS Group Chairman Huh Tae-soo; LS Group Chairman Koo Ja-eun; Korea Zinc Inc. Chairman Choi Yun-birm; Naver Corp. CEO Choi Soo-yeon; and Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) Chairman Ryu Jin.

They were met by an equally heavyweight US roster, with Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Jensen Huang, Carlyle Group Co-Chairman David Rubenstein, Stephanie Pope from Boeing and Sameer Samat from Google, and senior executives from Lockheed Martin and General Motors among the 21 US executives at the table.

Korean President Lee, in a keynote speech, invoked the US Navy’s role in the Korean War 75 years ago as a model for the latest Seoul-Washington cooperation.

He vowed to pursue a “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA)” project, saying that Korea’s shipyards will partner with US companies to rebuild its maritime capacity.

SAMSUNG, HYUNDAI MOTOR, LG VOW EXTRA INVESTMENTS

The investment pledges cover several advanced industries, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence and biotech, as well as strategic sectors such as shipbuilding, nuclear power and defense.

Delegates also focused on strengthening automotive and battery supply chains and securing critical minerals, moves that align with Trump’s drive to onshore production in key industries.

Samsung Chairman Lee and SK’s Chey intensely discussed cooperation on semiconductors and AI with Nvidia CEO Hwang.

Their talks were focused on high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips — key components in the AI ​​semiconductor industry, sources said.

Samsung, the world’s top memory chipmaker, committed to expanding its $37 billion semiconductor foundry in Taylor, Texas, with additional capacity and deeper collaboration with US chipmakers.

SK Hynix Inc. confirmed its already announced $3.87 billion project to build a next-generation chip packaging plant for HBM chips in Indiana, while LG pledged further investment in batteries and home appliances.

Hyundai Motor added $5 billion to a previously announced $21 billion plan, boosting its total US commitment to $26 billion.

Hyundai’s projects include a steel plant in Louisiana producing low-carbon plates for cars, expanded EV and hybrid production capacity, and a robotics hub.

“This establishes a full value chain in the US, from steel to finished vehicles,” the company said.

read moar:

https://www.kedglobal.com/business-politics/newsView/ked202508260003

Korean Air Commits to Record Purchase of 103 Boeing Jets to Modernize Fleet

-South Korea's flag carrier intends to buy 777-9s, 787-10s, 737-10s and 777-8 Freighters to optimize fuel-efficiency across global network

-Commitment will be the largest for the airline, adding to its March 2025 order for 40 Boeing widebody jets

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire(opens in a new tab)/ – Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Korean Air announced today the airline's intent to purchase 103 of Boeing's fuel-efficient family of airplanes to modernize its fleet and support the carrier's growth as it fully integrates operations with Asiana Airlines over the next several years.

Korean Air's commitment will be the airline's largest-ever order and Boeing's largest widebody order from an Asian carrier. When finalized, the deal will mark Korean Air's first order for the 777-8F and will support an estimated 135,000 jobs across the United States. The order will be posted to Boeing's Orders & Deliveries website once it is completed and includes:

[]20 777-9s

[]25 787-10s

[]50 737-10s

[]8 777-8 Freighters

"This agreement with our long-standing partners, Boeing and GE, marks a pivotal moment for Korean Air," said Walter Cho, chairman and CEO of Korean Air. "Acquiring these next-generation aircraft is the core of our fleet modernization strategy, delivering significant gains in fuel efficiency and enhancing the passenger experience across our global network. This investment is also a critical enabler for our future as a merged airline with Asiana, to ensure that our combined carrier is one of the most competitive airlines in the industry."

Today's agreement was signed during the Korea-U.S. Business Roundtable "Partnership for a Manufacturing Renaissance," and presided over by Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Kim Jung-kwan, South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).

Korean Air's orders and commitments for Boeing airplanes in 2025 surpasses 150 units, following the airline's incremental order in March(opens in a new tab) for 20 777-9s and 20 787-10s.

"We are honored to strengthen our partnership with Korean Air through this landmark agreement, which reflects the value and capabilities of Boeing's market-leading airplane family," said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "As Korean Air transitions to a larger unified carrier, we are committed to supporting the airline's growth with one of the world's most efficient fleets."

Key facts:

[]The 777-9 can seat 426 passengers in a two-class configuration with a range of 13,510 km (7,295 nautical miles) and will reduce fuel use and emissions by 20% compared to the airplanes it will replace.

[]The 787-10 can carry up to 336 passengers with a range of 11,730 km (6,330 nautical miles).

[]The 737-10, the largest model in the 737 MAX family, can carry as many as 230 passengers with a range of up to 5,740 km (3,100 nautical miles), while reducing fuel use and emissions by 20% compared to the airplanes it replaces. The airplane's efficiency and flexibility will enable Korean Air to serve more passengers on more routes with the lowest cost per seat of any single-aisle airplane.

