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Year in review: The biggest spy-related stories of 2021, part 3
Since 2008, when intelNews was launched, it has been our end-of-year tradition to take a look back and highlight what we believe were the most important intelligence-related stories of the past 12 months. In anticipation of what 2022 may bring in this always timely and highly volatile field, we present you with our selection of the top spy stories of 2021. They are listed below in reverse order of significance, starting from 10 and leading up to 1. This is the third part in a three-part series. Part one is available here and part two is here.
04. FBI built a fake phone company in massive global wiretapping operation. The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation built a fake telephone service provider for a secret worldwide operation that officials described as "a watershed moment" in law enforcement history. The operation, known as TROJAN SHIELD, involved over 9,000 law enforcement officers in 18 countries around the world. When the existence of TROJAN SHIELD was announced in a series of official news conferences in June, officials said the operation had "given law enforcement a window into a level of criminality [never] seen before on this scale".
03. US spied on some of its closest European allies with the help of Denmark. The first claims of an alleged secret collaboration between the signals intelligence agencies of the United States and Denmark surfaced in November of 2020. By January of 2021, it was clear that the Danish government would, sooner or later, need to deal with the fallout of its controversial spy deal with Washington, under which Denmark enabled the US to spy on some of its closest European allies. Still, the news in June that Denmark helped the US spy on countries such as Germany, France, Sweden and Norway, was nothing short of remarkable, and has a huge symbolic significance that cannot be overlooked.
02. For the first time, Chinese and North Korean spies were tried in the US. For the first time, an alleged Chinese spy was tried—and convicted—in the United States. According to prosecutors Yanjun Xu, also known as Qu Hui or Zhang Hui, was a deputy division director in the Ministry of State Security (MSS)—China's intelligence agency. His conviction was described by observers as a "seminal moment" for American counterintelligence. Also for the first time, an alleged intelligence officer of North Korea, Mun Chol-myong, was tried in a US court. A North Korean citizen based in Singapore, Mun had tried to defraud international banks and launder money though the US financial system, allegedly for the benefit of North Korean spy agencies.
01. At least 14 heads of state were targeted through controversial phone spyware. At least 14 current or former heads of state were among 50,000 individuals worldwide whose personal telephones were allegedly compromised through a controversial surveillance software, known as Pegasus. The spyware is marketed by NSO Group Technologies, an Israeli digital surveillance company based near Tel Aviv. Pegasus can install itself on targeted telephones without requiring their users to click a link, or download an application. The list of the spyware's targets allegedly contains telephone devices belonging to three presidents, France's Emmanuel Macron (pictured), South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, and Iraq's Barham Salih. The devices of three current prime ministers, Morocco's Saad-Eddine El Othmani, Egypt's Mostafa Madboul, and Pakistan's Imran Khan, are also on the list. There are countless others. As a result of these revelations, the US Department of Commerce placed the NSO Group Technologies on a sanctions list in November 3.
This is part three in a three-part series. Part one is available here. Part two is available here.
► Author: Joseph Fitsanakis and Ian Allen | Date: 31 December 2021 | Permalink
Filed under A specialized intelligence website written by experts, since 2008 Tagged with year in review
Since 2008, when intelNews was launched, it has been our end-of-year tradition to take a look back and highlight what we believe were the most important intelligence-related stories of the past 12 months. In anticipation of what 2022 may bring in this always timely and highly volatile field, we present you with our selection of the top spy stories of 2021. They are listed below in reverse order of significance, starting from 10 and leading up to 1. This is part two in a three-part series. Part one is available here. Part three is available here.
07. Iranian intelligence networks in Europe were decimated following failed operation. Four Iranian spies were tried in Belgium in February, after unsuccessfully trying to bomb an annual conference of Iranian expatriate dissidents. Conference attendees included the then-US President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, who addressed the meeting. Stephen Harper, Canada's former prime minister, also spoke at the conference. Even worse for Iran, a "green notebook" found in the car of one of the spies, allegedly contained "289 places across 11 European countries", where Assadi is thought to have met with Iranian spies operating throughout Europe.
06. Russian spies allegedly funded one of Italy's major political parties. An alleged employee of Russian intelligence was present at a secret meeting in Moscow, in which a plan was discussed to fund Lega Nord, Italy's leading populist party. Established in 1991, the LN seeks greater autonomy for Italy's northern regions, and opposes the country's membership in the European Union. An Italian newspaper claimed in June that Andrey Yuryevich Kharchenko, an alleged employee of Russian intelligence, participated in a secret 2019 meeting in Moscow, in which Kremlin figures offered LN officials to enrich the their party's election campaign coffers by nearly $70 million.
05. US Pentagon has an army of clandestine operatives that 'dwarfs the CIA'. The US Department of Defense maintains a worldwide "secret army" of over 60,000 operatives, many of whom have fake identities and manufactured backgrounds, according to a report from Newsweek's investigative journalist, William Arkin. Arkin claimed that the Pentagon force is "more than ten times the size" of the clandestine wing of the CIA, and is allegedly part of a wider US government effort known as "signature reduction". The scheme provides undercover government operatives the ability to operate domestically and around the world without the fear of having their links to spy agencies or the military discovered by online sleuths.
This is part two in a three-part series; Part one is available here. Part three is available here.
Since 2008, when intelNews was launched, it has been our end-of-year tradition to take a look back and highlight what we believe were the most important intelligence-related stories of the past 12 months. In anticipation of what 2022 may bring in this always timely and highly volatile field, we present you with our selection of the top spy stories of 2021. They are listed below in reverse order of significance, starting from 10 and leading up to 1. This is part one in a three-part series. Part two is available here. Part three is here.
10. New book claims former Irish head of government was Provisional IRA informant. Controversy has always surrounded, Charlie Haughey—a towering figure in Irish politics. By 1992, when he retired after an illustrious 35-year career, he had served three times as Taoiseach (prime minister) and many more times as minister. Haughey's critics have always suspected that he was sympathetic to the Provisional Irish Republican Army. If true, however, this latest revelation is nothing short of stunning: a new book by Kevin O'Connor, one of Ireland's leading investigative reporters, claims that Haughey routinely shared classified information with the IRA, including warnings about British and Irish government spies that operated within the organization.
9. Unlike others, French spies anticipated the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. August found Western nations scrambling to evacuate their citizens and embassy workers from Afghanistan, amidst the chaotic takeover of the country by the Taliban. France, however, began its evacuations at least two months in advance. By late August the French government was being praised from all sides for its "anticipatory planning". Why was their response so different from those of other Western nations—notably Britain and the United States? Some observers claim that, unlike other Westerners, French spies maintained a "relative distance" from United States intelligence agencies, and were thus not influenced by American projections of what would happen in the war-torn country.
8. Czechs expelled Russian spies, accusing them of blowing up a munitions depot. The Czech Republic unceremoniously expelled a number of Russian diplomats in April, accusing Kremlin spies of being behind a mysterious explosion that leveled a munitions depot in 2014. According to Prague, a team of Russian operatives, posing as Tajiks and Moldovans, blew up a facility belonging to the Military Technical Institute of the Czech Ministry of Defense, killing two security guards and prompting hundreds of evacuations. The Russian operatives allegedly belonged to Unit 29155, a Russian elite spy outfit, whose goal is to subvert European political and economic systems and processes. Several diplomatic tit-for-tat expulsions followed from a number of European nations.
This is part one in a three-part series. Part two is available here. Part three is here..
Israel Security Agency uses Facebook to reach out to young Palestinians – report
AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED LAST month in one of Israel's leading newspapers, Haaretz, shed light on how the Israel Security Agency (ISA) is using Facebook to combat militant groups in the Palestinian occupied territories, namely the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. According to the article's author, Amira Hess, the ISA operates about 35 Arabic-language profile pages on Facebook, which are accessible in the various Palestinian areas under Israeli occupation.
ISA case officers (agent handlers) with Arabic monikers are in charge of various regions. For example, the officer in charge of the Hebron area is known as "Captain Eid", the officer in charge of the Al-Amari refugee camp is known as "Captain Zaker", and so on. Every Facebook profile page has a telephone number for users to send messages using WhatsApp. In addition, a general Facebook page of the ISA was opened under the heading in Arabic, "Badna Naish" ("Want to Live" in Arabic).
The transition to using Facebook pages is in the spirit of the times, and reflects the fact that many younger Palestinians receive their daily news through social networks, and not through traditional media, such as radio or television. The purpose of the ISA's open-referral method using Facebook is to talk to the Palestinian population directly, and especially to the younger generation, who is very active on social networks. This also allows social media users to pass on security information to thwart terrorist attacks without disclosing their identity. The Facebook pages also serve the ISA as a tool for recruiting Palestinians who are willing to help Israel.
Additionally, the ISA uses Facebook's pages to warn Palestinians who plan terrorist acts before they go into action. Here are some examples of the use of Facebook's pages: In March of this year, an ISA case officer using the moniker "Captain Eid" wrote on his Facebook page covering the Hebron area that he called several masked men who fired shots in the air while welcoming the released terrorist Mahmoud Hushia, and warned them that their identities were known. "In their deeds, they will be punished. Please stay away from unnecessary problems", wrote Captain Eid. Read more of this post
Filed under A specialized intelligence website written by experts, since 2008 Tagged with Avner Barnea, Facebook, Israel, Israel Security Agency, social networking
Book review of "We Never Expected That" by Avner Barnea
