Has Ukraine started a shadow war against Russia? Moscow is blaming "saboteurs" for the attacks on Russian bases in Crimea. Today, Russian hackers targeted Ukraine's nuclear power operator. Palki Sharma tells you more about the proxy battles.

Gravitas: Ukraine begins a shadow war against Russia

Days after World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in its SEC filing revealed that it had uncovered an additional $5 million in unrecorded payment connected to former WWE boss Vince McMahon, the Wall Street Journal in a report on Wednesday revealed who was the recipient of the said amount.

Days after World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in its SEC filing revealed that it had uncovered an additional $5 million in unrecorded payment connected to former WWE boss Vince McMahon, the Wall Street Journal in a report on Wednesday revealed who was the recipient of the said amount. Reportedly, Vince McMahon made the $5 million payment to former US President Donald Trump and his now dissolved Donald J. Trump Foundation between 2007 and 2009. The payments were made after Trump made an appearance during WrestleMania in 2007 and an episode of RAW in 2009. The WWE fans may remember the Wrestlemania event as the one where Trump shaved McMahon's head after the former's wrestler won against the WWE boss. Also Read: WWE hit by a scandal! Why has Vince McMahon stepped down as chairman and CEO? It is pertinent to note that the $5 million payment was part of the $20 million unrecorded expense that the company and the financial agencies had been probing. Experts have weighed in on the issue by stating that McMahon should have cataloged the $5 million payment as business expenses as it reportedly benefitted the company. Moreover, Trump's foundation in its tax report mentioned that the payment came directly from WWE. However, according to the security filings, the payment was made by McMahon personally. The undisclosed payment raises several tax issues which McMahon might find himself embroiled in after the revelation. Read More: Vince McMahon announces retirement from WWE amid probe over sexual misconduct allegations As reported by WION, McMahon retired as the CEO and the chairman of WWE in July over sexual misconduct allegations. It was divulged that McMahon paid over $14 million in unrecorded amounts to several women in the last 16 years to keep the news of his sexual misconduct and infidelity under the wraps. After he stepped down, a probe into the $20 million unrecorded money was launched. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Vince McMahon paid $5 million to Donald Trump's charity in unrecorded expenses

After being linked to several big-ticket teams in the Premier League, Portugal midfielder Matheus Nunes on Wednesday joined Wolverhampton Wanderers from Sporting Lisbon on a five-year deal, with option to extend for another year.

Reportedly, Wolves smashed their signing record by shelling out almost $50 million which includes an initial fee of $45 million with $5 million in add-ons. The previous record signing for Wolves was Fabio Silva who was prized for $42 million in 2020.&nbsp;

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Official, confirmed. Matheus Nunes joins Wolves on permanent deal for €50m [add-ons included] as club record fee, contract until 2027. 🚨🟠🇵🇹 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWFC</a> 
 
“I’m very excited. Lage really wanted me and I wanted to play in Premier League. I think it’s the right next step for me”, says. <a href="https://t.co/TTc5wDpDt3">pic.twitter.com/TTc5wDpDt3</a>
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1560040083075522565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Speaking about his future and the prospect of playing at the Molineux, Nunes stated that he was ready to play tomorrow but would have to wait till Saturday when his team squares up against Conte's Tottenham Hotspur.&nbsp;

“I’m very excited. For me, I could play tomorrow already, but I can’t because the game is Saturday, but I’m looking forward to it."

Read mor<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/thomas-tuchel-and-antonio-conte-engage-in-touchline-scuffle-as-london-derby-ends-in-a-draw-506872">e:&nbsp;Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte engage in touchline scuffle as London Derby ends in a draw</a>

Nunes also added that he had a talk with manager Bruno Lage before signing on the dotted line. “I wanted to know what the mister expects from me, and it’s good to know he has a lot of expectations on me, that he believes in me, and that gives me the will to work hard and prove that he’s right as well." added the Portuguese.&nbsp;

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𝐿𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠, 𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑎, 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏! 
 
Welcome, Matheus. 
 
🎬✍️ <a href="https://t.co/3wLD0QCLm5">pic.twitter.com/3wLD0QCLm5</a>
— Wolves (@Wolves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wolves/status/1560037660713951232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Under Bruno Lage, Wolves have become a major threat for the big teams, often causing upsets. However, it is Lage's solid playing style that relies on defensive solidity that has brought critical acclaim.&nbsp;

Nunes is expected to play the crucial number eight role and his quality on the ball is expected to help the wolves dictate games from the midfield.

Apart from being good with the ball on his feet, Nunes is an excellent ball-carrier, something that the Wolves had been missing last season. His defensive capabilities are second to none and he could slot easily into the first playing XI.&nbsp;

For a long time, Nunes was expected to move to Merseyside. The plethora of injuries at Liverpool further added fuel to the rumours that Jurgen Klopp might finally authorise the signing of a midfielder, expected to strengthen a squad where a quality no. 8 has been missing.&nbsp;

However, after Liverpool didn't further their interest, Wolves swooped in and within a few days completed the deal.&nbsp;

WATCH: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-darwin-nunez-turns-into-zidane-on-his-anfield-debut-headbutts-opposition-player-507242">Darwin Nunez turns into Zidane on his Anfield debut; headbutts opposition player</a>

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

 
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After being linked to several big-ticket teams in the Premier League, Portugal midfielder Matheus Nunes on Wednesday joined Wolverhampton Wanderers from Sporting Lisbon on a five-year deal, with option to extend for another year.

