With Republic Day being observed across the country today, investors are keen to know whether trading activity will continue as usual or face disruptions. January 26 is a nationally significant day, and it traditionally has implications for financial markets and settlement schedules.At the start of the year, market participants typically track holiday calendars closely, as closures can affect trading strategies, settlement cycles and liquidity. This becomes especially important for those dealing in derivatives, commodities and short-term positions.

What is the trading status today?

Indian stock exchanges are not operational today, January 26, on account of Republic Day. Trading has been suspended across both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the BSE in all segments, including equities, equity derivatives, currency derivatives and interest rate derivatives, as per ET.Commodity markets are also shut for the day, with the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) observing a full-day closure covering both morning and evening sessions, ET reported. Normal trading will resume on Tuesday, January 27.

Second market holiday of 2026

The Republic Day shutdown marks the second stock market holiday of the year. Markets were earlier closed on January 15 due to the Municipal Corporation Election in Maharashtra.In total, Indian exchanges will remain closed for 16 days in 2026, owing to a mix of national holidays, religious festivals and state-specific events.

Key upcoming market holidays

Upcoming non-trading days include Holi on March 3, Ram Navami on March 26 and Mahavir Jayanti on March 31. In April, markets will be closed on Good Friday (April 3) and Dr Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14), followed by Maharashtra Day on May 1.Other closures later in the year include Bakri Id on May 28, Muharram on June 26, Ganesh Chaturthi on September 14 and Gandhi Jayanti on October 2. Markets will also shut on October 20 for Dussehra, November 10 for Diwali–Balipratipada and November 24 for Guru Nanak Jayanti. The final trading holiday of the year will be Christmas on December 25.Independence Day on August 15 will not result in a market holiday this year, as it falls on a Saturday.Investors are advised to factor these holidays into their trading and settlement plans to avoid any disruption.

Hardik Pandya produced a moment of magic in the field during India’s third T20I against New Zealand at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday, pulling off a stunning catch that set the tone early in the contest. With India already leading the five-match series 2-0, the hosts came out sharp once again after captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bowl first.Handed the new ball, Harshit Rana made an immediate impact. On the third delivery of the opening over, New Zealand opener Devon Conway stepped out of his crease, looking to loft the ball over mid-off. However, the timing deserted the left-hander, and the ball hung in the air longer than expected.For a split second, it appeared the shot might sail over Hardik Pandya, but the all-rounder judged it perfectly. Taking a couple of quick steps to his left, Hardik launched himself into the air and completed a sensational leaping catch, drawing loud cheers from the Guwahati crowd and giving India an early breakthrough.

Explaining the decision to bowl first, Suryakumar said the surface looked good and the possibility of dew later in the evening made chasing the preferred option. He also urged his players to stick to their strengths and play fearlessly while remaining grounded.The India skipper highlighted the value of all-round contributions, singling out Hardik Pandya for his long-standing impact with both bat and ball, and praising Shivam Dube for his recent performances. He also noted how such players provide balance and flexibility to the side.For the third T20I, India rested Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy, bringing in Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi as part of their rotation strategy, with the series advantage already in hand.

Work from home, a concept that barely featured in corporate vocabulary before 2020, quickly became the backbone of the global economy when the Covid pandemic brought daily life to a standstill. Offices shut overnight, cities fell silent, but work could not stop. Across industries, companies improvised at speed, building digital systems and remote processes that allowed business to continue without physical workplace gatherings.What began as a crisis response stretched far longer than many expected. For nearly four to five years, remote, then hybrid work defined professional life for millions. Companies discovered they could save on office space, electricity and travel-related expenses. Employees found they could reclaim commuting hours and redesign their workdays. But as organisations now push for a return to offices, some partially and others more aggressively, the big question is resurfacing: if work from home kept businesses running through the worst disruption in decades, why is it now being rolled back?The answer lies in a complex mix of productivity gains, cultural shifts and unintended consequences, as told by multiple corporate workers to TOI.

