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One of the reasons I admire OTT platforms is the opportunities they provide to talented individuals who might not have made it to the traditional Bollywood screen due to industry politics and standards. Netflix’s latest release, ‘Scoop,’ not only serves as a gripping crime drama series but also marks a remarkable comeback for actors who had previously faced setbacks in their careers. Created and directed by Hansal Mehta, this streaming television series takes inspiration from the biographical memoir ‘Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison’ by Indian journalist Jigna Vora. Vora was accused of the murder of reporter Jyotirmoy Dey in 2011 and endured a seven-year-long struggle before being acquitted. Karishma Tanna, a prominent figure in the Indian television industry who had struggled to make an impact in Bollywood, delivers an outstanding performance in the lead role of Jagruti Pathak. Pathak, a crime reporter, finds herself entangled in a web of conspiracy when a fellow journalist is murdered. Tanna’s portrayal breathes life into the character, showcasing her resilience and determination. Harman Baweja, in a role that allows him to showcase his acting prowess without being heavily criticized, portrays JCP Harshavardhan Shroff. JCP Shroff has personal, professional, and political motives to ensure Pathak is found guilty of the crime. While JCP Shroff relentlessly works to charge Pathak, Imran Siddiqui (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub), the bureau chief of Eastern Page and Pathak’s boss, stands in his way. Siddiqui tirelessly investigates the murder, seeking justice and securing Pathak’s release from judicial custody. The series portrays Vora’s real-life ordeal during her seven months in judicial custody, fighting for bail. The trial, lasting more than half a decade, ultimately destroys her journalism career. It explores her vibrant personality before the case and the subsequent impact of the allegations, nearly shattering her spirit. Adapting real-life incidents for screen is no easy feat, but writer/director Mehta successfully captures the intense moments of Vora’s ordeal. Scoop not only focuses on Vora as the central character but also delves into the selfishness, moral conflicts, and corruption prevailing in journalism, policing, and politics. In a subtle manner, the series satirizes the current state of journalism, where business interests often overshadow ethics. It also sheds light on the plight of individuals forced into the darker side of the profession due to external pressures. Additionally, it touches upon the pervasive sexism in society, highlighting how outspoken women can face opposition from their colleagues and peers. Tanna delivers one of her career-best performances as the outspoken and resilient Jagruti. She flawlessly embodies the character, tackling every challenge head-on without succumbing to adversity. Even in vulnerable situations, Jagruti exudes dignity and pride. Known for her previous comical and romantic roles, Tanna undergoes a remarkable transformation in portraying Jagruti, and her efforts are commendable throughout the series. Ayyub shines as Imran, one of the few journalists who upholds his integrity without compromising for money or fame. Despite facing threats that could jeopardize everything he holds dear, Imran refuses to yield to pressure. Ayyub convincingly portrays the honest, intense, and intelligent character, breaking barriers with his versatility. Who should watch it? Crime drama enthusiasts seeking a gripping and intense series will find Scoop captivating. Fans of Karishma Tanna and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub will be delighted by their exceptional performances. Additionally, those intrigued by the exploration of the dark side of journalism, corruption, and the resilience to overcome challenges will find this series intriguing. Moreover, those interested in real-life stories of criminals and gangs will be drawn to the movie, as it features a pivotal role played by a real Indian gangster, without mentioning his name to avoid further publicity. Rating: 4 stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmnQzRP-NZ4 Genre: Crime Drama Actors: Karishma Tanna, Harman Baweja, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub Director: Hansal Mehta Run time: Six episodes of roughly one hour each