After being linked to several big-ticket teams in the Premier League, Portugal midfielder Matheus Nunes on Wednesday joined Wolverhampton Wanderers from Sporting Lisbon on a five-year deal, with option to extend for another year. Reportedly, Wolves smashed their signing record by shelling out almost $50 million which includes an initial fee of $45 million with $5 million in add-ons. The previous record signing for Wolves was Fabio Silva who was prized for $42 million in 2020. Official, confirmed. Matheus Nunes joins Wolves on permanent deal for €50m [add-ons included] as club record fee, contract until 2027. 🚨🟠🇵🇹 #WWFC “I’m very excited. Lage really wanted me and I wanted to play in Premier League. I think it’s the right next step for me”, says. pic.twitter.com/TTc5wDpDt3 — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 17, 2022 × Speaking about his future and the prospect of playing at the Molineux, Nunes stated that he was ready to play tomorrow but would have to wait till Saturday when his team squares up against Conte's Tottenham Hotspur. “I’m very excited. For me, I could play tomorrow already, but I can’t because the game is Saturday, but I’m looking forward to it." Read more: Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte engage in touchline scuffle as London Derby ends in a draw Nunes also added that he had a talk with manager Bruno Lage before signing on the dotted line. “I wanted to know what the mister expects from me, and it’s good to know he has a lot of expectations on me, that he believes in me, and that gives me the will to work hard and prove that he’s right as well." added the Portuguese. 𝐿𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠, 𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑎, 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏! Welcome, Matheus. 🎬✍️ pic.twitter.com/3wLD0QCLm5 — Wolves (@Wolves) August 17, 2022 × Under Bruno Lage, Wolves have become a major threat for the big teams, often causing upsets. However, it is Lage's solid playing style that relies on defensive solidity that has brought critical acclaim. Nunes is expected to play the crucial number eight role and his quality on the ball is expected to help the wolves dictate games from the midfield. Apart from being good with the ball on his feet, Nunes is an excellent ball-carrier, something that the Wolves had been missing last season. His defensive capabilities are second to none and he could slot easily into the first playing XI. For a long time, Nunes was expected to move to Merseyside. The plethora of injuries at Liverpool further added fuel to the rumours that Jurgen Klopp might finally authorise the signing of a midfielder, expected to strengthen a squad where a quality no. 8 has been missing. However, after Liverpool didn't further their interest, Wolves swooped in and within a few days completed the deal. WATCH: Darwin Nunez turns into Zidane on his Anfield debut; headbutts opposition player (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Sporting Lisbon's Matheus Nunes signs for Wolverhampton Wanderers in a record club deal

While border tension remains on a knife's edge between India and China, both countries are expected to take part in Vostok (East) 2022 multi-nation military exercise scheduled to take place in Russia later this month.

While border tension remains on a knife's edge between India and China, both countries are expected to take part in Vostok (East) 2022 multi-nation military exercise scheduled to take place in Russia later this month. This will be the first major such exercise to take place since Russia invaded Ukraine. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the exercise will take place on 13 training grounds from August 30 to September 5 in the eastern military district of the country. Apart from India and China, troops from Belarus, Mongolia and Tajikistan will also participate in the drills. However, it is not clear if the Indian and Chinese contingents will square off against each other or if host Russia will keep them engaged on different training grounds at all times. While the Chinese side has released an official confirmation of its participation, the Indian Army or ministry of external affairs is yet to release any statement. However, experts believe that it will be highly unlikely that New Delhi pulls out of its arrangement with Kremlin. “In accordance with the annual plan for cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries and the bilateral agreements, the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) will soon delegate and send part of its forces to Russia for participation in the Vostok-2022 exercise,” read the Chinese official statement. Ever since the Doklam incident took place in 2017, the relations between the two neighbouring states have deteriorated sharply. The 2020 skirmishes near Line of Actiual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh where both sides lost a handful of their soldiers didn't help the matters either. Read more: India presses for disengagement in eastern Ladakh at military talks with China Since then, there has been a limbo of sorts with more than a dozen military level of talks yielding no result. Following the clashes, both sides have started to deploy more and more forces in the eastern Ladakh region and currently, both have around 50,000 to 60,000 troops posted along the LAC. Read More: Two years into India-China clash in Galwan valley, much remains unsolved However, this is not the first time that the troops of two countries will be in the same military drill. Last year, India attended Exercise ZAPAD 2021 in Russia in which 17 countries including China and Pakistan took part. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Amid border tension, India and China to attend military exercise hosted by Russia

A few days after the Taliban's first anniversary of gaining control over Afghanistan, a huge explosion rocked the capital city of Kabul. Reportedly, the bomb explosion took place in a mosque in the 17th security district of the city during evening prayers. At least 21 persons have been killed and several others injured in the blast. As per reports, the security situation&nbsp;around the attacked Kabul mosque is being closely monitored by the Taliban.

"A blast happened inside a mosque.... the blast has casualties, but the numbers are not clear yet,"&nbsp;Khalid Zadran, Kabul police spokesman was quoted as saying by the agencies soon after the incident.&nbsp;

<img alt="Afghanistan blast" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b875a8a9-83a0-4504-a64d-f9973fe91ec9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/download%20%283%29_3.jpg" />

Families of victims of last night's explosion wait in front of an emergency hospital in&nbsp;Kabul, Afghanistan August 18, 2022. Photo credits: Reuters

An NGO providing emergency services to the victims&nbsp;took to Twitter to inform, "#Afghanistan #Kabul: 27 people received at our hospital so far following an explosion in the PD17 area. 5 children among them, including a 7-year-old."