IN HIS NEW BOOK, We Never Expected That: A Comparative Study of Failures in National and Business Intelligence (Lexington Books), Dr. Avner Barnea has coined two new terms in the field of strategic surprise. One is diffused surprise and the other is concentrated surprise, two terms that help us to better understand why intelligence failures occur. In a diffused surprise there is difficulty in identifying the intelligence target and therefore the chance of a surprise increases; while in a concentrated surprise the intelligence target is usually a recognized organization. At the same time, the mistake lies in the assessment of the target's abilities and intentions.
To illustrate the difference between the types of strategic surprises in the two areas, the author analyzes these types of surprises through a discussion of four test cases. Two of them are from the field of national intelligence and two from the field of competitive intelligence. In the field of national intelligence, Barnea analyzes the surprise of the outbreak of the First Intifada (Palestinian uprising) in 1987 and the surprise of the attacks of September 11, 2001. The first Intifada was a strategic surprise for the State of Israel and broke out as a result of a popular uprising. Therefore Barnea defines it as a diffused surprise. The September 11 terror attack is defined by Barnea as a concentrated surprise, since the terrorist organization, al-Qaeda, which was known to American intelligence, initiated and carried out the terrorist attack. One of the reasons for the surprise was that the American intelligence agencies did not properly assess al Qaeda's intentions and capabilities, nor did they share the intelligence information that had accumulated.
In competitive intelligence and the business world, units within an organization share intelligence information. One of the lessons of the September 11 surprise in the United States is that intelligence information needs to be shared between the various intelligence organizations. The test cases that Barnea discusses in the field of competitive intelligence include the process of deterioration of the IBM Corporation that almost led to its demise in 1993. This is a classic case of concentrated surprise. IBM's board of directors did not internalize the processes and transformations in the field of computer hardware, while competing companies like Dell, Toshiba, and others were aware of the changing needs of customers in this field and also offered customers appropriate solutions. As a result of this failure of a concentrated surprise, IBM's revenue fell sharply and the company almost declared bankruptcy. The new CEO of IBM, who took office during the crisis, has since adapted the company to changes in the competitive environment. Read more of this post
Filed under A specialized intelligence website written by experts, since 2008 Tagged with Avner Barnea, book news and reviews, competitive intelligence
Analysis: Counterintelligence dimensions of the Gilboa prison break in Israel
EARLIER IN SEPTEMBER, FIVE members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and one member of Fatah escaped from the Gilboa Prison in Israel, by digging a tunnel under the prison walls. The escape was a dramatic surprise and caused wonder in the Israeli defense establishment, since the Gilboa Prison is one of the most secure prisons in the country. The Israeli police, together with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Security Service (ISA), immediately began an intense pursuit. About five days later, four of the six men were arrested inside Israel's borders, after they asked for assistance from Israeli Arabs, who reported them to the Police. The remaining two were arrested a week later in the city of Jenin in the Occupied Territories.
The initial investigation revealed serious misconduct in the Israel Prison Service. Following these findings, the Israeli government decided to establish a state inquiry commission headed by a judge, in order to investigate the prison break and the conduct of the Prison Service. There are already indicators showing a lack of intelligence before and after the prison break.
The Israel Prison Service has a large intelligence unit, whose main purpose is to prevent 6,500 Palestinian prisoners from escaping. In the nine months during which the tunnel was excavated, the Israel Prison Service's intelligence unit had no information about this activity. Throughout that time, there were various indications that suspicious activity was taking place in the prison, such as blockages of the prison's sewer pipe with sand. Also, after the six prisoners got out of the prison walls, a system of cameras and sensors did give various signals, but these failed to get the attention of the guards. Serious endemic problems have been found in the intelligence unit, which include its senior director. This individual was allegedly appointed despite having no experience in intelligence and having taken no courses on the subject. Additionally, it is alleged that he does not speak Arabic and is not acquainted with Palestinian culture and outlook.
The second intelligence issue relates to intelligence collection after the prison break. Although some of the most advanced collection tools and significant search resources were used to locate the fugitives, the information that eventually led to their capture came from human intelligence (HUMINT) —namely Israeli Arab citizens, whom the escapees met by chance and asked for help. These Israeli Arabs have demonstrated, contrary to the opinion of right-wing political elements in Israel, their loyalty to the state. Two of the fugitives managed to cross the security fence between Israel and the Occupied Territories and reached the city of Jenin. It then took only a short time for them to be caught, as the ISA has a highly efficient HUMINT system there. Additionally, the two escapees made serious errors, such as when one of them called his father on a cell phone.
Although all six fugitives were captured, they are now considered heroes on the Palestinian street, not just among Islamic Jihad and Hamas supporters.
Dr. Avner Barnea is research fellow at the National Security Studies Center of the University of Haifa in Israel. He served as a senior officer in the Israel Security Agency (ISA).
► Author: Avner Barnea | Date: 24 September 2021 | Permalink
Filed under A specialized intelligence website written by experts, since 2008 Tagged with Avner Barnea, Gilboa prison, Israel, law enforcement, prison
Analysis: The mysterious case of IDF 'Officer X' who died in an Israeli prison
The State of Israel has been in turmoil for several weeks, after it became known that an outstanding officer in one of the elite technological units of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Intelligence Division (Israel Military Intelligence, or IMI) was found dead while in custody in a military prison. He had been serving an eight-month sentence on suspicion of causing serious security damage to a critical intelligence technological system. The IDF's chief of staff, Major General Aviv Kochavi (pictured), said in relation to the case: "The officer from the IMI committed very serious offenses. He committed them on purpose, for reasons I cannot describe. He almost [revealed] a big secret and we stopped it in the [last] minute".
After the officer's death, it was revealed by the IDF that his arrest was not a case of treason, or espionage and that he acted for personal, rather than for ideological, nationalistic or financial motives. Following public pressure about IDF's handling of the matter and the unclear circumstances of the officer's death, the IDF has provided some more details.
Officer X, who, according to an American website was named Tomer Aiges, was a 25-year-old captain with three honorary awards by the IMI. He had graduated from high school while simultaneously receiving a BSc in computer sciences at the age of 18. Before enlisting in the IDF, he worked in several hi-tech companies in Israel. People who worked with him there testified that he was a young man with extraordinary technical abilities, which is why he was recruited to the technology unit of the IMI.
There are two main issues of concern among the Israeli public. One is how the officer was held in custody for a long time without being brought to trial, even though a serious indictment —the details of which are not known— was filed against him, and when no one except his parents knew about it. To the young man's acquaintances it seemed that he had mysteriously disappeared. What is more, much of his page on Facebook was deleted and no further updates appeared following his arrest. It was reported that during his arrest, there was a process of criminal mediation, in which the State of Israel sought to sentence him to ten years in prison.
The second problematic issue concerns the circumstances of his death. There are many questions about to how he could have died when his detention cell was under non-stop surveillance by closed-circuit cameras. Further questions remain as to why the investigation into the circumstances of his death has yet to be completed. There have been demands by Israeli former intelligence officers to hand over the investigation to a civilian inquiry committee headed by a Supreme Court judge, as there is grave concern that the IDF could be hiding information that could demonstrate it was negligent in protecting the officer's life.
The publication of additional details about this case is subject to a strict ban by the Israeli military censorship —it should be noted that Israel is the only Western country that exercises security censorship. The Israeli public is eagerly awaiting the publication of further details about the circumstances of the death of the intelligence officer, Officer X.
► Author: Avner Barnea | Date: 18 June 2021 | Permalink
Filed under A specialized intelligence website written by experts, since 2008 Tagged with Analysis, Avner Barnea, IDF, Israel, Israel Military Intelligence, suspicious deaths
Russian actors had access to Dutch police computer network during MH17 probe
Russian hackers compromised the computer systems of the Dutch national police while the latter were conducting a criminal probe into the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17), according to a new report. MH17 was a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, which was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. All 283 passengers and 15 crew on board, 196 of them Dutch citizens, were killed.
Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant, which revealed this new information last week, said the compromise of the Dutch national police's computer systems was not detected by Dutch police themselves, but by the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD). The paper said that neither the police nor the AIVD were willing to confirm the breach, but added that it had confirmed the breach took place through multiple anonymous sources.
On July 5, 2017, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Belgium, Australia and Malaysia announced the establishment of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) into the downing of flight MH-17. The multinational group stipulated that possible suspects of the downing of flight MH17 would be tried in the Netherlands. In September 2017, the AIVD said it possessed information about Russian targets in the Netherlands, which included an IP address of a police academy system. That system turned out to have been compromised, which allowed the attackers to access police systems. According to four anonymous sources, evidence of the attack was detected in several different places.
