A man from the United Kingdom (UK) has pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and computer hacking schemes, including the 2020 hack of Twitter, according to the US Justice Department on Tuesday (May 9). Joseph James O'Connor pleaded guilty to charges including conspiring to commit computer intrusions, to commit wire fraud, and to commit money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23.

In 2020, Twitter accounts of then-US presidential election candidate Joe Biden, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former US president Barack Obama were hacked. The accounts of Kim Kardashian, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, American business magnate Warren Buffett, and rapper Kanye West were also hit.&nbsp;

O'Connor, 23, was extradited to the US on April 26 and was charged in both North Dakota and New York. A report by the news agency Reuters on Wednesday said that the North Dakota case was transferred to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/twitter-20-musk-say-twitter-to-soon-allow-calls-encrypted-messaging-590854">Twitter 2.0? Musk say Twitter to soon allow voice &amp; video calls, encrypt messaging</a>

In <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/uk-citizen-extradited-and-pleads-guilty-cyber-crime-offenses">a statement</a>, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite said that O'Connor's criminal activities were flagrant and malicious, and his conduct impacted multiple people’s lives. The 23-year-old harassed, threatened, and extorted his victims, causing substantial emotional harm, Polite added.&nbsp;

On the other hand, US Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California said that O'Connor left an impressive trail of destruction in the wake of his wave of criminality.&nbsp;

“This case serves as a warning that the reach of the law is long, and criminals anywhere who use computers to commit crimes may end up facing the consequences of their actions in places they did not anticipate,” Ramsey added.&nbsp;

The cyberstalking and computer hacking schemes included gaining unauthorized access to social media accounts on Twitter in July 2020 as well as a TikTok account the next month, as per prosecutors. Along with his co-conspirators, O'Connor stole at least $794,000 worth of cryptocurrency.

O'Connor was arrested nearly two years ago in Spain for the hack. He used the accounts to solicit digital currency, prompting Twitter to prevent some verified accounts from publishing messages for several hours until security could be restored.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<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>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

A man from the United Kingdom (UK) has pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and computer hacking schemes, including the 2020 hack of Twitter, according to the US Justice Department on Tuesday (May 9).

A man from the United Kingdom (UK) has pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and computer hacking schemes, including the 2020 hack of Twitter, according to the US Justice Department on Tuesday (May 9). Joseph James O'Connor pleaded guilty to charges including conspiring to commit computer intrusions, to commit wire fraud, and to commit money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23. In 2020, Twitter accounts of then-US presidential election candidate Joe Biden, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former US president Barack Obama were hacked. The accounts of Kim Kardashian, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, American business magnate Warren Buffett, and rapper Kanye West were also hit. O'Connor, 23, was extradited to the US on April 26 and was charged in both North Dakota and New York. A report by the news agency Reuters on Wednesday said that the North Dakota case was transferred to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. ALSO READ | Twitter 2.0? Musk say Twitter to soon allow voice & video calls, encrypt messaging In a statement, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite said that O'Connor's criminal activities were flagrant and malicious, and his conduct impacted multiple people’s lives. The 23-year-old harassed, threatened, and extorted his victims, causing substantial emotional harm, Polite added. On the other hand, US Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California said that O'Connor left an impressive trail of destruction in the wake of his wave of criminality. “This case serves as a warning that the reach of the law is long, and criminals anywhere who use computers to commit crimes may end up facing the consequences of their actions in places they did not anticipate,” Ramsey added. The cyberstalking and computer hacking schemes included gaining unauthorized access to social media accounts on Twitter in July 2020 as well as a TikTok account the next month, as per prosecutors. Along with his co-conspirators, O'Connor stole at least $794,000 worth of cryptocurrency. O'Connor was arrested nearly two years ago in Spain for the hack. He used the accounts to solicit digital currency, prompting Twitter to prevent some verified accounts from publishing messages for several hours until security could be restored. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK man pleads guilty to 2020 hijacking Twitter accounts of Biden, Obama, Kim Kardashian

Tech giant Google said on Wednesday (May 10) that it is opening its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Bard to 180 countries including India without a waitlist, according to a blog post. "Since we rolled out Bard — initially in the US and the UK— we’ve gotten quite a bit of feedback and have adapted quickly to make your experience with it even better. We recently moved Bard to PaLM 2, a far more capable large language model, which has enabled many of our recent improvements," the post said.&nbsp;

During the annual Google developers conference in Silicon Valley on Wednesday, executives said that generative AI will also be used to supercharge the tech giant's leading search engine. Addressing the event, Alphabet's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sundar Pichai said, "We have been applying AI to make our products radically more helpful for a while with generative A.I., we are taking the next step. With a bold and responsible approach, we are reimagining all our core products, including search."

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-launches-its-ai-chatbot-bard-for-users-in-the-us-uk-574459">Google launches its AI chatbot ‘Bard’ for users in US, UK</a>

"Making AI helpful for everyone is the most profound way we will advance our mission," Pichai added. Bard is currently&nbsp;

Meanwhile, senior product director Jack Krawczyk said that Bard will be modified to support 40 languages in the coming months. "We're excited to get Bard into more people's hands. We're pretty fired up about where Bard is going," Krawczyk said. Bard is now available in Japanese and Korean.&nbsp;

Bard technology will also enable features such as filling in the text to help draft emails and suggesting ideas for an artwork by scrutinizing a picture of available supplies.

