Latest news with #MI
Buzz Feed
12 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
12 MI6 Facts You Didn't Know But Definitely Do Now
Think MI6 is all tuxedos, fast cars, and shaken martinis? That's just the movie version. The real British intelligence service has a story that's far more surprising, and a lot less glamorous. From spy gadgets hidden in matchboxes to hacking terrorist magazines with cupcake recipes, these are the MI6 facts you probably never heard about… until now. The whole reason MI6 exists? Britain was paranoid about Germany in 1909. MI6 wasn't born out of slick spy missions or dramatic shootouts—it started with good old-fashioned paranoia. In 1909, Britain was convinced that Germany was plotting against them, so they secretly set up what would become MI6 to keep tabs on enemy activity, and let's just say… they've been watching ever since. The head of MI6 isn't called 'M' in real life, it's 'C', and they always use green ink. In the Bond universe, the boss goes by 'M.' But IRL? It's 'C.' That's short for Sir Mansfield Cumming, the very first chief of MI6, who used to sign all his notes with just the letter 'C' (in green ink, no less). The tradition stuck. Every MI6 head since has kept the title and the signature style—yes, they still write in green ink. Very on-brand for a secret agent, honestly. MI6 was a secret for decades, and wasn't officially acknowledged until 1994. MI6 has been around since 1909, but for most of its life, it was like the Voldemort of government departments—never officially named. Originally set up as the Secret Service Bureau, the agency operated entirely in the shadows. It wasn't until 1994—yes, the same year Friends premiered—that the British government publicly admitted MI6 even existed. Talk about a long game. There wasn't just MI6—at one point, there were 19 different MI departments. MI6 didn't always work alone. Back in the day, there were actually 19 different 'MI' branches doing everything from decoding messages to watching the skies. MI1 dealt with information management, MI2 focused on Russia and Scandinavia, MI4 handled aerial surveillance, and MI11 (weirdly enough) took on codebreaking. Over time, most of these departments either shut down or got folded into MI5 and MI6. So no, MI6 isn't just a spy movie thing—it's what's left after a major intelligence agency merger. MI6 HQ isn't just a building, it's basically a fortress. The MI6 headquarters in London is no ordinary office. With 25 types of glass, bombproof walls, and triple-glazed windows, it's built like a tank. Rumors say it even has a shooting range, rooms where eavesdropping is impossible, and a Faraday cage to block radio signals. James Bond could only dream. Some of the greatest spy novelists were actual spies. Yes, really. Before Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy became a classic Cold War thriller, its author, John le Carré was living the spy life for real. Born David Cornwell, he worked for MI6 but had to use a pen name—real agents weren't allowed to publish under their own identities. And le Carré wasn't alone. The Quiet American author Graham Greene was also with MI6. Meanwhile, Ian Fleming—the man behind James Bond—served in Naval Intelligence, which gave him all the material he needed to invent 007 (minus the gadgets and martinis, probably). The first MI6 chief had a wild way of testing recruits. It involved a knife and a wooden leg. Sir Mansfield Cumming, the original head of MI6, had a pretty unhinged method for screening potential agents. In the middle of an interview, he'd