The productivity surprise

For many employees, the early phase of remote work delivered an unexpected boost.“Without daily commuting and office distractions, I could start work with more energy and focus deeply on tasks,” said Abhishek Gupta, who works at a multinational company. Like many others, he found that removing travel time and office interruptions helped him complete tasks “faster and with better quality than in a traditional office setup”.Across sectors, from technology and finance to consulting and public relations, professionals describe the pandemic years as a period of intense but often highly productive work. Flexible schedules enabled many to craft their schedules based upon meaningful output instead of physical presence.Rachit Jasrotia, a senior project manager with a tech firm, believes the change made the teams more disciplined in the way they worked. Clear documentation, structured digital workflows and asynchronous collaboration became the standard. “Many of the practices introduced during that period — flexible schedules, async collaboration, and an emphasis on clear documentation — have continued and are now part of how we operate by default,” he said.

Opportunity without borders

Remote work did more than change how people worked, it changed who got access to work.Kriti, who joined the workforce in the field of finance after the pandemic, says she witnessed how Covid-era remote practices opened up more global collaboration. “Earlier we had limited work since they preferred work to be done by those who were in the US office,” she says. “But due to Covid, a lot of work started being done remotely, which gave Indian teams more opportunities to participate.”Her experience reflects a broader shift many multinational firms saw during the pandemic: location became less of a constraint. Work that was once tied to specific offices began flowing more freely, expanding exposure and responsibility for teams outside traditional headquarters.

The rise of outcome culture

One of the most significant long-term shifts has been in how productivity is measured. Before the pandemic, time spent in the office often carried implicit weight. Remote work weakened that equation.“Productivity today is judged far more by outcomes — timely delivery, quality of insights, governance rigor, and the impact created,” said Gitanjali, a mid-level employee at a tech-firm. “This is a notable shift from earlier years where visibility or presence carried more weight. My work is data driven hence measured by accuracy, timeliness, and the strategic value delivered, not where I’m sitting. Covid played a key role in normalising this outcome‑focused approach,” she said reflecting on her time as a corporate employee before, during and after the pandemic.Other professionals across industries also said that performance conversations are now more closely tied to impact, quality and timeliness than just hours logged. The pandemic proved that high-quality work could happen without physical proximity, and many organisations adapted their evaluation frameworks accordingly.Even those who entered the workforce after the crisis found these norms already embedded. Meghna, who works in public relations, says flexible work structures and virtual collaboration were presented as standard practice when she began her career. “There is a clear focus on deliverables rather than rigid working hours,” she says. “There’s an understanding that people can be productive without being physically present at all times.”

Flexibility — With a cost

If remote work brought freedom, it also brought fatigue and mixed feelings on always “being available”Gitanjali talked about how she felt the pressure sometimes to “always be reachable” but found ways to manage. “While I don’t feel explicit pressure to be “always online,” the nature of managing a large and diverse portfolio sometimes creates an implicit expectation to stay reachable across time zones. Stakeholders often operate with tight timelines, so responsiveness is important. I manage this by setting clear expectations, planning communication windows, and keeping governance structures strong so that not everything needs immediate escalation.”Rachit Jasrotia added that while flexibility improved autonomy and focus, sustainability became a conscious effort. “ Hybrid work gives tremendous flexibility, but without intentional boundaries, work can easily spill into personal time. It requires conscious effort to disconnect, especially when tools and communication channels are always within reach.”Still, few professionals advocate a complete return to pre-pandemic routines. Instead, most are looking for balance – structured flexibility rather than either total remote work or rigid office mandates. Like Kriti who believes work from home has its challenges at times but overall it has made work more “sustainable” following pandemic-era policies at least partly.

