द्वारा प्रकाशित: अलका त्यागी
अद्यतन सोम, 20 अप्रैल 2026 07:47 अपराह्न IST
– फोटो : अमर उजाला
Tilak Verma’s decisive moment IPL 2026 didn’t just happen, it exploded into life.Coming under pressure at No. 5, with Mumbai Indians reeling early, Tilak produced one of the most stunning counterattacks seen in the league. Against Gujarat Titans, he turned a weak innings into a statement night, remaining unbeaten on 101 off just 45 balls.The beginning was anything but promising. Kagiso Rabada The top order was destroyed in the powerplay, due to which MI had to struggle. Tilak himself started cautiously. After 20 balls, he was out for just 17 runs in search of timing and rhythm.
Then everything changed.What happened next was pure destruction. Tilak changed gears with surprising ease and scored 82 runs off his last 23 balls. His innings progression tells the story of a player who achieved balance in the middle of the innings and then went on to dominate:Tilak Verma’s innings progress (by 10-ball groups)1-10: 10 runs11-20: 7 runs21-30: 30 runs31-40: 33 runs41-45: 21 runsFrom well-planned reconstruction to complete carnage, he demolished the GT attack with the help of seven sixes and eight fours. The final flourish summed it up perfectly, hitting a four off the last ball to bring up his maiden IPL century.This century was not only memorable but also historical. Tilak now has the joint-fastest century for Mumbai Indians in IPL history, equaling Sanath Jayasuriya’s 45-ball effort in 2008. He now tops an exclusive list for the franchise:Fastest century for MI in IPL (by balls)45 – Sanath Jayasuriya vs CSK, Wankhede, 200845 – Tilak Verma vs GT, Ahmedabad, 202647 – Cameron Green vs SRH, Wankhede, 202349 – Suryakumar Yadav vs GT, Wankhede, 2023This knock also places Tilak in rare company. Only a few players have scored centuries in the IPL while batting at No. 5 or below, including Yusuf Pathan. david miller And Ben Stokes. Now the name of Tilak Verma sits with him.The context makes it even more compelling. Before this match, Tilak had had a poor performance and had scored only 43 runs in five innings. Questions started coming up. This was his answer.
voting
Should Tilak Verma be encouraged to bat higher up the order?
From struggling for form to producing one of the finest save acts of IPL 2026, Tilak Verma did not return for nothing. He announced himself again, louder than before.
Dhanbad: Education authorities in Dhanbad have withheld the April salaries of around 20 teachers, including the warden, at Nirsa’s CM School of Excellence Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) over poor results in the CBSE Class 10 exams, officials said on Monday. This action was taken on the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Aditya Ranjan.District Education Officer Abhishek Jha issued an official order to stop honorarium and salary of all deputation and contractual teaching staff till further notice, officials said.The decision came after only 7 out of 73 students of the school managed to clear the Class 10 examination, while 62 were placed in the compartmental category and 4 failed in all subjects. The poor results have raised serious concerns about the quality of education imparted in the institute.Officials said accountability has been fixed on the teaching staff, due to which salaries have been withheld. The order further warned that if the school fails to show satisfactory improvement in the upcoming compartmental examinations, strict action will be taken against the teachers and staff.The department has also directed school managements to regularly monitor student attendance, improve teaching quality and ensure better exam preparation. Special attention has been given to conducting additional classes and providing academic support to weaker students.“Detailed analysis of the results revealed that students performed particularly poorly in mathematics, where many students scored only 1 or 2 marks, and most failed to even reach double marks. Similar trends were seen in science, with 32 students receiving compartmentalized results,” Jha said, adding that they have started taking corrective measures to gradually improve their performance. “We have started removing some teachers from Monday and replacing them with capable people,” he said.Sources said that despite the recent appointment of 11 teachers with salaries ranging from Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 per month, the lack of improvement in results has further intensified the scrutiny on the functioning of the school.
