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Nepal’s second match against Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was washed out at the Lauderhill Field in Florida, USA on Wednesday.

The match scheduled to start at 5:15 am Nepali time had to be abandoned without a ball bowled because of the incessant downpour, forcing the teams to share a point each before the toss was held.

This was the first time that Nepal and Sri Lanka were facing each other in the senior cricket team but the match had to be called off due to incessant rainfall.

Nepal are at fourth position in the group ‘D’ followed by Sri Lanka.

Nepal lost to their first match at the hands of  Netherlands by six wickets in the group stage while Sri Lanka suffered a defeat to South Africa by six wickets in the first match and Bangladesh by two wickets in the second match.

South Africa have already secured their berth in Super Eight from Group ‘D’.

Nepal will have to win the remaining two games to book a place in Super Eight.

Now, the Nepali team will go to the West Indies to play the remaining two matches of the group stage.

Nepal will play against South Africa on June 14 and Bangladesh on June 16 in St. Vincent, West Indies.

When the British colonized much of South Asia, they never thought that one day South Asian food, particularly curry, would conquer the hearts and minds of all the Brits. The colonized world could never have imagined that one day, a chef from never-colonized Nepal would surprise everyone by entering a curry competition and presenting ‘Jhol Momo’ as an appetizer.

In a remarkable achievement for Nepali cuisine, Chef Saroj Thapaliya secured the second runner-up position at the prestigious Asian Curry Awards, representing Panas Restaurant in London. The awards ceremony, which took place a few days ago at West London University, celebrated the culinary talents of Asian and Oriental chefs from across the UK.

The top prize of the night was awarded to Jeevan Lal from Babur Restaurant in Forest Hill, London. Dev Bishwal from The Cook’s Tale in Canterbury took the first runner-up spot. Chef Saroj wowed the nine-member judging panel with his expertly crafted dishes: Jhol Momo, an appetizer, and Farsi Masu, a main course featuring pumpkin and goat meat curry. His mastery of these traditional Nepali dishes earned him the title of Best Nepali Chef of the Year 2024.

The Asian & Oriental Chef Awards is a national competition open to professional chefs working in restaurants and takeaways representing cuisines from Bangladesh, Burma, China, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Middle East, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam. The competition is organized by the Asian Catering Federation and judged by a panel of respected chefs, including Tony Khan, Thomas Chan, Rajesh Suri, Steve Gomes, George Shaw, Shahagir Farouk, Riya Amber Tesia, Ken Wan, Teddy KC Chan, and myself.

As one of the judges, I expressed pride in seeing Nepali cuisine gaining global recognition. Competitions like the Asian Curry Awards are crucial for promoting dishes like momo as international symbols of Nepali culinary heritage. This year’s event saw nine chefs, selected from numerous contestants across the UK, showcasing their talents in the finals.

For me, the event held particular significance. After nearly 25 years of dedicated service in the curry industry, both locally and globally, it was a great honor to serve as a judge at the Asian Curry Awards. Often regarded as the Oscars of the Asian restaurant industry in the UK, this event not only celebrates culinary excellence but also underscores the vital role of Asian cuisine in British society.

Reflecting on my roots, I’m reminded of my humble beginnings in Malekhu, where I grew up enjoying my mama’s famous ‘aloo chop’. The journey from being the nephew of a beloved street food vendor to standing in the British Parliament as a recognized culinary expert is nothing short of remarkable. It’s a story of dedication, hard work, and the unyielding support of my community.

Curry has become an integral part of British culture, yet its roots extend far beyond India. Cuisines from Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have significantly contributed to the rich tapestry of flavors that curry represents today. Notably, Thai curry has set a global standard, much like the distinctive curries from Nepal, prepared by talented Nepali chefs alongside their Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan counterparts.

The Asian Curry Award celebrates this diversity and aims to empower and elevate the profile of Nepali cuisine on the global dining table. Curry has become a cornerstone of the UK’s culinary landscape, making a substantial contribution to the economy and influencing global food trends. The UK’s curry industry, valued at over five billion pounds annually, operates more than 10,000 restaurants, providing employment to approximately 100,000 people.