suddenly stab himself in the leg to see how the recruit reacted. Don't worry, it was a wooden leg. But if you flinched? You probably didn't make the cut. In 2011, MI6 swapped b*mb instructions with cupcake recipes, yes that happened. MI6 pulled off one of the sassiest cyber moves in spy history. In 2011, agents hacked into an online Al-Qaeda magazine and replaced its bomb-making instructions with… cupcake recipes. Instead of a step-by-step guide to explosives, readers found details for the best cupcakes in America. It was part sabotage, part bake sale, and 100% genius. Real MI6 gadgets existed, just don't expect exploding pens or laser watches. The spy gear wasn't all Hollywood-level madness, but it was real. While James Bond had grenade pens and magnetic watches, actual MI6 agents worked with gadgets that were a little more low-key (and way more practical). Think cameras hidden inside matchboxes, hollowed-out shaving brushes, and other everyday objects turned into tools for espionage. Less flashy, more sneaky. MI6's top spy almost lost his job because of a Facebook post. Back in 2009, the head of MI6—Sir John Sawers—nearly had his career derailed thanks to his wife's Facebook activity. She casually posted their home address, vacation photos, and even details about their kids' locations… all publicly visible. Not ideal for the UK's most secretive spy. The info was taken down eventually, but not before the headlines started flying. Women in early MI6 weren't exactly given spy gadgets; they were used as 'honey traps' or stuck taking notes. Back in the early days of MI6, women weren't sent on glamorous missions or handed briefcases full of gadgets. Instead, they were often used to seduce and compromise targets—what's known as a 'honey trap'—or assigned to secretarial work behind the scenes. It wasn't until much later that women began taking on actual intelligence roles and field assignments. And now? For the first time ever, MI6 has its female chief. Talk about a full-circle moment. MI6 helped train America's first spies, including the predecessor to the CIA. When the U.S. finally joined World War II, it didn't exactly have a seasoned spy agency ready to go. So MI6 stepped in. Britain's top-secret service helped train America's brand-new Office of Strategic Services (OSS)—aka the baby version of the CIA. That early collab laid the groundwork for one of the most enduring intelligence partnerships in the world. So the next time you watch a Bond movie, just remember, the real MI6 doesn't hand out grenade pens or jetpacks (at least not that we know of). From secret aliases and cupcake hacks to wooden leg interviews and green ink signatures, Britain's top spy agency is full of facts stranger than fiction. And now, with its first-ever female chief at the helm, MI6 is proving it knows how to keep secrets and shake things up.
India.com
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
When Jackie Shroff Revealed Where He Picked Up His Lingo From
Mumbai: Bollywood's OG Bhidu, actor Jackie Shroff is known for his uber cool attitude, and his tapori language. The actor once revealed on the quiz based television show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' as to where he learnt the language from. Jaggu dada attended the show with 'Border' co-star Suniel Shetty. Show host Amitabh Bachchan asked Bhidu out of curiosity as to where he picked the language from. Big B asked, 'Where did you learn the Bidu language? How did you learn it?' Responding to the same, Bhidu said, 'Sir, earlier, the area was such that the language