Dipendra Dhakal is a 34-year-old international taekwondo referee from Nepal. Born in Kavrepalanchok, he has refereed at highly acclaimed championships around the world, including the Royal Spanish International Open Taekwondo Tournament, The German Open, The French Open, and The Belgian Open. He had received recognition in various national and international tournaments. He is now studying international refereeing while also working as a trainer at Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya in Bhaktapur and the Tribhuvan Army Club. In his hometown’s Laligurans Taekwondo Dojang, Dhakal began his Taekwondo training at a very young age. He moved to Kathmandu after receiving the black belt, seeking new opportunities, particularly to prepare for the national game. Unfortunately, he was unable to continue because of a leg injury. But taekwondo is all that Dhakal has ever known. “I didn’t want to waste my skills just because of an injury. So I kept training and began working as a referee,” he says. As a result, he now has a fifth Dan black belt in taekwondo. Dhakal attended his first international training and conference in Wuxi, China in 2018, as a step towards becoming a global referee. “I was the only participant from Nepal to be chosen out of six,” he says.  Eventually, in 2019, he refereed a game for the Military World Game, where 138 nations were competing against one another in Wuhan, China. It was his first time judging an international match. In 2020, he had the chance to officiate at both the G1 level World Ranking Game in Hamburg, Germany, and the G2 level World Ranking Game in France. He also took part in the Pakistan COAS Open International Taekwondo Championship as a referee. His career as a national referee, however, began in 2022. “In the context of national taekwondo refereeing, educational qualification isn’t given much importance,” he says. “To be eligible for international refereeing, one must possess basic level English speaking skills and other qualifications.” He thinks that as compared to other countries, Nepal’s national taekwondo competition uses outdated equipment, resources, and technology. “It might take Nepal more than a decade to catch up to the international level in the technical aspect,” he adds. Taekwondo, in his opinion, is the art of the hands and the limbs. “Taekwondo is  associated with kicking and punching methods, physical fitness, martial arts, and self defense,” he says. Dhakal sees taekwondo as a sport that empowers women as it teaches self defense. He also believes taekwondo is a methodical and disciplined sport that gives participants spiritual, mental, and physical strength. “But refereeing is a whole new ball game. It’s not as simple as it looks,” says Dhakal. Referees, according to him, need quick observation skills, excellent concentration, patience, and the ability to thrive well under pressure. “A referee has to watch the game carefully, track time, call out faults and communicate,” he says. He also clarifies that if a referee makes a mistake, the coach may appeal by showing cards, and any issues will be resolved by the jury’s decision. Missing one fault can affect the scoring of athletes and the outcome of the game. To avoid this, referees have to be very attentive and regulate matches with rules. “Referees have the power to maintain discipline in the game,” he adds, “They have the authority to take away a player’s point and give the opponent an advantage, as well as suspend the game in the case of aggressive behavior.” After having witnessed and taken part in numerous international matches, he’s content with how far he has come. He says that his initial exposure to international refereeing gave him momentum. He represented Nepal and won various awards both nationally and internationally. He was given an ‘Encouragement Award’ for Nepal’s first-ever involvement in international refereeing at the Military World Game in 2019. He received the ‘West Referee Award’ for the Spanish Open match in the 2022 World Ranking Jeeto Taekwondo Championship, which was held in Alicante, Spain. Dhakal also won the ‘National Talent Award 2023’ and a cash prize of Rs 100,000 from the Ministry of Youth and Sports for his performance at the national-level game. Dhakal is now qualified for a third class license after completing the seminar test, and recently, he obtained second class license after refereeing eight World Ranking Games in less than two years. He is now striving for the first class. If everything goes according to plan, he says that he’ll be in Australia for the 2023 Australia Open, 2023 Oceania Para Taekwondo Open Championship, and the 2023 WT President Cup (Oceania region) in July. Dhakal overcame several challenges and setbacks to achieve this success. Even though a referee is a crucial part of the game, he claims they aren’t given much respect in Nepal. “The service, incentives, and facilities for referees are extremely limited,”  he continues. “We must cover all of our costs and airfares, excluding lodging and meals, even if we are traveling for a big international game while representing Nepal.” Given that the individual will be representing Nepal, he expresses his opinion that the government should be taking care of that. “Like they have been doing for athletes, the government needs to set aside a platform, training, seminar, and equipment for referees as well,”  he says.

