Latest news with #USS
New Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Discharging government duties from hospital: Tamil Nadu CM Stalin
CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin, who has been undergoing medical checkups at the Apollo Hospital, on Tuesday said he was discharging his government duties from the hospital. The CM said he has advised Chief Secretary N Muruganandam that there should be no delay/slackness in resolving the petitions from the people. The CM, in his post on X, said during his stay in hospital, he enquired with the Chief Secretary whether the special camps under the Ungaldum Stalin Scheme (USS) are going as scheduled, how many petitions have been received till Monday, and how many of them have been resolved.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ungaludan Stalin, AMMA schemes may appear similar, but are different
The launch of the Ungaludan Stalin Scheme (USS) by the DMK regime has prompted the AIADMK to liken it to the Assured Maximum Service to Marginal People in All Villages (AMMA) scheme, which was implemented by the previous AIADMK government when Jayalalithaa was Chief Minister. At least on two occasions in the last couple of days, the general secretary of the principal Opposition party, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who is on a State-wide tour, called the new scheme an instance of the DMK government resorting to 'pasting stickers' on what was carried out by his party while in power. On Tuesday, former Revenue Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, too, made the same point in a social media post. According to the policy note of the Revenue Department for 2020-21, around 64.15 lakh petitions were received at 64,079 camps during 2012-2020, of which 64.09 lakh petitions were disposed of. The two schemes have a common objective - providing government services at the people's doorstep. Apart from redressing the grievances of the people, both the schemes pave the way for enrolment of new beneficiaries under various schemes. For example, about 10 years ago, the registration of farmers under the Prime Minister's Crop Insurance Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana) and individuals under Aadhaar was given priority. Currently, the coverage of new beneficiaries under the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai (KMUT), a basic income scheme for women heads of families, is being given importance. Still, the two schemes differ in scope, according to a perusal of the government orders issued in March 2013 (on the AMMA scheme), and in June 2025 (on USS). The key difference between the two schemes is that while the former took care of only those in rural areas, the latter will cover people in urban areas, too. As per the G.O. issued by the Public (Mudhalvarin Mugavari) Department on June 19, a total of 10,000 camps would be held in the next four months (till November). In urban areas, 3,768 camps would be conducted and, in rural areas, 6,232. Among districts, Salem accounts for the highest number of camps at 432, followed by Chennai (400) and Tiruvallur (389). 'Improved version' Clarifying that the current government's latest initiative is an improved version of Makkaludan Mudhalvar, which was inaugurated in urban areas in November 2023 and extended to the remaining areas gradually, P. Amudha, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue and Disaster Management), told The Hindu that the USS had been launched with a 'door-to-door campaign'. To a query on the continuance of Ungalai Thedi Ungal Ooril, another outreach programme of the government launched in January 2024, wherein Collectors would stay in a given taluk on a designated day for 24 hours to take up field visits, interact with the public, and get feedback on government schemes, Ms. Amudha said it would resume 'after the USS camps'. Wouldn't the system of providing services to the people online, without direct interface with officials, be better than the conventional way of holding camps, receiving petitions, and disposing of them? To this, the official said that 'due to illiteracy and lack of clarity' among sections of petitioners, 'supporting documents' were not attached while applying online. This had led to the rejection of a number of applications.
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Map Shows Where US Aircraft Carriers Are in Indo-Pacific
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Newsweek map shows that four United States aircraft carriers were underway across the Indo-Pacific this week—from the country's West Coast to waters off the Arabian Peninsula. With regard to the deployment of its aircraft carrier strike groups, the U.S. Navy said it is a symbol of Washington's commitment to maintaining what it calls "a free and open Indo-Pacific region." Why It Matters The U.S. military possesses the world's largest aircraft carrier fleet, with 11 nuclear-powered vessels in active service—including six based in the Pacific Ocean—which are regularly deployed to help keep U.S. adversaries, namely China, North Korea and Iran, in check. The multiple deployments of U.S. aircraft carriers come after China flexed its naval power by simultaneously sending two aircraft carriers to the Pacific Ocean recently, while the Pentagon maintains its military presence in the Middle East despite a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. What To Know Based on official disclosures and open-source satellite imagery, the locations of U.S. aircraft carriers are publicly available. USS Theodore Roosevelt departed San Diego, California, on Tuesday to conduct exercises aimed at bolstering the readiness of its carrier strike group. The Theodore Roosevelt returned to San Diego last October after a nine-month deployment across the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, during which it supported regional security and stability, as well as strengthened U.S. military force posture and capabilities, according to the Navy. In the western Pacific, USS George Washington was spotted underway in the Celebes Sea—located between the Philippines and Indonesia—as of Sunday, following a patrol in the South China Sea during its deployment within the U.S. Seventh Fleet's operating