Having spent a quarter-century in the curry business globally, particularly within Indian, Arabic, and Oriental cuisines, I’m now incredibly proud to see Nepali curry gaining recognition on the same platform. The rise of Nepali curry is not only making a significant difference to the UK's economy but also contributing to local employment and enhancing British civilization through its rich cultural influence. It is a testament to the dynamic and inclusive nature of the UK's culinary scene that Nepali curry, alongside other Asian flavors, is celebrated and enjoyed, further enriching the nation's diverse gastronomic heritage.

Being a judge at the Asian Curry Awards was a significant milestone. This role not only recognized my contributions to the industry but also highlighted the importance of Asian cuisine in British culture. The experience of judging alongside legends of the curry industry and representing Nepali cuisine was incredibly rewarding.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of taking British-style curry around the world, embedding it as an integral part of British culture. Whether it was crafting menus for international sporting events or cooking for elite audiences, each experience contributed to my growth and the promotion of our culinary heritage.

The Asian Curry Awards serve as an inspiration of excellence, showcasing the best in the industry. This year, the competition was intense, with talented chefs from across the UK competing for top honors. The event celebrated individual achievements and highlighted the collective resilience and innovation of the Asian catering community.

Chef Saroj Thapaliya’s achievement at the Asian Curry Awards is a testament to the growing recognition of Nepali cuisine on the global stage. The event celebrated not only individual excellence but also the collective strength and innovation of the Asian culinary community. As the industry continues to evolve, initiatives like the ACF’s support program will be crucial in ensuring that the rich heritage of Asian cuisine continues to thrive and enrich British culture.

Baral is a UK-based R&D chef

Dr Khurram Abbas is the director of India Study Center (ISC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI). Previously he served as Research Fellow (RF) at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI). Dr Abbas has extensively worked on the foreign and defense policies of the six GCC States with particular emphasis on Pakistan and Arab countries, China and Arab countries, and India and Arab countries. He regularly delivers lectures at International and National universities and presents papers at national and international conferences. He also contributes to academic journals and national/international dailies. Dr Abbas has five book chapters, twelve research articles, and more than a hundred newspaper articles to his credit. Kamal Dev Bhattarai of ApEx talked to him about the South Asian issues including the chances of revival of SAARC. 

How do you view the current situation of regionalism in South Asia?

In a world engulfed by traditional and non-traditional issues facing survival, security and welfare of humanity, no state can afford to effectively handle all the problems on its own. Environmental, socio-political, cultural and economic issues are of unprecedented volume and scale and require an interwoven, comprehensive collective approach. This can only be done through multilateral mechanisms particularly at regional level. Regionalism is, henceforth, not a choice but a compulsion in the contemporary world. This is even more crucial in the case of South Asia which, being the most populous yet least integrated region, has been coming across multiple challenges of horrendous nature like poverty, natural calamities and cultural conflicts at frequent intervals. Unfortunately, regional cooperation is missing in South Asia when the region needs it the most. Most of the smaller states are passionate about reviving the process. Yet such cooperation is only possible when the bigger states, especially India and Pakistan, agree to join hands for its revival.

Why is there stalemate in the SAARC process?

With an unmatched market size and population, with a plethora of emerging economies, and rich natural resources, South Asia could have plucked the fruits of regional integration more than any other region. Sensing the need for easing trade restrictions and adopting collective strategies in the face of multilateral challenges including climate change, human security and others, countries in the region agreed to form SAARC as a platform to strategize and multiply their efforts on multiple fronts. The forum was aware of the fact that bilateral issues between various states may pose a threat to the effectiveness of SAARC. This fear motivated the member states to categorically drop the idea of using the platform to vent grievances of bilateral nature and focus on multilateral issues instead. This worked for around three decades as the member states moved toward integrated approach and collective mechanisms of welfare, with a snail pace though. However, the very threat of exploiting the organization to serve self-interest under the garb of bilateral issues materialized when the new government in New Delhi attempted to thwart the ongoing cooperation on the pretext of the so-called cross-border terrorism. 