The police academy is part of the Dutch national police, and non-academy police personnel can access the network using their log-in credentials. Some sources suggest that the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) carried out the attack through a Russian hacker group known as APT29, or Cozy Bear. However, a growing number of sources claim the attack was perpetrated by the Main Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff, known commonly as GRU, through a hacker group known as APT28, or Fancy Bear. SVR attackers are often involved in prolonged espionage operations and are careful to stay below the radar, whereas the GRU is believed to be more heavy-handed and faster. The SVR is believed to be partly responsible for the compromise of United States government agencies and companies through the supply chain attack known as the SolarWinds cyber attack, which came to light in late 2020.
Russia has tried to sabotage and undermine investigation activities into the MH17 disaster through various means: influence campaigns on social media, hacking of the Dutch Safety Board, theft of data from Dutch investigators, manipulation of other countries involved in the investigation, and the use of military spies. The Dutch police and public prosecution service were repeatedly targeted by phishing emails, police computer systems were subjected to direct attacks, and a Russian hacker drove a car with hacking equipment near the public prosecution office in Rotterdam.
The above efforts are not believed to have been successful. But the attack that came to light in September 2017 may have been. The infected police academy system ran "exotic" (meaning uncommon) software, according to a well-informed source. The Russians reportedly exploited a zero day vulnerability in that software. After the incident, the national police made improvements in their logging and monitoring capabilities, and in their Security Operations Center (SOC). It is not currently known how long the attackers had access to the national police system, nor what information they were able to obtain.
► Author: Matthijs Koot | Date: 17 June 2021 | Permalink
Filed under A specialized intelligence website written by experts, since 2008 Tagged with AIVD (Holland), computer hacking, Dutch National Police, espionage, Holland, Joint Investigation Team, MH17, News, Russia, Ukraine, War in Donbass
Operation Guardian of the Walls: Israel's double intelligence failure
For several days now, a war has been going on between the State of Israel and the Hamas organization that controls the Gaza Strip. The confrontation began after unrest broke out among Palestinians in Judea and Samaria, who raised allegations of Israeli damage to the Temple Mount and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. In firing missiles at Israel, Hamas tries to portray itself as protecting the sanctuaries of Islam in Jerusalem. In doing so, it seeks to strengthen its political position in Judea and Samaria against the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), which is leading the Palestinian Authority. Since then, Israel has been using airstrikes against targets in Gaza, while Hamas has been firing hundreds of missiles at Israel daily. Israel is desperately trying to undermine Hamas' military and operational capabilities, including armaments factories, while also eliminating senior commanders of the organization.
Hamas' missile attacks managed to surprise Israel. Israeli intelligence (the Israeli Military Intelligence, known as IMI, and the Israeli Security Agency, ISA) previously estimated that Hamas' goal was to maintain the status quo, and was not ready to initiate attacks against Israel. Not only did Israeli intelligence err in assessing Hamas' intentions, but Hamas surprised observers with its range of weapons, such as long-range missiles with a reach that is in excess of 150 miles. This constitutes a strategic surprise for Israel. So far (May 13, 2021), Hamas has fired about 1,500 missiles at Israel, most of which have been intercepted by Israel's air defense system called the Iron Dome.
At the same time, extensive riots broke out within Israel between Palestinian Israeli Arabs and Israeli far-right groups. The attacks have spread throughout the country, and the Israeli police appear unable to control them. The ISA is responsible for monitoring terrorism-related developments in the area of political subversion, including assessing the intentions of Israeli Arabs and the level of threat posed by these intentions. It appears that the ISA, was completely surprised by recent developments. The spontaneous mobilization of Israeli Arabs stems from fears that Israel intends to harm the Temple Mount and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. It is also a form of identification with their brethren in the Gaza Strip. At present, the government of Israel has not managed to restrain the mobilization of the Israeli Arabs.
In conclusion, Israeli intelligence demonstrates two blind spots. One concerns Hamas' intentions and offensive capabilities. The other concerns misreading the intentions and degree of threat to public order in Israel by Israeli Arabs. This is why the military clash between Israel and Hamas, as well as the riots by Israeli Arabs, have not yet ended.
► Author: Avner Barnea | Date: 14 May 2021 | Permalink
Filed under A specialized intelligence website written by experts, since 2008 Tagged with 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, Analysis, Avner Barnea, Hamas
Opinion: Israel Security Agency should tackle organized crime in the Arab sector
LAST MONTH I WROTE an article on Ynet, Israel's most popular news website, calling on the Israel Security Agency (ISA) to prevent organized crime in the Arab sector in Israel, which has reached a level that the police cannot deal with. The article caused a broad public debate in Israel, as it marked the first time that the ISA was urged to take responsibility outside its security jurisdiction. It elicited public support, as well as opposition against perceived further invasion of privacy and granting additional powers to the ISA.
Crime in the Arab sector in Israel —especially murders— has reached record highs and is rising year after year. In 2020, over 100 people were killed in the Arab sector. There are many allegations that the police are failing to stop this murky wave of crime. The police are at a loss. The opening of more police stations in the Arab sector and increases in the forces allocated to the Arab sector have not made an impact on this gloomy picture.
The most serious crime in the Arab sector, especially organized crime, requires making out-of-the-box, inventive decisions. The Israel Police is not succeeding in this for several reasons: it has no quality intelligence; there is public distrust in the police that prevents citizens from cooperating with it; the police are perceived as an unreliable body that cannot maintain the confidentiality of sources; and mainly because the police is not an intelligence-oriented organization. The issue of crime in this sector, much of which is organized, requires advanced intelligence capabilities and only the ISA knows how to deal with organizations and individuals operating in secret. This is because the ISA has gained vast experience in covering the Arab sector in Israel for counterintelligence reasons. Read more of this post
Filed under A specialized intelligence website written by experts, since 2008 Tagged with Avner Barnea, domestic intelligence, Israel Security Agency, Israeli police, Opinion, organized crime
FBI, NYPD forewarned Capitol Police of serious violence by Trump supporters
THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF Investigation and the New York Police Department gave Capitol Police officials specific warnings that supporters of United States President Donald Trump were determined to engage in serious violence on January 6, according to federal officials. The FBI even made contact with known far-right radicals across the United States in early January, and warned them not to travel to Washington for the pro-Trump rally that resulted in the bloody attack on the US Capitol, according to NBC News.
Citing "senior law enforcement officials", including "a senior FBI official", NBC reported on Sunday that the FBI had "credible and actionable information" about specific far-right radicals who intended to join the protest on January 6. This information was allegedly communicated to Capitol Police officials, according to the report. The senior FBI official, who is not named in report, told NBC that the Bureau made contact with those radicals and warned them not to travel to Washington for the protest. Citing "multiple law enforcement officials", the news network also said that the Capitol Police was given extensive intelligence by NYPD about planned acts of violence on January 6. The intelligence was "specific", "detailing the threats and extremist rhetoric on social media", according to the news network.
Despite these warnings, however, Capitol Police reportedly turned down an offer of assistance by the US National Guard three days before the fateful siege of the Capitol Building Complex by thousands of pro-Trump insurgents, many of whom were armed. According to the Associated Press, despite the advanced and detailed warnings given to it, "the Capitol Police planned only for a free speech demonstration".
Meanwhile, the experts warning of a significant risk of widespread violence on January 20, when President-Elect Joe Biden is scheduled to be sworn into office, are growing in number. On Sunday, Cindy Otis, a former Central Intelligence Agency analyst and vice-president of the Alethea Group, which tracks online threats, warned that "we are in a tinderbox situation right now". She pointed to numerous threats made online, which claim that last Wednesday's attack on the Capitol was "just a taste of things to come". There are reports that far-right insurgents are preparing for a violent showdown in DC, aimed at preventing Biden from entering the White House on January 20. Other reports suggest that groups of insurgents seek to organize synchronous potentially violent rallies in every state of the union that day.
Filed under A specialized intelligence website written by experts, since 2008 Tagged with Analysis, Capitol Police, Cindy Otis, domestic terrorism, Donald Trump, FBI, intelligence failures, New York Police Department, rightwing extremism
Analysis: US Capitol attack marks the beginning of a prolonged period of insurrection
IF WEDNESDAY'S ATTACK ON the United States Capitol Complex was part of a coup d'état, then the American political system should be considered safe for the time being. The mob that ransacked the Capitol was disordered, leaderless, and appeared to have no coordination, or even direction. However, the broader militant movement that it represents is evolving very rapidly. If left unchecked, it will be able to turn its weaknesses into strengths and spell major trouble ahead for the already stormy waters of American politics. The nation's law enforcement and security agencies must therefore prepare for a period of widespread insurrection, some of which will be armed and lethal in nature. Insurrectionist acts are likely to occur across the nation, and may last for months, if not longer.
WHO CARRIED OUT THE ATTACK?
Wednesday's attack was carried out by what can be described as the militant wing of the American nationalist-populist movement. This wing is not strictly representative of the US president's broader political base. Its members see themselves as vanguard soldiers who are prepared to take extreme action to avert President Trump's imminent departure from the White House. Such militant attitudes are not typical among Trump voters. Yet this vanguard is revered by Trump's political base, a sizeable portion of which appears to be in support of Wednesday's attack on the US Capitol. Indeed, early polling by YouGov suggests that over 40 percent of Republican voters strongly or somewhat support the attack on the US Capitol.
Many members of this frontline force belong to organized militant cells, like the Oath Keepers, the Three Percenters, and —more recently— the Proud Boys. But these groups provide limited operational direction to their members, and were certainly not commanding Wednesday's events. In fact, an audiovisual analysis of the attack shows that most of the assailants operated in makeshift groups and many didn't even know each other's names. There were no leaders directing the attacks on Wednesday. It is indeed likely that the militant figureheads of the movement were as surprised by the turn of events as the hapless members of the US Capitol Police.
