Monthly Archives: August 2018

The Donald Trump administration is considering targeting the citizens of as many as 43 countries as part of a new ban on travel to the US. The New York Times reported that the Trump administration intends to bracket these countries…

The Donald Trump administration is considering targeting the citizens of as many as 43 countries as part of a new ban on travel to the US.

The New York Times reported that the Trump administration intends to bracket these countries in three categories. Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Iran are mentioned as countries that will be part of the restrictions.

A draft list of recommendations prepared by diplomatic and security officials suggests a “red list” of 11 countries whose citizens will be flatly barred from entering the US. These are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

This will be followed by the “orange list” in which visas will be “sharply restricted”.

The orange list comprises 10 countries from where travel will be heavily restricted. The citizens from these countries may still qualify for certain types of visa such as business travel, but will face mandatory in-person interviews. The countries are Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Turkmenistan.

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US mulls 3 categories

The Trump administration intends to bracket these countries in three categories

Red list: Comprises 11 countries whose citizens will be flatly barred from entering the US

Orange list: Has 10 countries from where travel will be heavily restricted

Yellow list: Features 22 nations that will be given 60 days to rectify security concerns or risk being moved to a stricter category

The third is the “yellow list” with 22 countries that will be given 60 days to rectify security and information-sharing concerns or risk being moved to a stricter category.

These countries are Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.

Officials from the State Department, along with security specialists and intelligence agencies, are reportedly reviewing the draft list. They are evaluating the accuracy of the listed deficiencies and considering any diplomatic consequences of including certain countries. The proposal could be revised to accommodate international cooperation priorities, the US media reported.

During Trump’s first term, courts initially blocked early versions of travel bans, though the Supreme Court later upheld a revised version affecting eight nations.

Former President Joe Biden revoked Trump’s previous travel bans.

The Navy is keen that the agreements for 26 Rafale-M fighter jets and three more Scorpene-class conventional submarines, worth a total of $11 billion, be inked this financial year

Published – March 15, 2025 10:57 pm IST – New Delhi

Dinakar Peri

Two mega defence deals with France — for 26 Rafale-M fighter jets and three more Scorpene-class conventional submarines — worth close to $11 billion are now awaiting final approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) before their anticipated conclusion very soon.

The Indian Navy will get to see up close the performance of the Rafale-M jets on the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle as the carrier strike group currently in the Indian Ocean is scheduled to visit Goa next week for the bilateral Varuna exercise.

“All formalities have been completed and the case has been put up to the CCS for couple of weeks now,” officials confirmed on the deal for 26 Rafale-M jets. “Negotiations were done weeks back,” an official stated. The Navy has been very keen that both deals be inked in this financial year ending March 31 so they are included in this year’s budget.

The Rafale-M deal is expected to be concluded in April when the French Defence Minister is expected to visit India. As reported by The Hindu earlier, deliveries of the Rafale-M for the Indian Navy would begin in four years once the contract is signed. Officials said that given that it is a government-to-government deal, funds earmarked in this fiscal budget can be rolled over to the next.

Sources stated that the Scorpene deal is also complete in all respects. It is a follow-up to the earlier deal for six Scorpene submarines procured under Project-75 between Naval Group of France and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).

If the deal is concluded next month, the Indian navy would begin receiving from 2029 both the Rafale-M jets and also the MQ-9B, an unmanned aerial vehicle with high altitude and long endurance features, contracted from the U.S.

On July 13, 2023 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was enroute to Paris, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement of 26 Rafale-M fighters and three additional Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines.

The 26 Rafale deal includes 22 single-seater Rafale-M and four twin-seater Rafale trainers (which are not carrier compatible). The 26 jets are meant to fill the gap in numbers till the indigenous Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), which is under development, is inducted into service. The Navy currently operates two aircraft carriers — INS Vikramaditya procured from Russia and the indigenously built INS Vikrant that was commissioned in September 2022.

Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh draws attention towards the hybrid nature of future warfare where the conflict is likely to be spread across multiple domains

Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), has underscored the need to adopt innovative measures to counter the increased security challenges.

Addressing the Commanders’ Conference of the Southern Air Command (SAC) in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday (March 12, 2025), the Air Chief drew the attention of the Commanders towards the hybrid nature of future warfare where the spectrum of conflict is likely to be spread across multiple domains.