Bard is a rival to Microsoft-backed ChatGPT. Google is currently racing to catch up with Microsoft, which has rushed to integrate ChatGPT-like powers in a wide array of its products, including the Bing search engine.&nbsp;

Bard is a chatbot with a persona that can hold human-like conversations and is intended to be used for creative collaboration, for instance, to generate software code or write a caption for a photo. Initially, Bard was only available in the US and the UK.&nbsp;

Google's announcements on Wednesday came a week after Microsoft expanded public access to its generative artificial intelligence programs that are powered by models made by OpenAI- the company behind ChatGPT.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<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>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Tech giant Google said on Wednesday (May 10) that it is opening its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Bard to 180 countries including India without a waitlist, according to a blog post.

Tech giant Google said on Wednesday (May 10) that it is opening its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Bard to 180 countries including India without a waitlist, according to a blog post. "Since we rolled out Bard — initially in the US and the UK— we’ve gotten quite a bit of feedback and have adapted quickly to make your experience with it even better. We recently moved Bard to PaLM 2, a far more capable large language model, which has enabled many of our recent improvements," the post said. During the annual Google developers conference in Silicon Valley on Wednesday, executives said that generative AI will also be used to supercharge the tech giant's leading search engine. Addressing the event, Alphabet's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sundar Pichai said, "We have been applying AI to make our products radically more helpful for a while with generative A.I., we are taking the next step. With a bold and responsible approach, we are reimagining all our core products, including search." ALSO READ | Google launches its AI chatbot ‘Bard’ for users in US, UK "Making AI helpful for everyone is the most profound way we will advance our mission," Pichai added. Bard is currently Meanwhile, senior product director Jack Krawczyk said that Bard will be modified to support 40 languages in the coming months. "We're excited to get Bard into more people's hands. We're pretty fired up about where Bard is going," Krawczyk said. Bard is now available in Japanese and Korean. Bard technology will also enable features such as filling in the text to help draft emails and suggesting ideas for an artwork by scrutinizing a picture of available supplies. Bard is a rival to Microsoft-backed ChatGPT. Google is currently racing to catch up with Microsoft, which has rushed to integrate ChatGPT-like powers in a wide array of its products, including the Bing search engine. Bard is a chatbot with a persona that can hold human-like conversations and is intended to be used for creative collaboration, for instance, to generate software code or write a caption for a photo. Initially, Bard was only available in the US and the UK. Google's announcements on Wednesday came a week after Microsoft expanded public access to its generative artificial intelligence programs that are powered by models made by OpenAI- the company behind ChatGPT. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Google's AI chatbot Bard to be rolled out in 180 countries including India

Former United States president Donald Trump made a rare live appearance on CNN on Wednesday (May 10), his first since 2016. CNN's town hall in New Hampshire was the first time Trump faced prolonged questioning from media outside the friendly confines of the conservative outlets of his choosing.

Former United States president Donald Trump made a rare live appearance on CNN on Wednesday (May 10), his first since 2016. CNN's town hall in New Hampshire was the first time Trump faced prolonged questioning from media outside the friendly confines of the conservative outlets of his choosing. Earlier, he had branded CNN for fake news and never allowed any of its journalists an interview while serving as the president. During's Wednesday's town hall, Trump repeatedly lied about the 2020 presidential election which he lost, made false claims about abortion and the January 6 Capitol riots, and mocked a former columnist he was found liable for sexually abusing and defaming. 2020 election was rigged: Trump Trump kicked off the CNN town hall by saying that the 2020 presidential election was rigged. He said that millions of votes were stolen in the poll race. Fact check: According to a report by The Guardian early Thursday, there is no evidence of widespread fraud and poll officials across the country, including Republican leaders, repeatedly reaffirmed this over the past two years. Trump lost the election to Joe Biden fair and square 306 to 232 in the Electoral College. Biden earned over seven million votes than Trump did. Trump’s false claims about abortion Responding to a question about the US Supreme Court overturning abortion rights last year, Trump took credit for appointing three of the justices who joined in the majority ruling saying, “It was such a great victory and people are starting to understand it now.” He repeatedly claimed that abortion rights supporters wanted to “kill a baby” in the ninth month of pregnancy or even after birth. Fact check: This claim is based on a misleading interpretation of a Senate vote. Jan 6 Capitol Hill riots During Wednesday's town hall, Donald Trump asserted that a couple of the rioters probably got out of control and compared the insurrection to left-leaning protests that turned violent in other cities. Fact check: The above statement is false. Hundreds of rioters had been charged with violence towards police on January 6 and the former president downplaying the violence and equivocating the insurrection with social justice protests failed to recognise the severity of the attack. The sexual abuse case Trump's appearance on CNN came a day after a New York jury found him liable for sexually abusing columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996 and defaming her when she spoke about it publicly. The jury rejected her claim of rape and instead found Trump responsible for a lesser degree of sexual abuse. ALSO READ | 'This verdict is for all women': E. Jean Carroll after jury holds Trump guilty of sexually abusing her During the town hall, Trump said that the jury in the civil trial found he did not rape Carroll and said he “didn’t do anything else either.” “They said he didn’t rape her, and I didn’t do anything else either,” he added. Fact check: According to a report by CNN, Trump's claims require more context as the jury rejected Carroll's rape claim but found the former president responsible for a lesser degree of sexual abuse. Trump on Ukraine war Donald Trump repeated his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin but said he made a bad mistake to invade Ukraine. Trump, without any explanation or evidence, told CNN that if he was still US president, Putin would have never invaded Ukraine. He also claimed that Washington provided $171 billion “so far” to Ukraine, while the European Union (EU) cumulatively gave $20 billion in aid. Trump further said that the US was giving away so much that “we don’t have ammunition for ourselves right now.” Fact check: Since the beginning of the Russian offensive on February 24, 2022, the US provided Ukraine with $36.9 billion in military aid. CNN reported that while American and European weapon stockpiles have been depleted, the claim that the US does not have ammunition is false. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Trump lies about election, abortion, sexual abuse case at CNN town hall: A fact-check