Visibility creeps back

While many employees say performance is now judged more by outcomes, a quieter shift is underway as offices reopen and hybrid schedules take hold: the importance of being seen is returning, in some workplaces.Flipkart, a major e-commerce firm, announced the end of its work from home policy early last year.Amazon also mandated 5-days of work from the office. Wipro followed suit and tightened work from home rules, has mandated at least six hours in office for three days a week. Similarly, many other firms have tightened or shut-down altogether their work from home policy.Durgesh Kumar Jha, a public relations consultant, spoke on this, “In my experience, productivity at the workplace is increasingly judged by visibility rather than outcomes,” says “Work which is not seen, discussed, or repeatedly reinforced often goes unnoticed.”Meanwhile, in hybrid environments, digital presence has become the new form of visibility. Being active on internal chat platforms, speaking frequently in meetings and responding quickly to messages can shape perceptions of engagement — sometimes as strongly as tangible output.This, employees say, has revived a softer form of presenteeism. It is no longer about sitting late at a desk in the office, but about being continuously visible online.“There is pressure to respond quickly while working from home. I have experienced longer online hours and frequent messages,” said Abhishek, being at mid-management level. However, he remained in favour of the hybrid mode at his workplace adding, “However, once expectations are clarified, this becomes manageable.”That pressure to be seen often translates into pressure to be available.“There is a constant pressure to be available, irrespective of where you work from,” said Durgesh, adding “Availability is often confused with commitment.”Others describe it as less explicit but still persistent. Meghna noted that in client-facing roles, responsiveness is part of the job. “News cycles, client requirements, or urgent developments can sometimes demand quick responses beyond regular hours,” she said. “It’s more role-driven than policy-driven pressure.”Hybrid work has blurred time zones and boundaries, making delayed responses more noticeable. Some professionals say this has made work feel more continuous, even when organisations formally promote flexibility.

The boundary problem

One theme cuts across roles and industries: blurred boundaries.“Yes, the lines can blur, especially when working from home,” Meghna said. “It’s important to disconnect and protect personal time to avoid burnout,” she added, while referring to conscious efforts to separate the ‘two’ lives.Several professionals say they now rely on deliberate routines which includes- defined work hours, no-meeting windows and stricter notification controls – to prevent work from spilling into personal life.

The hybrid mode

As more companies call employees back to the office, the work-from-home boom may be receding, but it is not disappearing. Instead, a hybrid compromise is emerging. Offices are increasingly seen as spaces for collaboration and relationship-building, while focused individual work often continues remotely.The future of work, professionals argue, will depend less on location and more on clarity.“Work-from culture has created an opportunity to build more inclusive, flexible, and high-impact teams. The key is balancing autonomy with clarity—clear priorities, shared expectations, and trust-based collaboration,” said Rachit. While Abhishek says, “Based on real experience, WFH works. It saves time, reduces stress, and improves focus. With trust, accountability, and clear boundaries, WFH is not just convenient—it is a better way of working for modern corporates.”

The culture per-se that began as a necessity has now become a negotiation. Companies are rethinking space and culture. Employees are rethinking boundaries and balance. The next phase of work will probably not be as simple as choosing between home and office, but about defining how both can coexist without sacrificing productivity or well-being.

An early Friday morning at a household in Georgia, US, saw a heated argument between an Indian-origin couple that escalated into a deadly shooting. The husband, Vijay Kumar, allegedly killed his wife and three other relatives, while the three children present at the residence, hid in a closet. The children reportedly heard their father arguing, and one of them called 911 as shots rang out.Gwinnett County police responded to the emergency call and arrived at the home, where they found four adults fatally shot. The children were physically unharmed. Police confirmed that the incident was domestic in nature.According to Fox5 Atlanta, Vijay Kumar, 51, has been taken into custody and charged with four counts of aggravated assault and four counts of felony murder.In addition to these charges, authorities have also invoked four counts of malice murder, one count of first-degree cruelty to children, and two counts of third-degree cruelty to children.Police identification states that the victims are Kumar’s wife, Meenu Dogra, 43, of Atlanta, and Gourav Cumar, 33, Nidhi Chander, 37, and Harish Chander, 38, all residents of Lawrenceville.According to investigators, an argument broke out between Dogra and Kumar at their home in Atlanta, after which they travelled to a residence on Brook Ivy Court with their 12-year-old child. Gourav Cumar, Nidhi Chander and Harish Chander, relatives of Dogra and Kumar, lived at the Brook Ivy Court home, where the incident took place, along with two juveniles aged seven and ten. Following the incident, it was the 12-year-old who called 911.However, investigators have not yet determined what sparked the argument, why the individuals went to the residence, or what led up to the incident.The Consulate General of India in Atlanta expressed grief over the shooting, stating that the alleged shooter has been arrested and that all possible assistance is being extended to the bereaved family.“We are deeply grieved by a tragic shooting incident linked to an alleged family dispute, in which an Indian national was among the victims. The alleged shooter has been arrested, and all possible assistance is being extended to the bereaved family,” the consulate said in a post on X.

