The Commerce and Industry Ministers of India and Australia, Piyush Goyal and Don Farrell, respectively, held a joint meeting to discuss the progress of negotiations for a comprehensive Economic Cooperation agreement between the two countries. In a joint statement, the Ministers expressed satisfaction with the progress made in resolving various market access issues and expressed their eagerness to finalize the agreement soon. They emphasized that the proposed agreement would cover new areas of trade, investment, and cooperation, which would lead to job creation, higher living standards, and overall betterment of both nations. The Ministers also discussed their cooperation in international forums such as G-20, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, and the World Trade Organization. Furthermore, they pledged to work together on common interests such as promoting a clean economy and resilient supply chains.

In recent years, companies around the world have been held accountable for their environmental impact, commitment to social issues, and sound governance practices. These considerations have become increasingly important to investors who want to assess a company’s risk profile accurately. In India, the focus has been on providing protections regarding the environment and workplace conditions, without the controls and disclosures that are a hallmark of ESG regulation.

ESG regulations differ from corporate social responsibility (CSR) rules. CSR mandates that corporations engage in initiatives that contribute to the welfare of society. In contrast, ESG regulations emphasise monitoring, quantification, and disclosure, akin to ESG requirements found in other parts of the world.

India has long had laws and bodies regarding environmental, social, and governance issues, including the Environment Protection Act of 1986, quasi-judicial organisations such as the National Green Tribunal, and laws governing employee engagement and corporate governance practices. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) revised the annual Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report required by the 1,000 largest listed companies in India, with disclosures ranging from greenhouse gas emissions to the company’s gender and social diversity.

Compliance with ESG regulations poses a significantly different challenge than India’s CSR regulations. Indian companies must comply with ESG regulations from the US, the UK, the EU, and elsewhere to take full advantage of the growing decoupling from China and play a more prominent role in global supply chains. Thorough due diligence is required to comply with international ESG standards. Companies that wish to maximise their opportunities in the global economy need to embrace these new requirements and adjust their organisations accordingly.

Nepal has recently seen political instability due to its fragile coalition government, which is headed by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. Amidst this turmoil, Ram Chandra Poudel from the Nepali Congress party was elected as the President of Nepal on Thursday. Mr. Poudel was the common candidate of an eight-party alliance that included the Nepali Congress and the Prime Minister ‘Prachanda’-led CPN (Maoist Centre). He received the vote of 214 lawmakers of Parliament and 352 provincial Assembly members.

The victory of 78-year-old Mr. Poudel was certain as he had the support of eight political parties. His rival, Subas Chandra Nebmang, was supported by former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma-led CPN-UML. This is Nepal’s third presidential election since becoming a republic in 2008, and the tenure of the current President, Bidya Devi Bhandari, will end on March 12.

The term of office for the President is five years from the date of election, and an individual can be elected for the post for only two terms. Although the President’s role is largely ceremonial, Nepal’s political parties have lately shown a growing interest in the post owing to the discretionary powers the Constitution accords to it.

It is interesting to note that Election Commission spokesperson Shaligram announced that 518 provincial Assembly members and 313 Members of Parliament cast their votes in the presidential election. This shows a significant interest and participation from the country’s elected representatives.

In conclusion, the election of Mr. Poudel as the President of Nepal is a significant development in the country’s political landscape, especially considering the increasing instability in the government. It remains to be seen how Mr. Poudel will exercise his discretionary powers, and whether his election will have a positive impact on Nepal’s political stability.

The Indian government is planning to create a new law, called the Digital India Act, to address various issues related to the digital world. The Act will cover topics such as Artificial Intelligence, deepfakes, cybercrime, competition between Internet platforms, and data protection. The law will also establish a new “adjudicatory mechanism” for dealing with criminal and civil offenses committed online. The government will consult with the public and industry stakeholders before finalizing the Act’s principles and drafting a bill. The new law will address newer forms of online harm, such as catfishing, doxxing, trolling, and phishing. The Minister declined to provide a timeline for when the draft would be introduced in Parliament.

India pulled off an incredible victory against Australia in a recent cricket match, held on February 14, 2023. The match was a nail-biter, with both teams giving it their all to secure a win. However, it was India who emerged as the victors, thanks to some brilliant performances by the players.

The match started with Australia winning the toss and deciding to bat first. They got off to a good start, with their openers putting up a solid partnership. However, India fought back with some great bowling, and eventually, Australia were restricted to a modest total of 250 runs in their allotted 50 overs.

India started their chase cautiously, with their openers playing it safe and trying to build a foundation. However, they lost a couple of quick wickets, which put them under pressure. But the middle-order batsmen stepped up and played some aggressive shots to keep the scoreboard ticking. The match was finely balanced, with both teams having a chance to win.

However, it was India who held their nerve in the end. They needed 10 runs off the last over, and it was their captain who took charge. He hit a couple of boundaries to bring the equation down to 2 runs off 1 ball. The pressure was on the bowler, and he ended up bowling a wide, which gave India the victory.

It was a brilliant team effort by India, with everyone contributing to the win. The bowlers did a great job of restricting Australia to a manageable total, and the batsmen held their nerve in a tense run-chase. The captain’s performance was particularly noteworthy, as he led from the front and played a captain’s knock.

Overall, it was a thrilling match that kept the fans on the edge of their seats until the very end. India’s victory was well-deserved, and it was a testament to their fighting spirit and determination. They will look to carry this momentum into their next match and continue their winning streak.

“Every individual has his own style, his own way of presenting himself on and off the field.”

– Sachin Tendulkar