Palestinian group Islamic Jihad said on Thursday (May 11) that one of its military leaders was killed in a pre-dawn strike launched by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. Ali Ghali, the commander of the rocket launch unit, was killed in the south of the Gaza Strip. In the United States, newly-elected Republican George Santos was arrested on fraud, money laundering charges. He is accused of deceiving potential political supporters by laundering money to pay for his personal costs and fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits.&nbsp;

And in Tonga, an earthquake of magnitude 7.4 was reported on Thursday. The US Tsunami Warning System said there was no tsunami warning after the earthquake.&nbsp;

Click on the headlines to read more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/islamic-jihad-says-military-leader-killed-in-israeli-strike-in-gaza-591159">Islamic Jihad says military leader killed in Israeli strike in Gaza</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/05/11/351024-iron-dome-air-defence-system.png?imwidth=1920" />

The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad said on Thursday (May 11) that one of its military leaders was killed in a pre-dawn strike launched by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.&nbsp; "Ali Ghali... commander of the rocket launch unit... was assassinated in the south of the Gaza Strip along with other martyrs," said a statement from the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed branch of the group.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-rep-george-santos-arrested-on-fraud-money-laundering-charges-591072">US Rep George Santos arrested on fraud, money laundering charges</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/05/10/350979-the-battle-for-kyiv.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

George Santos, a newly elected Republican who has defied calls to resign for fabricating his resume, was detained on federal accusations of fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds on Wednesday. This is the latest blow to Santos.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/earthquake-of-magnitude-74-rattles-tonga-no-tsunami-warning-591146">Earthquake of magnitude 7.4 rattles Tonga, no tsunami warning</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/04/13/345005-seismograph.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

United States Geological Survey said that an earthquake of magnitude 7.4 rattled Tonga on Thursday (May 11). The US Tsunami Warning System said there was no tsunami warning after the earthquake.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-lies-about-election-abortion-rape-case-at-cnn-town-hall-a-fact-check-591172">Trump lies about election, abortion, sexual abuse case at CNN town hall: A fact-check</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/05/11/351038-00033eu2cu.jpg?imwidth=1920" />

Former United States president Donald Trump made a rare live appearance on CNN on Wednesday (May 10), his first since 2016. CNN's town hall in New Hampshire was the first time Trump faced prolonged questioning from an outlet outside the friendly confines of conservative media outlets of his choosing.

WATCH | Pakistan: PM vows to treat rioters with 'iron hands'

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-pm-vows-to-treat-rioters-with-iron-hands-591165/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<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>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Palestinian group Islamic Jihad said on Thursday (May 11) that one of its military leaders was killed in a pre-dawn strike launched by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian group Islamic Jihad said on Thursday (May 11) that one of its military leaders was killed in a pre-dawn strike launched by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. Ali Ghali, the commander of the rocket launch unit, was killed in the south of the Gaza Strip. In the United States, newly-elected Republican George Santos was arrested on fraud, money laundering charges. He is accused of deceiving potential political supporters by laundering money to pay for his personal costs and fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits. And in Tonga, an earthquake of magnitude 7.4 was reported on Thursday. The US Tsunami Warning System said there was no tsunami warning after the earthquake. Click on the headlines to read more Islamic Jihad says military leader killed in Israeli strike in Gaza The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad said on Thursday (May 11) that one of its military leaders was killed in a pre-dawn strike launched by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. "Ali Ghali... commander of the rocket launch unit... was assassinated in the south of the Gaza Strip along with other martyrs," said a statement from the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed branch of the group. US Rep George Santos arrested on fraud, money laundering charges George Santos, a newly elected Republican who has defied calls to resign for fabricating his resume, was detained on federal accusations of fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds on Wednesday. This is the latest blow to Santos. Earthquake of magnitude 7.4 rattles Tonga, no tsunami warning United States Geological Survey said that an earthquake of magnitude 7.4 rattled Tonga on Thursday (May 11). The US Tsunami Warning System said there was no tsunami warning after the earthquake. Trump lies about election, abortion, sexual abuse case at CNN town hall: A fact-check Former United States president Donald Trump made a rare live appearance on CNN on Wednesday (May 10), his first since 2016. CNN's town hall in New Hampshire was the first time Trump faced prolonged questioning from an outlet outside the friendly confines of conservative media outlets of his choosing. WATCH | Pakistan: PM vows to treat rioters with 'iron hands' × WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Morning brief: Islamic Jihad leader killed in Israeli strike in Gaza, US Rep George Santos arrested, & more

The Indian Army might soon have its soldiers in jet pack suits to defend the borders with China and Pakistan. According to a report by the Eurasian Times on Tuesday (May 9), the army might soon have soldiers in "Iron Man" suits in semi-urban and urban warfare scenarios. Speaking to the publication, an army officer in Jammu and Kashmir, who chose to remain anonymous, said the jet pack suits are coming as an aerial surveillance platform.&nbsp;