HOW WAS THE ATTACK PREPARED?
Many of the assailants were armed with tactical equipment, as well as with clubs, shields, chemical irritants, knives and other weapons. It also appears that at least one group of insurgents arrived at the Capitol with ropes, which they subsequently used to scale its walls. This points to earlier planning and coordination, which likely involved at least some reconnaissance. Read more of this post
Filed under A specialized intelligence website written by experts, since 2008 Tagged with Analysis, domestic terrorism, Donald Trump, Joseph Fitsanakis, Newstex, rightwing extremism
Isaac Shoshan, Israeli undercover operative and case officer, dead at 96
Isaac Shoshan, an Israeli undercover operative, who was involved in some of Israel's most daring and controversial intelligence operations for over 40 years, has died. In 1990, Shoshan co-authored the book Men of Secrets, Men of Mystery with another Israeli former intelligence officer, Rafi Sutton. In 2019, his career was featured in the book Spies of No Country: Secret Lives at the Birth of Israel, written by the Israeli-Canadian journalist Matti Friedman.
In 1942, Shoshan, a Syrian Jew, traveled for the first time from his native Aleppo to Palestine, which was then under a British mandate. The 18-year-old was soon recruited by the Palmach, the intelligence wing of the Haganah, an armed underground Zionist organization. He carried out undercover work under the Palmach's so-called 'Arab Section', or 'Arab Platoon', which consisted of Zionist paramilitaries and intelligence collectors who had grown up speaking Arabic.
After undergoing Islamic religious and cultural training, Shoshan participated in a Palmach operation to kill Sheikh Nimr al-Khatib, in early 1948. Al-Khatib was a Palestinian warlord that the Haganah feared would lead an Arab insurrection against Israel after the impending British withdrawal from Palestine. Although the assassination operation failed, al-Khatib was seriously injured and effectively incapacitated for the rest of his life.
Shoshan was then tasked with carrying out operations in several Arab countries, posing as an Arab. His base was Beirut, where he operated a taxi and worked at a kiosk as a cover. His activities included an elaborate assassination operation against Lebanon's Prime Minister, Riad al-Suhl, which was aborted at the last minute by the Israeli leadership.
In the mid-1950s, Israeli intelligence disbanded its Arab units, following several failed operations, such as the so-called 'Lavon affair', which led to the arrests and executions of some of its undercover operatives. At that time, Shoshan was recalled to Israel, where he began to work as a case officer, with occasional undercover trips abroad, during which he posed as an Arab. He retired in 1982, but continued to carry out contracting work for the Mossad and other Israeli intelligence agencies until the late 1980s.
Filed under A specialized intelligence website written by experts, since 2008 Tagged with Haganah, Isaac Shoshan, Israel, Mossad, News, non-official-cover, obituaries, Palmach
Year in review: The biggest spy-related stories of 2020, part III
Since 2008, when intelNews was launched, it has been our end-of-year tradition to take a look back and highlight what we believe were the most important intelligence-related stories of the past 12 months. In anticipation of what 2021 may bring in this highly volatile field, we present you with our selection of the top spy stories of 2020. They are listed below in reverse order of significance, starting from 10 and leading up to 1. This is part three in a three-part series. Part one is available here and part two is here.
01. COVID-19 prompts spy agencies' mission shift that is 'reminiscent of the space race'. The worldwide competition to invent a vaccine that can curtail the spread of COVID-19, and to secure sufficient quantities of the vaccine, has prompted a mission shift in major intelligence agencies around the world. This mission shift is taking place with such speed that it is "reminiscent of the space race", according to The New York Times. In an article published in September, the paper cited "interviews with current and former intelligence officials and others tracking the espionage efforts", who suggest that the mission shift observed in spy agencies worldwide has been among the fastest in history.
02. Swiss neutrality 'shattered' as leading cryptologic firm revealed to be CIA front. Switzerland continues to reel from the shock caused by revelations in February that Crypto AG, the world's leading manufacturer or cryptologic equipment during the Cold War, whose clients included over 120 governments around the world, was a front company owned by the United States Central Intelligence Agency. The revelation, published by The Washington Post and the German public broadcaster ZDF, confirmed rumors that had been circulating since the early 1980s, that Crypto AG had made a secret deal with the US government. According to this year's revelations, the CIA and West Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND) secretly purchased the Swiss company and paid off most of its senior executives in order to buy their silence. The secret deal allegedly allowed the US and West Germany to spy on the classified government communications of several of their adversaries —and even allies, including Italy, Spain and Greece, as well as Austria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
03. Danish spy service helped US collect intelligence on NATO allies. There was surprise among intelligence observers in August, when Lars Findsen, director of the Danish Defense Intelligence Service (FE, or DDIS in English) was "relieved of duty for the time being". The Danish Ministry of Defense said the decision was taken following "a series of whistleblower revelations". We now know the reason: apparently a secret arrangement between Danish and American intelligence agencies enabled Washington to collect intelligence on Danish citizens, as well as spy on some of its closest European allies, including Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, and Holland. The revelation prompted a heated political discussion in Denmark, while Norwegian, Swedish and Dutch authorities launched investigations into the alleged spying. Some in Denmark called for the Minister of Defense, Trine Bramsen, to release to the public a four-volume report government produced about the alleged Danish-US spy collaboration. This has not yet happened.
04. US forces are secretly helping the Taliban fight the Islamic State in Afghanistan. The original reason the United States sent troops to Afghanistan was to fight al-Qaeda and its local allies, the Taliban. Now, however, it appears US forces are helping the Taliban defeat the Islamic State in northeastern Afghanistan. The American military's newfound role in Afghanistan reportedly reflects the view of the White House that the Taliban have no aspirations outside of Afghanistan, while the Islamic State seeks to challenge America's interests worldwide. According to The Washington Post's military affairs reporter Wesley Morgan, US Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) forces in Afghanistan have been instructed to provide air cover to Taliban forces as they fight the Islamic State. The resources used in that capacity consist of weaponry that was initially deployed against the Taliban, but is now being secretly repurposed to assist the Taliban in their fight against the Islamic State. According to Morgan, the JSOC team in Kunar, which provides air cover to the Taliban, jokingly refers to itself as the "Taliban air force". It is unclear whether al-Qaeda, which is a close ally of the Taliban, is benefiting from that assistance.
This is part three in a three-part series. Part one is available here and part two is here.
► Author: J. Fitsanakis and I. Allen | Date: 31 December 2020 | Permalink
Year in review: The biggest spy-related stories of 2020, part II
Since 2008, when intelNews was launched, it has been our end-of-year tradition to take a look back and highlight what we believe were the most important intelligence-related stories of the past 12 months. In anticipation of what 2021 may bring in this highly volatile field, we present you with our selection of the top spy stories of 2020. They are listed below in reverse order of significance, starting from 10 and leading up to 1. This is part two in a three-part series. Part one is available here. Part three will be published on Thursday.
05. A group of foreign mercenaries, including Americans, organized a failed coup in Venezuela. In early May, Venezuelan authorities stopped Operation GEDEÓN, an attempt by around 60 armed mercenaries and local dissidents to forcibly remove President Nicolás Maduro from office. The plan centered on infiltrating Venezuela by sea and capturing the Simón Bolívar International Airport, in an attempt to arrest and expel Maduro and other senior cabinet members. It appears, however, that the operation had been infiltrated by Venezuelan government spies and informants. At least two Americans participated in the failed operation, which was allegedly masterminded by Major General Clíver Alcalá Cordones a Colombia-based retired military officer who has since entered US custody on drug-trafficking charges. It has also been alleged that the coup was launched from Colombia with the support of Silvercorp USA, a private security group led by Jordan Goudreau, a Canadian-born former sergeant in the US Green Berets. Allegations by the Venezuelan government that the coup was also supported by the Central Intelligence Agency have not been corroborated with evidence.
06. Argentine ex-president and spy agency leaders indicted in wiretapping probe. In Argentina, a widening investigation into a domestic spying program was broadened to include Mauricio Macri, the country's former president, and the spy chief that served under him. The alleged espionage took place between 2015 and 2019, when Macri served as the first democratically-elected non-Peronist president of Argentina. But the country's current president Alberto Fernández, has pledged to reform the security agency, which is known as the Federal Intelligence Agency (AFI, formerly SIDE). In June, the government gave a federal court in Buenos Aires a deposition containing list of over 80 names of Argentine citizens who were allegedly spied on by the AFI without a warrant during Macri's administration. Since that time, the court has been investigating, aside from Macri, Gustavo Arribas, who served as AFI director under Macri, as well as his deputy director in the spy agency, Silvia Majdalani, and her brother-in-law, Darío Biorci. The names of other alleged culprits remain secret, reportedly because they are still serving as undercover agents in the AFI.
07. One of the world's most wanted men may have worked for several spy agencies. Austrian financier Jan Marsalek, dubbed by some as "the world's most wanted man", is connected with the sudden collapse of Wirecard AG in Germany. Wirecard (est. 1999) was a German provider of financial services, such as electronic payment transaction systems. It declared insolvency in June, after an audit revealed that nearly €2 billion ($2.3 billion) were missing from its accounts. Marsalek, who had worked as Wirecard's chief operating officer since 2010, was last seen heading to Manila, Philippines, before vanishing into thin air. An investigative report by The Financial Times revealed that his entrance record into the Philippines had been forged, probably by an intelligence agency. Some claim that Marsalek is now under Russian protection. Other reports suggest that he may have worked "for several intelligence agencies at the same time" prior to his disappearance, including as an informant for the Austrian Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism (BVT). Meanwhile, Marsalek's whereabouts remain unknown.
This is part two in a three-part series. Part one is available here. Part three will be published on Thursday.