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🔴 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kabul?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kabul</a>: 27 people received at our hospital so far following an explosion in the PD17 area. 5 children among them, including a 7-year-old.
— EMERGENCY NGO (@emergency_ngo) <a href="https://twitter.com/emergency_ngo/status/1559947673968467970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Reuters claimed that the Imam of the mosque named&nbsp;Amir Mohammad Kabuli&nbsp;was among the people presumed dead in the blast. His picture has been doing the rounds on Afghan social media.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AFG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AFG</a> Sheikh Amir Mohammad Kabuli was a known religious scholar in the Kabul region, he was killed in the blast inside the mosque 🕌 in Khair Khana area. According to multiple residents, at least 30 worshippers were killed and dozens were wounded. <a href="https://t.co/FrV00uiVM0">pic.twitter.com/FrV00uiVM0</a>
— BILAL SARWARY (@bsarwary) <a href="https://twitter.com/bsarwary/status/1559952082521792512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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According to TOLO News, an Afghan news outlet, which talked to&nbsp;Abdul Rahman Nafay, commander of PD13, the explosives for the blast were placed in a motorcycle.

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-refuses-to-release-7-billion-afghan-funds-but-usaid-will-commit-40-million-for-girls-education-507658">US refuses to release $7bn frozen funds to Afghanistan, but commits to $150mn aid packages</a>

The investigation and rescue agencies had&nbsp;arrived on the spot,&nbsp;however, it was still not clear which terror outfit executed the attack.

It is pertinent to note that last week a prominent Afghan cleric named&nbsp;Rahimullah Haqqani, who supported female education, was also killed in a suicide bombing attack. At the time, the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility of the attack.

"It's a very huge loss for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," a Taliban official was quoted as saying afterwards.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

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A few days after the Taliban's first anniversary of gaining control over Afghanistan, a huge explosion rocked the capital city of Kabul. Reportedly, the bomb explosion took place in a mosque in the 17th security district of the city during evening prayers.

A few days after the Taliban's first anniversary of gaining control over Afghanistan, a huge explosion rocked the capital city of Kabul. Reportedly, the bomb explosion took place in a mosque in the 17th security district of the city during evening prayers. At least 21 persons have been killed and several others injured in the blast. As per reports, the security situation around the attacked Kabul mosque is being closely monitored by the Taliban. "A blast happened inside a mosque.... the blast has casualties, but the numbers are not clear yet," Khalid Zadran, Kabul police spokesman was quoted as saying by the agencies soon after the incident. Families of victims of last night's explosion wait in front of an emergency hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan August 18, 2022. Photo credits: Reuters An NGO providing emergency services to the victims took to Twitter to inform, "#Afghanistan #Kabul: 27 people received at our hospital so far following an explosion in the PD17 area. 5 children among them, including a 7-year-old." 🔴 #Afghanistan #Kabul: 27 people received at our hospital so far following an explosion in the PD17 area. 5 children among them, including a 7-year-old. — EMERGENCY NGO (@emergency_ngo) August 17, 2022 × Reuters claimed that the Imam of the mosque named Amir Mohammad Kabuli was among the people presumed dead in the blast. His picture has been doing the rounds on Afghan social media. #AFG Sheikh Amir Mohammad Kabuli was a known religious scholar in the Kabul region, he was killed in the blast inside the mosque 🕌 in Khair Khana area. According to multiple residents, at least 30 worshippers were killed and dozens were wounded. pic.twitter.com/FrV00uiVM0 — BILAL SARWARY (@bsarwary) August 17, 2022 × According to TOLO News, an Afghan news outlet, which talked to Abdul Rahman Nafay, commander of PD13, the explosives for the blast were placed in a motorcycle. Read More: US refuses to release $7bn frozen funds to Afghanistan, but commits to $150mn aid packages The investigation and rescue agencies had arrived on the spot, however, it was still not clear which terror outfit executed the attack. It is pertinent to note that last week a prominent Afghan cleric named Rahimullah Haqqani, who supported female education, was also killed in a suicide bombing attack. At the time, the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility of the attack. "It's a very huge loss for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," a Taliban official was quoted as saying afterwards. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Afghanistan: 21 feared dead in Kabul mosque bomb blast; tight Taliban security at site

In what comes as an ironic statement by the Thailand government, pot-smoking tourists are reportedly not welcome in the country. Thailand's health minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Wednesday made the rather surprising statement.

In what comes as an ironic statement by the Thailand government, pot-smoking tourists are reportedly not welcome in the country. Thailand's health minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Wednesday made the rather surprising statement. "We don't welcome those kinds of tourists," said Charnvirakul referring to the tourists who land in Thailand with the sole purpose of using recreational marijuana. As reported by WION, in June, earlier this year, Thailand legalised the growing of marijuana and its consumption in food and drinks, with the aim of boosting its agriculture and tourism sectors. Cannabis growers were instructed to register on a government app called PlookGanja or grow ganja, another nickname for the spikey-leafed plant. Nearly 100,000 people signed up on the app, immediately after the announcement, health ministry official Paisan Dankhum had remarked back then. It is pertinent to note that the country had legalised cannabis for medical use in 2018. Thus the decision to legalise it for all and largely decriminalise its consumption was met with global appreciation. However, some caveats were applied even when opening up the market. Accordingly, smoking recreational susbstances outside, in public spaces can still lead to arrests under "public nuisance" laws rather than drugs legislation. Offenders potentially face a 25,000 baht ($780) fine, as well as up to three months in jail. And cannabis products with more than 0.2 per cent concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) -- the psychoactive compound that produces the drug's "high" remain illegal. In Pics | Thousands gather to 'smoke up' at Thailand's first fully legal cannabis festival However, the volte-face to discourage tourists can backfire as Thailand's tourism sector has just started to pick itself up after devastating waves of the Coronavirus pandemic crippled the sector. Read More: Thailand becomes first Asian country to legalise consumption of marijuana According to data, last year the total number of foreign tourists in Thailand stood at 428,000, a steep fall from the record high of 40 million established in 2019. Analyst reports suggest that over the coming decade the legal cannabis market could be worth anything from $50 billion to $200 billion as countries relax laws around personal and medical use. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Thailand's health minister advises pot-smoking tourists to not visit the country

India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) on Wednesday signed a deal with global oil major ExxonMobil Corp for deepwater exploration in India's eastern and western coasts.&nbsp;

The signing of the Heads of Agreement (HoA) ends ONGC's long-drawn search for a&nbsp;global oil major to partner with in an attempt&nbsp;to quickly monetise its reserves.

