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The 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit wrapped up in Gyeongju, highlighting South Korea’s notable achievements in diplomacy, economic leadership, technological innovation, and cultural influence.

After hosting APEC for the first time in two decades, South Korea promoted the theme “Connect, Innovate, prosper” by introducing a fresh cooperative framework that blends inclusive economic growth, technological advancement, and cultural engagement.

Approval to build nuclear-powered submarines

One of the most symbolic achievements was US President Donald Trump’s announcement granting South Korea approval to build nuclear-powered submarines.

The decision marks a turning point in strengthening the country’s maritime defense capability and consolidating its strategic autonomy in defense technology. With this approval, South Korea is now able to advance nuclear propulsion research and fuel supply negotiations—paving the way for a stronger role in the Indo-Pacific maritime security network.

Major NVIDIA AI chip supply agreement

NVIDIA signed a deal with the Korean government and leading firms like Samsung, SK Group, and Hyundai Motor to provide more than 260,000 next-generation Blackwell AI chips.

The deal is considered a key milestone in meeting demand for the government-led National AI Computing Center and the private-sector “AI Factory” initiative.

Experts described it as the largest GPU supply project ever concluded in Asia, expecting it to accelerate Korea’s rise as a global AI powerhouse.

The government stated that the deal secures stable access to high-performance computing resources across public and private sectors, establishing a solid foundation for South Korea’s goal of becoming one of the world’s top three AI leaders.

Diplomatic achievements

During the summit, South Korea recorded notable progress in diplomacy with three key partners—China, the United States, and Japan.

In the Korea–China summit, both sides agreed to resume working-level and exchange channels, officially signaling the restoration of bilateral cooperation in trade, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

The Korea–U.S. summit reaffirmed mutual commitment to strengthen cooperation in supply-chain stability, advanced technologies, and economic security. Both leaders agreed to expand the alliance beyond military domains to include economic and digital security dimensions.

Relations with Japan also entered a phase of recovery and forward-looking cooperation.

Seoul and Tokyo agreed to normalize practical cooperation in security, economy, and human exchanges, while reopening working-level talks to strengthen future-oriented relations.

These developments restored a balance in Northeast Asian diplomacy and reaffirmed Korea’s role as a stabilizing mediator in the region.

Structural reform and supply-chain resilience

In the economic sphere, APEC members adopted structural reform and supply-chain resilience as key pillars for regional growth.

South Korea played an active role in shaping these discussions, proposing digital transformation support for small and medium enterprises and trade resilience measures—many of which were reflected in the joint ministerial statement. The agreement is seen as a concrete step to prevent future global crises, such as pandemics or geopolitical disruptions, from paralyzing regional trade networks.

Expanding cultural diplomacy and K-Culture influence

South Korea also made notable strides in cultural diplomacy, showcasing the power of K-Culture through K-POP, film, drama, and beauty industries.

BTS member RM delivered a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit, emphasizing “the value of borderless cultural exchange and creativity,” which drew enthusiastic attention from delegates. The “K-Culture Showcase” event held during the summit received strong interest from visiting leaders and delegations, underscoring culture’s potential as a catalyst for innovation and mutual understanding across the Asia-Pacific region.

Vision for inclusive and sustainable cooperation

The APEC 2025 Gyeongju Declaration outlines a vision centered on digital innovation, clean energy, and demographic adaptation, aiming for inclusive and sustainable growth. Through this summit, South Korea presented an integrated cooperation model combining diplomacy, technology, and culture—reinforcing its strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Analysts praised the summit as a milestone that demonstrated Korea’s ability to exercise “smart power,” combining technological capacity, cultural influence, and diplomatic engagement. With the adoption of the Gyeongju Declaration, South Korea has positioned itself as a key driver in addressing the region’s challenges of digital transformation, demographic shifts, and climate adaptation.

The summit reaffirmed Korea’s readiness to translate its vision of “connection and innovation for shared prosperity” into concrete global leadership. (This article draws upon publicly available statements, official Korean government materials, and verified reports from Reuters, APEC, AP, Yonhap, and Asia News Network.)

Two Italian nationals, who went missing at Mt. Pangbari  in Chumanubri-1, Gorkha, have been found dead after five days.

Stefano Farinato (67) and Alessandro Gaputo (37) were found dead at the first camp of Pangbari Himal on Tuesday, according to the District Police Office, Gorkha.

