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Adidas Originals and US designer Willy Chavarria have apologized after their “Oaxaca Slip-On” faced backlash for copying traditional Mexican huaraches without crediting or involving Indigenous artisans, BBC reported.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized the move and pledged legal support for the affected Oaxacan community. Adidas has opened talks with local officials on possible restitution.

Chavarria said his intent was to honor Oaxaca’s culture but admitted failing to work directly with the Zapotec community behind the design. Both he and Adidas have pledged to collaborate respectfully in the future, and promotional images of the shoe have been removed, according to BBC.

Bangladesh has reported 101 deaths and over 24,000 dengue cases this year, with experts warning infections could triple in August and peak in September, Reuters reported.

Experts say climate change, along with warm, humid weather and intermittent rain, has created ideal breeding conditions for Aedes mosquitoes, the carriers of the dengue virus.

The outbreak, driven by ideal mosquito-breeding conditions, is spreading beyond Dhaka, overwhelming rural healthcare.

Officials urge mosquito control, clean-up drives, and early treatment to avoid a crisis on par with the record 2023 outbreak, according to Reuters.

Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) organized an interaction on the topic of 'Growing Climate Crisis: What are the Solutions?' in Kathmandu on Monday.

During the program, experts pointed out the need of international cooperation to minimize the increasing risks and potential damage in the glacial watershed.

They emphasized that a cross-border early warning system is essential to reduce the risks and damages caused by the climate crisis, arguing that climate-related disasters are increasing the loss of life and property due to lack of international information communication and inter-agency coordination, reads a statement issued by NEFEJ.

Dr Chang Qiangong, Head of the Climate and Environment Department of the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), said that resource-rich studies and research are necessary to address climate-related events.

He said that if developed countries transfer technology and knowledge to underdeveloped countries, mountainous countries will benefit. Chang said, "Science diplomacy is indispensable for this. We are preparing to bring in foreign experts and conduct training to enhance the capacity of the Hindu Kush region in the event of disasters such as permafrost and avalanches."

Climate expert Dr Dharma Upreti said that international cooperation is indispensable as Nepal cannot solve the problem alone as multi-disaster incidents are increasing.

Stating that the climate-related incidents taking place in India and China can be a lesson for Nepal, he said, 'The risk of damage incidents increasing due to temperature increase in the Himalayan region has increased. International cooperation should be increased through climate diplomacy.'

Saying that early warning system can save lives as climate-related disasters can cause damage to other countries simultaneously, Upreti opined that such things should not be limited to policies and plans but should be implemented. He suggested that countries affected by climate risks should take joint initiatives to receive relief from the 'Loss and Damage Fund' ensured by the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COPC).

Avalanche researcher Shri Kamal Dwivedi stressed that Nepal needs to increase its capacity to mitigate climate risk events, and pointed out the need to increase studies in this regard as avalanches do not only occur when glaciers burst. 'We should be aware that not only large glaciers but also small lakes can pose a risk at any time,' he said. 'Glacial lakes formed 20-25 years ago are posing an even greater risk.'

Stating that there is a need to establish a special body to prevent multiple disasters and minimize damage, he discussed that the inability to assess the damage caused by avalanches and debris is affecting development projects, according to the statement.

National Disaster Risk Reduction Authority (NDRRMA) Environment Inspector Rina Chaudhary claimed that the authority is active in risk reduction and post-incident facilitation. She argues that the authority, being a coordinating body, is active in adopting risk reduction measures.

Other speakers at the program highlighted the need for coordination and collaboration to make early information dissemination regular and efficient in multi-disaster events. Former Newapas President Kasamus Bishwakarma and environmentalist Dr Binod Bhatta said that journalists and media outlets should be involved in timely training, workshops and follow-up on disaster mitigation events.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Monday he felt both “fear and hope” ahead of this week’s US–Russia summit on the war in Ukraine, set for August 15 in Alaska. He said Washington had assured European partners it would consult them before the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported.

Tusk stressed that Kyiv must be part of any peace talks and reiterated that borders cannot be altered by force. European leaders, including those from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the UK, Finland and the European Commission, recently voiced support for Trump’s efforts to end the conflict, while urging continued pressure on Moscow and security guarantees for Ukraine.

The Wikimedia Foundation has lost a High Court bid to block parts of Britain’s Online Safety Act, which imposes strict rules on online platforms. The foundation argued that being classified under the law’s highest “Category 1” tier — requiring identity verification for users and contributors — would force it to drastically cut site access, according to Reuters.

Judge Jeremy Johnson dismissed the case but said Wikimedia could challenge the law again if regulator Ofcom wrongly designates Wikipedia as Category 1. Critics, including social media platform X and free-speech advocates, say the act risks overreach and censorship. The UK government defends it as vital to protecting children and tackling illegal content.