India's 53 per cent basin area is offshore. However, it requires sophisticated machinery and manpower to extract the oil from such difficult terrains. ONGC is a giant in the industry but still lags in technological prowess, which Exxon is expected to bring onto the table, under the new partnership.&nbsp;

According to the stock exchange filing, ONGC and&nbsp;ExxonMobil will put their attention on the deepwater reserves in India's&nbsp;East and West coasts.

"The collaboration areas focus on the Krishna Godavari and Cauvery Basins in the eastern offshore and the Kutch-Mumbai region in the western offshore. There has been a scientific exchange of exploration data in the last few years, which has led to this partnership," read the statement.&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/indian-oil-corp-unit-to-open-50-fuel-stations-in-sri-lanka-to-battle-crisis-504839">Indian Oil Corp unit to open 50 fuel stations in Sri Lanka to battle crisis</a>

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil India in its statement said,&nbsp;“It’s an exciting opportunity to collaborate with ONGC. Great things happen when the right people collaborate." It added that 25 per cent of the ExxonMobil brain power is currently engaged in evaluating Indian deepwater. "ExxonMobil is geared up to take this collaboration to the next level.”

It is pertinent to note that India is the world's third-largest importer and consumer of oil. More than 85 per cent of the country's oil demands are met by other countries, which puts a tremendous strain on the exchequer.

However, ever since the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, India has been purchasing cheaper oil from Russia, much to the chagrin of the western world.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/why-oil-is-expensive-in-india-and-what-the-government-could-do-365515">Why oil is expensive in India, and what the government could do</a>

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) on Wednesday signed a deal with global oil major ExxonMobil Corp for deepwater exploration in India's eastern and western coasts.

India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) on Wednesday signed a deal with global oil major ExxonMobil Corp for deepwater exploration in India's eastern and western coasts. The signing of the Heads of Agreement (HoA) ends ONGC's long-drawn search for a global oil major to partner with in an attempt to quickly monetise its reserves. India's 53 per cent basin area is offshore. However, it requires sophisticated machinery and manpower to extract the oil from such difficult terrains. ONGC is a giant in the industry but still lags in technological prowess, which Exxon is expected to bring onto the table, under the new partnership. According to the stock exchange filing, ONGC and ExxonMobil will put their attention on the deepwater reserves in India's East and West coasts. "The collaboration areas focus on the Krishna Godavari and Cauvery Basins in the eastern offshore and the Kutch-Mumbai region in the western offshore. There has been a scientific exchange of exploration data in the last few years, which has led to this partnership," read the statement. Read more: Indian Oil Corp unit to open 50 fuel stations in Sri Lanka to battle crisis Meanwhile, ExxonMobil India in its statement said, “It’s an exciting opportunity to collaborate with ONGC. Great things happen when the right people collaborate." It added that 25 per cent of the ExxonMobil brain power is currently engaged in evaluating Indian deepwater. "ExxonMobil is geared up to take this collaboration to the next level.” It is pertinent to note that India is the world's third-largest importer and consumer of oil. More than 85 per cent of the country's oil demands are met by other countries, which puts a tremendous strain on the exchequer. However, ever since the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, India has been purchasing cheaper oil from Russia, much to the chagrin of the western world. Read more: Why oil is expensive in India, and what the government could do (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian oil giant ONGC partners up with ExxonMobil for deepwater exploration

In what comes as a bizarre decision, a Texas school district has pulled Anne Frank's diary (Illustrated version), Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and the Bible and several other books from the school bookshelves.

Reportedly, of the total 41 books to have been removed, several pertain to LBGT as well as black characters. The decision to remove the books was passed by Jennifer Price, Keller Independent School District curriculum director who sent a mail to principals and directed them to do the needful.&nbsp;

“By the end of today, I need all books pulled from the library and classrooms. More information will be sent regarding action for these books. Once this has been completed, please email me a confirmation. We need to ensure this action is taken by the end of today.” read the email sent by Price.

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-lin-manuel-miranda-on-unauthorised-production-of-hamilton-by-texas-church-now-lawyers-do-their-work-506241">Lin-Manuel Miranda on `unauthorised` production of `Hamilton` by Texas church: `Now lawyers do their work`</a>

According to reports, the books removed were previously challenged by the parents as well as community members, for being offensive or carrying pornographic material.

The books pulled out of the shelves will now undergo another review process, under a new policy that was approved by Keller school trustees. It is pertinent to note that there has been an addition of three fresh conservative faces in the trustee group and the clampdown on the books has followed the appointment.&nbsp;

Remarking on the fate of the removed books, the school sent another mail and added:&nbsp;

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<h5>“Books that meet the new guidelines will be returned to the libraries as soon as it is confirmed they comply with the new policy. We hope to be able to expedite the process and return eligible books into circulation as soon as possible.”</h5>
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The Texas Education Agency has had its eyes on Keller ISD since last year when the allegations of voyeuristic books in the campus libraries first came to light.&nbsp;

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/texas-elementary-school-shooting-us-leaders-call-for-measures-to-bring-end-to-rising-incidents-481952">Texas elementary school shooting: US leaders call for measures to check rising incidents</a>

Reportedly, a parent had first challenged the presence of the Bible in the libraries last year, followed by books such as&nbsp; 'I Am Jazz' and 'All Boys Aren’t Blue' that centre around gay or transgender characters.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

 
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In what comes as a bizarre decision, a Texas school district has pulled Anne Frank's diary (Illustrated version), Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and the Bible and several other books from the school bookshelves.