[]The 777-8 Freighter will be the world's largest and most capable twin-engine freighter, offering the highest payload and lowest operating cost per tonne of any large freighter and 30% better fuel efficiency and emissions than the airplanes it will replace.

Korean Air currently operates 108 Boeing airplanes including 737s, 747s, 777s and 787s. With 72 Boeing jets on order; the carrier's order book will grow to 175 airplanes once the deal is finalized.

Korean Air's Aerospace Division supplies components for the 787 Dreamliner, including its unique raked wingtip, and produces parts for Boeing's 737 MAX, 767 and 777 family of airplanes.

A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.

https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2025-08-25-Korean-Air-Commits-to-Record-Purchase-of-103-Boeing-Jets-to-Modernize-Fleet

‘CLEAR CUT CASE’: Lisa Cook is going to lose this, argues CEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRa5fXlzu98

Indiana Republican state lawmakers set to visit the White House amid Trump redistricting push

A group of Republican legislators from Indiana are scheduled to visit the White House Tuesday, multiple sources familiar with the meeting told CNN, where the group is likely to discuss redistricting.

The White House sent the invitation to the state’s lawmakers in July, one of the sources said. The group is expected to meet in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

The meeting with Indiana lawmakers comes amid a White House pressure campaign for Republican-dominated states to redraw Congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. President Donald Trump hopes to stop Democrats from winning back the House – where Republicans have a very narrow majority.

Republicans hold seven of the nine House seats in Indiana, so any changes are likely to target only one seat in northwestern Indiana, currently held by Democratic Rep. Frank Mrvan. But a more aggressive redistricting effort could also try to include Rep. Andre Carson, who is from a far safer Democratic seat surrounding Indianapolis.

The afternoon meeting is not listed on Trump’s daily schedule, but a senior administration official told CNN the president is likely to at least drop by and greet the visiting Hoosiers.

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston and Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray will be in attendance, sources familiar with the plans said. Huston’s daughter, Liz Huston, serves as an assistant to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The invitation the members received in late July did not include redistricting as a topic for the meeting, one source said.

Several Republican lawmakers have raised concerns about the potential political fallout from a mid-decade redistricting effort, and Indiana could emerge as a test case for whether state Republican leaders will be able to resist pressure from the White House as the redistricting arms race spreads beyond Texas and California.

California Democrats passed a trio of redistricting bills last week, backed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, that will ask voters to replace the state’s current congressional maps with new ones aimed at netting Democrats five House seats.

The move was in response to Texas’ redistricting push – sought by Trump and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott – that ignited an intensifying, nationwide redistricting arms race. The Texas Senate approved new congressional maps on Saturday drawn to help Republicans win as many as five more House seats in next year’s midterm elections.

Vice President JD Vance traveled to the Indiana Statehouse earlier this month, where he met with Gov. Mike Braun and state legislative leaders. Braun and the state’s GOP leaders were noncommittal about redistricting efforts, CNN previously reported.

The Indiana Republican leaders are likely to face immense pressure from the White House and Trump allies. Still, many Republican operatives in Indiana said they are skeptical that a redistricting effort will take place.

Tuesday’s meeting provides the White House another opportunity to urge the state’s Republican lawmakers to consider redrawing their maps to potentially gain more seats before next year’s midterm elections, even as many raise concerns about doing so years before the next census.

Alongside Indiana and Texas, national Republicans are also ramping up their efforts to squeeze more GOP-friendly congressional seats out of additional states as allies of Trump have called on state leaders in Ohio, South Carolina and Missouri to target the handful of Democratic districts remaining in the states.

In Florida, Republicans took a first step toward a possible mid-cycle redistricting by launching a House committee to examine the issue. And in Nebraska, Republicans already hold all three seats, but lawmakers could redraw the map to make the state’s swingy 2nd District less competitive.

https://lite.cnn.com/2025/08/26/politics/indiana-trump-redistricting

Chicago’s Dem Mayor Refuses FIVE Times to Answer on Whether He’d Accept More Cop Funding

Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough was made to press Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for an answer after the Democrat repeatedly refused to say if he’d accept more police resourcing from the Trump administration, moments after he demanded President Donald Trump restore $800 million in grants for violence prevention programs.

Johnson appeared on MSNBC on Tuesday to continue to push back against Trump’s suggestion on Friday that he may send National Guard troops to Chicago and New York City, as he has in Washington, D.C., as part of a crackdown on crime.

