Latest news with #Agni
India.com
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Vidhu Vinod Chopra's son Agni now playing cricket in USA, BCCI's rule behind it will leave you surprised
Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra's son, Agni Chopra, is a current player for MI New York in the Major League Cricket. Vidhu Vinod Chopra, a filmmaker has a son Agni Chopra who is making headlines in Major league cricket (MLC) team as MI New York player. He takes a different route that does not follow the common BCCI rules. An astonishing step to most cricket enthusiasts. The BCCI usually have a rule against the playing of active Indian cricketers abroad. Nevertheless, this rule does not apply to Agni since he has an American passport. An amazing curve to his cricket career. Prior to MLC, Agni had displayed his talent in the domestic circuit of India, more prominently the Ranji Trophy. His success was out of this world, as he drew accolades of professionals. An exquisite home display. The talent of Agni Chopra cannot be ignored. He scored the unfathomable four successive first-class centuries on his first four matches. The great accomplishment in his career. Agni also said that he wanted to compete in the IPL and even said he will even apply to be an Indian passport holder should he be picked. He was not however drafted; hence, the MLC. Another episode takes place. Agni is still uncertain about his future as he is doing well in the US. He is eligible to play in domestic leagues in India based on his citizenship. An interesting narrative to watch.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
China has world's fastest growing nuclear arsenal: SIPRI
China has the world's fastest growing nuclear arsenal and has been adding 100 new warheads every year while India has also slightly expanded its arsenal and continues to develop new delivery systems, a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says. The findings suggest that arsenals of nine nuclear-armed states are expanding at a time of geopolitical uncertainty and the global inventory stands at 12,241 warheads, with the US and Russia accounting for nearly 90% of these. The scale of Chinese nuclear expansion is unprecedented. It has been adding 100 warheads a year since 2023, taking the total to 600. As per projections, China will touch 1,500 warheads by 2035. It is also close to completing the construction of 350 new intercontinental ballistic missile silos in the north and east of the country. "China could potentially have at least as many ICBMs as either Russia or the USA by the turn of the decade. Yet even if China reaches the maximum projected number of 1,500 warheads by 2035, that will still amount to only about one third of each of the current Russian and US nuclear stockpiles." Live Events On India, Sipri says India has slightly expanded its arsenal to 180 warheads, adding eight from the previous number of 172 and has been developing new missiles that will be capable of launching multiple warheads. "India's new 'canisterized' missiles, which can be transported with mated warheads, may be capable of carrying nuclear warheads during peacetime, and possibly even multiple warheads on each missile, once they become operational," the report says, noting new variants of the Agni series of missiles that have been tested in the recent past. Pakistan too is developing new missiles, but Sipri estimates that it has not added more warheads and the number remains static at 170.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Son Plays In US Cricket League Despite Tough BCCI Laws. Here's How
Agni Chopra, son of filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, is currently playing for MI New York in the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC). The 26-year-old previously played domestic cricket in India with his latest outing coming in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season. As a result, it came as a surprise for many that he is playing in an overseas league considering the tough BCCI stance in this matter. BCCI does not allow any active cricketer to play in any overseas cricket league and they can only play in these competitions after their retirement or after procuring a No Objection Certificate (NOC). However, the reason behind Agni's exemption is simple: He does not hold an Indian passport. Agni was born in Detroit, Michigan and as a result, he is exempt from the BCCI rule regarding overseas cricket league participation. However, under the new BCCI rules, he will also not be able to play in the domestic leagues until he becomes an Indian citizen. Agni became the first player to score First Class centuries in each of his first four matches. During the 2023-24 Ranji season, he was a top performer for Mizoram and earned a lot of praise from experts. Earlier, he said that he would have applied for an Indian passport if he was picked for the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, despite expressing his wish to play in the league on multiple occasions, he was not picked by any of the franchises and he decided to play in the United States-based league. 'I would have still applied for an Indian passport and stayed if I had been picked in the Indian Premier League but [I am] looking forward to my time in America now,' he told Times of India.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
India maintains nuclear edge over Pakistan with more warheads, next-gen 'canisterised' MIRV-capable missiles: SIPRI