In what comes as a bizarre decision, a Texas school district has pulled Anne Frank's diary (Illustrated version), Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and the Bible and several other books from the school bookshelves. Reportedly, of the total 41 books to have been removed, several pertain to LBGT as well as black characters. The decision to remove the books was passed by Jennifer Price, Keller Independent School District curriculum director who sent a mail to principals and directed them to do the needful. “By the end of today, I need all books pulled from the library and classrooms. More information will be sent regarding action for these books. Once this has been completed, please email me a confirmation. We need to ensure this action is taken by the end of today.” read the email sent by Price. Read More: Lin-Manuel Miranda on `unauthorised` production of `Hamilton` by Texas church: `Now lawyers do their work` According to reports, the books removed were previously challenged by the parents as well as community members, for being offensive or carrying pornographic material. The books pulled out of the shelves will now undergo another review process, under a new policy that was approved by Keller school trustees. It is pertinent to note that there has been an addition of three fresh conservative faces in the trustee group and the clampdown on the books has followed the appointment. Remarking on the fate of the removed books, the school sent another mail and added: “Books that meet the new guidelines will be returned to the libraries as soon as it is confirmed they comply with the new policy. We hope to be able to expedite the process and return eligible books into circulation as soon as possible.” × The Texas Education Agency has had its eyes on Keller ISD since last year when the allegations of voyeuristic books in the campus libraries first came to light. Read More: Texas elementary school shooting: US leaders call for measures to check rising incidents Reportedly, a parent had first challenged the presence of the Bible in the libraries last year, followed by books such as 'I Am Jazz' and 'All Boys Aren’t Blue' that centre around gay or transgender characters. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Bible, Anne Frank's diary, and several other books pulled from the shelves in Texas

Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, the United Kingdom has been supporting Volodymyr Zelensky and his troops with arms and ammunition. While UK's military aid to Ukraine has reached $2.8 billion so far, a rather secret military route appears to have opened up to allegedly supply arms, and it involves Pakistan. 
 
Curiously enough, the reports in this regard came out even as Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa visited UK, as part of a global trip that also includes stops at Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. He is also expected to visit the US.

A Twitter handle by the name of 'The Intel Consortium' recently <a href="https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1559420896456097792.html">published </a>a tweet thread using open source intelligence, where it was revealed that Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) was supplying some kind of military equipment to the war-torn country via a running air bridge. The original tweet appears to have disappeared, but screenshots and tweet thread are still available online.

The running air bridge has three points which RAF's C-17A Globemaster III (call sign: ZZ173) has been using to make daily trips. According to the thread, the Globemaster is using the Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, Pakistan to Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport in Romania via RAF base Akrotiri in Cyprus.

According to data sourced from commercially available flight tracking software, the aircraft made daily trips on this route from August 6 to August 15, till the report was published.&nbsp;

It is pertinent to note that while entering Pakistan, the Globemaster avoided Iran and Afghanistan airspace and used the air route through Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Oman.&nbsp;

Moreover, the military aircraft spent an average of one hour and 30 minutes at the Romanian Airport, about three-four hours in Cyprus and almost 12-20 hours at the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi.&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-us-now-britain-to-send-multiple-launch-rocket-systems-to-ukraine-485401">After US, now Britain to send multiple-launch rocket systems to Ukraine</a>

However, no official word has been released by the authorities of the three countries regarding this rather secretive air route. It is also not clear what kind of equipment the cargo plane was carrying.

The Twitter account, however, had its own theory regarding the military piece of equipment being ferried.&nbsp;

“Ukrainian war planners have said the best aid they can get is 155mm artillery ammunition. The US recently sent 75,000 rounds of it to Ukraine. Guess who else makes that ammunition: Pakistan Ordinance Factory,” 'the Intel Consortium said in a tweet.

“Pakistan also has over 320 Ukrainian T-80UD tanks in service, and a completely developed ecosystem of their maintenance, operation, ammunition, and spare parts,” the account further claimed.

The account noted that the Globemaster can carry C-17A can carry 77,500 kilogrammes of cargo in one trip and so far, with six round trips, it had carried almost 465,000 kilogrammes of 'something' to Romania and beyond.&nbsp;

Officially, the UK has sent&nbsp;three M270 multiple-launch rocket systems with M31A1 precision munitions,&nbsp;5,000&nbsp;light anti-tank weapons, hundreds of&nbsp;Brimstone missiles,&nbsp;120 armoured vehicles,&nbsp;heavy lift T-150 unmanned aerial vehicle (drones),&nbsp;six air defence systems, including Starstreak missiles and&nbsp;six Stormer vehicles to Ukraine.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, the United Kingdom has been supporting Volodymyr Zelensky and his troops with arms and ammunition. While UK's military aid to Ukraine has reached $2.

Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, the United Kingdom has been supporting Volodymyr Zelensky and his troops with arms and ammunition. While UK's military aid to Ukraine has reached $2.8 billion so far, a rather secret military route appears to have opened up to allegedly supply arms, and it involves Pakistan. Curiously enough, the reports in this regard came out even as Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa visited UK, as part of a global trip that also includes stops at Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. He is also expected to visit the US. A Twitter handle by the name of 'The Intel Consortium' recently published a tweet thread using open source intelligence, where it was revealed that Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) was supplying some kind of military equipment to the war-torn country via a running air bridge. The original tweet appears to have disappeared, but screenshots and tweet thread are still available online. The running air bridge has three points which RAF's C-17A Globemaster III (call sign: ZZ173) has been using to make daily trips. According to the thread, the Globemaster is using the Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, Pakistan to Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport in Romania via RAF base Akrotiri in Cyprus. According to data sourced from commercially available flight tracking software, the aircraft made daily trips on this route from August 6 to August 15, till the report was published. It is pertinent to note that while entering Pakistan, the Globemaster avoided Iran and Afghanistan airspace and used the air route through Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Moreover, the military aircraft spent an average of one hour and 30 minutes at the Romanian Airport, about three-four hours in Cyprus and almost 12-20 hours at the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi. Read more: After US, now Britain to send multiple-launch rocket systems to Ukraine However, no official word has been released by the authorities of the three countries regarding this rather secretive air route. It is also not clear what kind of equipment the cargo plane was carrying. The Twitter account, however, had its own theory regarding the military piece of equipment being ferried. “Ukrainian war planners have said the best aid they can get is 155mm artillery ammunition. The US recently sent 75,000 rounds of it to Ukraine. Guess who else makes that ammunition: Pakistan Ordinance Factory,” 'the Intel Consortium said in a tweet. “Pakistan also has over 320 Ukrainian T-80UD tanks in service, and a completely developed ecosystem of their maintenance, operation, ammunition, and spare parts,” the account further claimed. The account noted that the Globemaster can carry C-17A can carry 77,500 kilogrammes of cargo in one trip and so far, with six round trips, it had carried almost 465,000 kilogrammes of 'something' to Romania and beyond. Officially, the UK has sent three M270 multiple-launch rocket systems with M31A1 precision munitions, 5,000 light anti-tank weapons, hundreds of Brimstone missiles, 120 armoured vehicles, heavy lift T-150 unmanned aerial vehicle (drones), six air defence systems, including Starstreak missiles and six Stormer vehicles to Ukraine. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Pakistan may be helping UK ferry military equipment to Ukraine via Cyprus, Romania

Since 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration has sought to crack down on fruity, sweet-flavoured e-cigarettes that hook teenagers on nicotine. But at least 20 brands continue to sell China-made disposable devices with kid-friendly flavours such as “peach blueberry candy” and “pineapple strawnana” at liquor stores, smoke shops and convenience stores in the United States, Reuters has found.