text:
Q: Optimizing SQL query with multiple joins. Need advice on techniques to retrieve data fast and efficiently I have a query that gets the product description from product table (1st select) then subtracts it to the following subquery statements to get the no. of stocks remaining:
-sum of each product stocks in the inventory table (2nd)
-sum of each product sold in the sales_detail table (3rd)
-sum of each product transferred to another branch in the stock_transfer table (4th)
-sum of each product that got damaged in the damaged_product table (5th)
The problem is every time this query loads, it goes full search of all 4 tables to get the sum of the quantity columns. And as time goes by, more records are stored and the query will become slower. Any suggestions?
SELECT p.Id,p.Product_Name Product,p.Description, c.Category_Name Category,sc.Subcategory_Name Subcategory,s.Supplier_Name Supplier, p.Selling_Price `Unit Price`,i.Stocks,s.Sales, i.Stocks - IFNULL(s.Sales, 0) - IFNULL(t.Transfer, 0) - IFNULL(d.Damage, 0) AS Remaining

FROM (SELECT Id, Product_Name, Description, Selling_Price, Category_Id, Subcategory_Id, Supplier_Id       FROM product WHERE enable_flag = 1) p

LEFT OUTER JOIN(SELECT product_id, COALESCE(SUM(quantity), 0) AS Stocks
                FROM inventory
                WHERE enable_flag = 1 GROUP BY product_id) i ON p.Id = i.product_id

