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Business Standard
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
India believed to have 'slightly expanded' nuclear arsenal in 2024: Report
Nearly all of the nine nuclear-armed states, including India and Pakistan, continued intensive nuclear modernisation programmes in 2024, upgrading existing weapons and adding newer versions, according to a report by a global think-tank. India is believed to have once again "slightly expanded" its nuclear arsenal in 2024 and continued to develop new types of nuclear delivery systems, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in a statement. Pakistan also continued to develop new delivery systems and "accumulate fissile material" in 2024, suggesting that its nuclear arsenal might expand over the coming decade, it said. The think-tank on Monday launched its annual assessment of the state of armaments, disarmament and international security in SIPRI Yearbook 2025. The statement on the release of its yearbook also makes a reference to the recent military conflict between India and Pakistan. The four-day military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in May brought the two countries to the brink of full-scale war. The SIPRI Yearbook provided a country-wise assessment of the state of armaments, disarmament and international security. "Nearly all of the nine nuclear-armed states -- the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and Israel --continued intensive nuclear modernisation programmes in 2024, upgrading existing weapons and adding newer versions," the statement said. Of the total global inventory of an estimated 12,241 warheads in January 2025, about 9,614 were in "military stockpiles for potential use", it claimed. "India is believed to have once again slightly expanded its nuclear arsenal in 2024 and continued to develop new types of nuclear delivery system," it said. "India's new 'canisterised' 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 think-tank claimed. In early 2025 tensions between India and Pakistan briefly spilled over into armed conflict, it said. The combination of strikes and third-party disinformation "risked turning a conventional conflict into a nuclear crisis," Matt Korda, Associate Senior Researcher with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Associate Director for the Nuclear Information Project at FAS (Federation of American Scientists), was quoted as saying in the statement. "This should act as a stark warning for states seeking to increase their reliance on nuclear weapons," he said. The think-tank further said since the end of the Cold War, the gradual dismantlement of retired warheads by Russia and the USA has normally outstripped the deployment of new warheads, resulting in an overall year-on-year decrease in the global inventory of nuclear weapons. "This trend is likely to be reversed in the coming years, as the pace of dismantlement is slowing, while the deployment of new nuclear weapons is accelerating," it cautioned. Key findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2025 are that a "dangerous new nuclear arms race" is emerging at a time when arms control regimes are "severely weakened," it claimed. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. DeSantis keeps Florida in the dark by obstructing government transparency
There was a time when Florida set the gold standard for open government. Our Sunshine laws were the envy of the nation, a model for accountability, transparency and public access to information about what our government gets up to. Those days are over. Today, Florida is sliding into secrecy at an alarming pace, and the blame rests squarely with Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state agencies following his lead. Public records laws in Florida aren't suggestions; they're enshrined in law, designed to ensure that the people know what their government is doing in their name. But DeSantis' office has decided that compliance is optional. Delay, deny or ignore — that's the new standard operating procedure for the Executive Office of the Governor. The message is clear: If you want access to records that you're legally entitled to, you'll have to sue us. This obstruction isn't just a nuisance — it's illegal. Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes requires public officials to provide requested records in a timely manner. But under DeSantis, delays have stretched from months to more than a year. In some cases, records are outright withheld without explanation. Court cases challenging these violations are piling up, and judges are starting to call out the administration's blatant disregard for the law. Opinion: Judge questions DeSantis administration's response time for public records requests And it's not just the governor's office. State agencies, local governments, and even law enforcement are taking their cues from the top, making public records harder to access by citizens, lawyers, and the private sector. The result? A 2024 study from the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida confirms what we already knew: Access to public information in Florida is deteriorating fast. Florida now ranks at number 31, the bottom half of U.S. states when it comes to compliance with public records requests. The hypocrisy would be laughable if it weren't so dangerous. After the recent assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Trump at a golf course near Mar-a-Lago, DeSantis contended that Florida should lead the investigation in part because our records laws would enable the public to request information about it. This, from the same governor whose office has repeatedly hidden public records, fought lawsuits and even claimed an 'executive privilege' that does not exist under Florida law. Opinion: DeSantis says Trump assassination attempt merits life in prison, criticizes fed's gun charges This isn't a partisan issue. Transparency is a fundamental principle of good government, whether you lean left, right or somewhere in between. Every Floridian, regardless of politics, deserves to know how their tax dollars are spent, how decisions are made, and what their leaders are doing behind closed doors. It's time for lawmakers and citizens alike to push back — hard. The Florida Legislature needs to hold oversight hearings. The courts need to continue striking down these blatant violations of the law. And the public needs to demand better, because when transparency dies, corruption flourishes. The Sunshine State is going dark. It's up to us to turn the lights back on. The First Amendment Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1985 to protect and advance the rights of free expression, protest and the press, as well as to promote open government and access to public records. For more information about us and how to support our efforts please visit This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Don't let DeSantis end government transparency | Opinion