Representative Tom Emmer led the charge by calling him a “complete fraud” and calling for his removal from Congress, suggesting that he should be held fully accountable if the initial discrepancies benefited him personally. The controversy stems from the large difference between her original filing, which estimated her assets to be between $6 million and $30 million, and a newly amended report that puts those assets at a much lower range of $18,004 to $95,000.Omar’s office defended the Congresswoman, insisting she was not a millionaire and blaming an accounting error for the huge discrepancy. His legal team said the error was unintentional and caused by relying on professional accountants to handle complex calculations. He says the correction was done voluntarily as soon as the mistake was identified and nothing illegal happened. Despite these clarifications, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer is pushing for an investigation, citing concerns that the original, inflated valuations of her husband’s businesses may have been used to attract unnamed investors.The redacted financial documents provide a detailed look at the Minnesota Democrat’s financial situation, showing income between $102,503 and $1,005,200 for 2024. These figures are balanced by significant debts, including student loans and credit card balances that reach $50,000 each. Earlier filings valued her husband’s venture capital firm and winery in the millions. But updated versions list these interests with no net worth after taking into account liabilities. Omar has dismissed the Republican attacks as a politically motivated “stunt” aimed at fundraising, while maintaining his innocence in relation to any other fraud allegations.
New Delhi: Advocating greater promotion of Sanskrit and also its use in quantum computing, senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Monday said India is no longer a ‘Vishwaguru’ (global teacher) and the term should not be used.Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, Joshi also strongly advocated making Sanskrit the official language of India and said many people, including BR Ambedkar, had made efforts for it in the past, but the proposals were not approved.He was speaking to reporters at the inauguration of the central office of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated Sanskriti Bharati.Asked about his views on India’s role in propagating Sanskrit at a time when India has become a ‘Vishwaguru’ and is also emerging as an AI hub, the former Union Minister said, “The notion that we are a ‘Vishwaguru’… I personally believe nowadays that we should avoid using this word. At present we are not ‘Vishwaguru’. We should aspire to become ‘Vishwaguru’.” He said, “Indeed, we were ‘Vishwaguru’ at one time. However, the reality today is that we are not.”From this perspective, Sanskrit is very important today, Joshi said, advocating for greater promotion of the ancient language and its use in modern scientific activities, including quantum computing.He said, “Sanskrit is not only the heritage of India, but the heritage of the world. It is the oldest language. It is also the language of knowledge and science. It is the language of spirituality. It is also the language of technology. Sanskrit is the ‘prana’ (life force) of India.”He said, “Even NASA experts repeatedly confirm that Sanskrit is, in fact, the most important language for computing. Sanskrit will be of paramount importance in what is currently called quantum computing.” Advocating making Sanskrit the official language of India, Joshi said it would be a true achievement for the country when most of the work would be done in this ancient language.He said, “When the Constitution was being drafted, Dr. Ambedkar also attempted to make Sanskrit the official language of India. Many persons moved resolutions to this effect. However, the resolutions were not passed.”He said, “Nevertheless, my point is that even at that time many people desired that Sanskrit should be the official language of India.”Joshi called upon people, especially the youth, to learn Sanskrit and gain knowledge from the literature available in this language, saying this would benefit the country and the world.
लखनऊ में भारतीय जनता पार्टी के कार्यालय में महिला जन आक्रोश रैली को लेकर एक अहम बैठक आयोजित की गई. इस बैठक में पार्टी के कई बड़े नेता और पदाधिकारी शामिल हुए. बैठक का मुख्य उद्देश्य आगामी रैली एवं मार्च पास्ट को सफल बनाना था। कार्यक्रम को लेकर पार्टी पूरी तरह सक्रिय दिखी और हर स्तर पर तैयारियों की समीक्षा की गयी. बताया जा रहा है कि इस रैली में बड़ी संख्या में महिलाओं की भागीदारी सुनिश्चित करने की योजना बनाई गई है. इस बैठक के बाद यह साफ हो गया है कि बीजेपी इस कार्यक्रम को बड़े पैमाने पर आयोजित करने की तैयारी में है.
धर्मपाल सिंह के नेतृत्व में तैयारियां तेज हो गईं
बैठक में रैली की तैयारियों पर विस्तार से चर्चा की गयी. इस दौरान धर्मपाल सिंह के नेतृत्व में रैली व मार्च पास्ट की तैयारियों को अंतिम रूप देने पर जोर दिया गया. पार्टी नेताओं ने कार्यकर्ताओं को जिम्मेदारियां सौंपी और कार्यक्रम को सफल बनाने की रणनीति तय की. सभी पदाधिकारियों को अपने-अपने क्षेत्र में लोगों से संपर्क कर अधिक से अधिक भागीदारी सुनिश्चित करने का निर्देश दिया गया.