LEFT OUTER JOIN(SELECT product_id, COALESCE(SUM(quantity), 0) AS Sales
                FROM sales_detail
                WHERE enable_flag = 1 GROUP BY product_id) s USING(product_id)

LEFT OUTER JOIN(SELECT product_id, COALESCE(SUM(transfer_quantity), 0) AS Transfer
                FROM stock_transfer
                WHERE enable_flag = 1 GROUP BY product_id) t USING(product_id)

LEFT OUTER JOIN(SELECT product_id, COALESCE(SUM(damaged_quantity), 0) AS Damage
                FROM damaged_product
                WHERE enable_flag = 1 GROUP BY product_id) d USING(product_id)

JOIN Category c ON p.Category_Id=c.Id

JOIN Subcategory sc ON p.Subcategory_Id=sc.Id

JOIN Supplier s ON p.Supplier_Id=s.Id;

A: You are forcing a full groupby on the subtables, which is unnecessary.
SELECT Id, Product_Name Product, Description, Category_Name Category, Subcategory_Name Subcategory,
Supplier_Name Supplier, Selling_Price 'Unit Price',
Stocks, Sales, Stocks - Sales - Transfer - Damage AS Remaining
FROM
(select p.*, sc.Subcategory_Name, s.Supplier_Name,
IFNULL((SELECT SUM(quantity) FROM inventory WHERE enable_flag = 1 and product_id = p.Id),0) as Stocks,
IFNULL((SELECT SUM(quantity) FROM sales_detail WHERE enable_flag = 1 and product_id = p.Id),0) as Sales,
IFNULL((SELECT SUM(transfer_quantity) FROM stock_transfer WHERE enable_flag = 1 and product_id = p.Id),0) as Transfer,
IFNULL((SELECT SUM(damaged_quantity) FROM damaged_product WHERE enable_flag = 1 and product_id = p.Id),0) as Damage
FROM product p
JOIN Category c ON p.Category_Id=c.Id
JOIN Subcategory sc ON p.Subcategory_Id=sc.Id
JOIN Supplier s ON p.Supplier_Id=s.Id
WHERE enable_flag = 1
) p

And ofcourse, you should ensure you have indexes on product_id on inventory, sales_detail, stock_transfer, damaged_product, plus Category_Id on Category, Subcategory_Id on Subcategory, and finally Supplier_Id on Supplier

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Recipes for Recovery
Ezra Klein's Levitt and Dubner Smackdown
Ezra has a copy of the book, and is a really unhappy camper:
Ezra Klein: The Shoddy Statistics of Super Freakonomics: Super Freakonomics is getting a lot of flak for its flip contrarianism on climate change, most of which seems based on incorrectly believing solar panels are black (they're blue, and this has surprisingly large energy implications) and misquoting important climate scientists. But before people begin believing that the problem with Super Freakonomics is that it annoys environmentalists, let's be clear: The problem with Super Freakonomics is it prefers an interesting story to an accurate one... from the very first story on the very first page of the book....
Take, for example, a night of drinking at a friend's house. At the end of the night, you decide against driving home. This decision, the book says, seems "really, really easy." As you might have guessed, we're about to learn that it's not so easy. At least if you mangle your statistics. The next few pages purport to prove that drunk walking is eight times more dangerous than drunk driving....
It's terrifically shoddy statistical work. You'd get dinged for this in a college class. But it's in a book written by a celebrated economist and a leading journalist. Moreover, the topic isn't whether people prefer chocolate or vanilla, but whether people should drive drunk. It is shoddy statistical work, in other words, that allows people to conclude that respected authorities believe it is safer for them to drive home drunk than walk home drunk. It's shoddy statistical work that could literally kill somebody. That makes it more than bad statistics. It makes it irresponsible.
But hey, it makes for a fun and unexpected opener.
October 16, 2009 at 14:14 in #economics, #journamalism | Permalink | Comments (19)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


SystemRescueCD – is a system rescue disk available as a bootable CD-ROM or USB stick for administrating or repairing your system and data after a crash. It aims to provide an easy way to carry out admin tasks on your computer, such as creating and editing the hard disk partitions.
It comes with a lot of linux software such as system tools (parted, partimage, fstools, …) and basic tools (editors, midnight commander, network tools).
• Fully operable and independent operating system based on Linux, which can run from a bootable CD or DVD drive, even if the main computer's operating system will not boot.
• Supports the following file systems: EXT2, EXT3, EXT4, Reiserfs, Reiser4, BTRFS, XFS, JFS, VFAT, NTFS, ISO9660.
• Support for network file systems: Samba and NFS.
• Create, edit, copy, restore hard drive partitions.
• The presence of a number of system utilities (Parted, Partimage, Fstools and other utilities).
• Availability of Midnight Commander file manager allows files and directories on different actions (copy, delete, move, rename, etc.).


