NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Thrusday acquitted former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Janakpuri and Vikaspuri, in which two people were killed. The Rouse Avenue Court held that the prosecution had failed to establish Kumar’s role in the violence. During the trial, Kumar maintained that he was innocent, denied any involvement in the incident, and said there was no evidence linking him to the case.Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh orally pronounced a brief order acquitting Kumar. In August 2023, a court had charged Kumar with rioting and promoting enmity, while discharging him of murder and criminal conspiracy offences.In February 2015, a special investigation team registered two FIRs against Kumar based on complaints of violence in the Janakpuri and Vikaspuri areas during the riots.The first FIR was over the violence in Janakpuri, where two men — Sohan Singh and his son-in-law Avtar Singh — were killed on November 1, 1984.The second FIR was registered in the case of Gurcharan Singh, who was allegedly set ablaze on November 2, 1984, in Vikaspuri.Kumar, who is presently in jail, was awarded life imprisonment on February 25 last year by a trial court in a case regarding the killings of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984, in the Saraswati Vihar area.It had said that though the killings of “two innocent persons” in the case were no less an offence, it was not a “rarest of rare case” warranting the imposition of the death penalty.The trial court had also said that the case at hand was part of the same incident and could be seen as a continuity of the incident for which Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court on December 17, 2018.The high court had found him guilty of having caused the death of five people during a similar incident of rioting in the Palam Colony area, post the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.According to a report of the Nanavati Commission — constituted to probe the violence and its aftermath — there were 587 FIRs filed in Delhi in relation to the riots that saw killings of 2,733 people. Of the total, about 240 FIRs were closed by police as “untraced”, and 250 cases resulted in acquittal.Of the 587 FIRs, only 28 resulted in convictions, in which about 400 people were convicted. About 50 people, including the former MP, were convicted of murder.Kumar, an influential Congress leader and an MP at the time, was accused in a case related to the killing of five people in Delhi’s Palam Colony on November 1 and 2, 1984.He was awarded life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court in the case, and his appeal challenging the punishment is pending before the Supreme Court.

Today is the day the 2026 Oscar nominations start, so buckle up-the fever is about to get real as Hollywood is ready, along with flocks of fans worldwide, for the big reveal. This moment kicks off the final stretch toward the 98th Academy Awards, spotlighting the films and talents that defined the past year.

2026 Oscar Nominations: Announcement date and time

Set for Thursday, January 22, 2026, the nominations drop at 8:30 a.m. EST, or 5:30 a.m. PST, for Indian audiences, which translates to 6:30 p.m. IST, a prime evening time slot. Danielle Brooks of The Color Purple fame and Lewis Pullman from the upcoming Spaceballs 2 take the stage to unveil picks across 24 categories. This includes the exciting new Best Casting category, a nod to the craft behind assembling stellar ensembles.

Spotlight on presenters

Danielle Brooks shines from her Oscar-nominated role as Sofia in ‘The Color Purple,’ a performance that earned her widespread acclaim and a Tony nod on Broadway. She recently wrapped the holiday film ‘Oh. What. Fun.’ alongside Michelle Pfeiffer and picked up a Critics Choice nomination for her work in the HBO Max series Peacemaker.Lewis Pullman rounds out the duo with credits in major hits like ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts.’ He scored an Emmy nod in 2024 for ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ opposite Brie Larson, and his latest turn came in ‘The Testament of Ann Lee with Amanda Seyfried.’ Known for his grounded intensity, Pullman also connects with the ‘Spaceballs 2’ buzz.

2026 Oscar Nominations: Where to watch

Catch the action live on ABC’s Good Morning America, the traditional home for these announcements. Streaming fans have plenty of choices: Hulu, Disney+, and ABC News Live offer seamless access. For free options, head to Oscar.com, Oscar.org, or the Academy’s vibrant social feeds on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. No matter your setup, the event streams globally, making it easy to join the conversation.

2026 Oscar: Award night date

Mark your calendars for the main event on March 15, 2026. Conan O’Brien returns as host, bringing his sharp wit for a second straight year after last year’s hit turn. Predictions swirl around heavy hitters like Marty Supreme, who has built serious momentum. Other buzzed titles include Bugonia, It Was Just an Accident, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, and Weapons, per Los Angeles Times insights. These could shake up Best Picture, acting nods, or technical fields.

Buzz and fan stakes

The awards season survives, and even succeeds, because of the anticipation that turns watercooler talk into global debates. From indie films to blockbuster releases, the nomination process recognizes creativity in storytelling and authenticity in performances. The Indian audience, where the Indi-Bollywood meets the US-Hollywood cult, will be watching the nomination process either in the OTT media or in social media clips, dissecting the snubs and locks. Whether one likes to predict the sweepers or the dark horses, today’s announcement kicks off the golden path.