Since 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration has sought to crack down on fruity, sweet-flavoured e-cigarettes that hook teenagers on nicotine. But at least 20 brands continue to sell China-made disposable devices with kid-friendly flavours such as “peach blueberry candy” and “pineapple strawnana” at liquor stores, smoke shops and convenience stores in the United States, Reuters has found. Flavoured disposable vaping devices account for one-third of US e-cigarette sales, up from less than two per cent three years ago, according to a Reuters review of retail sales data. Their surge raises questions about the public health agency’s failure to rein in the booming flavoured e-cigarette market and its ability to enforce its own rules, some critics say. Disposable devices and their growing popularity Findings by Reuters are drawn from a dataset produced by IRI, a Chicago market research firm that uses scanner data and other information to track retail purchases. The IRI dataset, which measures purchases from Jan. 12, 2014, to June 12, 2022, provides a rare look at the rise of disposable flavoured-nicotine devices following the FDA’s crackdown on Juul Labs Inc, 35 per cent owned by Marlboro maker Altria Group Inc. The data shows for the first time that consumers spent more than $2 billion on the new generation of disposable e-cigarettes over the past year, surpassing Juul’s once-leading market share by about three percentage points since March. Read more: European Union proposed to ban use of flavoured heated tobacco products The data was shared with Reuters by an individual outside IRI, who declined to be identified. An IRI spokesperson said the company is “unable to confirm any information you’ve received from an outside source” and that the figures should not be attributed to IRI. According to a 2019 IRI press release, IRI measures purchases at retailers including more than 30,000 convenience stores. The FDA said in written responses to questions that it is “deeply committed to addressing the ongoing public health concerns around youth e-cigarette use” and “is constantly monitoring the changing marketplace.” The ban on Juul The FDA in January 2020 banned all flavours except tobacco and menthol in Juul and other cartridge-based e-cigarettes. In June, it sought to ban the sale of all Juul e-cigarettes. The agency has since put its order on hold, saying “there are scientific issues unique to the Juul application that warrant additional review.” Juul referred Reuters to previous statements saying it wants no underage consumers to use its products and that it looks forward to “re-engaging with the FDA” while the ban is on hold. Sweet-flavoured, disposable e-cigarettes began flooding the market in 2020, trying to capitalize on the former popularity of Juul’s cartridge-based device. Both varieties vaporize a liquid that contains nicotine, the addictive chemical that gives smokers a rush. Both contain roughly equal concentrations of nicotine. Disposable devices, which are pre-filled and priced at $15 to $25, can have five to 20 times the amount of liquid as a Juul cartridge, based on visits Reuters made to nine retailers selling both. Some products advertise that a user can take thousands of puffs of a single device. In contrast, a Juul, priced at roughly $10, requires users to add separate cartridges, or pods, of nicotine-laced liquid, priced at $20 to $25 per four-pack. Millions spend weekly on top sellers Three brands - Kangvape Onee Stick, Esco Bars and Breeze Smoke Breeze Pro - rang up weekly sales of more than $3 million apiece as of June 12, according to the data. Representatives of Esco Bars and Breeze Smoke said their products contain synthetic nicotine, a version of the addictive drug that is not derived from tobacco plants and was not under the FDA’s jurisdiction until Congress acted earlier this year. Both companies told Reuters they applied for FDA authorization in 2022. The FDA declined to disclose the names of synthetic nicotine products that applied. Darrell Suriff, CEO at Pastel Cartel, the Texas company that makes Esco Bars, said it spent nearly $3 million preparing applications to the FDA. Firms like his that try to follow the rules should not be penalized, he said: “There’s a lot of bad players in the industry ... We’re not one of them.” Jon Glauser, chief strategy officer for Hyde, in Buffalo, New York, another disposable brand with synthetic nicotine and sales of nearly $3 million per week, said he understands critics’ concerns that sweet-flavoured e-cigarettes appeal to teens, potentially addicting them. But adults “really do like flavours,” he said. Representatives at privately held Shenzhen Kangvape Technology Co did not respond to requests for comment. Filling a 'sweet' void Juul popularized e-cigarettes among teenagers starting in 2017. Juul’s cachet with teens faded after 2019 when it pulled mango, mint and fruit flavours under regulatory pressure, leaving room for dozens of other brands to step in. As sales of flavoured disposable devices have soared, Juul’s US market share fell to about 30 per cent, from more than 70 per cent in 2018 and 2019, according to the data. At Luxury Tobacco & Vape in Raleigh, North Carolina, a display for disposable Elf Bar recently offered more than a dozen flavours such as sour apple and rainbow candy. Juul occupied just a fraction of the shelf. Juul declined to comment on the display. Elf Bar did not respond to requests for comment. According to FDA rules, e-cigarettes cannot be sold in the United States unless their makers submitted scientific applications by September 2020 demonstrating why their products benefit public health. E-cigarettes containing synthetic nicotine had until May 14, 2022, to apply. Reuters provided the FDA with a list of more than two-dozen flavoured devices that the news agency found in stores and online, even though they were not on an FDA list of products that filed applications by 2020. The FDA declined to answer questions about whether the products Reuters identified had applied for the required authorizations. An FDA spokesperson pointed to the agency’s website, which stated: “Our compliance and enforcement work is a multi-step process that cannot happen overnight.” Mitch Zeller, who retired in April as the director of FDA’s tobacco unit, told Reuters there could be gaps on its list because the FDA needed cooperation from applicants in order to publicly list them. “Is FDA going to catch every single violation of the statute? No,” Zeller said, though he said targeting manufacturers that have not applied is FDA’s “number one priority.” The agency said on its website on Aug. 3 that “it is illegal” to sell any e-cigarettes using synthetic nicotine without its authorization. As of Aug. 15, the FDA had not granted authorization to any of them. Seizures Alex Morrin, 19, used Juul starting in 2017 when he was a high school freshman in the Tampa, Florida, area, drawn to its “fruit,” “creme” and “mint” flavours. After Juul eliminated those flavours, Morrin began buying fruity, sweet-flavoured disposable e-cigarettes, such as Cali Plus and HQD Cuvie Plus, made by Cali Pods and HQD Tech USA, both based in Florida. “They just tasted better, and there were more flavours,” he said. “They’re still all out there, and easy to get.” Cali Pods and HQD did not respond to requests for comment. After he began using e-cigarettes, he suffered headaches and nausea, then seizures that sent him to the hospital six times between January 2020 and last November. Morrin and his mother, Winna Morrin, said he had never experienced seizures before his e-cigarette addiction. Winna Morrin provided hospital records corroborating the seizures. Researchers have established no definitive link between vaping and seizures. The FDA told Reuters it is seeking to understand whether the devices’ “nicotine content or formulation may contribute to seizures.” Most reports of seizures from e-cigarettes come from youth, or young adult, users, the FDA said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

After Juul e-cigarettes, Americans rally behind 'candy' flavoured disposable e-cigs

Harvard Professor Avi Loeb and student Amir Siraj&nbsp;have charted a plan to fish out an interstellar meteorite from the seabed of the Pacific Ocean using a giant magnet.&nbsp;It may sound like a scene&nbsp;straight out of a wild sci-fi movie but the duo, under their&nbsp;$1.6 million Galileo Project are serious about the potential of the project, which they have claimed is cheaper than sending a spacecraft outside the solar system.&nbsp;

Talking about their plan, Siraj stated&nbsp;that they will be using the meteorite's ferrous properties to fetch it out.&nbsp;

"Most meteorites contain enough iron that they will stick to the type of magnet we plan on using for the ocean expedition.&nbsp;Given its extremely high material strength, it is very likely that the fragments of CNEOS 2014-01-08 are ferromagnetic." said Siraj.&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-hubble-space-telescope-captures-stunning-picture-of-star-cluster-505722">NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captures stunning picture of star cluster</a>

According to the project blueprint, the Galileo Project's ship would carry a magnetic sled on a longline winch. The sled will be lunged 1.7 kilometres into the seabed and attempt to sweep the floor and collect even the tiny fragments of the meteorite, measuring as tiny as 0.004 inches.