Josh Allen, the Buffalo Bills’ star player, started the season with a lot of hopes, until it came crashing down as the Buffalo Bills lost brutally against the Denver Broncos in the divisional round.Though Josh Allen has a lot to look forward to this year as he and his wife, Hailee Steinfeld, are all set to become parents soon, he is also recovering from a brutal injury on his right foot. Amid all the mess, Josh Allen makes a shocking $8.5 million move which has raised eyebrows.

Josh Allen pulls the plug on his lavish mansion amid Hailee Steinfeld’s pregnancy and his brutal injury

A few hours ago, as per Realtor.com, the Buffalo Bills’ star player Josh Allen has delisted his four-bedroom, three-bathroom Dana Point bachelor pad for $8.5 million.A few months ago, after Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld tied the knot in California in May 2025, the star player had listed his lavish bachelor pad on the market, after he bought it in 2023 for a whopping $7.2 million.But just a few days ago, Josh Allen ended up pulling the mansion out of the market and it has shocked fans.As per the listing made by Josh Allen previously, the 2808 square foot property is a “classic mid-century California architecture” and “is set behind the exclusive 24-hour guard-gated enclave of Monarch Bay.”The listing added, “Positioned on one of the neighborhoods larger private lots, it offers exceptional potential in a highly sought-after coastal community.”However, neither Josh Allen nor his wife, the BAFTA nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld, has made any statements about this, as they continue to be pretty private about their lives.

Josh Allen remains silent about his injury as he gears up to become a father

At this point in time, while Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld are gearing up to step into a new chapter in their lives, the Buffalo Bills’ quarterback is also recovering from his injury on his right foot.A few hours ago, the NFL insider Adam Schefter made a post that read as, “Bills GM Brandon Beane said QB Josh Allen might need a procedure on his foot, but if he does, he should be ready for OTA’s…”Josh Allen has remained silent about his injury as he gears up to become a father.

NEW DELHI: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) on Saturday targeted the DMK government and Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin” calling him a “puppet”, and further alleging that “law and order has been reduced to a laughing stock” in the state, after a country-made bomb was hurled at a police vehicle on the Trichy–Chennai highway.In a post on X, the former Tamil Nadu chief minister said, “In the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly today, while puppet chief minister Stalin was busy patting himself on the back and boasting away, a shocking incident unfolded near the Perambalur toll plaza on the Trichy-Chennai highway, where unidentified persons hurled country-made bombs at a police vehicle.”According to EPS, the attack occurred when police officers were escorting Velai Kali, a Madurai-based rowdy facing several cases, for interrogation. “This brutal attack took place as police officers were escorting Velai Kali, a rowdy from Madurai linked to several cases, for interrogation,” he said.He further claimed that “reports indicate that four constables, who had arrived to provide security for the rowdy, sustained serious injuries in the bomb-throwing and have been admitted to hospital.”Targeting the state government, Palaniswami said, “It seems that those engaging in criminal acts feel not the slightest fear, whether of the police or this government. With law and order reduced to a laughing stock.”Taking another swipe at chief minister M K Stalin, he added, “One can only wonder who chief minister Stalin—who’s been spinning the wheel of governance for reasons unknown—will try to blame for this incident.”“I strongly condemn chief minister Stalin for not allowing the police to operate independently,” EPS added.Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran also criticised the DMK government over the incident. “The incident of a country-made bomb being hurled at two policemen who had brought in a notorious rowdy near Thirumandurai in Perambalur district is utterly shocking,” he said.Calling the situation alarming, Nagenthran said, “This single event stands as witness to the fact that law and order has plummeted to the depths under DMK rule! Not only has it systematically eroded public safety with its iron-fisted oppression, but now even uniformed policemen’s protection is being plundered—this vile regime that has plunged Tamil Nadu into utter devastation—is this the good governance the nation cherishes, Chief Minister Stalin Sir?”“People will no longer tolerate a regime that postures on social media while looting public safety! The day is not far off when the DMK regime, which has turned Tamil Nadu into a hotbed of violence and a den of rowdies through its incompetent administration, will be obliterated by the people of Tamil Nadu!” he added.