SAARC is in fact a platform that, apart from providing opportunities for regional integration, can ensure balance in the region and establish checks on aspiration of a state to become regional hegemon while exploiting smaller states. It is evident from the events of a decade that India has been ambitious to lay the part of the policing force of South Asia using its larger clout and external support. SAARC could prove to be an obstacle in its way, so India tactfully neutralized the forum while blaming Pakistan without solid evidence.

Is there any process of revival of SAARC?

Lately, there have been efforts at the diplomatic level between the member countries to revive the SAARC process. The SAARC Secretariat is in touch with all members and the secretary general of the organization has been paying official visits to the member states to gauge the environment in this respect. During his visits to Male, New Delhi and Islamabad, the SAARC secretary general exchanged notes with dignitaries on revitalizing the SAARC process. It is significant that all three countries that hosted the secretary general expressed their commitment to revive the desired role of the organization. However, revival of SAARC is a task easier said than done. But one can be optimistic about it keeping in view the positive gestures of member states. The first step toward reviving SAARC is nothing else but to convene its highest body, i.e. the SAARC Summit, which has been dormant for about a decade. The summit will open new avenues for revitalizing cooperation among member states and will ensure a tangible return of SAARC at the regional horizon.

Can BIMSTEC serve as an alternative to SAARC?

BIMSTEC cannot be a suitable alternative to SAARC due to several reasons. The first and foremost reason is that while SAARC geographically represents a particular region, BIMSTEC, in its essence, is not a regional arrangement. Its members consist of the countries that fall in two different rather distinct regions. They do not share their frontiers, values, problems and challenges. Also, distinct circumstances of each country do not allow them to join hands in adopting similar approaches to tackle their issues. Additionally, every member of BIMSTEC is already part of a regional organization: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka share the SAARC forum, while Thailand and Myanmar are part of ASEAN. South Asia at large will never be able to benefit from BIMSTEC the way it can utilize SAARC for a collective good. In addition to that, South Asian countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan will not be willing to accept BIMSTEC as an alternative to SAARC. This is evident from a recent debate which took place in Nepal’s House of Representatives that met to discuss the BIMSTEC Charter a few weeks back. At maximum, BIMSTEC can be classified as a loose arrangement of cooperation between two regions that is yet to bag any tangible achievement.

Should South Asian countries consider forming a new regional organization to replace SAARC?

SAARC is one of the oldest regional groupings that is about to complete four decades of its formation. Despite unfavorable circumstances, internal and external irritants, SAARC has contributed to the trust building among regional powers. Although its performance cannot be rated as satisfactory, the association has come a long way from where it started in 1985. SAARC regional centers in the member states, South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), SAARC Development Fund (SDF), South Asian University (SAU), Disaster Management Initiatives (DMI), and SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme are some of the milestones which SAARC has achieved. Although everyone of these initiatives calls for further deliberation in order to maximize the output, the journey is in the making. South Asian countries were able to reach this destination through years of efforts, trust-building measures and mechanism formulations. Abandoning SAARC to turn toward establishing a new regional organization will be nothing more than reinventing the wheel. SAARC needs to be revived and revitalized. This will save a lot of time, energy, resources and will help South Asia to reintegrate in a better, time- and cost-effective manner.

Information Technology is rapidly transforming toward a digital era. With huge paces toward broadband internet through wireless and wireline technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), machine-to-machine (M2M) learning, internet of things (IoT), etc, cybersecurity in networks has taken over all discussions across industries, like never before. Cybersecurity has been a widespread priority since the latter half of the ‘90s, when the dot-com boom brought the world online. More than 20 years later, we have witnessed an explosion in the number and severity of cybercrime over the course of just a few years. We’re likely to see security threats become more sophisticated and therefore more expensive over time. Experts predict that the global cost of cybercrime will reach $10.5trn by 2025, substantially up from $3trn in 2015.

