The PM’s laudatory words for Gen Z at Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue came against the backdrop of a few opposition netas seeking to coopt them in their agitation against the Modi govt

NEW DELHI: Lauding India’s Gen Z, PM Narendra Modi on Monday said it is full of creativity as he emphasised that his govt’s reforms have opened countless opportunities for them in contrast with the stifling rules of the previous UPA govt that caught them in a web of compliances and curbed their entrepreneur spirit. Speaking at Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue to commemorate Swami Vivekananda‘s birth anniversary, he said no country can develop without self-confidence and told the largely young audience that it is their responsibility to end the “slave mindset” that afflicted a generation of Indians due to the education policy of Thomas Macaulay. His laudatory words for Gen Z, which has ruled global headlines for a while largely due to a string of anti-govt protests it has spearheaded in different countries, including in neighbouring Bangladesh, have come against the backdrop of a few opposition leaders referring to their agitations outside and seeking to coopt them in their agitation against the PM Modi govt. The Rahul Gandhi-led Congress campaign against alleged “vote chori” reached out to the young generation in its bid to “save” democracy. PM Modi said that India’s youth with its innovative ideas, energy and purpose is at the forefront of nation-building. Ruing the “slavery mindset”, he said imported products were seen as a “guarantee” of quality, while Indian goods and traditions were looked at with an inferiority complex, urging the young generation to follow Vivekananda who was open to best practices from abroad but took on the misconception spread about India’s heritage. Turning to the rich legacy of Indian storytelling, including epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, he suggested that the new crop of entrepreneurs in the gaming sector can develop mythological stories into games and take them global. “Our Hanuman ji can dominate gaming in the world,” he said, adding that it will export Indian culture in a modern way. He contrasted the opening of a string of sectors ranging from space to nuclear power and defence and easing of regulations and taxes ushered by his govt with the UPA era, which, he said, was accused of policy paralysis and its inability to implement things on ground. So many rules and restrictions existed at the time that youth had few choices, and even applying for a job or a loan from banks demanded a web of compliances, he added. He said, “As a CM and now as PM, I have put a lot of trust in the young generation, your capability and talent.” Sectors restricted to the govt have been opened to private players, PM Modi added. He praised their presentation on different themes and said, “It shows the mood of Gen Z in India. India’s Gen Z is full of creativity.” Noting the participation of a huge number of youngsters in the dialogue, he said the popular term of “think tank” can’t capture their immense size and deep research.

Mumbai: Booked on charges of abetment to suicide, Anant Garje, personal assistant of environment minister Pankaja Munde, has moved the sessions court seeking bail following his arrest in connection with the death of his wife, Gauri, a dental surgeon.The defence submitted that the suicide was a result of Gauri’s personal emotional distress rather than any specific act by Garje, submitting that “mere marital discord does not constitute abetment”.“There is no mention of instigation, threat, or provocation by the accused. No message shows the accused telling her to die, leave life, harm herself, etc. Court repeatedly holds — a person’s internal hypersensitivity cannot be equated with abetment unless the accused created a no-escape situation,” the plea said.The plea further said that the FIR is a result of an afterthought and emotional distress after the tragic incident. “Earlier, no complaint was ever lodged by the deceased or her parents…,” the plea said. The special investigation team (SIT) continues to probe allegations of domestic cruelty. Garje’s defence argued that his continued incarceration is no longer legally justified.The plea said that the legal requirements for abetment of suicide under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) have not been met. The defence submitted that for a charge of abetment to stand, there must be evidence of active instigation or a direct act that leaves the victim with no alternative. The plea further said that Gauri was the proprietor of their family business, with all income deposited directly into her accounts. This, the defence argued , contradicted the narrative of financial or dowry-related harassment.“…[A]llegations made in the FIR are vague, omnibus, and lacking specific details regarding any date, place or act that could constitute instigation or participation in any manner. The entire case against the applicant is based merely on suspicion and assumptions without any substantive facts,” the plea said.

Saudi Arabia has launched a major nationwide operation to tighten its borders and regulate its labor market. ^{In just seven days, between January 1 and January 7, 2026, security forces arrested a staggering 18,836 individuals for various legal violations. This massive sweep is part of a coordinated effort between the Ministry of Interior and various government agencies to ensure that residency and labor laws are strictly followed across the Kingdom.}

Saudi Arabia’s deportation drive

The arrests were not random but targeted specific legal breaches that impact the stability of the local job market and national safety. The vast majority of those detained were found to be in violation of the Residency Law, totaling 11,710 people. Another 4,239 individuals were held for breaching border security regulations, while 2,887 were caught for labor-related offenses.

Currently, the government is processing nearly 30,000 expatriates, including over 1,600 women, through formal legal channels. This meticulous process ensures that each case is handled according to the law before final decisions on regularisation or deportation are made.The crackdown is as much about resolution as it is about enforcement. During this single week, Saudi authorities successfully deported 10,195 individuals to their home countries. The process is a massive logistical undertaking: over 20,900 violators were referred to their respective diplomatic missions to secure travel documents, while another 5,200 are currently finalizing their flight reservations. This swift action aims to reduce the burden on detention centers and ensure that the Kingdom’s residency laws are respected by all.

Statistics

A key focus of the week’s operations was the prevention of illegal entry into the Kingdom. Security forces intercepted 1,741 people attempting to cross the border through unofficial channels. While the total number of arrests (18,836) includes a wide variety of nationalities from across Asia and Africa, the specific breakdown of those caught at the borders reveals a clear pattern.