The officer pointed out that the effectiveness of these suits would vary from place to place. "For instance, it will be less effective in terrain with thick vegetation. Also, the wind factor has to be catered for in higher reaches of mountains,” the officer added. Eurasian Times reported that with the conversation with the officer, it appeared that jet pack suits could soon debut in the valley.&nbsp;

Another officer highlighted that jet-packing would not be just about propelling through the air. The soldier could be equipped with other technologies such as infrared goggles to scan thick vegetation to identify enemy combatants.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Yesterday, Richard Browning the founder of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gravity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gravity</a> Industries gave a demo of their <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jetpack?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jetpack</a> system to the Indian Army in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Agra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Agra</a>. 
 
The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianArmy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianArmy</a> has issued the requirement to procure 48 such systems.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IADN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IADN</a> <a href="https://t.co/0dcEW3hjyb">pic.twitter.com/0dcEW3hjyb</a>
— Indian Aerospace Defence News - IADN (@NewsIADN) <a href="https://twitter.com/NewsIADN/status/1630428317806641155?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

In February this year, the Army Borne Training School (AATS) in Agra got a demonstration of jet pack suits from Gravity Industries,&nbsp;a British company founded by Richard Browning, an ex-Marine. Taking to Twitter, the Indian Aerospace Defence News (IADN) shared a video of Browning giving the demonstration of the jet pack system to the Indian Army.&nbsp;

As per Gravity Industries, the jet pack suit is powered by five gas turbines which can generate over 1,000 horsepower and produce 144 kg&nbsp;of thrust. The speed of the suit is typically in excess of 60 kilometres per hour (km/ph). The jet pack can run on Jet A1 Kerosene and Premium Diesel.&nbsp;

In January, the Indian Defence Ministry said that it intended to buy 48 jet pack suits under emergency procurement through Fast Track Procedure (FTP) under Buy (Indian) category and sought participation in the procurement process from prospective bidders subject to requirements.&nbsp;

"The Government of India invites responses to this request only from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) or Authorised Vendors or Government Sponsored Export Agencies (applicable in the case of countries where domestic laws do not permit direct export by OEM) subject to the condition that in cases where the same equipment is offered by more than one of the aforementioned parties, preference would be given to the OEM," the ministry said in its proposal on January 24.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<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>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Indian Army might soon have its soldiers in jet pack suits to defend the borders with China and Pakistan. According to a report by the Eurasian Times on Tuesday (May 9), the army might soon have soldiers in "Iron Man" suits in semi-urban and urban warfare scenarios.

The Indian Army might soon have its soldiers in jet pack suits to defend the borders with China and Pakistan. According to a report by the Eurasian Times on Tuesday (May 9), the army might soon have soldiers in "Iron Man" suits in semi-urban and urban warfare scenarios. Speaking to the publication, an army officer in Jammu and Kashmir, who chose to remain anonymous, said the jet pack suits are coming as an aerial surveillance platform. The officer pointed out that the effectiveness of these suits would vary from place to place. "For instance, it will be less effective in terrain with thick vegetation. Also, the wind factor has to be catered for in higher reaches of mountains,” the officer added. Eurasian Times reported that with the conversation with the officer, it appeared that jet pack suits could soon debut in the valley. Another officer highlighted that jet-packing would not be just about propelling through the air. The soldier could be equipped with other technologies such as infrared goggles to scan thick vegetation to identify enemy combatants. Yesterday, Richard Browning the founder of #Gravity Industries gave a demo of their #Jetpack system to the Indian Army in #Agra. The #IndianArmy has issued the requirement to procure 48 such systems.#IADN pic.twitter.com/0dcEW3hjyb — Indian Aerospace Defence News - IADN (@NewsIADN) February 28, 2023 × In February this year, the Army Borne Training School (AATS) in Agra got a demonstration of jet pack suits from Gravity Industries, a British company founded by Richard Browning, an ex-Marine. Taking to Twitter, the Indian Aerospace Defence News (IADN) shared a video of Browning giving the demonstration of the jet pack system to the Indian Army. As per Gravity Industries, the jet pack suit is powered by five gas turbines which can generate over 1,000 horsepower and produce 144 kg of thrust. The speed of the suit is typically in excess of 60 kilometres per hour (km/ph). The jet pack can run on Jet A1 Kerosene and Premium Diesel. In January, the Indian Defence Ministry said that it intended to buy 48 jet pack suits under emergency procurement through Fast Track Procedure (FTP) under Buy (Indian) category and sought participation in the procurement process from prospective bidders subject to requirements. "The Government of India invites responses to this request only from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) or Authorised Vendors or Government Sponsored Export Agencies (applicable in the case of countries where domestic laws do not permit direct export by OEM) subject to the condition that in cases where the same equipment is offered by more than one of the aforementioned parties, preference would be given to the OEM," the ministry said in its proposal on January 24. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indian Army personnel may soon get jet pack suits to defend borders with China, Pak: Report

Blood bag delivery by drones has now become&nbsp;possible in India for the first time. According to a report by the news agency ANI, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducted a trial run of blood bag delivery by drones under its iDrone initiative. The inaugural flight carried 10 units of whole blood samples from The Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) and Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC).