The mayor blasted Trump from the outset for threatening his city with a “military occupation” that he said was both “illegal” and “unconstitutional.” He added that it was unnecessary, citing “a precipitous decline in violent crime in every single category” under his leadership.

Listing statistics, he continued: “If this president was actually serious about driving violence down in the city of Chicago and American cities across this country, he would work with mayors to make sure that we have the necessary investments to continue to do the work that we have been doing.”

Scarborough, who has advocated for cooperation between cities and the federal government on crime, asked what a “productive relationship with the Trump administration looks like?”

“An excellent question,” Johnson said. “First of all, he could start by restoring the over $800 million that was taken away from violence prevention efforts back in April.” He continued to detail work with community-led conflict resolution organizations and trained mental health professionals that, in some cases, have circumvented the need for a police officer to turn up at “that scene.”

Scarborough agreed that these were “great programs” before asking whether the mayor would also accept federal funding that would put extra police officers on the street in a line of questioning that quickly escalated into a heated back-and-forth.

SCARBOROUGH: So let me ask you, Mr. Mayor, those all sound like great programs. I’m curious, would you also like to get federal funding to help put 5000 more cops on the street in Chicago? Would that help drive down crime?

JOHNSON: Well, look, policing by itself is not the full strategy.

SCARBOROUGH [INTERRUPTING]: No, I understand that. You’ve talked about the other things you want. And I said those are good and important programs. But I’m asking also, would 5000 more police officers on the street in Chicago be helpful to go along with all of those social programs that a lot of cities are engaging in and having success with?

JOHNSON: Well, look, here’s the best way I can put it, Joe, is that in the 90s, when I was in high school, we had 3000 more police officers, and we had 900 people being murdered every single year in Chicago. It’s just not policing alone. Of course we want more detectives.

SCARBOROUGH: Of course I know policing alone, but, of course it’s not policing alone. You’ve told me everything else you want. I’m curious, and this does come down to an ideological difference between people: do you believe that the streets of Chicago would be safer if there were more uniformed police officers on the streets of Chicago?

JOHNSON: I believe the city of Chicago and cities across America would be safer if we actually had, you know, affordable housing. Look, I’m not saying –

SCARBOROUGH: That not the question I asked. My question is, and I just need a yes or no. Do you believe the streets of Chicago would be safer if you got all of those other extraordinary programs put back into place, which do have a history of being successful, if that’s complimented by having 5000 more cops on the streets of Chicago.

JOHNSON: I don’t believe that we should narrow it down to just police officers is what I’m saying –

SCARBOROUGH: I’m not –

JOHNSON [CONT’D]: – that is an antiquated approach. I’m saying we’ve invested in detectives.

SCARBOROUGH: Are you hearing what I’m saying? I’m agreeing with you that all of these other social programs are extraordinarily important. I just need a yes or a no. And then this will be the last time I ask if you get all of those other social programs that $800 million that New York City does, Los Angeles, other people do with great success? Would an additional 5000 cops on the streets in Chicago help compliment those programs to make Chicago safer?

JOHNSON: Look, we are working hard to make sure that our police department is fully supported. I don’t believe that just simply putting out an arbitrary number around police officers is the answer. What I’m saying is policing and affordable housing. It’s policing and mental and behavioral health care services. It’s policing and youth employment. It’s a full package. Of course, we want to make sure that our police department is fully supported.

https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/yes-or-no-chicagos-dem-mayor-refuses-five-times-to-answer-scarborough-on-whether-hed-accept-more-cop-funding/

Trump to put Dan Scavino in charge of hiring at White House

President Donald Trump plans to appoint Dan Scavino, a longtime loyalist and White House deputy chief of staff, to run the Presidential Personnel Office, empowering him with the power to decide who can and cannot serve in the administration.

“Dan Scavino is one of President Trump’s most trusted and longest serving advisors,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “There is nobody better to ensure the president’s administration is staffed with the most qualified, competent, and America First-driven workers. There is much still to be done and Dan’s leadership will ensure the highest quality, most dedicated workforce ever.”

Scavino replaces Sergio Gor, who was tapped last week to serve as ambassador to India and as special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs.

Gor endeared himself to the president and his family for adopting a zero tolerance policy toward job-seekers who had been critical of Trump in the past, often scouring their social media posts and occasionally intervening to block hirings. But his aggressive approach also earned him detractors. Notably, former special adviser Elon Musk slammed Gor as “a snake,” accusing him of convincing Trump to pull the nomination of a Musk confidant to serve as the next NASA administrator.

Scavino is one of Trump’s closest advisers, dating back to the first administration where he served in a variety of different communications roles. In the West Wing, Scavino occupies one of the closest offices to the Oval Office, serving as one of the most influential players in the MAGA movement.

