Faced a bribe demand? Indian student creates website 'bribe.fyi' where you can report it anonymously

President Donald Trump’s war with Iran is stretching the US Navy’s aircraft carrier fleet, with the USS George Washington leaving the Pacific for the West Asia and temporarily reducing America’s carrier presenceThe George Washington is expected to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, whose deployment has been extended beyond its original May return date to support operations against Iran, AP reported. The prolonged deployment has raised concerns over crew fatigue, mental health and supply problems aboard the carrier.(AFP)President Donald Trump’s war with Iran is stretching the US Navy’s aircraft carrier fleet, with the USS George Washington leaving the Pacific for the West Asia and temporarily reducing America’s carrier presence as China steps up military activity in the region.The George Washington is expected to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, whose deployment has been extended beyond its original May return date to support operations against Iran, AP reported. The prolonged deployment has raised concerns over crew fatigue, mental health and supply problems aboard the carrier.China could exploit US carrier absence in PacificChina has continued to assert its military and territorial claims across the Indo-Pacific, including around Taiwan and the South China Sea.Greg Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told AP, that the Trump administration had previously indicated that the Pacific would rank behind only the Western Hemisphere in its priorities.It is to be noted that the absence of an American carrier does not mean China is preparing to invade Taiwan.China conducted naval exercises with Indonesia this week and recently held military drills near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. It also conducted a live-fire exercise near Japan's southernmost island of Okinotori last month.US reassures Japan, Philippines amid military pressureWashington DC has sought to reassure its regional allies that the carrier's departure does not represent a broader retreat from the Indo-Pacific.Adm. Frank Bradley, head of the US Special Operations Command, was in Manila on Thursday and told Philippine officials that US special operations forces were prepared to expand joint exercises. He is also expected to travel to Japan.Iran war puts pressure on US Navy carrier fleetThe US carrier reshuffle reflects broader strain across the US Navy. The USS Gerald R. Ford returned home in May after an 11-month deployment, the longest since the Vietnam War. The carrier also suffered a fire that forced it to return to the Mediterranean for repairs.The Abraham Lincoln has now spent more than 240 consecutive days at sea, with lawmakers calling for greater scrutiny of conditions aboard the ship.The US aircraft carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln, is set to return to the United States after an extended deployment of more than 250 days, Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao said, as reports of low morale and mental health concerns among sailors aboard the aircraft carrier have drawn scrutiny from US Congress and families of the sailors."The USS Abraham Lincoln crushed their deployment and will return home soon as part of a planned rotation. Details will come, but let me be clear: the safety and security of our Sailors and Marines always comes first. Mission accomplishment. Troop Welfare. This is how we lead," Cao said in the statement.US faces aircraft carrier maintenance crunchThe US Navy has 11 aircraft carriers but typically deploys only two or three at a time. The possibility of sending another carrier to the Middle East could eventually allow the George Washington to return to the Pacific.However, more deployments of US Navy could create a maintenance backlog at the Navy's only two carrier shipyards.The pressure is also prompting questions about the future role of aircraft carriers. Michael Swaine of the Quincy Institute told AP that the drones and missiles could make large carriers increasingly vulnerable

Amid ongoing mental stress, at least six sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln attempted to jump overboard during prolonged 9-month deployment. Critical conditions and limited access to land have led to increased scrutiny and demands for accountability from lawmakers regarding crew's treatment.USS Abraham LincolnAt least six US service personnel, deployed on the USS Abraham Lincoln, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 3 for the United States Pacific Fleet, have reportedly tried to jump overboard as their extended stay away from land continues. According to Military Times, there have been multiple attempts by sailors to jump overboard as poor conditions and mental stress on the Lincoln reach the breaking point.Deployed in NovemberUSS Abraham Lincoln, which has a crew of over 5,000 sailors and Marines, is in its ninth month of continuous deployment at sea, which is a record for an aircraft carrier in modern times.The current deployment started on November 21, and the 37-year-old nuclear-powered aircraft carrier left San Diego for a Pacific mission that was expected to end in May 2026. However, following the outbreak of the US-Iran war, it was redeployed to the Middle East in the Arabian Sea under CENTCOM, with no announced end date for its deployment.Set foot on land only twiceAccording to Stars and Stripes, in the more than 9 months of deployment, USS Abraham Lincoln’s crew has stepped foot on land only two days - first in December in Guam, when many sailors were not allowed to disembark, and later in July, while it was on a re-stocking stop in Oman, when they were allowed to leave the ship, but was restricted to a secure compound within the port.The extended deployment and reported shortages of basic supplies, water, and plumbing have taken a toll on the mental health of many on board.Families raise alarmThe wife of a sailor on board USS Abraham Lincoln told Stars and Stripes her husband had texted her saying “he hopes he doesn’t wake up tomorrow”. The parent of another sailor said their son reported "he and his shipmates constantly think about jumping off the ship just for relief."The wife of another sailor told Military Times that her husband saw a shipmate preparing to jum overboard, and he intervened.In April, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had dismissed allegations of poor conditions on board USS Abraham Lincoln as “more fake news”.Democrats seek answersFollowing the reports of sailors attempting to go overboard, several Democrats, including Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut, Mike Levin from California and Jason Crow from Colorado, have sought answers from the administration and the Navy.“These men and women signed up to serve their country. The least their country owes them is hot water, a working toilet, and a real meal. Hegseth cannot even manage that, and he has the nerve to look their families in the eye and call them liars,” Levin said.Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent a letter on Wednesday to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao seeking information about the carrier’s long deployment.According to Military Times, Blumenthal asked the Navy to provide the dates of each extension to the Lincoln’s deployment, identify who authorized the extensions and explain the operational requirements behind each decision.Stay updated with the latest Trending, India, World and US news. HomeNewsUs NewsDeployed at sea for more than 260 days, six USS Abraham Lincoln sailors tried to jump overboard: ReportsMore