Thanks to extremely compact design the overexcitation rectifier "Slim Collection" can be installed in very restricted space. The module features a central bore for screw fixing inside the terminal box. It can also be installed by using an adhesive pad.


Put the lime in the coconut and get set to cruise the Tiki-est line-up this side of the South Pacific as The Factory goes troppo for a day, with a celebration of Tiki culture.
It all started back in 1934, when Texas native Don the Beachcomber created Tiki Pop, combining the Polynesian jungle aesthetic with a love of rum and tropical-flavoured cocktails. Soon Tiki-themed bars were popping up all over the USA and beyond.
WWII sparked a resurgence, with returned servicemen bringing a slice of the islands back with them to create home Tiki Bars spilling over with rum.
Off stage at the Tiki Safari, you'll find all things exotic and Tiki, with collectables, clothing, merch, food and celebrated tiki carver Tiki Bob plying his trade. This is Sydney's premier Tiki event. A day of mesmerising fascination and alluring mystery. Not to be missed!


text:
Bureaucratic Bloat a Drag on LA's Utility,|City Finance Chief Finds
January 20, 2016 SEAN DUFFY
LOS ANGELES (CN) – Massive water leaks, extensive billing errors and infrastructure issues can be partly traced back to the bureaucracy of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, according to a report released by LA controller Ron Galperin.
The 578-page report, titled "2015 Industrial, Economic and Administrative Survey of the LADWP," detailed several problems and suggestions for the department, explaining past incidents and solutions for improvement.
The department's issues stem from inefficient management and the increasing politicization of those in charge of governing it – despite supposedly functioning outside of the political process, according to the report.
"LADWP is hindered by its governance structure, which is complicated largely by multiple layers of city authority and opaque accountability," the report said.
Galperin advised the department to centralize internal authority, make its inner workings more cohesive and to be more transparent. The controller's findings were organized and released last month by Navigant Consulting.
Department spokeswoman Kim Hughes said management issues have led to discussions of effectiveness within the department.
"It's something that they're looking at," Hughes said. "We've always been open to working not only with our oversight, but also our neighbors and our ratepayers."
Galperin's report also said the department lacks the proper personnel and infrastructure to effectively run its operations.
"The ability to meet future power and water system needs will depend on clear governance, robust internal controls, transparent and defensible financial processes supporting rates, strong program management in capital projects and other disciplines across the utility," the report said.
The recommendations come after the department has faced questions regarding its management after several well-publicized operational problems.
A transition to a new billing system resulted in overcharges and missing bills in 2014 and 2015. Flooding and water leaks have also been issues, including a catastrophic 2014 water main break that flooded the UCLA campus with 20 million gallons of water – causing $13 million in damage to the school alone.
"The report generally shows that we do need the money to rebuild our infrastructure," Lowell Goodwan, Galperin's communications director, said. "He [Galperin] also acknowledges that that's a short-term fix, and the controller's real interest at this point is long-term reform of the DWP."
The department is funded by water and power usage fees, along with some state funding and grants that are not necessarily consistent year-to-year. Attempts to raise fees to resolve infrastructure issues and develop new projects have been challenging, largely due to fear of the political ramifications.
"The political push to keep rates low has impacted the DWP's ability to set rates at a level where they would be able to make more long-term and strategic investments in their infrastructure," Goodman said. "Doesn't mean we necessarily need to raise rates much higher, may need a better system to reform the oversight of this department."
Fred Pickel, the department's ratepayer advocate, accepted potential rate hikes on Jan. 15 after reviewing the suggested increases for power and water rate.
Besides providing greater financial resources, these fee increases can present an opportunity to review and improve the department's operations.
"It's tough to talk about rates without talking about the governance structure," LA City Councilman Felipe Fuentes said. "Every time we increase rates it gives us an opportunity to say, 'Can we be more efficient?'"
Fuentes, who chairs the city council's energy and environment committee, explained that addressing the problems and suggestions outlined in the report could limit the need to increase water and power rates.
"If the utility were more accountable to some of the observations that previous auditors have recommended – and if we were able to have more direct management over the utility – we probably could save ratepayers a little bit of money, and mitigate how much we have to raise rates," Fuentes said.
Any changes that do result from the study's findings will have to be done by the city government.
"A lot of the structure stems from the city charter," department spokeswoman Hughes said. "Our department can't make those changes, those charter changes would have to flow from the city council."
← Nonprofit Head Guilty|of Bribing UN Chief
8th Circuit Affirms Denial in Police Bias Case →


We recently published an interview with Barcelona-based graphic designer Emil Kozak. Chosen as one of three endorsers for Braun's CruZer campaign, Emil draws, paints, illustrates, skates and surfs. What is more, he also heads his own graphic design and art direction agency, and is often called upon to inject a little pizzazz to brands in need of street cred'. Oh, and he's also about to launch his very own brand of surf boards. With such a diversity of talents and disciplines, it is no wonder he's caught our attention (we'll be publishing a portfolio of his work in our blue album, out on 2nd September). Here, a small video shot in Emil's hometown.


text:
@Plus Radio — первая интернет-радиостанция Белоруссии. Впервые вышла в эфир 12 апреля 2004 года под названием «Айчына SHOUTcast». На данный момент у радиостанции 7 отдельных потоков: @plus первый, @plus хип-хоп, @plus рок, @plus релакс, @plus по-русски, @plus deep, @plus бит.

История радиостанции
Весной 2006 года радиостанция сменила своё название с «Айчына шауткаст» на @plus в связи с более удобным названием.

Радиостанции возникла из локального любительского проекта; его основной движущей силой были и остаются не финансовые средства, а энтузиазм и увлечённость новыми технологиями как создателей станции, так и её слушателей. В год основания были установлены договорённости с провайдерами «Айчына», «Атлант Телеком» и «Соло», в тот момент аудитория составляла 1500 человек.

После трёх лет развития @plus Radio в Интернете слушало порядка 15 тысяч человек. В 2007 году на радиостанции работало 25 человек (19 человек из Белоруссии, 4 — из Америки, 2 — из Европы).

Для обратной связи используются SMS, ICQ, Skype и Skype-чат. В результате слушатели могут общаться с ведущими программ, что делает их полностью интерактивными.