The sortie was in the visual line of sight conducted at Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (JIIT), Noida.

Professor Pammi Gauba from the JIIT called the project a pathbreaking validation study involving the collaborative efforts of ICMR, Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), New Delhi, Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), Greater Noida and Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (JIIT), Noida

iDrone was first used during the Covid pandemic by the ICMR for distributing vaccines to unreachable areas. Speaking to the news agency ANI,&nbsp;ICMR's Director General Dr Rajeev Bahl said, "Today, we are transporting blood &amp; blood-related products, which are supposed to be kept at a low temperature."

Dr Bahl said that following the experiment, the ICMR found that not only it could maintain the temperature, but there was also no damage to the products transported. "We sent another sample through an ambulance &amp; if there are no differences in the samples sent using the two modes, then this drone will be used all over India,” he added.&nbsp;

Previously, the ICMR used drones for delivering medical supplies, and vaccines in remote areas of Manipur and Nagaland.&nbsp;

Dr Nivedita Gupta from the ICMR said “Challenges in timely delivery of blood and blood products especially in the remote areas and congested metropolitan cities of India were identified. The drone-based delivery of blood may reduce the time for last-mile deliveries within the district.”&nbsp;

Another scientist from the ICMR Dr Sumit Kumar, meanwhile, highlighted that assessing the quality and integrity of fragile bodily fluids such as blood and the impact of drone’s movement is a crucial aspect which requires proper monitoring and validation.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<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>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Blood bag delivery by drones has now become possible in India for the first time. According to a report by the news agency ANI, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducted a trial run of blood bag delivery by drones under its iDrone initiative.

Blood bag delivery by drones has now become possible in India for the first time. According to a report by the news agency ANI, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducted a trial run of blood bag delivery by drones under its iDrone initiative. The inaugural flight carried 10 units of whole blood samples from The Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) and Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC). The sortie was in the visual line of sight conducted at Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (JIIT), Noida. Professor Pammi Gauba from the JIIT called the project a pathbreaking validation study involving the collaborative efforts of ICMR, Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), New Delhi, Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), Greater Noida and Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (JIIT), Noida iDrone was first used during the Covid pandemic by the ICMR for distributing vaccines to unreachable areas. Speaking to the news agency ANI, ICMR's Director General Dr Rajeev Bahl said, "Today, we are transporting blood & blood-related products, which are supposed to be kept at a low temperature." Dr Bahl said that following the experiment, the ICMR found that not only it could maintain the temperature, but there was also no damage to the products transported. "We sent another sample through an ambulance & if there are no differences in the samples sent using the two modes, then this drone will be used all over India,” he added. Previously, the ICMR used drones for delivering medical supplies, and vaccines in remote areas of Manipur and Nagaland. Dr Nivedita Gupta from the ICMR said “Challenges in timely delivery of blood and blood products especially in the remote areas and congested metropolitan cities of India were identified. The drone-based delivery of blood may reduce the time for last-mile deliveries within the district.” Another scientist from the ICMR Dr Sumit Kumar, meanwhile, highlighted that assessing the quality and integrity of fragile bodily fluids such as blood and the impact of drone’s movement is a crucial aspect which requires proper monitoring and validation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

For the first time in India, blood bag delivery by drones becomes possible: Report

China's ruling party, the Communist Party of China (CCP), has punished more than 110,000 officials in an anti-corruption drive, the Indo-Pacific Centre for Strategic Communications (IPCSC) said in a report on Tuesday (May 9). Since the 18th National Congress of the CCP in 2012, the Xi Jinping administration has launched an anti-corruption campaign. Those publicly investigated and dealt with after the 18th National Congress include state-level officials, deputy state-level officers, military commission members, dozens of ministerial-level officers, and hundreds of deputy ministerial-level officers.&nbsp;

Citing data, the IPCSC report said, "111,000 people were fined in the first quarter of this year, including provincial and provincial-level cadres, 633 department-level cadres, 669 district-level cadres, and 1,000 townships. Includes level cadres, and 15,000 general cadres. And 76,000 executives in rural areas, businesses, etc."

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-tightens-screws-on-consulting-firms-in-anti-spy-crackdown-590749">China tightens screws on consulting firms under anti-spy crackdown, raids Capvision offices</a>

Recently, the official WeChat handles of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervisory Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist&nbsp;Party of China released their monthly anti-corruption report. The report mentioned that in the first quarter, disciplinary inspection and supervision agencies across China received 776,000 petitions and reports, of which 231,000 were complaints and accusations.

The prominent senior officials under investigation include Du Zhaocai, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport of China; Li Xiaopeng, former Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of China Everbright Group Co.&nbsp;Ltd among others.&nbsp;

Last month, three central cadres were dismissed and over 120 CCP members and department-level cadres were fined.

Meanwhile, data from the March anti-corruption report said that 7,021 violations were investigated and dealt with, involving 10,285 people. 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<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>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

China's ruling party, the Communist Party of China (CCP), has punished more than 110,000 officials in an anti-corruption drive, the Indo-Pacific Centre for Strategic Communications (IPCSC) said in a report on Tuesday (May 9).

