India defers long-range missile launch

India on Wednesday postponed the launch of its first long-range missile capable of reaching deep inside China and Europe due to bad weather, a government official said.

"Due to heavy lightning in the area, the scheduled test flight of Agni V has been postponed till tomorrow for safety reasons," defence ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar told Reuters.
The launch of Agni V, which can carry nuclear warheads and has a range of 5,000 km, will thrust the emerging Asian power into an elite club of nations with intercontinental nuclear defence capabilities.