was spoken in such a way that the ears were open. The mouth was closed, so you could learn what you were saying. And then there was you'. He further mentioned, 'In all your films, you were the one, right? We came later. You have given us the complete language of Mumbai. I mean, you have given us good language as well. But the language of Mumbai that we speak, sir, you have given us that beautiful language as well. There was a dialogue of yours as well'. Big B said, 'Oh, yes! In real life. It was in Amar Akbar Anthony. I was standing in the corner and someone ran towards me, so I hit him on the leg and he fell down. Yes. I caught him. 'Aisa to Aadmi Life mein Doich time bhaagta hai. Olympic ka race ho, yaa Police ka case ho' (A person runs like this twice in his life if it's an Olympic race or a police case). Why are you running, brother?'. Earlier, Jackie met the IPL team Mumbai Indians prior to the IPL finals, and retracted to his younger self. The actor shared a joint post with a fitness brand, a video of himself interacting with the players of the MI squad. Jackie, who grew up in the Teen Batti area of Mumbai, is a true Mumbaikar, and it reflects in his language, and social conduct.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
IPL 2025 stats: RCB wins elusive title, Suryakumar Yadav shows his class
16 Consecutive scores of 25-plus for Suryakumar Yadav in the IPL 2025, the longest such streak for any batter in men's T20 cricket. Suryakumar passed Temba Bavuma's record on 26 May 2025 in MI's game against PBKSin Jaipur and extended his tally to two more. The South African had 13 successive scores of 25-plus runs between 2019 and 2020. Suryakumar, meanwhile, already holds the equivalent IPL record, having bettered Robin Uthappa's tally of 10 such consecutive scores made in 2014. Batters with consecutive scores of 25+ during a T20 career 25-plus scores Batter From To For (teams) HS LS 16+ Suryakumar Yadav 23 Mar 2025 26 May 2025 Mumbai Indians 73* 26 13 Temba Bavuma 1 May 2019 16 Feb 2020 Lions/South Africa/JoziStars 104 27 11 Brad Hodge 22 Jun 2005 7 Jan 2007 Lancashire/Victoria/AusA 106 26 11 Jacques Rudolph 3 Jul 2014 12 Jun 2015 Glamorgan 101* 30 11 Kumar Sangakkara 15 May 2015 25 Nov 2015 Surrey/Dhaka Dynamites 58 25 11 Chris Lynn 22 Dec 2023 4 Feb 2024 Adelaide Strikers/Gulf Giants 83* 27 11 KR Mayers 17 Feb 2024 29 Aug 2024 Fortune Barisal/WI/StKitts 50 25 + still in progress Batters with consecutive scores of 25+ during an IPL career 25-plus scores Batter From To For (teams) HS LS 14+ Suryakumar Yadav 23 Mar 2025 26 May 2025 Mumbai Indians 73* 26 10 Robin Uthappa 2 May 2014 28 May 2014 Kolkata Knight Riders 83* 40 9 Steve Smith 24 Apr 2016 22 Apr 2017 Rising Pune Supergiant 101 26 9 Sai Sudharsan 15 May 2023 10 Apr 2024 Gujarat Titans 96 31 9 Virat Kohli 25 Apr 2024 28 Mar 2025 Royal Challengers Bengaluru 92 27 + still in progress 717 The aggregate runs by Mumbai Indians' Suryakumar Yadav in this edition of the IPL is the highest for a batter at positions #3 or lower in any men's T20 tournament. He bettered the aggregate of A. B. de Villiers, who made 687 runs in the 2016 edition of the IPL for RCB. Highest run-aggregates in an IPL year by batters batting at positions from #3 or lower Runs Batter (for) M Inns Ave. HS 100/50 S/R Year 717 Suryakumar Yadav (MI) 16 16 65.18 73* 0/5 167.91 2025 687 AB de Villiers (RCB) 16 16 52.84 129* 1/6 168.79 2016 684 Rishabh Pant (DC) 14 14 52.61 128* 1/5 173.70 2018 622 Kane Williamson (SRH) 14 14 56.54 83* 0/7 141.04 2018 605 Suryakumar Yadav (MI) 16 16 43.21 103* 1/5 