China is moving ahead with an ambitious aircraft carrier programme, adding increasingly advanced warships to a navy that is rapidly expanding its reach. But as the fleet grows, another question is becoming harder to ignore: does China have enough trained personnel to operate all these carriers effectively? The People's Liberation Army Navy currently has three aircraft carriers, with the Fujian representing a major technological leap over its predecessors. Unlike the Liaoning and Shandong, the Fujian uses electromagnetic catapults, allowing it to launch a broader range of aircraft and operate a more capable air wing. That technological progress, however, also increases the demand for skilled manpower.

An aircraft carrier is effectively a floating military base requiring thousands of sailors, engineers, aircraft technicians, weapons specialists, aviation crews and support personnel. Carrier aviation is particularly demanding because pilots and deck crews need specialised training that can take years to develop. China has been working to build that talent pipeline. The navy has expanded recruitment through schools, universities and dedicated aviation programmes, while also seeking science and engineering graduates for pilot training. The effort is intended to ensure that China's growing carrier fleet is matched by a growing pool of qualified personnel.

The challenge is that numbers alone do not create experience. Operating fighter jets from an aircraft carrier requires skills that are difficult to develop on land. Pilots must learn to land on a moving deck, often under demanding weather and operational conditions. At the same time, deck crews must coordinate aircraft launches, recoveries, refuelling and weapons handling within a highly restricted space.

China has accumulated more than a decade of carrier experience since the Liaoning entered service, but its carrier aviation community remains much younger than those of countries such as the United States. The problem could become more significant if China continues expanding its fleet. More carriers would mean more pilots, instructors, engineers and maintenance crews, along with additional personnel for the destroyers, frigates and supply ships that operate alongside carrier groups.

China's demographic situation could add another layer of difficulty. The country is facing a declining working-age population and increasing competition for technically skilled young people from its civilian technology and manufacturing sectors. The military therefore has to compete for some of the same engineering and scientific talent needed by China's broader economy. Technology may ease part of the pressure. Automation, unmanned aircraft and increasingly sophisticated ship systems could reduce certain manpower requirements. But advanced technology also demands highly trained specialists capable of maintaining and operating complex equipment.

The carrier programme is consequently becoming more than a shipbuilding exercise. The country has demonstrated that it can construct increasingly sophisticated warships at a rapid pace. The bigger test will be whether it can build the human infrastructure needed to keep those ships fully operational. The success of China's carrier ambitions may ultimately depend not simply on how many carriers it launches, but on how many it can crew, train and deploy at the same time. As Beijing expands its naval presence, finding enough experienced people could prove just as important as building the ships themselves.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has granted jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan limited judicial relief by ordering authorities to facilitate proper medical treatment for him amid concerns over his health. The development has brought renewed attention to Khan’s prolonged imprisonment and the legal battles surrounding his detention. The court’s intervention, however, does not mean that Khan has been released or that his convictions have been overturned.

Khan, who has been imprisoned since 2023, has repeatedly faced legal challenges involving several criminal cases. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and family have maintained that he has not been given adequate access to medical care and have raised concerns about his health while in custody. Pakistani authorities have rejected allegations of deliberate medical neglect.

The Supreme Court’s order requires authorities to ensure that Khan receives appropriate medical evaluation and treatment. The intervention has been viewed by his supporters as an important judicial development, particularly because access to medical care has become one of the most contentious issues surrounding his detention.

The government, meanwhile, has raised objections to aspects of the court’s direction, particularly over arrangements for treatment outside the prison system. Officials have argued that medical care for prisoners must also take security and administrative considerations into account. Khan was subsequently taken for medical assessment under tight security before being returned to Adiala Jail. The episode has further highlighted the difficulties authorities face in implementing court directions involving a high-profile political prisoner.

The dispute also comes against the backdrop of Khan’s wider legal battle. Although some convictions against him have been overturned or suspended, he continues to face serious cases that keep him behind bars. His supporters argue that the legal proceedings are politically motivated, while the government maintains that the cases are being handled through the judicial system.

The latest Supreme Court intervention offers relief over his treatment and prison conditions rather than a clear path to freedom. Whether the development eventually leads to broader judicial relief will depend on the outcome of his pending appeals and other legal proceedings. The case remains significant for Pakistan because it brings together three highly sensitive issues: the rights of prisoners, the authority of the judiciary and the political future of one of the country’s most influential opposition leaders. The Supreme Court’s intervention has eased one part of Imran Khan’s legal battle, but the larger question of when, or whether, he will walk out of prison remains unanswered.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.

The United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) has appealed to the United Nations and the international community to intervene over what it described as a deteriorating human rights situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK). The party urged Pakistan to immediately stop what it called the excessive and lethal use of force against peaceful protesters and civilians. In a post on X, UKPNP spokesperson Sardar Nasir Aziz Khan expressed serious concern over reported civilian deaths and injuries, arbitrary arrests, alleged enforced disappearances, communication blackouts, movement restrictions and actions against political activists and human rights defenders.

