THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l wednesday l march 18, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 18 l LATE city EDITION Ladakh ‘Ladakh protests only to seek dialogue’ In his first remarks after release from jail, activist Sonam Wangchuk said he is looking forward to a ‘meaningful dialogue’ with Centre on Ladakh ‘Won’t resume agitation if talks happen’ Wangchuk, who was arrested last year following violent protests in Ladakh demanding statehood and inclusion under Sixth Schedule of Constitution, said the protests were only to seek dialogue. He noted that any negotiation means both sides will have to make some adjustments. “We were sure of a victory in court, but a win was not enough. I wanted a win-win,” he said Release from detention A win-win, Centre open to talks: Wangchuk ■ ■ ■ Wangchuk described govt’s move to release him as an “extending of hand to build trust and to facilitate meaningful, constructive dialogue” “They have offered a constructive, meaningful dialogue. This is what we have wanted, and we had to struggle so much, sit on fast” He said he would not return to agitation if “meaningful talks” happen Sep 26, 2025 When Wangchuk, 59, was detained under the stringent NSA CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI 40% of young graduates can’t find work: Report PA D M I N I D H R U VA R A J @ Bengaluru NEARLY 40% of young graduates in India are unemployed, a figure that has remained largely unchanged for four decades, according to the State of Working India 2026 report by Azim Premji University. The report—which defines youth as those between 15 and 29 years—shows that unemployment among young graduates remains persistently high, with 40% of those between 15-25 years and 20% of 25-29 years unable to find work. This is not a new trend. The report, which draws from nationally representative labour force surveys, administrative databases, and primary surveys, states that graduate unemployment has “remained more or less unchanged between 35% and 40%” from 1983 to 2023, even as the number of graduates has increased significantly over time. Even when work is found, stable employment is uncommon. Tracking young graduate men over a year, the report finds about half can find some form of work, but few secure permanent salaried employment. “ Among graduates, only about 7% find permanent salaried employment within a year,” the report states. This gap between education and employment comes at a critical time as India’s demographic advantage, driven by its large young population, is nearing its peak. E x p r e s s Re a d Antony Raju ineligible to contest elections Kochi: In a major setback to former LDF minister MLA Antony Raju, the Kerala High Court has dismissed his plea seeking suspension of his conviction in a 1990 evidencetampering case. With this order, he is ineligible to contest in the upcoming assembly polls. P6 Sandeep found guilty in Vandana murder case Kollam: The Kollam Additional District and Sessions Court on Tuesday found the accused, G Sandeep, guilty in the 2023 murder of Dr Vandana Das, a young house surgeon at the Government Taluk Hospital, Kottarakkara. The court will pronounce the final judgement on Thursday. P6 18 pages, including 4 pages of THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Express De facto Iran leader ‘killed’ Tel Aviv claims it eliminated security chief Ali Larijani; US counterterrorism chief resigns over war A g en c ies @ Jersusalem/Tehran/Dubai ISRAEL said on Tuesday that it has killed Ali Larijani, Iran’s powerful national security chief and de facto leader overseeing the country’s decision making. Tel Aviv also claimed to have killed Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij paramilitary force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, in a strike in Tehran. Iran did not immediately confirm or reject Israel’s claims. Larijani, 68, was last seen in public on Friday at a Quds Day march in Tehran. “This morning we eliminated Ali Larijani, the boss of the Revolutionary Guards, which is the gang of gangsters that actually runs Iran,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. According to the IDF, Larijani led the political-security coordination of the Iranian regime. His death, if confirmed, would be a blow to Iran, which is facing the brunt of a war launched by 1 Hormuz: Modi, UAE prez discuss safe navigation 2 Second LPG tanker arrives from the troubled Strait IDF claims Larijani was de facto leader after supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed Larijani led the political-security coordination of the regime, says Israel military 3 Balanced ideological loyalty with pragmatic statecraft, led nuclear policy and strategic diplomacy Iranian Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani the US and Israel seeking a regime change in Tehran. Despite the perceived setback, Iran on Tuesday launched a fresh day wave of attacks in its neighbourhood, targeting Kuwait’s Ali al-Salem Air Base, UAE’s Fujairah, and Iraq’s Erbil. The US-Israeli war on Iran is now in its third week, killing 2,000 people in the region and 18 setting off repercussions across the globe due to disruption in supply of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, which is under Iran’s control. Meanwhile, a top US counterterrorism official resigned on Tuesday saying the Iran war is absolutely unnecessary . Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Centre, poll position Venugopal camp Women, youth gains upper hand take centre stage in Cong’s first list in IUML lineup K S S R E E J I T H @ T’Puram L a ksh m i Athir a @Malappuram No major surprises. No decision on disIn a significant policy shift, the Indian puted constituencies like Perumbavoor, Union Muslim League (IUML) has, for Kannur or Konni. the first time, fielded two women candiRunning to catch up after a long delay , dates in a Kerala assembly election, sigCongress on Tuesday brought out a list nalling a calibrated attempt to reshape of 55 candidates, among them its public image. Party nation19 sitting MLAs, for the as- Joseph’s son in al assistant secretary Jayanthi sembly polls. By keeping alive Rajan will contest from Thodupuzha speculation over whether sitKoothuparamba and Youth Announcing his ting MPs will contest, Kannur League leader Fathima Thaand Konni seats have been retirement from nearly hiliya from Perambra. six decade-long kept vacant. MPs K SudhakaAnnouncing 25 candidates, ran and Adoor Prakash have parliamentary politics, out of the total 27 seats allotbeen lobbying for the two Kerala Congress chief P J ted to the party state president , Joseph declared that seats for long. No candidate Panakkad Syed Sadiq Ali Shihis son Apu John will was announced for politically hab Thangal confirmed that contest from Thoduvolatile Nemom. Koduvally MLA M K Muneer puzha this time. Also, Perumbavoor has been will not be in the fray this kept vacant, due to indecision Actors feature time. on fielding sitting MLA EldIn a major reshuffle, IUML in Twenty20 list hose Kunnappillil. No candinational general secretary P K date has been named for Am- Kochi: Twenty20, which Kunhalikutty will shift to has joined NDA, has balapuzha, where former CPM Malappuram, while K M Shaji leader G Sudhakaran is con- fielded actors Anjali Nair has been fielded in Vengara as testing as an independent. A in Tripunithura, Lakshmi his replacement. Shaji’s candiPriya in Perumbavoor Suresh, former aide of CPM dature comes after the party and Veena Nair in stalwart V S Achuthanandan, dropped earlier consideraEttumanoor for the is the Congress candidate in tions to field him in Kasaraassembly polls. P4 Malampuzha. For the politigod or Koduvally following cally high-voltage Palakkad strong resistance from local seat, the party has fielded actor Ramesh units. Pisharody . Signalling a tilt towards younger leadThe first list, brought out after inership, the party has given prominence tense deliberations, has underlined the to Youth League figures, with P K Firoz dominance of K C Venugopal faction, fielded in Koduvally and Faizal Babu in serving as a clear indicator of the direcKozhikode South. MSF state president P tion in which the remaining candidate K Navas will take on LDF candidate V ● More on P6 selection is likely to proceed.  ● More on P6 Abdurahiman in Tanur. DMK intimidation charge ‘Jailor’ takes no prisoners, calls out TVK leader Arjuna’s slander zhagam (TVK), attributed it to the DMK’s intimidation and not ill-health. In conAn attempt to airbrush actrast, Vijay had the courage tor-turned-politician Vijay’s to withstand pressure, he image as gutsy in poll-bound claimed. Tamil Nadu by juxtaposing it The allegation drew a volwith Rajinikanth, spectaculey of protests from fans and Rajinikanth larly bombed, as the superpoliticians alike, curiously star called out the slander, putting traditional Dravidiadding “time waits and an rivals, the BJP and the responds.” PMK on the same page. In 2020, Rajini had toyed From AIADMK general with the idea of taking the secretary Edappadi K Palanpolitical plunge in the state, iswami to Tamil Nadu minisbut in the end chose not to ter S Regupathy (DMK), VCK bite the bullet citing health president Thol TirumavalaAadhav Arjuna issues. van, BJP leaders Nainar NaCommenting on the decision at a genthran, L Murugan, K Annamalai recent rally, Aadhav Arjuna, senior and Arjunamurthy, and PMK presileader of Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Ka- dent Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, all E XP R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai panned Arjuna. In a signed statement, Rajini thanked all who condemned the “defamatory remark”. DMK’s S Regupathy said, “Rajinikanth yields only to affection, not to intimidation.” The NDA going after Arjuna could signal the end of its attempts to woo the TVK into its fold. Assembly elections IUML’s choices irk Vanitha league I P4 dissent in NDA over list after ramesh denied ticket I P5 52 women to defend Didi’s fort against BJP onslaught I P7 UCC Modi, UAE President stress secure Strait of Hormuz | P9 Mexico offers to host Iran’s first-round matches at the 2026 World Cup if needed NATO refuses to police the Hormuz, US President Donald Trump calls it foolish announced his resignation saying he “cannot in good conscience” back the war. In a social media post, Kent said that Iran “posed no imminent threat” to the US and that “it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel” He urged US President Donald Trump to “reverse course”. National Counterterrorism Centre is tasked with analysing and detecting terrorist threats. Guj moves closer to implementing Uniform civl code A high-level committee on Tuesday submitted its final report to Gujarat CM. It proposes a common legal framework across religions on marriage, inheritance, and adoption. P10 Adoption verdict: SC nixes maternity leave criteria E x p ress N e w s S er v i c e @New Delhi Observing that adoption is part of the right to reproductive autonomy the Supreme Court on Tuesday struck , down a law which said a woman would be eligible for maternity leave only if she legally adopts a child below the age of three months, saying it is discriminatory . The court also urged the Centre to come up with a law recognising paternity leave as a social security benefit, noting that parenthood is not a solitary function, adding while the mother is central to a child’s development, it would be unjust to overlook the role of the father. Ruling that age-based classification under Section 60(4) of the Code on Social Security 2020 was violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, the court held that an adoptive mother should be entitled to maternity leave of 12 weeks, irrespective of the age of the adopted child.