181.13 2023 604 Shreyas Iyer (PBKS) 17 17 50.33 97* 0/6 175.07 2025 60 The number of balls to spare in Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) victory over Punjab Kings (PK) in the first Qualifier in Mullanpur on 29 May 2025. This is the biggest such win in an IPL playoff/knockout game. After dismissing Punjab for a paltry 101, RCB reached its target in 10 overs. In doing so, RCB became the 10th side in IPL history to successfully chase a target in 10 or fewer overs. However, it was the first to do so in a playoff match. Biggest margin of victories with five or more overs (30 balls or more) to spare in playoff/knockout games in the IPL Balls/ov Winning side Losing side Venue Date Result to spare (batting 2nd) (batting 1st) 60/10.0 RCB (106/2 in 10 overs) beat PBKS (101) Mullanpur 29 May 2025 8 wickets 57/9.3 KKR (114/2 in 10.3 overs) beat SRH (113) Chennai 26 May 2024 8 wickets 38/6.2 KKR (164/2 in 13.4 overs) beat SRH (159) Ahmedabad 21 May 2024 8 wickets 37/6.1 RCB (86/1 in 13.5 overs) beat DecChg (82) New Mumbai DYP 24 Apr 2010 9 wickets 33/5.3 MI (111/4 in 14.3 overs) beat KKR (107) Bengaluru 19 May 2017 6 wickets 31/5.1 CSK (116/1 in 14.5 overs) beat PK (112/8) Mumbai WS 31 May 2008 9 wickets 14.1 The number of overs faced by Punjab Kings' batters when it was dismissed for 101 against RCB in Mullanpur on 29 May 2025. This is now the fewest overs faced by any IPL side after being dismissed while batting first. Incidentally, only six other sides (all while chasing) in IPL history have faced fewer overs than Punjab Kings. IPL sides batting first and dismissed after facing the fewest number of overs Overs Team (batting first) Opponent Venue Date Result (for chasing side) 14.1 PBKS (101/10) RCB (106/2) Mullanpur 29 May 2025 8 wickets 15.0 RCB (70/10) RR (71/4) Abu Dhabi 26 Apr 2014 6 wickets 15.1 PBKS (88/10) RCB (92/0) Indore 14 May 2018 10 wickets 15.2 RR (81/10) KKR (85/2) Kolkata 17 Apr 2011 8 wickets 15.2 KKR (67/10) MI (68/2) MumbaiWS 16 May 2008 8 wickets 145 The total number of balls delivered in the RCB-PBKS game in Mullanpur on 29 May 2025. This is now the joint-third shortest completed game (in terms of balls delivered) in IPL history (excluding shortened/truncated games). Shortest completed IPL games (excluding shortened/truncated games) Balls (Overs) Team1 (Total) Team2 (Total) Venue Date Result for 125 (20.5) KKR (67/10 in 15.2 ov) MI (68/2 in 5.3 ov) Mumbai WS 16 May 2008 MI won by 8 wkts/87 balls 140 (23.2) PBKS (88/10 in 15.1 ov) RCB (92/0 in 8.1 ov) Indore 14 May 2018 RCB won by 10 wkts/71 balls 145 (24.1) RCB (68/10 in 16.1 ov) SRH (72/1 in 8 ov) Mumbai BS 23 Apr 2022 SRH won by 9 wkts/72 balls 145 (24.1) PBKS (101/10 in 14.1 ov) RCB (106/2 in 10 ov) Mullanpur 29 May 2025 RCB won by 8 wkts/60 balls 146 (24.2) DC (143/7 in 20 ov) SRH (44/2 in 4.2 ov) Delhi 10 May 2014 SRH won by 8 wkts/4 balls (DL) 176 The batting strike-rate achieved by Phil Salt at the end of his unbeaten knock of 56 in 27 balls — also crossing the 1000-run mark of his IPL career while playing for RCB against PBKS in the 1st Qualifier at Mullanpur on 29 May 2025. This strike-rate is now the second-highest achieved by any IPL batter during the innings in which the player reached 1000 IPL runs. However, in terms of actual balls faced while reaching the respective 1000th run in IPL, Russell is by far the quickest with 545 balls, followed by Travis Head (575 balls) and Salt one more at 576 balls. Batters with high batting strike-rates in the game they completed 1000 IPL career runs S/R Batter while playing for (opp) Venue Achieved M Inns Runs Ave. Balls faced 185.34 Andre Russell KKR (DC) Delhi 30 Mar 2019 42 42 1049 29.97 566 175.97 Phil Salt RCB (PBKS) Mullanpur 29 May 2025 33 33 1040 34.67 591 172.45 Travis Head SRH (MI) MumbaiWS 17 Apr 2025 32 32 1014 36.21 588 170.03 Heinrich Klaasen SRH (RR) Hyderabad 23 Mar 2025 33 33 1027 38.04 604 165.32 Virender Sehwag DC (PWI) New Mumbai 17 Apr 2011 42 42 1020 26.15 617 Note:The figures above are updated at the end of the innings, not when the 1000-run milestone is achieved. 