It is pertinent to note that the object named&nbsp;CNEOS 2014-01-08 paid a visit to Earth in 2014 and crashed into the Pacific Ocean just off the coast of Papua New Guinea. What makes the meteorite special is that it is classed as an interstellar object, meaning it came from outside the solar system.&nbsp;

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-technology/redgiant-star-betelgeuse-blows-off-its-top-scientists-dub-it-a-never-before-seen-phenomenon-507213">Red giant star Betelgeuse blows off its top; scientists dub it a 'never-before-seen' phenomenon</a>

Both Loeb and&nbsp;Siraj&nbsp;came to the conclusion that the object was interstellar by using data to calculate the velocity and trajectory of the object. According to them, the object was travelling at a speed of&nbsp;60 kilometres&nbsp;per second which is much faster than an object that originates in the solar system.&nbsp;

"At the Earth's distance from the sun, any object travelling faster than about 42 kilometres per second&nbsp;is on an unbounded, hyperbolic escape trajectory relative to the sun. So it [CNEOS 2014-01-08] must have originated from outside of the solar system" said Siraj.&nbsp;

To this date, only three interstellar objects have been observed by humankind. However, it will be the first time that one can lay a hand on one and use it to figure out secrets of our universe.&nbsp;

Read more:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-solves-mystery-of-spaghetti-like-object-found-on-surface-of-mars-505156">&nbsp;NASA solves mystery of 'spaghetti-like' object found on surface of Mars</a>

"Finding such a fragment would represent the first contact humanity has ever had with material larger than dust from beyond the solar system," added Siraj.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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Harvard Professor Avi Loeb and student Amir Siraj have charted a plan to fish out an interstellar meteorite from the seabed of the Pacific Ocean using a giant magnet.

Harvard Professor Avi Loeb and student Amir Siraj have charted a plan to fish out an interstellar meteorite from the seabed of the Pacific Ocean using a giant magnet. It may sound like a scene straight out of a wild sci-fi movie but the duo, under their $1.6 million Galileo Project are serious about the potential of the project, which they have claimed is cheaper than sending a spacecraft outside the solar system. Talking about their plan, Siraj stated that they will be using the meteorite's ferrous properties to fetch it out. "Most meteorites contain enough iron that they will stick to the type of magnet we plan on using for the ocean expedition. Given its extremely high material strength, it is very likely that the fragments of CNEOS 2014-01-08 are ferromagnetic." said Siraj. Read more: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captures stunning picture of star cluster According to the project blueprint, the Galileo Project's ship would carry a magnetic sled on a longline winch. The sled will be lunged 1.7 kilometres into the seabed and attempt to sweep the floor and collect even the tiny fragments of the meteorite, measuring as tiny as 0.004 inches. It is pertinent to note that the object named CNEOS 2014-01-08 paid a visit to Earth in 2014 and crashed into the Pacific Ocean just off the coast of Papua New Guinea. What makes the meteorite special is that it is classed as an interstellar object, meaning it came from outside the solar system. Read More: Red giant star Betelgeuse blows off its top; scientists dub it a 'never-before-seen' phenomenon Both Loeb and Siraj came to the conclusion that the object was interstellar by using data to calculate the velocity and trajectory of the object. According to them, the object was travelling at a speed of 60 kilometres per second which is much faster than an object that originates in the solar system. "At the Earth's distance from the sun, any object travelling faster than about 42 kilometres per second is on an unbounded, hyperbolic escape trajectory relative to the sun. So it [CNEOS 2014-01-08] must have originated from outside of the solar system" said Siraj. To this date, only three interstellar objects have been observed by humankind. However, it will be the first time that one can lay a hand on one and use it to figure out secrets of our universe. Read more: NASA solves mystery of 'spaghetti-like' object found on surface of Mars "Finding such a fragment would represent the first contact humanity has ever had with material larger than dust from beyond the solar system," added Siraj. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Scientists to fish a meteorite from the depths of Pacific Ocean using giant magnets

It was last year this month that the Xi Jinping government in China started a crackdown on the gaming industry by describing video games as ‘spiritual opium’. A year on and China's biggest technology giant, Tencent Holdings is mulling venturing overseas.

It was last year this month that the Xi Jinping government in China started a crackdown on the gaming industry by describing video games as ‘spiritual opium’. A year on and China's biggest technology giant, Tencent Holdings is mulling venturing overseas. Reportedly, during the Tencent Game Developers Conference that started on Sunday this week, the Shenzhen-based company highlighted the opportunities that lay outside mainland China, both for its in-house IPs and products developed by other Chinese developers. Xia Lin, vice-president of Tencent Games stated that the Chinese games had a vast growth potential in markets like Southeast Asia, West Asia as well as Latin America. Lin further added that the 'sheer' number of users and game downloads from the aforementioned regions had dwarfed the demand of the Chinese market. Tencent's overseas revenue has grown by four per cent to $1.56 billion in the first quarter of the year. Meanwhile, the revenue on the domestic front fell by one per cent. Moreover, owing to the gaming restrictions, the Chinese regulators are yet to secure a single licence to develop and publish new games. Earlier this month, 69 video game licenses were distributed but not a single one went Tencent's way. Xi Jinping's crusade to neuter the tech sector As reported extensively by WION, last year, Xi Jinping, on his crusade to teach the tech sector a lesson, went after nearly every big company. While Alibaba's Jack Ma mysteriously disappeared from the public eye for several weeks and the company's IPO tanked, Tencent and its fortunes were tied in a cul-de-sac as the CCP came riding with its restrictive laws. Read More: Three hours a week: China's new rules for children playing video games Reportedly, under the restrictions, anyone under 18 years old can only play video games three hours a week, or one hour per day at 8 PM on Fridays through Sundays, that is, the weeknights. The restrictions came into force in September 2021 and since then, they have remained in effect. According to the Game Publishing Committee of the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association, the total number of gamers in China fell for the first time since 2015 to 665.69 million from 665.57 million. Meanwhile, the industry’s revenue dropped 1.8 per cent to $21.9 billion in the first six months of the year, compared to the same period last year. The numbers may not look astronomical but the fact that China's once booming gaming industry is showing signs of a slowdown has given Tencent, the world's largest video gaming business by revenue, a reason enough to pivot overseas. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Troubled by crackdown on gaming industry, Tencent mulls venturing overseas

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