An Indian Air Force aircraft from Air Force Station Bamrauli crash-landed in the Rambagh area of Prayagraj, UP around 12.30 pm on Wednesday. Video footage of the incident shows the aircraft descending under an emergency parachute before safely force-landing in an uninhabited area, averting any major accident. The parachute deployment significantly reduced the landing impact, preventing damage on the ground. The aircraft, primarily used for monitoring bird activity around airfields, was being operated by Group Captain Praveen Agarwal, Vayusena Medal awardee and Chief Operating Officer of Air Force Station Bamrauli, along with Group Captain Sunil Kumar Pandey, the station’s Chief Administrative Officer. Both the officers are safe. Confirming the incident, Defence PRO Wing Commander Debartho Dhar said, “This was a routine sortie in a trainer aircraft. Both the pilot and occupant are safe.”The aircraft was on a routine sortie when it suffered an engine failure mid-air.The IAF has ordered a Court of Inquiry to ascertain the cause of the technical malfunction. “A Microlite aircraft of the IAF, while undertaking a routine sortie, from AF Station Bamrauli near Prayagraj at 1215 hrs on 21 Jan 26, experienced a technical malfunction, and was safely force landed in an uninhabited area, ensuring no damage to civil life or property. Both pilots on board are safe. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered by IAF to ascertain the cause,” an X post from the Indian Air Force said.This is the second aviation emergency reported this month. Earlier, on January 10, a nine-seater aircraft operating under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) made a forced crash landing in an open field near Kansor, about 15–20 km short of Rourkela airport, after the crew detected a technical snag during flight.

Gold price today: Gold prices on Wednesday surged to a record while silver continued trading just marginally below its all-time high. This rally in the precious metals came as investors rushed towards safe-haven assets amid the ongoing geopolitical and trade related uncertainity.The surge in precious metals came after the US Supreme Court delayed the decision on the legality of Donald Trump’s trade tariffs. The development revived demand for precious metals, while tensions also remained high after Trump issued tariff threats to European countries, regarding his bid to take over Greenland. In the domestic market, MCX gold futures expiring on February 5, 2026, surged Rs 3,266, or 2%, to Rs 1,53,831 per 10 grams. MCX silver futures for March 5, 2026, delivery also moved higher, rising Rs 2,098, or 0.6%, to Rs 3,25,900 per kg. Internationally, gold prices crossed the $4,800 per ounce mark to hit a fresh lifetime high, supported by strong safe-haven buying and a weaker dollar. Silver prices, however, retreated from record levels, with spot silver slipping 1% to $93.59 per ounce after touching an all-time high of $95.30 in the previous session.

The safety net assets

Safe-haven demand for the metals intensified after Trump imposed tariffs on eight European countries and reiterated his ambition regarding Greenland, prompting panic selling in riskier assets. Additional support for bullion prices came as US 10-year bond yields touched four-month highs, driven by selling pressure in Japanese bonds. Weakness in the rupee further contributed to gains in domestic gold and silver prices.

Here’s what expert says

Manoj Kumar Jain of Prithvi Finmart told ET that both gold and silver are witnessing increased volatility. He said silver is expected to maintain support at $84 per troy ounce, while gold could sustain above $ 4,440 per troy ounce on a closing basis. Jain added that prices are likely to remain volatile during the week, influenced by movements in the dollar index, the US President’s speech and ongoing geopolitical developments. On the domestic front, Jain said MCX gold has support levels at Rs 1,48,800–1,46,600, with resistance seen at Rs 1,52,500–1,55,000. For MCX silver, he placed support at Rs 3,16,000–3,08,500 and resistance at Rs 3,30,000–3,38,000. He advised traders to strictly avoid short selling in both metals and follow a buy-on-dips strategy as long as gold remains above Rs 1,44,000 and silver stays above Rs 3,03,000. Based on this strategy, he expects gold to move towards Rs 1,55,000 and silver towards Rs 3,38,000.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

New Delhi: As cricket edges closer to its return to the Olympic stage, a new league in Europe is positioning itself as a catalyst for change. The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) is not just another franchise tournament in an already crowded calendar; it is an attempt to address one of the game’s longest-standing imbalances: exposure and opportunity for European countries.The timing, however, could not be more apt. With T20 cricket set to feature at the Olympics, Europe, home to nearly one-third of ICC member nations, suddenly finds itself at the centre of cricket’s global growth strategy. ETPL aims to leverage that moment by offering elite-level competition across Scotland, the Netherlands and Ireland — markets traditionally underexposed despite their deepening cricket culture.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“I think the timing is perfect,” former Australia captain and two-time World Cup winner Steve Waugh tells TimesofIndia.com.“The spotlight hasn’t been on the countries in Europe, even though one-third of the ICC playing countries are from Europe. So 30 countries are playing here in Europe. This is a huge opportunity for them to break out and to make a name for themselves. For the players of those countries to play alongside legends of the game, our franchise, the Amsterdam Flames, players from Netherlands and other countries who have played alongside Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith and others. I mean, that’s invaluable,” he says.

