The MiG-21 has flown its last sortie. Inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1963, the Soviet-origin fighter jet was decommissioned on Friday at the Chandigarh Air Force Station. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called it a “mighty machine” that carried the weight of national security, marking India-Russia defence ties and historic missions from the 1971 war to Kargil and Balakot. The final flight saw six jets of No. 23 Squadron (Panthers) switch off their engines for the last time, and pilots — including Squadron Leader Priya Sharma — lining up for a salute as chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” filled the air.With that, let’s move on to the top 5 stories from today’s edition: Big StoryFlown to Jodhpur: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained in Leh on Friday and flown to Jodhpur jail, under the National Security Act, just days after protests over Ladakh’s statehood and Sixth Schedule demands turned violent, leaving four dead. The Centre has accused him of instigating the mob and also revoked the FCRA license of his NGO, while the CBI is probing another institute he runs. Wangchuk has denied any wrongdoing, saying the government is trying to jail him under the Public Safety Act. The Apex Body, Leh (ABL) has refused to join talks with Delhi until after the funerals.Where are the jobs?: The unrest comes amid simmering job frustration. In July, the Leh Autonomous Hill Development – Subordinate Services Recruitment Board advertised 534 posts, and nearly 50,000 people applied. That’s roughly one in six Ladakhis throwing their hat in the ring. Since Ladakh became a separate Union Territory, youth have lost access to J&K Public Service Commission jobs, and graduate unemployment has jumped from 9.8% to 26.5% in a year, now double the national average. ‘With India’: Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, told The Indian Express, “We are with India and the truth and whoever allies with it.” She said he has spent four years protesting peacefully, calling for peace during unrest, and worked on education, climate initiatives, and projects for the Indian Army. “The NSA has been invoked because it gives absolute power to the government,” she said. Read the full interview. ⚡Only in ExpressThe big picture: Many H-1B visa holders, mostly Indian professionals in IT, healthcare, and engineering, were thrown into panic when reports of the $100,000 re-entry fee circulated, even though those with valid visas, like a healthcare consultant flying to Dallas, were ultimately given clearance. These visas, prized for high-paying jobs and a clear pathway to green cards, have for years allowed people to subscribe to the ‘American dream’. For these professionals juggling mortgages, student loans, and responsibilities back home, uncertainty now looms large. Here are the stories of people facing the H-1B scare. Express ExplainedStory continues below this adFirm footing: With global shifts under Trump, Europe is positioning itself as a steady partner for India. The India-EU summit is set for February next year, with weekly prep talks on trade, tech, security, and people-to-people ties. Trade in goods (€120 billion) and services (€60 billion) is already big, and both sides hope a free trade agreement and investment deals will unlock even more. We explain. ✍️ Express OpinionIndia faces intensified scrutiny at the WTO after China announced it will no longer seek Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) in future negotiations, while the US announced new tariffs on pharmaceuticals, furniture, kitchen cabinets, and trucks, Sachchidanand Shukla underlines. “With half the workforce in agriculture, the stakes are high.” However, he explains how India can play it smart. Movie ReviewMaking its way home: Neeraj Ghaywan’s ‘Homebound’ has landed in theatres after a big festival run. The film starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, follows two friends – one Dalit, one Muslim – who migrate to Mumbai during Covid-19 in search of work. Shubhra Gupta, in her review, shares that if you have to see one film that talks of all these elephants that have gone missing from so many rooms over many years, make it this one. As India’s official entry to the Oscars, it may or may not bring home a statue, but “it succeeds in raising troubling home truths with a note of cautious optimism that feels urgently needed today.”That’s it for today, happy weekend! Malavika Jayadeep