महिला आरक्षण बिल पर विपक्ष को घेरने की रणनीति
इस बैठक में महिला आरक्षण बिल पर भी चर्चा हुई. बीजेपी ने इस मुद्दे पर विपक्ष को घेरने की योजना बनाई है. नेताओं का मानना है कि इस रैली के जरिए महिलाओं से जुड़े मुद्दों को प्रमुखता से उठाया जाएगा और पार्टी का संदेश जनता तक पहुंचाया जाएगा. पार्टी इस रैली को राजनीतिक तौर पर भी अहम मान रही है.
सीएम योगी समेत कई बड़े नेता होंगे शामिल
कार्यक्रम की खास बात यह है कि इसमें योगी आदित्यनाथ मौजूद रहेंगे. इसके अलावा उपमुख्यमंत्री और पूरी कैबिनेट भी इस रैली में शामिल होगी. इससे कार्यक्रम का महत्व और बढ़ गया है। बैठक में संजय राय भी मौजूद थे. महानगर अध्यक्ष आनंद द्विवेदी समेत अन्य नेता भी शामिल हुए।
बड़ी संख्या में नेताओं और कार्यकर्ताओं की भागीदारी
इस बैठक में विधायक, विधान पार्षद और वरिष्ठ अधिकारी भी शामिल हुए. बड़ी संख्या में महिला मोर्चा और पार्टी कार्यकर्ता मौजूद थे. रैली को सफल बनाने के लिए बीजेपी ने व्यापक योजना तैयार की है और हर स्तर पर तैयारियां तेज कर दी गई हैं. पार्टी को उम्मीद है कि यह रैली बड़े पैमाने पर सफल होगी और राजनीतिक संदेश देने में भी अहम भूमिका निभाएगी.
(रिपोर्ट: संदीप शुक्ला, लखनऊ)
राज्य सरकार ने सुचारू और सुरक्षित चारधाम यात्रा के लिए मानक संचालन प्रक्रिया (एसओपी) जारी की है। यात्रा के लिए आने वाले श्रद्धालुओं से विशेष सावधानी बरतने और दिशानिर्देशों का पालन करने का आग्रह किया गया। सरकार ने चारधामों की यात्रा के लिए कम से कम सात दिन का यात्रा प्लान बनाने की सलाह दी है.
TOI correspondent from Washington: The prospects of a second round of talks between the United States and Iran hang in suspense amid mistrust and misinformation, as Tehran has told Washington that it is not ready to come to Islamabad due to US provocations in the Persian Gulf. The message relayed through Pakistan and Iranian official media has stalled US Vice President JD Vance’s second visit to Islamabad in a week, even though President Trump portrayed the visit and even the outcome as an agreement in an apparent attempt to pressure Iran with a mix of coercion and inducement. At the time of writing this report, Vance was yet to fly to Pakistan. Repeatedly suggesting that there is a division in the Iranian leadership between hard-line clerics and moderates, Trump said in a social media post, “If Iran’s new leaders (regime change!) are smart, Iran can have a great and prosperous future!” When he attempted to persuade the Iranian team to come to Islamabad after issuing his customary threats of destroying the country. But there was no sign of Iran backing down as it insisted the US lift its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and refrain from other aggressive action if it wanted talks. Trump, for his part, said the US would not lift the naval blockade until the deal is signed and would resume bombing Iran on Wednesday evening at the end of the two-week ceasefire. All this led to US Vice President J.D. Vance being treated as a victim of the President’s whims, waiting to board Air Force Two for the 15-hour flight to Islamabad for talks, with no guarantee of an outcome. Bizarrely, Trump first told US news outlets that Vance would not be going due to security concerns and then reversed course by saying he was going, but then appeared to derail the trip by announcing the seizure of an Iranian cargo ship that he said was trying to evade the US blockade. This announcement effectively broke down the negotiations. “While claiming readiness for diplomacy and dialogue, the US is behaving in a way that in no way indicates seriousness in pursuing the diplomatic process,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said in Tehran. He described the US blockade and seizure of the cargo ship as a “clear violation of the ceasefire”. “We have no plans for the next round of talks and no decision has been taken in this regard,” Bakayei said, adding that Pakistan has blocked Islamabad from hosting the second round of talks. In Washington, Trump also emphasized the growing perception in the US that he was led into the war by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Israel never talked to me about a war with Iran, the October 7 results have further reinforced my lifelong opinion that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” he said in a social media post, as Americans expressed their disapproval of another US war in surveys that now put the US president’s approval rating in the 30s. The administration is facing increasing pressure from voters and lawmakers to limit how much it is spending on the war amid rising prices, especially on gas, which have risen from about $2.50-$3.00 per gallon before the war to more than $4.00 in much of the country. Trump fumed, “I watch and read the fake news pundits and pollsters with complete disbelief. 90% of what they say is lies and fabricated stories, and the election is rigged, just like the 2020 presidential election was rigged.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged on Monday that he made a wrong decision in appointing Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington, saying he would not have done so if he had known that Mandelson had failed security checks.Speaking in the House of Commons, Starmer said the facts about Mandelson’s investigation “should have been shared with me before he took office.” He added, “Had they known, I would not have proceeded with the appointment.”
