Imagine walking through the green outskirts of Jammu and spotting what looks like a clump of garlic growing wild. It might seem harmless, even familiar, but botanists have recently confirmed that this plant is not the common kitchen staple it appears to be. It is Nothoscordum gracile, more commonly known as false garlic, an invasive alien species that has quietly slipped into the region and is now spreading faster than anyone expected. For the first time, its presence has been officially documented in Jammu, and the news has set off quiet alarm bells among plant scientists and conservationists. The discovery…

After months of legal tension and public scrutiny, celebrity chef and entrepreneur Paik Jong-won can finally let out a quiet breath of relief. Prosecutors in Seoul have decided not to indict the founder and CEO of The Born Korea, the company behind a wide range of popular food products and restaurants, in connection with allegations that the business mislabeled the origins of ingredients in some of its offerings. The decision, announced on September 16 by the Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, essentially closes the criminal chapter for Paik personally, even as the corporate body and…