China's ruling party, the Communist Party of China (CCP), has punished more than 110,000 officials in an anti-corruption drive, the Indo-Pacific Centre for Strategic Communications (IPCSC) said in a report on Tuesday (May 9). Since the 18th National Congress of the CCP in 2012, the Xi Jinping administration has launched an anti-corruption campaign. Those publicly investigated and dealt with after the 18th National Congress include state-level officials, deputy state-level officers, military commission members, dozens of ministerial-level officers, and hundreds of deputy ministerial-level officers. Citing data, the IPCSC report said, "111,000 people were fined in the first quarter of this year, including provincial and provincial-level cadres, 633 department-level cadres, 669 district-level cadres, and 1,000 townships. Includes level cadres, and 15,000 general cadres. And 76,000 executives in rural areas, businesses, etc." ALSO READ | China tightens screws on consulting firms under anti-spy crackdown, raids Capvision offices Recently, the official WeChat handles of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervisory Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China released their monthly anti-corruption report. The report mentioned that in the first quarter, disciplinary inspection and supervision agencies across China received 776,000 petitions and reports, of which 231,000 were complaints and accusations. The prominent senior officials under investigation include Du Zhaocai, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport of China; Li Xiaopeng, former Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of China Everbright Group Co. Ltd among others. Last month, three central cadres were dismissed and over 120 CCP members and department-level cadres were fined. Meanwhile, data from the March anti-corruption report said that 7,021 violations were investigated and dealt with, involving 10,285 people. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China punishes more than 110,000 officials in anti-corruption drive: Report

Australian scientists have started vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in a field trial in New South Wales. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press on Tuesday (May 9), vaccination aims to test a method for protecting the marsupials against chlamydia that causes blindness, infertility and death.

Australian scientists have started vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in a field trial in New South Wales. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press on Tuesday (May 9), vaccination aims to test a method for protecting the marsupials against chlamydia that causes blindness, infertility and death. The initial goal of the scientists is to catch, vaccinate and monitor around half of the koalas in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. The Associated Press reported that the safety and effectiveness of the single-shot vaccine were previously tested by vaccinating a few hundred koalas brought to wildlife rescue centres for other afflictions. But now, scientists want to understand the impact of vaccinating a population of wild koalas. Samuel Phillips, a microbiologist at the University of the Sunshine Coast, who helped to develop the vaccine, said that the disease is killing koalas because they become "so sick they can’t climb trees to get food, or escape predators, and females can become infertile." “We want to evaluate what percentage of the koalas we need to vaccinate to meaningfully reduce infection and disease,” Phillips. The first koalas were caught and inoculated in March, and the vaccination effort is expected to last about three months. How are koalas getting infected? Though the origin of chlamydia in koalas is not confirmed, scientists believe it is likely that the marsupials initially caught the disease from exposure to the feces of infected sheep and cattle. Then it’s spread sexually or passed from the mother to the offspring. How do the koalas get vaccinated? The report said that scientists use binoculars to spot koalas in eucalyptus trees, then construct circular enclosures around the tree bases with doors leading into cages. After a few hours or days, the marsupials will climb down from the trees and wander into these harmless traps. Jodie Wakeman, the clinical director at Friends of the Koala, said that after a check-up is done to ensure that the animals are in good condition, researchers administer anaesthesia and shots of vaccine, then keep them under observation for 24 hours after they wake up, to confirm there are no unexpected side effects. And before the koalas are released, researchers mark them with a dab of pink dye on their backs, to ensure the same animals are not caught twice. Australia's wild koala population declined in last 20 years The wild koala population in Australia declined steeply in the last two decades. In February last year, the government declared koalas “endangered” in the eastern regions of New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. And scientists have estimated that half of wild koalas in Queensland are already infected with chlamydia. In deciding to vaccinate marsupials, scientists are balancing the risk of disturbing the animals against the danger of allowing the disease to spread. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australia: Scientists start vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia

The Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested 11 people on Tuesday (May 9) while five other people were nabbed from Hyderabad for their suspected links with the radical outfit Hizb-Ut-Tahrir (HUT), news agency PTI reported citing a spokesperson from the Madhya Pradesh police. With these 16 arrests, police claimed to have busted a module of the HUT.&nbsp;

The spokesperson said the organisation was aiming to topple the democratic system in India and was working to create its cadres in Madhya Pradesh and instigate them for violence.&nbsp;

An official said that the 11 arrested from Madhya Pradesh included a gym trainer, a software engineer, and a teacher. They were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The official said that of these 11, 10 were arrested from different areas in Bhopal’s Shahjahanabad, Aishbagh, Lalghati and Pipalani areas, while one was nabbed from Chhindwara city.&nbsp;

Following a tip-off from the MP ATS, the Telangana police arrested five people from Hyderabad for their alleged links with the outfit, he added. The official further said that anti-national documents, electronic equipment, and radical literature were recovered from the arrested.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said the suspects were under the ATS' radar for the last couple of months, adding that some objectionable literature, laptops, pen drives and hard disks were seized.

"The ATS was closely watching them (detainees) for the last couple of months. They were planning to create disturbance in Madhya Pradesh," Mishra added, the news agency IANS reported.&nbsp;

This crackdown comes after several people were arrested from Bhopal last year for their alleged links with the banned group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), and jihadi literature and electronic devices were seized from them.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<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>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested 11 people on Tuesday (May 9) while five other people were nabbed from Hyderabad for their suspected links with the radical outfit Hizb-Ut-Tahrir (HUT), news agency PTI reported citing a spokesperson from the Madhya Pradesh police.

The Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested 11 people on Tuesday (May 9) while five other people were nabbed from Hyderabad for their suspected links with the radical outfit Hizb-Ut-Tahrir (HUT), news agency PTI reported citing a spokesperson from the Madhya Pradesh police. With these 16 arrests, police claimed to have busted a module of the HUT. The spokesperson said the organisation was aiming to topple the democratic system in India and was working to create its cadres in Madhya Pradesh and instigate them for violence. An official said that the 11 arrested from Madhya Pradesh included a gym trainer, a software engineer, and a teacher. They were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The official said that of these 11, 10 were arrested from different areas in Bhopal’s Shahjahanabad, Aishbagh, Lalghati and Pipalani areas, while one was nabbed from Chhindwara city. Following a tip-off from the MP ATS, the Telangana police arrested five people from Hyderabad for their alleged links with the outfit, he added. The official further said that anti-national documents, electronic equipment, and radical literature were recovered from the arrested. On Tuesday, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said the suspects were under the ATS' radar for the last couple of months, adding that some objectionable literature, laptops, pen drives and hard disks were seized. "The ATS was closely watching them (detainees) for the last couple of months. They were planning to create disturbance in Madhya Pradesh," Mishra added, the news agency IANS reported. This crackdown comes after several people were arrested from Bhopal last year for their alleged links with the banned group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), and jihadi literature and electronic devices were seized from them. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India: 16 arrested for links with radical outfit HUT, says Madhya Pradesh Police

News agency AFP's Ukraine video coordinator Arman Soldin was killed on Tuesday (May 9) by rocket fire near Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine. According to a report by AFP, the attack happened at around 4:30 pm (1330 GMT) on the outskirts of the town close to Bakhmut.

News agency AFP's Ukraine video coordinator Arman Soldin was killed on Tuesday (May 9) by rocket fire near Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine. According to a report by AFP, the attack happened at around 4:30 pm (1330 GMT) on the outskirts of the town close to Bakhmut. The team of AFP journalists came under fire from Grad rockets while they were with a group of Ukrainian soldiers. Arman Soldin, 32, was killed when a rocket struck close to where he was lying. The rest of the team was not injured. Soldin was a French national who started working for AFP as an intern in its Rome bureau in 2015 and was later hired in London. He was part of the news agency's first team to be sent to Ukraine after the beginning of the Russian offensive on February 24, 2022, arriving the next day. He had been living in Ukraine since September, leading the team's video coverage and travelling regularly to the frontlines in the east and south. Tributes pour in for Soldin AFP chairman Fabrice Fries said that the news agency was devastated by the loss of Arman Soldin. Fries highlighted that Soldin's death "is a terrible reminder of the risks and dangers faced by journalists every day covering the conflict in Ukraine." Taking to Twitter, French President Emmanuel Macron hailed Soldin's bravery and said, "With bravery, from the first hours of the conflict, he was at the front to establish the facts, to inform us." Ukraine's defence ministry also condoled the journalist's death and said, "He dedicated his life to informing the world about the truth. His legacy, as well as his cause, will live on." The White House also paid tribute to Soldin, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying the world was "indebted" to the journalists who lost their lives covering the conflict. "Arman's brilliant work encapsulated everything that has made us so proud of AFP's journalism in Ukraine," the agency's Global News Director Phil Chetwynd said. Remembering the 32-year-old, colleagues said Soldin knew in particular how to recount the lives of ordinary people caught up in war-torn Ukraine, desperately trying to survive amid the chaos. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), with Soldin's death, 11 journalists or fixers and drivers for media teams now have been killed covering the war. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine war: AFP journalist Arman Soldin killed by rocket fire near Chasiv Yar

Police in China's Xinjiang region rely on a master list of 50,000 multimedia files they deem “violent and terrorist” to flag Uyghur and other Turkic Muslim residents for interrogation, according to a report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) on May 4.

Police in China's Xinjiang region rely on a master list of 50,000 multimedia files they deem “violent and terrorist” to flag Uyghur and other Turkic Muslim residents for interrogation, according to a report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) on May 4. An investigation by HRW into the metadata of this master list found that during nine months from 2017 to 2018, police conducted nearly 11 million searches of a total of 1.2 million mobile phones in Xinjiang's capital city Urumqi. Xinjiang’s automated police mass surveillance systems enabled this phone search. Maya Wang, acting China director at HRW, said that Beijing's use of surveillance technology in Xinjiang meant that Uyghurs who simply store the Quran on their phones may trigger a police interrogation. The New York-based international non-governmental organisation (NGO) has repeatedly raised concerns about China’s approach to countering acts it calls “terrorism” and “extremism.” ALSO READ | Spyware embedded in various Android apps keeping vigil on Uyghurs, their activities: Report "China’s counterterrorism law defines “terrorism” and “extremism” in an overly broad and vague manner that facilitates prosecutions, deprivation of liberty, and other restrictions for acts that do not intend to cause death or serious physical harm for political, religious, or ideological aims," the report said. The Human Rights Watch searches found more than 1,000 unique files on about 1,400 Urumqi residents’ phones that matched those on the police master list. The analysis of these matched files revealed that 57 per cent appeared to be common Islamic religious materials, including readings of every surah (chapter) of the Quran. The list is part of a large database (52GB) of over 1,600 data tables from Xinjiang leaked to the Intercept in 2019. The Intercept, an American media group, reported that police in Xinjiang's capital conducted surveillance and arrests from 2015 to 2019 based on texts of police reports that were part of this database. "The master list of multimedia files that Human Rights Watch examined is located in a different part of the same database and has not been previously reported on or analyzed. Some of the numbers in this reporting have been rounded up so that the authorities cannot identify the source of the leak," the HRW highlighted in its May 4 report. What do the media files contain? An analysis of the metadata of this master list revealed photos, audio, and video files which contain violent content, but also other material that has no evident connection to violence. These media files contained materials such as content depicting beheadings or forms of torture that appeared to have been carried out by the Islamic State, drug cartels, details about the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. The files contained materials that involved foreign organisations including the East Turkistan Independence Movement and the World Uyghur Congress. The files also contained Islamic religious content, including Quran readings and wedding songs. "Human Rights Watch also found another related list in the database that has the same MD5 hashes – the unique signature of these files. This list apparently contains the search result of the Jingwang Weishi app, a surveillance application," the report further said. According to a report by Al-Jazeera, police in Urumqi have required residents to download Jingwang Weishi, which gives authorities the ability to monitor the contents of their phones. And visitors to Xinjiang can also be required to download a similar application called Fengcai. The HRW urged the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to urgently form an independent, international investigation into rights violations and the suppression of fundamental freedoms in Xinjiang by China against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China monitors phones of Uyghurs, flags them as extremists for possessing Quran: Report

