Karnataka results have reaffirmed that PM Modi is a pan-India leader. In our political history, he is the third one to hold such a stature after Nehru and Indira.&amp;nbsp;

Nehru first, now Modi?

The sheer dominance of BJP has dented the relevance of regional parties across India. Even in Karnataka, the JD(S) is relevant only due to the convenience of power plays. Comparing its performance to 2013, it is down by three seats.

End of the road for regional parties?

For the 2019 general elections, a united third front comprising of parties like like SP, BSP, RJD, TRS, TMC, BJD, DMK, AIADMK plan to take on Modi. Even Shiv Sena, which has recently been estranged with the BJP, could be a part of the third front.&amp;nbsp;

Non-Congress third front to tackle Modi?

The BJP has continued its winning spree by emerging as the single largest party in Karnataka elections. It may or may not form a government in Karnataka but its march towards south has begun

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			Nehru first, now Modi?</h2>
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			The lead in Karnataka implies a southern citadel for PM Modi</div>
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				Karnataka results have reaffirmed that PM Modi is a pan-India leader. In our political history, he is the third one to hold such a stature after Nehru and Indira.&nbsp;</p>
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			End of the road for regional parties?</h2>
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		<img alt="End of the road for regional parties?" class="photo-post-story" src="http://bsmedia.business-standard.com/_media/bs/img/article/2018-05/16/full/1526466294-5701.jpg" title="End of the road for regional parties?" />
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			KCR and Mamata Banerjee addressing media on Third Front | Photo PTI</div>
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				The sheer dominance of BJP has dented the relevance of regional parties across India. Even in Karnataka, the JD(S) is relevant only due to the convenience of power plays. Comparing its performance to 2013, it is down by three seats.</p>
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			Non-Congress third front to tackle Modi?</h2>
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			Trinamool Congress chief Mamata meeting NCP Chief Sharad Pawar | Photo PTI</div>
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				For the 2019 general elections, a united third front comprising of parties like like SP, BSP, RJD, TRS, TMC, BJD, DMK, AIADMK plan to take on Modi. Even Shiv Sena, which has recently been estranged with the BJP, could be a part of the third front.&nbsp;</p>
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The flip side to Modi juggernaut & the only way Opposition can stop him

Business Standard

Both the Agrawal family and Temasek have signed a term sheet for a stake sale by the Agrawal family

Exim Bank of India has raised USD 1 billion (about Rs 8,570 crore) from overseas at lowest ever spread to fund business growth, the Department of Financial Services said on Tuesday.
"Fantastic start to the year by Indian issuers in global capital markets, with state-owned @IndiaEximBank raising $1 bn 10-year USD-denominated bonds at lowest ever spread (100bps) for USD-denominated public bond by a BBB-rated issuer in Asia," the Department of Financial Services (DFS) said in a post on X
This demonstrates the confidence of overseas investors in the India story, it said, adding, this landmark transaction marks a strong start to the year for Indian issuers in the international debt markets, supporting Exim Bank's mandate and contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Exim Bank provides financial assistance to exporters and importers, and functions as the principal financial institution for coordinating the working of institutions engaged in financing export and import of goods and ...

Exim Bank provides financial assistance to exporters and importers

A program intended to inform too often became a tool to censor, Meta said

The tech giant will also support the country's long-term competitiveness by training 10 million people over the next five years with AI skills

The CEC conceded that it was difficult to define what a "freebie" is and that the Election Commission's "hands are tied" as the matter is sub-judice

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday launched multilingual functionality on the e-Shram portal to provide seamless access to various government schemes for unorganised workers.
In line with the vision of making eShram a 'One-Stop-Solution', this portal will now be available in all 22 Scheduled Languages, a labour ministry statement said.
The event to launch multilingual functionality was attended by the Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment and several senior officials. It also marked the achievement of another milestone in the government's efforts to provide comprehensive social protection to unorganised workers in the country.
Meity's Bhashini project has been leveraged to upgrade the eShram portal with 22 languages.
The previous version was available only in English, Hindi, Kannada and Marathi.
In his address, Minister of Labour & Employment Mandaviya highlighted the growing trust in the e-Shram platform, saying the portal records an average of over 30,000 ...

The minister urged all unorganised workers to register on the e-Shram portal to avail the benefit of various government schemes designed to support their welfare, livelihood and well-being

The challenges to inclusion need to be addressed head on with governance changes and higher untied funding with community accountability and ownership

The gems and jewellery sector has urged the government for a reduction in goods and services tax (GST) to 1 per cent on revenue equivalence ratio to ease the cost burden on the industry in the upcoming Budget.
"We seek rationalisation of taxes and availability of finance to support business," the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) Chairman Rajesh Rokde said in a statement on Tuesday.
With the continuously increasing gold rates, the current rate of GST is increasingly becoming a burden for the industry and end customers, he said.
Therefore, GJC is urging for a reduction in GST from the current 3 per cent to 1 per cent in the upcoming Budget, which will encourage compliance, Rokde said.
The tax reduction will enhance affordability for consumers, especially in rural areas, and most importantly, improve revenue collection by increasing the size of the formal economy, he added.
The industry apex body said there is a need to introduce a concessional GST rate for lab-grow

The industry apex body said there is a need to introduce a concessional GST rate for lab-grown diamonds to fully recognise their sustainable and cost-effective attributes compared to natural diamonds

Russia-Ukraine War

The year 2022 is coming to an end and a lot has happened that shaped the world in the year. Let's have a look at some of these significant events

In February 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine&amp;#39;s capital, Kyiv, from the north in an attempt to overthrow President Volodymyr Zelensky&amp;#39;s government. In the months following, artillery bombardment and street fighting continued, with Russia seizing multiple cities.