Nepal’s context

Cybersecurity attacks in Nepal reached its peak in 2017 when 58 different governmental sites were hacked by a group of hackers. They leaked the customer’s information and citizen’s information creating a threat to the public as well as governmental organizations. Around a year back, Nepal government’s main server again faced cyberattacks causing the shutdown of a large number of government official websites. More than 400 Nepal government websites went down for hours, disrupting services and inconveniencing thousands of passengers at Kathmandu airport, exposing the vulnerability to hacking of the gov.np domain. Hackers appear to have targeted the government’s only central data bank at the Government Integrated Data Center (GIDC) with a ‘Distributed-Denial of Service’ attack, possibly from abroad, and knocked out most government ministry websites, including the database of the Department of Immigration as well as Passports. Likewise, we often come to know about hacking of Facebook, Instagram, bank accounts, etc where hackers have benefited with personal information and money in some cases. Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police is looking after cybersecurity-related crimes and is overburdened by an increased number of cases day by day.

Cybersecurity threats

Human interaction through email by cybercriminals remains the most dangerous hacking technique, largely because it relies on human error rather than technical vulnerabilities. It’s a lot easier to trick a human than it is to breach a security system. A study report by PwC UK revealed that over 75 percent of targeted cyberattacks start with an email. Phishing is one of the top causes of data breaches, followed by the use of stolen credentials and ransomware. Phishing and email impersonation continue to evolve to incorporate new trends, technologies and tactics. Hackers try to decoy individuals with an unbelievable amount of prize, lottery, gifts and influence for leaking the secured data and hack the bank account or ask to deposit cash at the intended bank account and later on, they fly away in no time. For organizations or companies, in some cases, hackers are not motivated by money. They simply want to make a point—social, economic, political, religious, or ethical. They leverage website defacements, ransomware, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, leaking confidential information, etc. Hackers just need data, no matter what the source may be. It’s not specific to government sites. They keep on looking for vulnerabilities, and they steal data wherever found.

Cybercriminals can get around security systems by hacking less-protected networks belonging to third parties that have privileged access to the hacker’s primary target. One major example of a third-party breach occurred at the beginning of 2021 when hackers leaked personal data from over 214m Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts. The hackers were able to access the data by breaching a third-party contractor that was employed by all three companies and had privileged access to their networks.

Most of us might think the Cloud would become more secure over time, but chances are that this may not happen. As per a recent IBM study report, Cloud Vulnerabilities have increased with a high stake of 150 percent in the last five years. According to Gartner, a renowned management consulting company, Cloud security is currently the fastest-growing cybersecurity market segment due to the rapid increase in use of Cloud-based services.

Large-scale adoption of mobile wallets and touchless payment technology presents a target for cybercriminals. Financial and other prominent data may be under the control of cybercriminals due to mobile device vulnerabilities that have been impaired by the increase in remote work. Regular habits and practices regarding the use of technology, like using unprotected WiFi networks and failing to implement safeguards like a VPN or multi-factor authentication is another threat for cybersecurity.    

Safety measures

The future of cybersecurity is like a journey into the digital world, where there are both challenges and new ideas. As we rely more on technology and everything gets connected, it’s super important to keep our digital stuff safe. Here, we talk about what’s coming up in cybersecurity, like new threats and cool technology, and how we can protect ourselves online. At a time when hackers are getting smarter, knowing about cybersecurity is crucial for everyone, whether you’re a person, a business, or a government.

As an individual, the most important security measures are keeping your own passwords and other information secured, avoid using unprotected hotspots or wifi networks, don’t believe on unexpected gifts and prizes for which you never have approached and use anti-virus or a comprehensive internet security solution to protect your system from attacks.   

For organizations and governments, one of the big things in the future of cybersecurity is using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology. These smart algorithms can look at lots of data and find patterns or strange things that might mean there’s a cyberthreat. This helps organizations find and stop cyber-attacks fast, so they don’t do too much damage.

Another thing we’ll see more of in the future of cybersecurity is blockchain technology. Blockchain is like a super secure way to store and move information because it’s not controlled by one central authority. This makes it really tough for cyber bad guys to mess with it. That’s why blockchain is getting more popular, especially in industries like finance, healthcare and government, where keeping data safe is super important and any breach can cause a huge problem.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is also going to be a big deal in the future of cybersecurity. IoT means lots of everyday things are connected to the internet, like smart thermostats or security cameras. So, organizations and governments will have to step up their security game to defend against cyberthreats related to IoT.

The author is a telecom expert and former Managing Director of Nepal Telecom