Kenyan investigators on Tuesday (May 9) exhumed 21 more bodies as they resumed a search for followers of a doomsday cult. The latest figures on the bodies exhumed take the death toll to 133. Paul Mackenzie, the notorious cult leader, is among the 16 suspects accused of operating an armed -- and apparently well-fed -- "enforcer gang" tasked with ensuring that no one broke their fast or left their forest hideout alive, investigators said.&nbsp;

Mackenzie is currently in custody. The search operation in the Shakahola forest in southeastern Kenya was suspended for a few days due to bad weather, with hundreds of people still reported missing.

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki visited the forest where workers wearing hazmat suits and masks were digging up graves. Later addressing a press conference, Kindiki said, "We have many more graves in this forest, and therefore it leads us to conclude that this was a highly organised crime."

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kenya-who-are-the-two-pastors-facing-court-over-starvation-cult-massacre-588142">Kenya: Who are the two pastors facing trial in court over starvation cult massacre?</a>

While starvation appears to be the main cause of death, some of the victims, including children, were strangled, beaten, or suffocated, chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor said. And as per court documents on Monday, some of the corpses had their organs removed, with police alleging the suspects were engaged in forced harvesting of body parts, the news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

"Post-mortem reports have established missing organs in some of the bodies of victims who have been exhumed," chief inspector Martin Munene said in an affidavit filed to a Nairobi court. 
 
"It is believed that trade on human body organs has been well coordinated involving several players," he added.&nbsp;

The chief inspector also pointed out Ezekiel Odero, a high-profile televangelist who was arrested in April in connection with the same case and granted bail last Thursday, had received "huge cash transactions," allegedly from Mackenzie's followers who sold their property at the cult leader's bidding.

Meanwhile, Paul Mackenzie's lawyer George Kariuki said that Kariuki was cooperating with the police. Speaking to Reuters, Kariuki said that Mackenzie wanted the investigation not to be "one-sided" by focusing on him, adding police should keep an open mind to unravel the mess.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<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>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Kenyan investigators on Tuesday (May 9) exhumed 21 more bodies as they resumed a search for followers of a doomsday cult. The latest figures on the bodies exhumed take the death toll to 133.

Kenyan investigators on Tuesday (May 9) exhumed 21 more bodies as they resumed a search for followers of a doomsday cult. The latest figures on the bodies exhumed take the death toll to 133. Paul Mackenzie, the notorious cult leader, is among the 16 suspects accused of operating an armed -- and apparently well-fed -- "enforcer gang" tasked with ensuring that no one broke their fast or left their forest hideout alive, investigators said. Mackenzie is currently in custody. The search operation in the Shakahola forest in southeastern Kenya was suspended for a few days due to bad weather, with hundreds of people still reported missing. Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki visited the forest where workers wearing hazmat suits and masks were digging up graves. Later addressing a press conference, Kindiki said, "We have many more graves in this forest, and therefore it leads us to conclude that this was a highly organised crime." ALSO READ | Kenya: Who are the two pastors facing trial in court over starvation cult massacre? While starvation appears to be the main cause of death, some of the victims, including children, were strangled, beaten, or suffocated, chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor said. And as per court documents on Monday, some of the corpses had their organs removed, with police alleging the suspects were engaged in forced harvesting of body parts, the news agency AFP reported. "Post-mortem reports have established missing organs in some of the bodies of victims who have been exhumed," chief inspector Martin Munene said in an affidavit filed to a Nairobi court. "It is believed that trade on human body organs has been well coordinated involving several players," he added. The chief inspector also pointed out Ezekiel Odero, a high-profile televangelist who was arrested in April in connection with the same case and granted bail last Thursday, had received "huge cash transactions," allegedly from Mackenzie's followers who sold their property at the cult leader's bidding. Meanwhile, Paul Mackenzie's lawyer George Kariuki said that Kariuki was cooperating with the police. Speaking to Reuters, Kariuki said that Mackenzie wanted the investigation not to be "one-sided" by focusing on him, adding police should keep an open mind to unravel the mess. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kenya starvation cult massacre: Investigators exhume 21 more bodies, toll rises to 133

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Harshit Sabarwal

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.