Pakistan Train Hostage Crisis Ends in Military Operation
In a dramatic end to a day-long standoff, Pakistani security forces stormed a hijacked train on Wednesday, eliminating all 33 separatist militants onboard. The attackers, identified as Baloch militants, had seized the Jaffar Express, which was carrying 440 passengers from Quetta to Peshawar. The militants blew up a section of the railway track and launched rockets at the train, taking hundreds hostage before the military intervention.
China Successfully Launches 18 Satellites from Hainan Spaceport
The Chinese mainland celebrated a significant achievement on Wednesday as it launched 18 low Earth orbit satellites aboard the Long March-8 Y6 carrier rocket from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site. According to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the satellites have successfully entered their preset orbits and will form part of China’s commercial internet constellation, Spacesail. This launch marks the first from the site’s Number 1 launch pad, highlighting the dual-pad readiness of China’s first commercial spaceport.
South Korea Moves to End Medical Strike with Offer to Freeze Student Numbers
In an effort to resolve a 13-month-long dispute, South Korea’s education ministry has proposed freezing the number of new medical students at around 3,000 per year. The proposal aims to end a strike involving thousands of trainee doctors who have been protesting since February 2024 against plans to increase medical school admissions. The disagreement centers on how to address challenges in the healthcare system of the rapidly aging nation.
Myanmar Sets Time Frame for General Elections
Myanmar’s military government announced plans to hold a general election in December 2025 or January 2026, providing the first specific timeline for the long-awaited polls. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing revealed the timeframe during a visit to Belarus, as reported by state media. “We plan to hold a free and fair election soon,” he stated, noting that 53 political parties have already submitted their lists to participate.
Malaysian Mothers Secure Citizenship Rights for Overseas-Born Children
In a landmark ruling on Monday, a court in Malaysia granted citizenship rights to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers, up to the age of 18. The decision comes after a four-year legal battle by family-rights groups and affected mothers advocating for automatic citizenship for their foreign-born children. Prior to this ruling, these children faced significant challenges, including difficulties enrolling in state-funded schools, securing employment, and the risk of statelessness due to Malaysia’s non-recognition of dual citizenship.