Spices are essential in many cuisines around the world. They greatly enhance the taste and aroma of food, add flavor, and also have potential health benefits. There are many different types and varieties of spices to choose from, so it’s important to experiment until you find the perfect combination of spices for the dish you are making. I personally love rosemary and garlic. It’s also considered a classic spice combination. I believe chili, garlic, and coriander also work very well together. The spices used in various cuisines around the world are distinct from one another, and provide the different aromas, textures and flavors. For example, in South Asian dishes there is generally heavy use of ginger, garlic, cumin, mustard seeds, fennel, fenugreek, curry leaves, coriander, turmeric, cardamom, bay leaf, etc. Spices in French cuisine are limited to ground white or black pepper, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger among a few others. Chinese spices include Schezwan peppercorn, star anise, fennel, cinnamon, clove and in the USA, dry mustard, paprika, celery salt, crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper, bay leaves, nutmeg, ginger, clove, mace, cardamom, and allspice are used. The distinct use of spices produces different flavor combinations. That is why a Filipino chicken adobo tastes very different from Indian butter chicken. It’s all in the spices. Spices also have an interesting history. Once upon a time, empires that had control over the spice trade ruled the world. Spice routes traveled by maritime routes from India, South East Asia to Africa and Europe. Spice was so precious that European countries sent sailors to Asia and Africa to bring back these natural money minting entities. Spice trade from India is one of the reasons the Dutch and British East India companies fought for colonizing India. It could be said that what motivated the European colonizers to colonize many parts of Asia and Africa was the greed to control spices trade routes around the world. Black peppercorns were traditionally found in Asia, but were so favored in European cuisine that they were considered exotic. They were transported in huge quantities, and this spice business was very profitable. When spices weren’t niche commodities anymore, the downfall of these European empires became eminent. Today, as a reminiscence of these spice traders, there are various spice markets around the world in countries such as India, Morocco, Iran, Turkey, etc. which are popular tourist attractions. In addition to their flavor-enhancing properties, spices are also known for their potential health benefits. For example, turmeric, a spice commonly used in Indian cuisine, contains a powerful anti-inflammatory compound called curcumin. Turmeric is often referred to as the ‘golden spice’ due to its vibrant yellow color, which comes from curcumin. Curcumin is also responsible for many of the health benefits associated with turmeric, such as its anti-inflammatory properties. It is considered one of the healthiest spices because in addition to its anti-inflammatory effects, turmeric might also have antioxidant properties and has been studied for its potential to improve brain function and lower the risk of certain chronic diseases. Turmeric has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and cooking, particularly in South Asian cuisine. It’s often used to flavor and color curry dishes and is also used in many other dishes around the world. I love how Malaysian cuisine uses turmeric in fresh form in their dishes. However, it’s important to note that more research is needed to fully understand the health benefits of turmeric and curcumin. Overall, turmeric is a versatile and flavorful spice that can add a pop of color to many dishes, while amping up its health quotient. Similarly, cinnamon has been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels. It is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger is another spice that is known for its anti-inflammatory effects and it has been used for centuries to help ease nausea and stomach discomfort.  Saffron is said to enhance sleep, better mood, and relieve PMS symptoms. Rosemary and oregano help fight diseases such as obesity, liver problems, and asthma. Spices have long been used as herbal medicines in many Asian cultures. South Asian ayurveda makes use of many local spices, herbs, and medicinal plants. Ayurveda emphasizes the use of spices in enhancing digestion, increasing and stimulating appetite, and nourishment through various antioxidants, minerals, vitamins etc. Ashwagandha, ginger, turmeric, fennel seeds, amla are some of the widely used herbs and spices in Ayurvedic medicine. Similarly, traditional Chinese medicine also makes use of various herbs and spices. Licorice, ginger, ginseng root, etc. have been used for medicinal purposes for years. Cooking with unknown spices can seem intimidating, especially when you haven’t experienced how certain spices work with certain dishes. The ground rule when experimenting with spices is to start with small amounts and gradually increase it until you achieve the desired flavor. It’s also a good idea to use fresh spices whenever possible, as they have a stronger flavor and aroma than older dried and powdered spices. Overall, incorporating a variety of spices into your cooking can not only make your food taste better but can also provide potential health benefits. So don’t be afraid to be creative and innovative in experimenting with spices in different combinations to find your perfect flavor profile.