According to Khan, information attributed to the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), along with reports in international media, suggests that dozens of Kashmiris have been killed since June 5, 2026. The UKPNP also claimed that hundreds of people have been arrested or detained, while families remain unaware of the whereabouts of some of their relatives.

The party has called for the immediate restoration of mobile networks, internet services and other communication facilities, arguing that the restrictions have isolated communities and prevented Kashmiris living abroad from maintaining contact with their families. The UKPNP also raised concerns over what it described as punitive measures against individuals, including their placement under Schedule IV, suspension or blocking of passports and identity documents, deactivation of SIM cards, restrictions on bank accounts, limitations on movement, arrests and alleged intimidation of activists and human rights defenders.

Khan said the party wants authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of all detained and reportedly missing individuals. It also demanded that detainees be allowed to meet their families and lawyers and receive necessary medical treatment, while being provided access to an independent and impartial judicial process.

The UKPNP further called for the release of people it said had been detained solely for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights. It also demanded the immediate return of the bodies of deceased protesters that it alleged were still being withheld by authorities, saying families should be allowed to conduct dignified funerals without intimidation or pressure.

The party has additionally called for independent investigations into allegations of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, unlawful detention and excessive use of force. It also sought inquiries into allegations involving the destruction or vandalism of homes, shops, businesses and private property, saying anyone found responsible for criminal acts should face accountability through credible and impartial legal proceedings.

The UKPNP said Pakistan, as a member of the United Nations and a party to major international human rights instruments, has an obligation to respect and protect fundamental rights. It urged authorities to restore freedom of movement, expression, peaceful assembly and association, along with access to communications, healthcare, legal assistance and essential services. The party also demanded the restoration of blocked passports, identity documents, SIM cards and bank accounts. It maintained that such documents and services should not be used as instruments of political pressure or retaliation against individuals exercising peaceful political rights. The allegations made by the UKPNP could not be independently verified from the information provided. The situation remains politically sensitive, with competing claims surrounding the protests, security measures and the treatment of civilians in the region.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

The Human Rights Council of Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (HRC-PoJK) has raised alarm over reports concerning the detention and alleged undisclosed whereabouts of Kashmiri leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir, demanding that authorities immediately clarify his status and present him before a competent court.

In a post on X, the rights organisation urged the concerned authorities to reveal Mir’s location and explain the legal basis for his reported detention. It also called for him to be allowed to meet his family and consult with legal counsel, while insisting that he be produced before a court in line with constitutional protections and due process.

HRC-PoJK said that if no valid legal charges have been brought against Mir, he should be released without delay. The organisation warned that keeping an individual incommunicado or allowing their whereabouts to remain unknown can amount to a serious violation of fundamental rights and the rule of law.

The council further appealed to national human rights bodies, lawyers, civil society groups and the media to urgently take note of the reported detention. It stressed that authorities must provide transparency and ensure that any action taken against Mir remains within the bounds of law. The latest appeal comes after HRC-PoJK previously called for an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into incidents involving deaths, civilian injuries and allegations of excessive or disproportionate use of force in the region.

According to the organisation, the continuing situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir should not be viewed solely as a political, administrative or law-and-order issue. It said ordinary residents continue to face the consequences, including disruptions to daily life, restrictions on civil liberties, difficulties accessing essential services and growing concerns over personal security. The council maintained that human life, dignity and fundamental freedoms must remain protected, regardless of political disputes, administrative decisions or public protests.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Singapore’s prison population is ageing, with one in six inmates now aged 60 or above, compared with one in 10 in 2019. Daniel Martin spoke with Quentin Lee, Assistant Director and Lead Psychologist at the Singapore Prison Service’s Psychological and Correctional Rehabilitation Division, who is part of a National Committee sub-group focused on preventing offending and re-offending among older adults. They explored the factors driving the rise in elderly inmates and examined the support needed to help older offenders and ex-offenders break the cycle of crime and reintegration into society.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Rescue teams in Japan have continued their search operations overnight as they race to find survivors following a powerful earthquake that struck Kyushu Island. Several people remain unaccounted for after the 7.1-magnitude quake caused buildings to collapse, with many feared trapped beneath the debris of a shopping centre. CNA Senior Correspondent Michiyo Ishida joins Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman to provide the latest updates on the rescue efforts and situation on the ground.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Israel and Iran have carried out direct strikes against each other for the first time since an April ceasefire, increasing concerns that the situation could escalate into a wider regional conflict. The Israeli attacks appear to go against advice from Donald Trump, who reportedly urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to respond militarily to Iran in order to protect ongoing peace negotiations from collapsing. Journalist Nosheen Iqbal discusses the developments with the Guardian’s senior international correspondent Julian Borger.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

In “Destination Anywhere,” Melanie Oliveiro interviews Julian Artopé, the founder and CEO of Zenyum, a company specializing in invisible braces and dental care products. He shares insights from his travels, beginning with Germany, his home country, and highlights Lake Ammersee near Munich as a must-visit destination. He then discusses his journey to Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, where he experienced distinctive shrimp ramen and relaxed in a traditional onsen village.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.