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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.

Jordan will host a meeting on Tuesday with Syrian and US officials to discuss ways to support Syria’s rebuilding, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and US envoy Thomas Barrack are expected to attend, Al Jazeera reported.

This follows recent deals worth $14bn signed by Syria with international partners, including projects for a new airport and subway in Damascus. Syrian officials see these agreements as a key step toward recovery, though the UN estimates reconstruction costs at over $400bn.

Despite ongoing violence and challenges, Syria is actively seeking foreign investment to revive its battered economy and infrastructure, according to Al Jazeera.

Following the US imposing a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, calls to boycott American brands like McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Amazon, and Apple are rising in India. Business leaders and supporters of Prime Minister Modi are urging people to choose local products and support Indian businesses, according to Reuters.

India remains a key market for US companies, but the push for self-reliance and “Made in India” products is gaining momentum. Modi has encouraged prioritizing domestic needs, while groups linked to his party hold rallies promoting nationalism through buying Indian.

Despite the tensions, some consumers continue to use US brands without concern, separating politics from daily life, Reuters reported.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 28. 44 points to close at 2, 821. 92 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 4. 46 points to close at 485. 69 points.

A total of 25,092,490-unit shares of 324 companies were traded for Rs 10. 21 billion.

Meanwhile, River Falls Power Limited (RFPL) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 99 percent. Likewise, Unnati Sahakarya Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (USLB) was the top loser as its price fell by 7. 64 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 71 trillion.

The UK government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, plans to deport foreign nationals from prisons in England and Wales immediately after sentencing. This builds on new rules that allow deportation after serving 30 percent of a sentence, but the government now aims to start the process right after sentencing, Firstpost reported.

The policy excludes those serving life sentences or convicted of serious crimes like murder or terrorism. Foreign nationals make up about 12 percent of the prison population, with Albanians the largest group. Since July 2024, deportations of foreign offenders have increased by 14 percent.

The move aims to ease overcrowded prisons, cut costs, and reduce reoffending. Starmer’s tougher stance on immigration also responds to pressure from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which advocates even stricter deportation measures, according to Firstpost.

Vietnam will allow visa-free entry for tourists from 12 European nations, effective August 15, 2025, through August 14, 2028, Xinhua reported. This move aims to boost tourism and applies to all passport types from Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

The National Statistics Office noted that Vietnam welcomed 12.23m international visitors in the first seven months of 2025, a 22.5 percent increase compared to the previous year.