Generative AI has solidly cemented its position as one of the most important factors behind productivity and creativity in 2026. The tools have moved beyond their former use of simply generating texts or images in isolation to higher uses of being highly integrated platforms that can be used to perform all forms of coding, writing, image production, audio or video production, business solutions, or other forms of research in one go. Generative AI has been seen as an important tool in many professional environments in order to reduce manual workload and increase productivity while ensuring high-quality production and reduced errors in many fields of business and creative activity around the world. They have emerged as tools that are highly intuitive in their use in high-concept professional environments, too.

List of AI tools used for writing, coding, design and business tasks 2026

OpenAI ChatGPT

The ChatGPT developed by OpenAI is still one of the most popular and versatile generative AI tools around as of 2026. The tool is effective in many applications, including writing and ideation for individuals and organisations alike.Features:In addition to this, ChatGPT helps in understanding the context in a comprehensive manner, as it has the ability to sustain a long conversation while coherently completing complex tasks. Furthermore, it helps in changing the mode of communication and writing style in accordance with the intended purpose by adopting a unique font style, which makes it an effective tool in fields such as creative writing, documentation, and company communication. Moreover, it can be used to generate codes in multiple languages, solve logical problems in coding, and debug codes, which makes it an all-in-one tool for productivity purposes.

Google Gemini Advanced

Google Gemini Advanced is a high-end multimodal AI model that tries to deliver AI for research-oriented or enterprise-level tasks. The system combines all the insights from text, images, and data formats, and thus it works well on analytical queries.Features:Gemini Advanced excels in digesting the content while keeping important insights. Gemini also excels in image analysis, in developing quality images, and in tackling intricate business processes in a quick span of time. The accuracy in the outcome increases as the user gains experience using it. Gemini Advanced collaborates well with other Google tools.

Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot has emerged as an essential AI at work by integrating intelligence within Microsoft Office applications, Teams, and Windows itself. Productivity is increased without changing the status quo.Features:Additionally, it helps in the analysis of spreadsheets, reports, presentations, emails, meetings, and conversations within Microsoft Teams, reducing information overwhelm in a minimal manner to assist users in their respective fields by understanding the context of an organisation to offer more relevant suggestions through its capacity to automate tasks.

Midjourney v7

Midjourney v7 continues to dominate the visual generation space with its high-quality and hyper-realistic image outputs. It is widely used by designers, artists, and filmmakers.Features:The platform is known for cinematic lighting, intricate textures, and diverse artistic styles. Midjourney v7 offers enhanced creative control, allowing users to refine composition, colour balance, and artistic direction. It produces professional-grade visuals within seconds, making it ideal for concept art, branding assets, and storytelling projects that demand strong visual impact.

Adobe Firefly 3

It’s called Adobe Firefly 3. That, quite rightly, has been integrated directly into the core design applications at the company: Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro.Features:Firefly 3 puts much emphasis on creating brand-safe and commercially viable assets, a priority when working as a design team. This includes object extensions, style matching, and detailed image editing to help creators maintain artistic intent. Firefly 3 ensures an ethical data source, hence its compliance with intellectual property rights, and well integrates into Adobe applications for efficiency without loss of control.