DSP Rajkumar Shrestha, Information Officer at the District Police Office, Gorkha, said that they were found buried under the snow.

Shrestha said that the bodies have been brought to Samagaun by a helicopter.

They were stranded after the snow blocked the way while returning after failing to climb the mountain.

Velter Perlino (65), who was trapped at the base camp of Pangbari Mountain, at an altitude of 5,000 meters, was rescued by a helicopter at 10 am on Sunday.

Along with Perlino, Pemba Renji Sherpa, Dawa Chiri Sherpa, and Pasang Tamang, were also rescued and sent to Kathmandu for treatment.

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Landslides and floods following incessant rainfall occurred on October 4 and 5 damaged property worth Rs 11.81 billion in Ilam district. 

Chief District Officer Sunita Nepal shared that the flood and landslide had damaged different roads, bridges, buildings, drinking water projects, irrigation projects, agriculture and livestock sectors in the district.

As per the preliminary details of losses gathered by 11 respective offices including Road Division, Infrastructure Development Office, Nepal Electricity Authority and Water Resources and Irrigation Division, such amount of property was damaged, added Nepal. 

Eleven different projects under road division suffered damages, causing a loss of Rs 6.96 billion. Similarly, property worth Rs 2.34 billion was damaged towards roads, Rs 850 million towards bridges and Rs 40 million towards building under infrastructure development office. 

According to the District Administration Office, projects under Nepal Electricity Authority suffered a loss of Rs 24.7 million while landslide and flood damaged property amounted to more than Rs 328 million  under Water Resources and Irrigation Division. 

Likewise, more than Rs 40 million  was damaged in the incident of natural disaster under Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Expert Centre.

According to Chief District Officer (CDO) Nepal, under the Dhankuta Field Unit Office, Water Supply and Sewerage Management Department, damages to 29 drinking water projects amounted to Rs 287.5 million, while under the Water Supply and Sanitation Division Office, Bhadrapur, Jhapa, 223 projects incurred losses of Rs 280.1 million.

Likewise, food and cash crops cultivated on 892.32 hectares of land by 3,409 farmers were damaged by the disasters, causing losses of Rs 274.9 million. Such losses have been recorded under the Agricultural Knowledge Centre. Similarly, under the National Tea and Coffee Development Board’s Tea Expansion Programme, 25 tea estates suffered losses of about Rs 47.55 million.

Nepal Telecom incurred losses amounting to Rs 508,000 from damages to 10 optical fiber and cable lines, while under the Irrigation and Water Resource Management Project, Gainde, Jhapa, 31 projects were affected by landslides, resulting in losses of Rs 329 million.

CDO Nepal said that damage details have already been presented to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the respective ministries.

“The preliminary damage assessment was gathered from the respective sectoral offices within the district, in coordination and facilitation with the concerned local governments,” he added.

It may be noted that in Ilam, 39 people died, 26 were injured, and one person remains missing in the disasters that displaced 711 households. Of the displaced, 700 are staying with relatives, while 11 are taking shelter in community buildings, according to the District Administration Office.

Floods and landslides completely destroyed 365 houses and partially damaged 940 houses across 10 local levels in the district of Koshi Province.

As the cold winds of winter sweep across Nepal, a familiar haze begins to settle over the cities. The dry air of winter traps dust and smoke close to the ground, turning the sky gray and the air heavy. With ongoing construction and unfinished roads scattered across the country, the dust rises and lingers, worsening the situation. Winter, which should be a season of calm, becomes a season of smog and sickness. The situation is more intensified now as the rain stopped and the roads’ dust started to rise more.

According to the State of Global Air (SoGA) 2025 report, air pollution caused 41,300 deaths in Nepal in 2023. Even more alarming, 85 percent of these deaths were linked to noncommunicable diseases such as heart and lung disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and dementia. The report also revealed that air pollution has now become the leading risk factor for deaths in Nepal, surpassing tobacco and high blood pressure. Around the world, 7.9m deaths were attributed to air pollution in 2023, showing just how serious this issue has become.

In Nepal, pollution levels are closely tied to changes in weather. The colder and drier months always see the worst air quality across major cities. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), Kathmandu now ranks 46th among the world’s most polluted cities, with a moderate rating, while Delhi, India, continues to top the list. This shows how winter brings not only cold winds but also a blanket of harmful air that affects everyone, especially children and the elderly.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025 ranks pollution as the sixth and tenth most pressing global risk in the short term (two years) and long term (10 years).