&amp;nbsp;

After a slew of scandals in his term spanning three years, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned from office in July. Johnson was succeeded by Liz Truss, who took over the office in September.
						
						But after 45 days in the office, she resigned, becoming the shortest-serving PM in UK history. Her budgetary plans, at the centre of which were tax cut plans, had crashed the markets, making her lose the confidence of almost all her own MPs.
						
						In the days that followed, Rishi Sunak took over as Britain&amp;#39;s 57th prime minister and vowed to fix the mistakes made by his predecessor, Liz Truss.

Russia Invades Ukraine

In April, protests began in the nation following a sharp rise in food and fuel costs. Thousands demanded the resignation of now-ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The people faced long power cuts daily and shortages of basics, including fuel and food. Sri Lanka&amp;#39;s doctors said they were nearly out of life-saving medicines.
						
						Rajapaksa&amp;#39;s government was being blamed for the chronic mismanagement of the country&amp;#39;s finances. In July, protestors stormed Rajapaksa&amp;#39;s home, pushing him to flee the nation before resigning from office.

UK&amp;#39;s political crisis

In September, 22-year-old Iranian girl Mahsa Amini died after being detained for allegedly violating Iran&amp;#39;s laws requiring women to wear a headscarf. Authorities said she died of illness, but her family claimed she fell into a coma after being mistreated by the police. Sources said the police beat Amini with a baton and banged her head against a vehicle. At her funeral on September 17 in Saqez, women protested by ripping off their hijabs. Protests sparked by her demise have since roped in ethnic minorities and even school children. Thousands of women since then have been showing solidarity by cutting their hair and burning their hijabs in public.
						
						Now, the unrest has spread beyond a women&amp;#39;s right to a movement that is calling for an end to theocratic rule. The protests are now the most broadly supported movement in Iran in over four decades.

Sri Lanka economic crisis

In October, Chinese President Xi Jinping was handed a historic third term in office. He became the first leader of the ruling Communist Party after party founder Mao Zedong to get a third term in power.
						
						This came as China&amp;#39;s economy was running out of steam after decades of high growth. Many expect Xi&amp;#39;s third term may see China revert to more old-school economic management, focusing on shoring up the heavy industry and continuing a crackdown on big tech.

Uprising mounts again in Iran

In a historic first, rich countries agreed to pay for losses and damages caused by climate change. For 30 years, developing nations have been calling for developed countries to compensate for the costs of climate disasters caused by climate change. And rich nations that caused the pollution resisted the demand. But this changed in 2022.

Chinese President Xi Jinping starts record third term in power

In 2022, inflation was rising worldwide, with food and energy prices hitting record highs. The hike was mainly driven by pent-up consumer demand after the pandemic and Russia&amp;#39;s invasion of Ukraine. As the pandemic waned, people wanted to return to normalcy and spend more. This led to companies demanding higher prices. Companies also hired more to serve the pent-up demand. They had to increase wages to attract workers and raise prices to compensate for that.

A landmark deal UN Climate Change Conference (COP27)

In September, Queen Elizabeth II, Britain&amp;#39;s longest-serving monarch, died at 96 after reigning for 70 years. Many said her death would mark a turning point for commonwealth nations as many may disassociate themselves.

The global economy at crossroads

In October, Brazil&amp;#39;s former president, Luiz In&amp;aacute;cio Lula da Silva beat Jair Bolsonaro in the country&amp;#39;s closest presidential race in history. Silva&amp;#39;s win marked Latin America&amp;#39;s shift to the left and pointed to an extraordinary comeback for a man in jail for corruption three years ago.

Queen Elizabeth II dies

In October, billionaire Elon Musk closed his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter after months of dilly-dallying, drama and a lawsuit. The Tesla owner&amp;#39;s Twitter takeover is also one of the biggest tech acquisitions of all time. May fear that Musk&amp;#39;s takeover may turn the social media giant into a hotbed of hate speech.
					
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Brazil elections

Google Messages

In January, Google rolled out end-to-end encryption in group chats for messages app users enrolled in the beta programme

Blend launches Blend Studio: AI tool for ecommerce photography

New Delhi [India], March 16 (ANI/PNN): Blend, an AI-powered design and photography application for DTC brands and ecommerce sellers, recently launched Blend Studio - the Chat GPT for product photos.

Celebrity and Travel Photographer Rahul Lokare from Flamingo Productions creates waves of change in the world of photography.

Xiaomi 13 Pro

Priced at Rs 79,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB on-board storage, the Xiaomi 13 Pro offers a novel imaging experience on top of a premium package

The flip side to Modi juggernaut & the only way Opposition can stop him

The BJP has continued its winning spree by emerging as the single largest party in Karnataka elections. It may or may not form a government in Karnataka but its march towards south has begun

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