area. The western Pacific and Indian Oceans are part of the Seventh Fleet's area of operations. An F-35C fighter jet lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the Celebes Sea on July 13, 2025. An F-35C fighter jet lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the Celebes Sea on July 13, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Ana Souza Young/U.S. Navy Following operations with its sister ship, USS Nimitz, in the Middle East earlier this month, USS Carl Vinson returned to the Indian Ocean on an eastward voyage and was underway in the Andaman Sea—located off the coasts of Myanmar and Thailand—as of Tuesday. Citing a U.S. defense official, USNI News reported that the Carl Vinson departed the North Arabian Sea on July 11. The aircraft carrier was deployed from San Diego last November. The Nimitz, along with three destroyers and a replenishment oiler, was captured in satellite imagery while underway in the Arabian Sea off the southern coast of Oman on Sunday. Both the Nimitz and the Carl Vinson were previously repositioned from the western Pacific to the Middle East. 🚨 OSINT Intel Drop: 🇺🇸Carrier Strike Group 11 Fresh imagery (13 July 2025) confirms CSG 11, including USS Nimitz and 3x Arleigh Burke destroyers, operating off Oman's south coast. 1x destroyer conducting an UNREP with oiler USNS John Lewis. This activity comes as regional… — MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) July 14, 2025 Of the remaining two Pacific-based U.S. aircraft carriers, USS Ronald Reagan continued scheduled maintenance at a shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, as of Tuesday, while USS Abraham Lincoln remained in San Diego following its return to port on July 10 after a few days at sea. What People Are Saying The U.S. Navy said of USS George Washington's deployment: "George Washington is the U.S. Navy's premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States' commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, while operating alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet." The U.S. Seventh Fleet previously told Newsweek: "Every day the U.S. Pacific Fleet operates to protect the security, freedom, and prosperity for the United States and our allies and partners, reflecting our commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Carl Vinson and the George Washington will operate together in the Western Pacific to counter China's increased naval activities in the region.
Time Out
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Halloween Horror Nights returns to Universal Studios Singapore with a ‘Stranger Things' theme
Universal Studios Singapore's annual mega fright fest is back for its lucky 13th edition this Halloween season – this time with a Stranger Things theme. This is the second collaboration between USS and the Netflix series, with the last similar tie-up being in 2018. Don't expect a rinse and repeat though, because this year's experience is based on Seasons 2, 3, and 4 of the hit horror franchise, with petrifying new surprises at every turn. Step into the spooky dimension of Upside Down with an all-new Stranger Things haunted house, or escape a cursed estate built on a graveyard with 'Singapore's Most Haunted: Build to Horror'. Still unscathed? Spook yourself silly at the scare zones – witness a parade of Japanese demons with 'The Realm of Yokai', and try to keep your wits about you as you brave the haunted carnival that is 'The FEARground'. The ghoulish fun doesn't end there. Catch chilling live performances, a horror gameshow, and indulge in an immersive bar experience for your dose of spirits …in more ways than one. Tickets start from $58 on non-peak nights, and from $68 on peak nights. But set a reminder to snag discounted rates during the early bird sale – it starts on July 13, 2025 and will be open for a limited period of time. Further information on additional haunted houses and other frightful highlights will be released in time to come. Find out more about Singapore's Halloween Horror Nights 2025 here and get your tickets via Klook.
The Star
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Singapore Opposition Leader Pritam Singh's appeal against conviction, sentence over lying to Parliament set for Nov 4
Singapore's opposition Workers' Party Secretary General Pritam Singh (C) arrives at the Serangoon Stadium awaiting the vote count for the general election in Singapore on May 3, 2025. - AFP SINGAPORE: The date for the appeal hearing for Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh, who was convicted in February over two counts of lying under oath to a parliamentary committee, has been set. In response to queries from The Straits Times, Pritam's lawyer Andre Jumabhoy said on July 9 the hearing will be held on Nov 4 at 10am. After Pritam was fined a total of S$14,000 (USS$10,928) on Feb 17 following a trial, he said he would appeal his conviction and sentence. The Aljunied GRC MP was found guilty of two counts of lying to the Committee of Privileges, making him the first sitting opposition MP to be convicted of a criminal charge in almost 40 years. He received the maximum fine of S$7,000 for each charge. In his judgment, Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan ruled that Pritam, who is the Leader of the Opposition, had wilfully lied to the Committee of Privileges about how he dealt with the untruth that former WP MP Raeesah Khan told in Parliament on Aug 3, 2021. Khan had lied about accompanying a sexual assault victim to a police station. She repeated the false claim before the House on Oct 4 the same year. During a 13-day trial that began on Oct 14, 2024, Pritam and Khan took the witness stand, along with former WP cadres Loh Pei Ying and Yudhishthra Nathan and former party chief Low Thia Khiang. Pritam retained his parliamentary seat in the recent General Election, when he was part of a WP five-member team in Aljunied GRC that maintained its hold over the constituency with 59.68 per cent of the votes, against its PAP challengers' 40.32 per cent. Following the election, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Pritam will remain the Leader of the Opposition, with staff and resources to carry out his duties. - The Straits Times/ANN