Some MAGA influencers hoped Laura Loomer, another Trump enforcer, would land the role. Loomer told POLITICO it would be an “honor” to serve in the administration if offered the position. But several reports have indicated senior White House officials are wary or incorporating her bomb-throwing tactics into the daily operation.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/26/trump-to-put-dan-scavino-in-charge-of-personnel-office-00524713

Duffy threatens funding penalties for 3 states if English language rules for truckers aren’t enforced

California, Washington and New Mexico could lose millions of dollars of federal funding if they continue failing to enforce English language requirements for truckers, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday.

An investigation launched after a deadly Florida crash involving a foreign truck driver who made an illegal U-turn on Aug. 12 found what Duffy called significant failures in the way all three states are enforcing rules that took effect in June after one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders. He said the department was also already reviewing how states were enforcing the rules before the crash.

Truckers are supposed to be disqualified if they can’t demonstrate English proficiency and Duffy said the driver involved in the crash that killed three should not have ever been given a commercial driver’s license because of his immigration status. But the crash has become increasingly political with the governors of California and Florida criticizing each other and Duffy highlighting the Trump administration’s immigration concerns in interviews.

But Duffy said Tuesday that it is a safety issue — not a political one — because truckers need to understand road signs and be able to communicate with law enforcement about what they are hauling if they are pulled over or what happened if there is an accident.

“This is about keeping people safe on the road. Your families, your kids, your spouses, your loved ones, your friends. We all use the roadway, and we need to make sure that those who are driving big rigs — semis — can understand the road signs, that they’ve been well trained,” Duffy said.

The Transportation Department said California has conducted roughly 34,000 inspections that found at least one violation since the new language standards took effect requiring truck drivers be able to recognize and read road signs and communicate with authorities in English. But only one inspection involved an English language rules violation that resulted in a driver being taken out of service. And 23 drivers with violations in other states were allowed to continue driving after inspections in California.

He cited similar statistics for the other states with Washington finding more than 6,000 violations of safety rules during inspections, but only pulling four drivers out of service for English language violations. New Mexico has not placed any drivers out of service since the rules took effect.

Duffy said the states will lose money from the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program if they don’t comply with the rules within 30 days. Duffy said California could lose $33 million, Washington could lose $10.5 million and New Mexico could lose $7 million. The states did not immediately respond to the proposed sanctions that were announced before officials start their day on the West Coast.

Three people were killed when truck driver Harjinder Singh made an illegal U-turn on a highway, according to Florida’s Highway Patrol. He is being held without bond after being charged with three state counts of vehicular homicide and immigration violations.

A nearby minivan slammed into Singh’s trailer as he made the turn on a highway about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of West Palm Beach. Singh and his passenger were not injured.

Diamond R. Litty, the elected public defender in St. Lucie County, said her office was provisionally assigned to Singh’s case during his initial appearance Saturday morning. A review of his finances will determine whether Litty’s office remains on the case.

Litty said her office will focus on the criminal charges against Singh, who is presumed innocent, but they will also work with an immigration attorney to determine how Singh’s status affects the case. After more than three decades at her position, Litty said she can’t recall a case that garnered more attention than this one.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Singh has been caught in the crosshairs of politics,” Litty said.

But the head of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association trade group that represents small-business truck drivers praised Duffy’s announcement.

“Basic English skills are critical for safely operating a commercial motor vehicle — reading road signs, following emergency instructions, and communicating with law enforcement are not optional. The fatal crash in Florida this month tragically illustrates what’s at stake,” the group’s president, Todd Spencer, said.

The Department of Homeland Security has said Singh, a native of India, was in the country illegally. So Duffy said he should not have been granted a commercial driver’s licenses by Washington and California. He said New Mexico should have pulled Singh off the road for not speaking English after he was pulled over in July because he later failed a test given by DOT investigators after the Florida crash.

California is one of 19 states, in addition to the District of Columbia, that issues licenses regardless of immigration status. Supporters say that lets people work, visit doctors and travel safely.

But in addition, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office posted on the platform X that Singh obtained a work permit during Trump’s first term, which Homeland Security officials disputed. Newsom also said the permit was renewed in April and federal officials have not addressed that.

Florida authorities have said Singh entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico in 2018.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/watch-duffy-threatens-funding-penalties-for-3-states-if-english-language-rules-for-truckers-arent-enforced

RNC Research

@RNCResearch

Democrats will do or say anything just to spite President Trump.

This was them in 2006: "I hope….we can pass a law that criminalizes flag burning and desecration."

Bunch of spineless frauds.

https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/1960404808785154504

Democrats have no problem with 15 years in prison for burning gay pride flag — yes, that really happened.

https://x.com/realchrisrufo/status/1960026281723953182