Claude 3.5

Claude 3.5 is a powerful AI model that has obtained a lot of trust due to its well-structured and factual outputs. It is extensively used for professional writing and documentation tasks.Features:Claude 3.5 is good at generating coherent long-form text with excellent logical flow and continuity. It provides a very good response from complex and sensitive material, including legal documentation, business reporting, and policy development. Balance and clarity remain key concerns for this model to ensure the outputs have readability and accuracy over long texts.

Runway Gen-3

Runway Gen 3, on the other hand, is a next-generation AI system primarily created to deliver enhanced video creation and animation capabilities.Features:The tool has the feature of creating various animations, transitions, and effects in a fun way by generating high-quality effects in a realistic manner. Runway Gen-3 helps in exerting more power in a creative manner regarding motion, time, and style in a precise way to meet outputs in a more creative environment, especially in a fast-paced manner.

Synthesia Studio

Synthesia Studio is a platform that helps create professional videos with avatars and scripts developed using AI. It is being used for corporate training, education, and marketing.Features:The platform transforms written content into exceptional videos. It doesn’t need video equipment such as cameras. Synthesia supports various languages. Thus, it is appropriate for global communication. Video avatars have improved expressions and natural spoken language. Businesses apply Synthesia appropriately for content.

Jasper AI

Jasper AI is developed to serve marketing/advertising professionals. It assists in scaling content development in a manner that remains constant.Features:Jasper writes SEO content such as blogs, ads, product descriptions, and social media content. Jasper tailors the content to the brand voice based on the guidelines provided. It is ideal for content planning as some versions allow for handling large volumes of work.

Perplexity AI Pro

Perplexity AI Pro is a research-oriented generative AI tool focused on precision and transparency.Features:The tool offers answers backed by sources and thus is very reliable for use by journalists, researchers, or analysts. The tool is effective in topic investigation and competitive analysis as well as in verification of certain data. The use of verified information as answered with references limits and avoids misinformation and increases trust in AI assistance.

ElevenLabs AI

ElevenLabs AI is considered a leading voice generation platform with the ability to produce human-like voices.Features:It offers language and voice style variations, making it suitable to customize tones and emotions. ElevenLabs is used to create audiobooks, ads, and creator content. It gives realistic voice outputs that mimic human vocal characteristics, making it suitable for professional audio content.

Canva AI Suite

Canva’s AI Suite combines design automation with creative flexibility, making professional design accessible to all users.Features:The platform assists with image generation, layout suggestions, and branding consistency. Users can create presentations, social media graphics, and marketing materials quickly. Canva’s AI-driven recommendations help produce polished designs without advanced design skills, making it popular among individuals and teams alike.

Notion AI

Notion AI is integrated directly into the Notion workspace, enhancing documentation and project management.Features:The tool helps draft content, rewrite notes, summarise long documents, and organise project plans. It improves clarity and structure across shared workspaces, making collaboration more efficient. Notion AI reduces cognitive load by simplifying complex information into actionable insights.

Replit AI

Replit AI is a real-time coding assistant designed for developers and learners.Features:The platform supports code writing, debugging, and deployment within an interactive environment. It explains errors clearly, making it suitable for beginners, while also accelerating prototyping for experienced developers. Replit AI’s collaborative features enable teams to build and test applications together.

Descript AI Studio

Descript AI Studio redefines audio and video editing by allowing users to edit media through text.Features:The platform offers AI-powered audio cleanup, automated captions, and voice cloning. It simplifies podcast production and video editing by eliminating complex timelines. Descript enables creators to focus on content quality rather than technical editing processes.

Sora by OpenAI

Sora by OpenAI represents a breakthrough in AI video generation, capable of producing detailed and realistic scenes.Features:The platform generates long-form videos with accurate motion, composition, and storytelling. Sora translates text prompts into visually coherent narratives, making it valuable for advertising, concept development, and prototyping. Its advanced understanding of physical movement sets it apart from earlier video tools.

Pika 2

Pika 2.0 is a simple video generation utility for fast content production.Features:This platform has the capacity to generate an animated video that has smooth transitions as well as engaging visual effects through minimal inputs. This platform is best suited for creating a variety of content for social media sites, as it can be used for promotions or short marketing videos as part of a fast-paced strategy through Pika 2.0.