Severe penalties

The Ministry of Interior has issued a stern reminder to the public: helping an illegal resident is a major crime. During the raids, 19 people were arrested for providing transportation, shelter, or jobs to those in violation of the law.The consequences for “facilitators” are among the toughest in the region:

To keep the momentum going, the Ministry urges citizens to report any suspicious activity via the dedicated hotlines: 911 (Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern Province) or 999/996 for the rest of the Kingdom.Saudi Arabia’s first-week crackdown of 2026 marks another chapter in its long-running efforts to tighten immigration and compliance rules. With tens of thousands arrested, deported, or undergoing legal processing, the Kingdom is clearly reinforcing its laws around residency status, labour participation, and border security.

The 2026 edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) continues to deliver high-octane drama, and the fifth match between UP Warriorz (UPW) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the DY Patil Stadium was no exception.

On a humid Monday evening in Navi Mumbai, RCB captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to field, a decision that paid immediate dividends thanks to a masterclass in spin bowling by the rising sensation, Shreyanka Patil.

Patil, who has rapidly become a linchpin in the RCB bowling attack, turned the game on its head during the eighth over. While the Warriorz were looking to stabilize after the early loss of Harleen Deol, Patil produced a double-blow over that sent two of the world’s most dangerous batters back to the dugout, effectively dismantling the UPW top order in a matter of six deliveries.

Shreyanka Patil dismantles UP Warriorz batting core with two quick wickets 

The game shifted momentum at the start of the seventh over. Meg Lanning, the veteran Australian legend and UPW skipper, had been struggling to find her usual rhythm, sitting on 14 off 20 balls. Patil tossed up a tempting delivery full and just outside off-stump. Lanning, looking to break the shackles, cleared her front leg for a powerful swipe across the line. However, the flight deceived her; she failed to middle the shot, resulting in a high, swirling catch toward deep mid-wicket. Radha Yadav, displaying exceptional athleticism, charged in from the fence and executed a superb lunging catch.

The misery for the Warriorz didn’t end there. On the final ball of the same over, Patil struck again. Phoebe Litchfield, who had looked dangerous with a strike rate of 181.81, fell victim to a deceptive drag-down delivery. While it sat up to be hit, Litchfield couldn’t get the necessary elevation to clear the inner ring. She swatted the ball flat and hard, but it went straight down the throat of Mandhana at mid-on. In a single over, Patil had removed the two biggest threats in the UPW lineup, leaving the Warriorz reeling at 50/3.

Here’s the video:

Two HUGE wickets!

Shreyanka Patil turning it around for @RCBTweets ❤️

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/U1cgf01ys0#TATAWPL | #KhelEmotionKa | #RCBvUPW pic.twitter.com/l6hDpBrfX1

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) January 12, 2026

Also WATCH: Nandini Sharma takes a sensational hat-trick in WPL 2026

UP Warriorz crumble under pressure against disciplined RCB lineup

The fallout from Patil’s over was catastrophic for the Warriorz. The scoreboard told a grim story of a faulty start that quickly turned into a full-blown collapse. Following the dismissals of Lanning and Litchfield, Kiran Navgire and Shweta Sehrawat both fell in the very next over to Nadine de Klerk, leaving the team in a dismal state at 50/5 after 8.2 overs.

The Warriorz’s scoring rate plummeted as RCB’s bowlers tightened the screws. By the 16th over, UPW crawled to 100/5, with Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin forced into a counterattack just to survive. The powerplay yielded only 36 runs for the loss of one wicket, but it was the post-powerplay period that broke the spine of the Warriorz’s innings.

Also WATCH: Shree Charani plucks a stunner to dismiss Beth Mooney in WPL 2026

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

Karnataka’s Devdutt Padikkal, right, and Karun Nair run between the wickets during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 first quarter-final cricket match between Mumbai and Karnataka, at BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Defending champions Karnataka advanced to the semifinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the fourth season in a row after beating Mumbai by 55 runs via the VJD method on Monday.Chasing a target of 255, Karnataka were 187 for 1 in 33 overs when rain stopped play at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru. At that stage, the VJD par score was 132, with Karnataka well ahead. Devdutt Padikkal was unbeaten on 81 off 95 balls, while Karun Nair was not out on 74 from 80 deliveries.Earlier, Mumbai were restricted to 254 for 8 after Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal chose to bowl. Mumbai were already without pacer Tushar Deshpande due to personal reasons, and suffered another setback when Sarfaraz Khan was ruled out after injuring his finger during net practice.Mumbai struggled early and slipped to 60 for 4 in 17.2 overs. Shams Mulani held the innings together with 86 off 91 balls, hitting eight boundaries. He added 76 runs for the sixth wicket with captain Siddhesh Lad, who scored 38 off 58 balls.After Lad was dismissed, Mumbai lost two quick wickets, but Mulani continued to anchor the innings. He reached his half-century off 68 balls and accelerated later with support from Sairaj Patil, who scored 33 not out off 25 balls. The pair helped Mumbai add 59 runs in the final five overs. Mulani was dismissed lbw by Abhilash Shetty in the final over.For Karnataka, Vidyadhar Patil picked up three wickets for 42 runs, while Abhilash Shetty and Vidwath Kaverappa claimed two wickets each.In the chase, Agarwal and Padikkal started cautiously before Karnataka lost their captain in the powerplay. Agarwal edged Mohit Avasthi to slip for 12 off 24 balls. Mumbai then missed two chances to dismiss Padikkal. On 24, he was dropped by Onkar Tarmale at deep fine leg, and later survived another chance at first slip.Padikkal made Mumbai pay and increased the scoring rate, hitting boundaries through the leg side. He and Nair added 143 runs for the second wicket in 150 balls.Nair returned to form with a half-century off 44 balls, his third fifty of the tournament and 16th in List A cricket. Mumbai used seven bowlers, but apart from Avasthi’s early wicket, none could make further breakthroughs.Karnataka had earlier topped Elite Group A with six wins from seven matches and continued their strong run with this victory.