Amid the controversy, Starmer has rejected demands to resign. Mandelson was fired in September, nine months after taking the role, after new information emerged about their friendship Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer was warned by his staff that the relationship posed a “reputational risk”. Documents released by the US Justice Department in January included emails that suggested Mendelson shared sensitive government information with Epstein in 2009 after the global financial crisis.The Prime Minister said he was “angry” that he was not told that the thorough investigation process had recommended that Mandelson should not receive a security clearance. He placed the blame on Foreign Office officials, saying that they failed to inform him, even though the department ultimately exonerated Mandelson.MPs expressed disbelief at his explanation. “I know that many members of the House will find these facts unbelievable,” Starmer said. “On this, all I can say is that they are right. It requires faith.”Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch strongly criticized Starmer, saying, “He didn’t seem to ask any questions. Why? Because he didn’t want to know.” He later said that he had “thrown his employees and his executives under the bus.”Senior ministers have supported him, with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy saying that if Starmer had known about the failed investigation, “he would never have appointed him ambassador.”Following the revelations, Starmer fired the Foreign Office’s top civil servant, Ollie Robbins. However, Robbins’s aides say he will not be able to share sensitive investigation details with the prime minister. Robbins is expected to give his account to the Foreign Affairs Committee.The issue has upset Labor Party members, who are already worried about poor poll ratings. The pressure could increase if the party performs poorly in local and regional elections to be held on May 7.Critics say the controversy highlights wider challenges to Starmer’s leadership since Labour’s election victory in July 2024, as he has struggled with economic growth, public services and the cost of living, as well as a series of policy reversals.British police launched a criminal investigation and arrested Mandelson in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged. He is not accused of sexual misconduct.
New Delhi: With the start of a fresh round of trade talks between India and the US in Washington, the Coalition for a GM-Free India – a network of farmers and civil society organizations – on Monday wrote to the Central government urging it not to allow the import of genetically modified (GM) cotton seed oil, animal feed dried distillers grains (DDG) and soybean oil from the US into India.In its detailed letter to several Union ministers, including Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, the alliance also urged them not to allow GM to be dismantled as a non-tariff trade barrier. The US has long been asking India to address the issue of non-tariff barriers to trade in US food and agricultural products.The coalition argued that allowing these imports would amount to backdoor entry of GM food into India, even though domestic law clearly prohibits it, and would lead to the legalization of transgenic food.While India can protect its ground by not allowing imports of maize (maize) and soybean (both genetically modified crops in the US), in an interim agreement on February 7, it agreed to eliminate or reduce tariffs on a wide range of US agricultural products, including DDG and soybean oil.The move was criticized by agricultural organizations, who said that DDGs would mostly come from genetically modified US corn.In its letter, the coalition pointed out how various US organizations are directly or indirectly pushing for opening up the Indian market to GM agricultural products, and urged the government to distance itself from all entities that are promoting US interests for GM crops in India under their MoUs with US pro-GM organisations.“These entities are no less than new-age East India companies, setting up a presence in India and working to open up India’s markets to American GM products and subvert our sovereignty,” it said.