Tome AI

Tome AI is focused on narrative-driven presentations.Features:This tool organises content, adds visuals, and even designs the slides on its own. Users can create their own pitch decks and presentations using this tool that make logical sense and appear professional. Tome AI is commonly used by professionals who need to communicate their ideas clearly and persuasively.

Durable AI

Robust AI is created with the aim of helping the business enterprises that are small or require instant solutions within the digital world.Features:The platform provides fully functional websites along with necessary business automation. The platform helps individuals or entities handle presence, customers, and processes. Durable AI empowers even smaller teams with improved efficiencies. This does not require any specific expertise.

Leonardo AI 2026

Leonardo AI 2026 is a creative application built specifically for designers, illustrators, and game developers.Features:The application generates top-notch characters, textures, and environments. Moreover, various visuals created through this application have a constant style that is perfect for video gaming and animation. Initially, Leonardo AI generates assets that meet various creative and production standards.

A landslide in Indonesia’s West Java Province claimed 7 lives, while 82 remain missing, said BNPB, Indonesia’s disaster agency. The landslide triggered by heavy rain hit West Bandung Regency at 2am local time on Saturday, local media reported. The rescue and search operation for the affected is underway.“A landslide occurred in West Bandung Regency, West Java Province, in the early hours of Saturday, killing seven people,” AFP quoted Abdul Muhari, a spokesman for the national disaster agency or BNPB. He further added, “The number of missing persons is high, we will try to optimise our search and rescue efforts today,” reported Reuters.Mohari added, “This disaster has affected around 34 families, or 113 people, while the number of affected houses is still being recorded by officers in the field,” according to Kompas.As per the report, the regional disaster agency has conducted a rapid assessment and an initial assessment, while also deploying personnel for emergency response and searching for victims at the scene.“The regional disaster management agency, along with joint agencies, is still conducting further data collection and monitoring at the affected locations, including the process of searching for victims and assessing emergency needs,” Muhari added.The region is under high alert for floods, flash floods, extreme weather, and landslides till April 30.

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, after the defeat in the BMC polls, launched an attack on the BJP. He said that the saffron party was mistaken if they think that Shiv Sena can be destroyed. Calling his party the symbol of the sons of the soil, he remarked that Shiv Sena is not just a political party but an idea.Addressing his party workers on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Balasaheb Thackeray, he said, “Shiv Sena is not just a political party. And if the BJP thinks that Shiv Sena will finish it off, you cannot finish Shiv Sena.”He further added, “You cannot destroy Shiv Sena because Shiv Sena is not a party. Shiv Sena is an ideology. Shiv Sena is the embodiment of the sons of the soil. And Shiv Sena is the torch burning in the hearts of the oppressed; you cannot extinguish it. You absolutely cannot extinguish it.”The former Maharashtra chief minister also claimed that Shiv Sena has played a huge role for the BJP, as he said, “Had the Shiv Sena not been there, the BJP would have never seen the inside of the BMC or mantralaya,” news agency PTI reported.The response comes as the party chief’s first response after his defeat in the Mumbai civic body polls. BJP emerged as the largest party in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).Dismissing the ethics of the BJP’s victory in the civic polls, Thackeray further added that “money power was used for the first time during the civic polls in the city,” and claimed that, “The Opposition faced several hurdles, such as flawed electoral rolls, and the result would have been even more different had the Sena (UBT) not identified dual voters.”He also expressed optimism in Shiv Sena’s role in the civic body, saying, “The BMC results may not be as per what the party desired, but the Opposition is a strong force in the civic body,” and claimed that the BJP “wants to swallow Mumbai.”“We have to start afresh,” he said, adding that the Sena was born not for power but for fighting for the rights of Marathi manoos.The BJP won 89 out of the 227 seats in the January 15 polls, ending the Thackerays’ decades-long control over India’s richest civic body.He accused the BJP of attempting to impose non-Marathi culture on Maharashtra and urged everyone to use “Jai Maharashtra” as a common greeting.