The Korean Government successfully concluded the first K-Food intensive course; a special program designed for culinary practitioners to returnee migrants from South Korea. This course is 45 hours and covers various aspects of Korean cuisine from basic techniques to more advanced dishes.

The course offered an in-depth exploration of traditional Korean culinary practices and care in food preparation.

The South Korean ambassador thanked all the practitioners who took part in the course.

K-Food training was held in Kathmandu from August 4 to 11, 2025.

It is an eight-day intensive workshop led by Korean chefs and trainers.

The training includes 42 hours of practical cooking sessions and three hours of theory classes.

The High Commission of Malaysia and KARMA Foundation hosted the ASEAN–India 2025 Forum, themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability: Together We Rise”, in New Delhi on March 8, 2025 to mark ASEAN Day.

Dato’ Muzafar Shah Mustafa, High Commissioner of Malaysia to India and Chair of the ASEAN New Delhi Committee chaired the program.

The event was co-organized by the KARMA Foundation, led by its Founder Dhwani Jain, a rising voice for people-centered diplomacy in India.

Speaking on the occasion, Dato’ Muzafar Shah Mustafa said the strength of ASEAN–India relations lies in shared values and a commitment to progress that leaves no one behind.

He urged stakeholders to galvanize partnerships anchored in sustainability and inclusion to navigate the complexities of today’s multipolar world.

Highlighting that ASEAN–India trade rose from USD 100.72 billion in 2023 to USD 106.83 billion in 2024, he noted that the newly adopted ASEAN–India Plan of Action (2026–2030) will deepen cooperation in areas such as digital and green economies, maritime security, renewable energy, people-to-people exchanges, and sustainable development.

Similarly, Dhwani Jain called for diplomacy to move beyond formal corridors into the hands of people.

She said India and ASEAN are bound not only by trade or geography, but by shared civilizational values of harmony, interdependence, and respect for diversity. “Inclusion and sustainability are not policy choices — they are moral and strategic imperatives,” she stated.

Jain stressed that India’s leadership will be defined “not merely by power, but by the trust we build and the futures we co-create,” and urged that youth engagement be placed at the heart of ASEAN–India cooperation.

The program featured a high-level panel discussion “Bridging Regions, Building Friendships”, an evocative photo exhibition “Then & Now – Journey Towards Prosperity”, interactive dialogue circles on youth and diplomacy, and a symbolic “Tree of Togetherness” planting ceremony.

Moderated by Dr Amna Mirza, Political Analyst and Academician, the panel brought together a distinguished set of voices.

Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Editor of The Hindu, underscored the need for ASEAN to maintain strategic autonomy while engaging multiple powers, cautioning against binary alignments.

Amitabh Ranjan, Registrar at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), invoked Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’ to illustrate that true dignity lies in coupling strength with restraint, and called on powerful nations to use their economic and diplomatic tools responsibly.

Atul K Thakur, Secretary, PHDCCI, reflected on how ASEAN and India “have come a long way” and can “bandwagon well to offer new synergy to the Global South,” advocating for economic cooperation based on parity.

Sharifah Ezneeda Wafa, Deputy High Commissioner of Malaysia to India, likened ASEAN–India unity to “rice stalks growing in different fields yet feeding the same community,” highlighting diversity as a strength and calling for continued focus on shared goals like digital innovation, sustainable development, fair trade, and people-to-people connections, based on mutual respect and great commitment for regional peace.

The Then & Now: ASEAN’s Journey Towards Prosperity photo exhibition depicted ASEAN Member States’ transformation across decades, while the Dialogue Circles, participated by diplomats from ASEAN Diplomatic Missions in New Delhi, created a platform for youth engagement in diplomacy, nurturing the next generation of leaders committed to regional cooperation.

In her closing remarks, Sharifah Ezneeda Wafa reflected on the Tree of Togetherness ceremony as a metaphor for ASEAN–India partnership, saying that just as a tree draws strength from the diversity of its branches and leaves, the partnership flourishes through the unique contributions of each member state, and must continue through “meaningful actions that build prosperity, peace, and progress for all.”

A UN report reveals that dozens of Afghan women working for the United Nations have faced explicit death threats since the Taliban took power in 2021. Despite Taliban denials, these threats have forced the UN to implement protective measures, according to Al Jazeera.

Since late 2022, the Taliban has banned women from working in NGOs, including UN agencies, and imposed strict rules limiting women’s freedoms and access to education. Over 1.4m girls remain out of school, risking the future of a generation.

In July, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for two top Taliban leaders for gender-based persecution, charges the Taliban reject.