33 The number of sixes conceded by Gujarat Titans' leg-spinner Rashid Khan in this year's IPL. This is now the most conceded by any bowler in a single edition of the IPL. During the Eliminator match against Mumbai Indians in Mullanpur on 30 May 2025, Rashid passed the previous tally of 31 sixes held by Mohd Siraj for RCB in 2022. Bowlers conceding most sixes in a single edition of the IPL 6s Balls/6 Bowler (for) Year Inns Balls Runs Wkts Ave. Eco 6s/inns 33 10.00 Rashid Khan (GT) 2025 15 330 514 9 57.11 9.35 2.20 31 9.87 Mohd Siraj (RCB) 2022 15 306 514 9 57.11 10.08 2.07 30 11.40 W. Hasaranga (RCB) 2022 16 342 430 26 16.54 7.54 1.88 30 11.60 Yuzvendra Chahal (RR) 2024 15 348 546 18 30.33 9.41 2.00 28 10.04 Yuzvendra Chahal (RCB) 2015 14 281 415 23 18.04 8.86 2.00 28 11.46 Dwayne Bravo (CSK) 2018 16 321 533 14 38.07 9.96 1.75 28 12.18 Tushar Deshpande (CSK) 2023 16 341 564 21 26.86 9.92 1.75 1 The number of opponent sides successfully chasing targets of 200-plus set by Mumbai Indians in the IPL. This rare occasion occurred recently when Punjab Kings (207/5) successfully chased Mumbai's first innings total of 203/6 in the Eliminator game in Mullanpur on 1 June 2025. On 18 previous occasions, Mumbai had defended totals over 200-plus since IPL started in 2008. Incidentally, this season, Mumbai achieved this successfully on four other occasions before Punjab pulled the rug under its feet. Highest successful run chases against Mumbai Indians in the IPL MI's total Opponent Ov Venue Date 203/6 PBKS 207/5 19 Mullanpur 1 Jun 2025 195/5 RR 196/2 18.2 Abu Dhabi 25 Oct 2020 194/7 DC 195/3 20 Mumbai WS 14 Apr 2018 187/5 RR 188/6 19.3 Mumbai WS 13 Apr 2019 184/8 RPS 187/3 19.5 Pune 6 Apr 2017 184/7 PBKS 187/3 18.3 Jaipur 26 May 2025 Note:In successive head-to-head games, Mumbai Indians could not defend totals of 180+ this season against Punjab Kings. 8 The number of teams/franchises to win the IPL Trophy. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Ahmedabad on 3 June 2025 became the latest to join this elite group of franchises after 17 years, 1 month, and 16 days since playing its first game on 18 April 2008. This means that among the original eight franchises that participated in the inaugural edition in 2008, only Delhi Capitals (as Delhi Daredevils until 2018) and Punjab Kings have not gotten their hands on the trophy. Among the existing sides, Lucknow Super Giants is the other not to have the IPL title. IPL winners from 2008 to 2025 Titles Team/Franchise (IPL title won in) 5 Chennai Super Kings (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023) 5 Mumbai Indians (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020) 3 Kolkata Knight Riders (2012, 2014, 2024) 1 Rajasthan Royals (2008) 1 Deccan Chargers+ (2009) 1 Sunrisers Hyderabad (2016) 1 Gujarat Titans (2022) 1 Royal Challengers Bangalore (2025) + now defunct All records are correct and updated until 3 June 2025.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
After BGT success, will Bumrah continue his red-hot form across all formats during England tour?