“The Olympics are on the horizon for countries in Europe going forward. They have a realistic chance of doing very well. It has been underutilised, underdeveloped and underexposed for a lot of years. And this really puts a spotlight on cricket in Europe. It’s really taken the global game to Europe to showcase the talents of the players in Europe, but also the players from the rest of the world,” adds Waugh.ETPL is officially sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and partners with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. The three franchises already sold are based in Amsterdam, Belfast and Edinburgh, while the remaining three, once sold, will be based in Dublin, Rotterdam and Glasgow. The league is scheduled to be played in the last week of August 2026.Kyle Mills, co-owner of the Edinburgh franchise, echoes Waugh’s sentiments and revealed their marquee player and why ETPL is targeting the Indian audience.“Without question, some of the biggest names in the game are wanting to play in this competition. The people involved, they have integrity. That’s really important, not just from an owner’s perspective and investor’s perspective, but the players know the people who are involved and they all have great integrity.“We have Edinburgh Castle Robbers. Our marquee player is Mitchell Santner, one of the world’s best players and captain of the New Zealand side. Across the world, across all franchises, he’s desperate to be involved in this league.

“We’re going into Scotland, the Netherlands and Ireland, with the best players in the world interacting with associate players. So the development of the game in those regions is the real crown and the jewels of the competition, to be honest. Cricket is a growing sport in that continent. It’s going to be in the Olympics. We have this league at the Olympics next month. So the opportunity for some of the best players in the world to interact with the emerging markets is the pure beauty of the competition,” says Mills.“It’s obviously being broadcast live in India at a prime time of 7pm. It’s being played on a European continent and we’ve got close ties from our franchise to New Zealand, and Steve Waugh’s franchise to Australia. So in essence, it’s going to be a true global competition,” he says.For Abhishek Bachchan, the brainchild behind the ETPL, he shares when he first came up with the idea.“About two years ago is when we started discussing bringing T20 cricket to Europe and ETPL kind of took wings. It’s been something that we’ve been working very hard on and we’re happy because I think we have finally reached the start line with the announcements that we’re going to make today. It’s been in the making for the last two to three years,” he said.When coaxed about whether entering a T20 league was always part of his long-term plan, given his investments as a co-owner in other sports, Bachchan said:“I wouldn’t say it was in the pipeline, it was definitely a desire. Being a cricket fan, you want to do something with cricket. But I’ve said this several times: Three years ago, the family got involved with the ISPL, which is the Indian Street Premier League, which is gully cricket. That was my first foray into trying to see, okay, can I do something with cricket? And it was very rewarding and encouraging and that gave me the impetus and the confidence to get into mainstream cricket. ETPL came about and we’ve been working on it now. But then again, it’s for a market where we feel we can make a difference. We can contribute something, which is Europe. And that’s what excites me,” he adds.Bachchan is careful to distinguish ETPL from ventures driven purely by commercial ambition. “Being a cricket fan, you want to do something with cricket,” he explained. “But one of my wants when I get involved in sport is: can I help? Can I help improve the infrastructure, the ecosystem, or just make a difference?”That question, he believes, had no easy answer in India. “The BCCI does a wonderful job with cricket in India. There is very little I felt I could have contributed to the sport there,” he said. The breakthrough came through involvement in the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), which offered a first-hand understanding of cricket development beyond the traditional elite pathways. “That gave me the impetus and the confidence to get into mainstream cricket.”Europe, Bachchan felt, was where meaningful impact was possible. “ETPL came about for a market where we feel we can make a difference. We can contribute something, and that’s Europe. That’s what excites me.”

Know more about the league

The Amsterdam franchise will be owned by a consortium led by Australian great Steve Waugh, former World Cup-winning captain, alongside Jamie Dwyer, five-time hockey World Player of the Year and Olympic gold medallist, and Tim Thomas, former CEO of the Centre for Australia-India Relations and a former partner at KPMG Australia.The Edinburgh franchise will be owned by former New Zealand internationals Nathan McCullum, now a high-performance cricket coach, and Kyle Mills, the former New Zealand fast bowler and former ICC No.1 ODI bowler.The Belfast franchise will be owned by Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, one of the world’s leading T20 stars, together with former NRMA Group CEO Rohan Lund, with additional strategic partners to be announced.