To address this growing problem, the government has started to implement plans to reduce air pollution during the winter months. Efforts include stricter monitoring of construction sites to control dust, encouraging the use of electric vehicles, and testing emissions from older vehicles. Authorities have also banned the open burning of waste and are promoting tree plantation campaigns to help absorb pollutants. Public awareness programs are being run to educate people about the dangers of air pollution and the need to reduce activities that contribute to it, such as burning firecrackers and waste.

Prakash Lama, program coordinator at Clean Air Network Nepal (CANN), explained that the organization has been actively working to mitigate air pollution through various programs, campaigns, and awareness initiatives. He emphasized that air pollution poses a serious threat to human health and requires collective effort to address.

CANN has been conducting awareness programs in schools and at the community level to educate people about the dangers of air pollution and to encourage individuals to take responsibility in reducing it. The organization also spreads awareness through radio programs and by mobilizing mass movements to engage the public more effectively.

CANN also organizes health campaigns where the lungs of children and elderly people are checked to assess the impact of air pollution on vulnerable groups. In addition, the organization has been monitoring air quality in various locations across the country by installing air quality monitoring devices, with support from the government, in most of the provinces, residential areas, and industrial zones.

According to Lama, one of the main reasons for high air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley is its geographic structure. Because the valley is surrounded by hills, air circulation is restricted, trapping pollutants within the area. During winter, the air becomes dry and rainfall decreases, worsening the pollution levels. Lama added that forest fires, vehicular emissions, and industrial dust also significantly contribute to the problem.

He noted that around 35–40 percent of air pollution in the valley is caused by transboundary pollution (pollutants that come from outside the region). In the Tarai region, this figure rises to nearly 70 percent, showing that cross-border pollution plays a major role in deteriorating air quality.

Dan Bahadur Waiba, an inDrive rider, shared that riding becomes extremely difficult on dusty days, and the situation worsens during winter. At times, he said, it even becomes difficult to keep his eyes open while riding. During winter, Waiba added, it’s often challenging to tell the difference between fog and dust, as the air turns thick and visibility drops significantly.

At the policy level, Lama pointed out that although the government has introduced regulations setting timelines for vehicle use and prohibiting older vehicles, these rules are not being properly enforced. 

Lama emphasized the need for the government to prioritize the promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) and make their adoption a major national agenda. Reflecting on the past, he recalled the use of trolley buses in Kathmandu, which were environmentally friendly, and expressed concern that Nepal seems to have moved away from such sustainable solutions in favor of market competition in the automobile sector.

Meanwhile, Waiba is planning to switch to an electric scooter after learning more about air pollution and vehicle emissions at an event he attended. He shared that the experience made him realize the importance of individual action in addressing environmental issues. Waiba expressed his belief that real change is possible when people become aware, learn, and choose to act responsibly.

Locals in Bhaktapur expressed frustration over the ongoing and incomplete road construction in several areas, including Suryabinayak Road, Sanga Road, and parts of Kavre. Residents living along these roads said that the constant dust has made daily life extremely difficult. Many shared that it has become hard to even stay inside their homes, as they need to clean their rooms every single day to keep the dust away.

They added that the situation is likely to worsen during winter, when there is little rainfall and dust levels are expected to rise further. The locals have urged the concerned authorities to speed up the construction work and take necessary measures to control dust and pollution in the area.

It doesn’t only hamper the residents but also human health which can cause many diseases. Research finds that air pollution reduces life expectancy by 3.4 years for the average Nepali and causes approximately 26,000 premature deaths annually. In addition to health, air pollution impacts labor productivity, tourism, and the aviation sector. The economic cost of poor air quality is equivalent to more than 6 percent of Nepal’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year, according to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI).

Recently, the Department of Environment collaborated with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and launched the country’s first National Air Quality Management Action Plan (NAQMAP).  It marked a major step in Nepal’s broader effort to reduce air pollution nationwide and to establish a comprehensive framework for managing and improving air quality.

However, experts say that much more needs to be done. Clean fuels, reliable public transport, and strict enforcement of environmental laws are essential to bring lasting change. Reducing air pollution is not only the government’s responsibility but also a duty shared by every citizen.