Reforms for digital development seem to be expanding in Nepal–foreign direct investment (FDI) is being allowed into domestic payment companies, the new budget has proposed to lower the FDI threshold for digital companies, while subsidized start-up funding is finally set to resume. Yet the track record of Nepali bureaucracy has always been mixed. Are these initiatives enough? Can they really provide the building blocks for rapid digital transformation of the economy? What is within the capabilities of the government? We need bolder steps, and I suggest three ways in which our imagination for such reforms must change. The payments ecosystem needs depth and more opportunities to open the local financial markets for digital services. We need higher-quality FDI that will bring in strong capabilities, not low-quality FDI, which has a risk of being tainted with money laundering issues. And finally, our start-ups need international market access and international know-how to be able to compete globally. If that market failure is addressed, I believe that the financing space will open. Depth in the payment ecosystem Recent reforms by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) have raised the paid-up capital requirements for payment companies and opened up to 15 percent FDI in such companies. However, these measures appear insufficient to build depth in the financial ecosystem and expand financial inclusion. The first reform is a risk-based approach suitable for traditional financial companies, but inappropriate for technology-oriented companies. Why not create a fintech regulatory sandbox to enable the payments ecosystem to expand the scope of opportunities? Nepal’s digital payment ecosystem is saturated with companies all of which do the same thing. We have 10 Payment Service Operators and 27 Payment Service Providers, with little differentiation among them. This is expected: The country’s consumer base is of low value and there is little space for innovation. Our digital ecosystem has yet to see unique services such as escrow-based debiting or push payments, which can significantly accelerate e-commerce. A prominent player in the ecosystem has introduced payday loans, EMI loans, and buy-now-pay-later loans through a banking partner, and this is a good starting point. However, the NRB needs to open more opportunities to improve the capabilities of our banking ecosystem and deepen financial inclusion. The second reform—the FDI threshold of 15 percent in payment companies—falls into no-man’s land. For foreign strategic investors, a 15 percent stake is too low of an allocation in the capitalization table to impact company governance. While for financial investors, a 15 percent stake does not present much of a financially appealing investment in Nepal’s competitive payments industry. Remittance capture cannot be the only domain for players to compete in. The focus must shift toward improving access to existing financial and insurance services, introducing newer more appropriate products, and improving the services to consumers to cover the breadth of their transactions and over their lifecycle. High quality FDI, not sources for AML risks The new announcement for a lower FDI threshold for technology companies is welcome, and we will wait for whether NRB and other government agencies can execute this. Government bodies haven’t been able to execute past FDI commitments and have failed to attract FDI into the country even after recently lowering the minimum FDI threshold from Rs 50m to Rs 20m. FDI flows sharply declined over the current fiscal year. Even committed capital is weary to enter the country, while new FDI pledges have dropped drastically. Global macroeconomics alone is not responsible for this scenario. Nepal needs high-quality FDI to help bring in strong standards and connectivity to the rest of the world. I believe that near-term goals for the local digital ecosystem should be to attract small to mid-sized technology companies, which are willing to invest $5 million to $10 million in Nepal to set up research labs, build local teams, and set up offshore implementation offices. Ideally, most of this allocation will go toward high-value activities such as research and development, training, and technology transfer, and less toward buying property. Such high-quality FDI also helps set strong precedents for Nepali officials to understand technology companies and investments in the digital domains. The lower FDI limit, and potentially lower limit for technology companies, may help international entrepreneurs experiment in Nepal, but I worry that it will introduce significant money laundering risks. Nepal’s international reputation for managing such risks have seriously deteriorated over the past year, and the public has not had any reassurances from the NRB that they have boosted their global anti-money laundering capabilities. If our government is serious about encouraging global investors and operators to come and invest in Nepal’s digital economy, it also needs to improve the immigration system. Work visas for foreigners are notoriously difficult to get. Bringing international talent to come work in Nepal is one of the best ways of technology transfer, but we need to make it easier for international talent to come and discover Nepal’s technology scene, the companies, and possibilities, before expecting them to make sizable investments and consider Nepal as their base. Market access and global exposure Startups have long been promised loans of up to Rs 2.5m at 3 percent interest, yet the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) has been unable to execute this program. It needs to be re-imagined. Undoubtedly, Nepali digital companies need concessionary support. Many young companies in the world need this concessionary support to build their products, acquire customers, expand, and thrive. There can be a better way to mobilize concessionary support. We have private equity fund managers in the country, who have pioneered impact investing. Such investors prioritize the impact created by their investments alongside financial returns. Start-up funding can be more effectively channeled through impact fund managers, and Nepal can focus on bringing in international experts in impact investing from Asia, Europe, and the US to scale this ecosystem. Improving this investment ecosystem will not only spur new ventures, but also help digital companies become more competitive. More sophisticated fund managers can help local companies compete globally. They can inform and lobby the government to identify reforms that can move the needle, such as helping technology companies sell their products and services globally. This means allowing companies to set up branches overseas, letting them make payments to consultants and employees internationally, and enabling partnerships with other technology companies in South Asia or across the world. Helping digital companies become more globally competitive will eventually create a virtuous cycle to improve the venture financing ecosystem in the country, as founding team members of successful companies recycle capital domestically. Nepal needs higher-quality reforms to improve the state of our digital ecosystem. Some reforms that are floating around such as negligible FDI thresholds for technology companies, higher capital requirements for payment companies, and government concessional financing programs sound progressive. However, if the government wants to be taken seriously, more substantive efforts are needed. Some of these efforts include building regulatory sandboxes for payment companies, sourcing-in higher-value FDI into the country, and enabling market access for digital companies with the help of local fund managers. The author, a Senior Fellow with the Nepal Economic Forum, leads the Digital Chautari, a platform to facilitate conversations on creating a Digital Nepal