TOI correspondent from London: A Hindu couple have removed their eight-year-old son from a London primary school saying he was discriminated against for his religion and challenged for wearing the tilak-chandlo.The boy was a pupil at Vicar’s Green Primary School in Alperton where staff told him the tilak-chandlo violated the uniform code, which does not allow “skin marks”, and he was reportedly asked to “explain and justify” his religious practice.He was allegedly removed from positions of responsibility within the school “solely because of his religious practice” and “monitored” during break times. When Hindu parents made attempts to educate the headteacher and school governors, they “challenged and questioned Hindu practices, behaving as though they possessed a greater understanding of the faith”, a spokesperson for INSIGHT UK, an advocacy body for British Hindus, said. INSIGHT wrote to the school on Sunday claiming what the school had done was a breach of the Equality Act. The parents removed their son from the school last week.“The school claimed the tilak-chandlo wasn’t a mandatory practice in Hinduism. In our letter we have quoted from various Hindu scriptures pointing out it is an integral part of Hinduism, especially for certain sects,” the spokesperson said, adding calling the tilak-chandlo a “skin mark” was “deeply offensive.”Three Hindu siblings left the same school earlier because of religious discrimination, INSIGHT claimed.The school, for pupils aged three to 11, was judged outstanding by Ofsted in 2024.A school spokesperson said: “We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive school with pupils with more than 50 language backgrounds and a significant number who are Hindu. Our longstanding school policy asks pupils not to wear visible skin markings, including religious ones. We met with the parents of a pupil who was wearing a tilak-chandlo on their forehead to discuss the matter sensitively and sought to understand the reason for it. We fully recognised the family’s religious beliefs and, in a spirit of conciliation, we offered a reasonable compromise by making an exception to our policy so the symbol could be worn on a less prominent part of the body. This was, unfortunately, rejected by the pupil’s parents. We have always approached these discussions respectfully.”The Hindu Council UK is drafting a letter to a separate primary school in Kent where a Sikh girl is being threatened with exclusion for wearing a nose stud and a kada.

Facebook-parent Meta’s senior public policy executive for Asia-Pacific is leaving the company amid regulatory challenges in the region. Singapore-based Simon Milner has been with Meta since 2012. In a recent LinkedIn post, he announced that he will leave the company in the first half of this year to retire from full-time work. In his post, Milner said: “I recently celebrated the completion of my 14th year at Meta. That’s around half of my long career in public policy.”The departure comes as Meta faces increased scrutiny of its platforms and is focusing more on artificial intelligence (AI). Recent regulatory challenges include Australia’s decision to restrict children’s access to social media. In his role, Milner leads staff in countries including China, India, and Japan, according to his LinkedIn profile. He previously served as head of policy for the UK and Ireland before becoming a director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Read Meta’s Asia Policy chief Simon Milner’s farewell note

In his farewell note on LinkedIn, Milner wrote: “I recently celebrated the completion of my 14th year at Meta. That’s around half of my long career in public policy. The first half the BBC and BT (aka British Telecom) was exhilarating but, frankly, the second half has been off the scale in terms of opportunity, challenge and impact. I have thoroughly enjoyed being at the heart of innovation and count myself extremely lucky. Having passed this milestone, I’m now excited to begin the next stage of my life. I’ll be leaving Meta later this half and retiring from full-time work. It’s been the privilege of my career to spend the last 8 years working on the most critical policy issues for Meta and the APAC region. I’ll be sticking around for a few more months to help determine my successor and ensure they are well placed to lead the APAC Policy team on to even greater success.”How Simon Milner’s exit can be a ‘problem’ for MetaPublic policy staff typically advise companies on regulatory issues and coordinate with governments. The Asia-Pacific region is essential to Meta because of its many populous, youthful markets that can support the social media company’s growth.Recently, Taiwan and Japan criticised Meta for Facebook-based financial scams. In 2025, Taiwanese banks removed their advertisements from Facebook due to the rise of fake bank ads, while Japanese lawmakers called on Meta to take action against ads using images of celebrities to deceive users.Moreover, to protect young people from online harms, Australia implemented a ban on children under 16 accessing social media platforms such as Meta’s Instagram and Facebook in December 2025. Other Asian countries, including Indonesia and Malaysia, have also said they have been inspired to adopt similar measures.Meanwhile, Meta has said it has implemented many safety features for young people on its services over the years.