Russian military shoots down 337 Ukrainian drones in largest attack in three years, causing casualties and damage in multiple regions

The Russian military said Tuesday (March 11, 2025) air defences overnight shot down 337 Ukrainian drones over 10 Russian regions in what appears to be the biggest Ukrainian drone attack on Russia in three years.

VSHORAD missiles are soldier’s last line of defence against enemy aircraft; three unsuccessful attempts to close deals for different missile systems since 2020; fifth use of emergency procurement since 2016

Published – March 08, 2025 10:58 pm IST – NEW DELHI

Dinakar Peri

The emergency route for defence procurements has once again come to the Indian Army’s rescue in its bid to buy man-portable Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) systems, as repeated attempts to acquire the critical systems have failed. Since 2020, the Army has unsuccessfully tried to close three deals for two different missile systems, constituting 88 launchers, 372 missiles and associated equipment.

VICTOR TEAM :ALL ARMS/SERVICES MIXED TEAM

Team Victor Candidates

1. Brig AS Jassar, Rajput Regt- Vice Chairman — RAJPUT REGIMENT
2. Capt (IN) Rakesh Batta, NM- Housing & Gardens —- INDIAN NAVY
3. Col Rupinder Singh, GUARDS- Bar & Discipline —-BRIGADE OF GUARDS
4. Col Vikram Uppal, AAD- Finance —-BARMY AIR DEFENCE
5. Col Jaswinder Singh, ASC- Sports & Entertainment — ARMY SERVICE CORPS
6. Flt Lt (Dr) Renu Lamba, IAF- Catering —-INDIAN AIR FORCE

Pease do visit the INSTITUTE on 16 March (SUNDAY) from 09AM onwards upto 5PM to exercise your power of vote and elect the Victor Force members to serve the DSOI and you .

Be sure that :

1. You have cleared your dues.
   Any member with unpaid dues is debarred from voting.
2. You are carrying your Membership Card (Veterans) / Identity Card (Serving Officers)
   Credentials of Voters will be verified at the point of entry.
3. You are carrying the list of Victor Force Members with you.
   _Names of Candidates will be jumbled on the ballot. Make sure your vote goes only to your favourite candidate of the Victor Force. List of Victor Force candidates is shared along with this message.

Looking forward to welcoming you at the venue.

Warm Regards and Best Wishes .

Brig Anupinder Singh Jassar
9878599122

Abdullah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi, also known as Abu Khadija, was killed in an operation by Iraqi security forces on Friday

As President Donald Trump took credit for the elimination of a senior ISIS terrorist leader, who was killed in a coordinated operation involving US and Iraqi forces, a debate erupted on social media

Abdullah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi, also known as Abu Khadija, was killed in an operation by Iraqi security forces on Friday, announced Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

He was the head of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and was considered “one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world.”

On his Truth Social platform Friday night, US President Donald Trump said, “Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters” in coordination with the Iraqi government and the Kurdish regional government. “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!” Trump posted.

However, a few social media users were miffed with Trump claiming credit for killing Abu Khadija, while others supported him.

“C’mon. Use better language. He may have ‘authorized’ it or ‘ordered’ it. But HE did not do it. Give credit where it’s due — to the armed forces who had the expertise to carry it out. Stuff like this irritates veterans. This tweet obviously written by someone who never served,” commented one.

Another wrote, “He’s taking responsibility for it instead of them hunting our soldiers down.”

“HE ORDERED it. That’s where the credit goes,” commented another user.

Dear Esteemed Member of DSOI and supporter of the Victor Force Candidates,

The ‘Big Day’ is around the corner.

Please do visit the DSOI on 16 March (SUNDAY) from 09AM onwards upto 5PM to exercise your power of vote and elect the Victor Force members to serve the DSOI and you.

Be sure that :

1. You have cleared your dues.
   Any member with unpaid dues is debarred from voting.
2. You are carrying your Membership Card (Veterans) / Identity Card (Serving Officers)
   Credentials of Voters will be verified at the point of entry.
3. You are carrying the list of Victor Force Members with you.
   _Names of Candidates will be jumbled on the ballot. Make sure your vote goes only to your favourite candidate of the Victor Force. List of Victor Force candidates is shared along with this message.

Looking forward to welcoming you at the venue.

Warm Regards and Best Wishes for a very HAPPY HOLI to you and to your familiy!

Brig Anupinder Singh Jassar
9878599122
( Issued by: Victor Force Campaign Manager )

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