As India prepares to take on England in the first Test at Leeds, all eyes will be on pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah . The 31-year-old, who is going to experience the rigours of international cricket following a stunning Indian Premier League (IPL) stint for Mumbai Indians (MI) after an injury lay-off, carries on his hands not only his favourite weapon, but also the fate of an under-transition Indian cricket team without its three heavyweights. The first Test will kick-start at Leeds from June 20, and watching a Team India without Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin would be a sad sight, no doubt, despite the exciting potential this new-look squad possesses. Bumrah, the "national treasure" as labelled by Virat, is to be protected at all costs, and the number of Tests he is going to play is not certain, with skipper Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir choosing to stay tight-lipped about it during the pre-departure presser. Unlike the IPL, Bumrah would not have the privilege of having experienced campaigners like Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar by his side. Instead, he would lead a young Indian pace line-up, featuring Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and Akash Deep, who had combined test experience of 46 tests, just one more than his own count. All-rounders Shardul Thakur or Nitish Kumar Reddy could offer a bit of a breather to the main bowlers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Harry Potter Actress Stuns Fans With Grown-up Pics Reportingly Undo Bumrah has a stunning record in England against the Three Lions, having taken 37 scalps in just nine matches at an average of 23.78 and a strike rate of 51.9, which are the best among the top-ten Indian bowlers in England. His best bowling figures are 5/64, with two five-wicket hauls. Out of 15 innings, only once has Bumrah gone wicketless against England at their home. During his first tour to England in 2018, he took 14 wickets in three matches at an average of 25.92, with best bowling figures of 5/85, which sealed India a 203-run win at Nottingham. Live Events The next tour during 2021-22 was a one to remember as he topped the bowling charts with 23 scalps in five games at an average of 22.47, with best bowling figures of 5/64. During the last Test at Edgbaston in 2022, which was rescheduled due to COVID-19, he also made his captaincy debut, though in a losing effort. Overall, against England at home and away, Bumrah has taken 60 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 22.16, with best bowling figures of 6/45. Bumrah is coming to the England shores with supreme confidence and statistics behind him. He had an all-timer series in Australia, taking 32 wickets across five matches at an average of 13.06, with three five-wicket hauls and two four-wicket hauls. His lone warrior effort in Australia itself is enough to make him a Hall of Fame worthy act, but another brilliant outing in England could take his legacy as a fast bowler several notches above. The pacer is more than just his statistics, with his ability to generate masterful swing and toe-crushing yorkers, create pressure and fear in his opponents, deliver a clutch bowling spell and carry the entire nation's expectations on his back with a calm smile on his face making him a valuable addition to the Indian group. Another five-wicket haul would take him to 10 fifers in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia (SENA) nations, making him the first Indian bowler to do so. Also, five more wickets would help him reach 150 wickets in SENA, which is another first for an Indian.
India.com
3 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
Bad news for Team India after IPL 2025 season, star player travels to England for…
Suryakumar Yadav was leading run-scorer for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 season. (Photo: BCCI/IPL) The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 got over earlier this month and already some bad news has come Team India way. India's T20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav has decided to travel to England, not to join the Test team, but seen treatment for an injury. Mumbai Indians batter Suryakumar Yadav or 'Sky' will be a massive player for India as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) get ready to host the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at home. MI had failed to reach the final of the IPL 2025 season, losing the Qualifier 2 match to Shreyas Iyer's Punjab Kings. With 'Sky' not part of India's Test team, he has got a lengthy break till August 26 at least when Team India begin their three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. He will then have to travel to Australia in the month of October for the five-match T20I series against the Aussies later this year. Suryakumar Yadav has decided to travel to London for right-side sports hernia treatment and is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks, according to a report in News24 website. According to the report, Suryakumar's treatment will start next week and he is expected to return to cricket field by August before the Bangladesh series. The BCCI have not issued an official statement, reports suggest the medical procedure could require up to two months of recovery. In conversation with Suryakumar Yadav, captain of Triumph Knights MNE 🔥 Catch him talking about city pride, Season 3 battles, and what it really means to play for Mumbai.#T20Mumbai — T20 Mumbai (@T20Mumbai) June 17, 2025 The timing works in MI batter's favour, as India have no T20I commitments until August, when they travel to Bangladesh for a white-ball tour. That will be followed by home series against the West Indies – which features only Tests – before an away trip to Australia, all of which are part of India's build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup. Suryakumar's decision to undergo the procedure now is strategic, allowing him to return fully fit for the crucial upcoming T20 cycle. Suryakumar was the leading run-getter for MI in the IPL 2025 season with 717 runs in 16 matches at an average of 65.18 and a strike rate of 167.9. Remarkably, he scored 25 or more in all 16 innings, setting a new T20 record for most consecutive 25+ scores. He also turned out for Triumph Knights MNE in the Mumbai T20 League 2025 earlier this month, but his side managed just one win in five matches, missing out on the Playoffs. He notched up 122 runs in five innings in the tournament.