New Delhi [India], June 16 (ANI): India continues to maintain an edge over Pakistan in nuclear capabilities, with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) noting that New Delhi has not only expanded its nuclear arsenal from 172 warheads in 2024 to an estimated 180 in 2025, but also made significant progress in developing advanced nuclear delivery systems. According to the SIPRI report, India's new 'canisterised' missiles, which allow warheads to be pre-mounted and transported more safely, could potentially carry nuclear warheads even during 'peacetime'. These next-generation systems may also be able to deliver multiple warheads using a single missile in the near future. 'India is believed to have once again slightly expanded its nuclear arsenal in 2024 and continued to develop new types of nuclear delivery systems. India's new 'canisterized' missiles, which can be transported with mated warheads, may be capable of carrying nuclear warheads during peacetime, and possibly even multiple warheads on each missile, once they become operational,' the SIPRI report said. Among the newest of India's next-generation delivery platforms are the Agni Prime (Agni-P) missile and the Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV)-capable Agni-5 system. According to India's Ministry of Defence, Agni-P is a new-generation, advanced variant of the Agni series of missiles. It is a canisterised missile with a range of between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometres. The latest test of the Agni-P was conducted last year. India also successfully tested the MIRV-capable Agni-5 last year. This missile is capable of striking targets at ranges exceeding 5,000 kilometres. Following the test, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lauded the efforts of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists involved in the mission. In a post on X, he wrote: 'Proud of our DRDO scientists for Mission Divyastra, the first flight test of the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.' Pakistan, meanwhile, also continued the development of new nuclear delivery platforms and accumulated more fissile material in 2024, suggesting an intent to further expand its nuclear arsenal in the coming decade, SIPRI observed. Referring to a brief India-Pakistan military clash in early 2025, SIPRI raised serious concerns about the risks of escalation during conventional conflicts between nuclear-armed neighbours. Associate Senior Researcher with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Associate Director for the Nuclear Information Project at FAS, Matt Korda, warned: 'The combination of strikes on nuclear-related military infrastructure and third-party disinformation risked turning a conventional conflict into a nuclear crisis.' He added, 'This should act as a stark warning for states seeking to increase their reliance on nuclear weapons.' SIPRI also noted that while India and Pakistan continue to modernise their arsenals, China's nuclear build-up is progressing at a much faster rate. The report estimated that since 2023, China has been adding around 100 new nuclear warheads annually. By January 2025, China had completed or was nearing completion of approximately 350 new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) silos spread across desert areas in the north and mountainous terrain in the east of the country. Depending on its force structure, China could potentially match the number of ICBMs possessed by Russia or the United States by the end of the decade. However, even if China reaches the projected 1,500 warheads by 2035, it would still possess only about one-third the number of warheads currently held by Russia or the US. SIPRI Director Dan Smith voiced concerns about the weakening of nuclear arms control and the prospects of a new nuclear arms race. 'China is increasing its nuclear force steadily,' Smith said, adding that the country could reach 1,000 warheads within the next seven to eight years. As of January 2025, SIPRI estimated the total global nuclear warhead inventory at 12,241, of which about 9,614 were in military stockpiles for potential use. Around 3,912 warheads were deployed with operational missiles and aircraft, and the rest remained in central storage. Approximately 2,100 of the deployed warheads were kept on high operational alert on ballistic missiles, most of them belonging to Russia or the United States. However, SIPRI noted that China may now also be maintaining some warheads on missiles during peacetime. The report further noted that since the end of the Cold War, Russia and the US had dismantled more warheads than they deployed each year, leading to a slow reduction in global nuclear stockpiles. But this trend may now be reversing, with dismantlement slowing down while deployment of new warheads increases. SIPRI said that all nine nuclear-armed states--the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel--continued to invest heavily in modernising their nuclear forces in 2024. This includes not only upgrading existing systems but also introducing newer technologies and weapons. (ANI)
India.com
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
4 Indian Cricketers Who Are Playing In MLC 2025: Unmukt Chand, Agni Chopra And...
3 / 8 Agni Chopra, who holds the record of being the first cricketer to hit four tons in his first four Ranji Trophy matches while playing for Mizoram, is currently representing MI New York (MINY) in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season. Agni, son of Bollywood director Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who played domestic cricket in India as recently as January 2025, was allowed to participate in MLC 2025 for MI New York due to a special reason. Interestingly, Agni is not an Indian passport holder despite being Indian. Chopra holds a USA citizenship due to his birth in Detroit. His dream to play in America came true as the BCCI recently amended their policy which stated that players with Indian passports would only be allowed to compete in the domestic tournaments. Earlier, overseas cricketers (even entire teams, such as those in the Duleep Trophy) had played domestic cricket in India, but they will no longer be allowed to do so.