Радиостанция входит в рейтинг сайтов Акавита среди СМИ Белоруссии.

Станция оказывает информационную поддержку музыкальным мероприятиям, а также является партнёром WCG Belarus. @plus Radio проводит прямые трансляции с концертов многих известных музыкантов и групп. С учётом различий «дневной» и «вечерней» аудитории в сетке вещания станции днём больше поп- и рок-классики, а вечером преобладает современная музыка, в частности, евродэнс.

На сегодняшний день доступ к сайту радиостанции ограничен по решению суда или по иным основаниям, установленным законодательством Российской Федерации.

Формат
@plus Radio не ограничивается каким-то определённым музыкальным стилем, тем самым давая своему слушателю разнообразие музыки. В то же время все другие потоки играют только определённое направление в соответствии с названием: @plus По-русски — русскоязычную музыку, @plus Hip-Hop — рэп-музыку, @plus Rock — рок.

 Распространение
Интернет-пространство. Территория, на которую осуществляется вещание и ретрансляция, практически полностью охватывает провайдеров Белоруссии, а также ряд российских и украинских интернет-провайдеров (в 2007 году ретранслировалась 18 российскими и тремя украинскими провайдерами). Прослушивание полностью бесплатно. Помимо этого, отдельные программы транслируются на радио других стран, что существенно увеличивает целевую аудиторию проекта.

Примечания

Ссылки
 Владимир Волков Интернет-радио в Беларуси: два интервью
 Сердцееды. Директор радио «Аплюс»: «Я смотрю порно!»
 Радио «Аплюс» на выставке PTS'2010

Радиостанции Белоруссии
Радиостанции на русском языке
Интернет-радио

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
How We Turned the Tide on Domestic Violence
(Hint: The Polaroid Helped)
"I believe we can bend the arc of human history toward compassion and equality, and I also fundamentally believe and passionately believe that this violence does not have to be part of the human condition."
Why I believe the Mistreatment of Women
is the Number One Human Rights Abuse
"...the best thing that we could do today is for the women in the powerful nations...be more forceful in demanding an end to racial discrimination against girls and women all over the world."
Additional Videos:
The Bro Code: How Contemporary Culture Creates Sexist Men (2011)
Flirting with Danger: Power & Choice in Heterosexual Relationships Featuring Lynn Phillips (2012)
Spin the Bottle – Sex, Lies & Alcohol, Featuring Jackson Katz & Jean Kilbourne (2004)
S.T.O.P. in Action – Success Stories from the S.T.O.P. Formula Grant Program (2007)
Tough Guise: Violence, Media, and the Crisis in Masculinity with Jackson Katz (2002)
The Use of Technology to Stalk (2011)
"Domestic Violence" on UALR Public Radio
This Woman's Heartbreaking Plea is Going Viral - Diana Burk, Cosmopolitan
Patrick Stewart: the legacy of domestic violence - Patrick Stewart, The Guardian
At Least A Third Of All Women Murdered In The U.S. Are Killed By Male Partners - Melissa Jeltson & Allison Scheller, Huffington Post


Spend Matters welcomes this guest post from Anisha Khushlani, a senior consultant at GEP.
A wide variety of industries are adopting technology to automate supply processes, bringing significant bottom-line benefits to companies by allowing greater productivity, visibility and cost efficiency. At a high level, e-procurement provides the opportunity to increase efficiencies in business transactions and enhances negotiation leverage for firms. Use of technology is one of the key metrics used by benchmarking firms to measure maturity of procurement organizations. So, it's important to find the right tool and reap the benefits.
Better spend visibility and lower costs. E-procurement structures spend across suppliers and centralizes tracking, which helps leverage volume and lower costs for the buyer. This allows firms to track cost reductions on a continuous basis and identify and address any gaps. It also helps ensure contract compliance, track vendor SLAs and implement scorecards, leading to higher savings and increased productivity from suppliers.
Operational performance. E-procurement helps automate internal procurement processes such as purchase order tracking, RFX events and supplier evaluation, leading to higher operational efficiency. Since these activities can be completed without human intervention, it further reduces transaction time and helps expedite downstream processes.
E-catalogues and increased standardization. Electronic catalogues make supplier product offerings available electronically and provide buyers more visibility into product and price information. With the increased popularity of these catalogues, suppliers are moving toward offering a more standardized product, thereby providing buyers the ability to compare offers across suppliers more easily.
Internal integration. E-purchasing eliminates information asymmetries and improves collaboration across internal departments, providing maximum value to the organization.
With all documents stored electronically, e-procurement decreases engagement turnaround time by making reusable templates available, acting as a repository of current vendor contracts and reducing the time involved in repetitive tactical steps with increased automation — hence simplifying the end-to-end procurement process.
Increased data accuracy. When the process is conducted electronically, the resulting streamlining reduces opportunities for error. The repository of documents also makes it easy to refer to older orders and contracts to ensure contract compliance, thereby reducing data inaccuracies.
Global procurement. E-procurement applications support various currencies, languages and logistics options, providing the ease to source from countries across the globe. Web-based procurement also connects the buyer to suppliers around the globe, providing access to a wider range of products and services to choose from.
An electronic procurement system helps to standardize workflows and reduce deviations from the process. Some of the benefits of moving online are routing transactions through the right channel and getting the correct level of approval, using existing suppliers and referring to current contracts, and preventing off-contract purchases.
E-procurement automates the procure-to-pay (P2P) process, making it more seamless and robust, thereby helping organizations gain both tangible and intangible benefits. It also acts as a repository, which helps in automating several workflows.


Profiles of company executives. Find a report by typing the company name in the 'Search within this publication' search bar.
From the ABI/Inform database, find company reports with business overviews and SWOT analyses. Find a report by typing the company name in the 'Search within this publication' search bar.
For publicly traded companies, search for their SEC filings.
Report on credit and risk factors of various companies and their branches. Find a report by typing the company name in the 'Search within this publication' search bar.
B2B supply chain resource with over 900 U.S. company profiles.
From the ABI/Inform database, find an alphabetical list of shareholder reports direct from various companies.
Company & industry press releases.
Rankings of big & small companies, profiles and news.
Fortune 500 annual ranking with the corporations' key financial information.
The National Retail Federation's annual ranking of 100 retailers.
IndustryWeek's annual ranking of world's publicly held manufacturing companies, includes key financial information.
100 of America's largest majority employee-owned companies.
Inc. annual ranking of America's fastest growing companies, including companies' profile and statistics.
Canadian public company filings, annual reports, and press releases.


text:
Woodson Research Center
Houston waterways collections
"Newport Beach to host junior sailing nationals" newsclipping
HYC00291.pdf
Lockabey, Almon
"At stake will be the Sears Cup for the four-handed sailing title, the Bemis Trophy for the double-handed championship, and the Smythe Trophy for singler-handers… The Sears Cup is the oldest and most prestigious of the three junior national trophies."
Photocopy of clipping describing the planned national junior sailing events in Newport Beach, California, 1990
Lockabey, Almon. ""Newport Beach to host junior sailing nationals" newsclipping." (1990) Houston Yacht Club via Rice University: https://hdl.handle.net/1911/37335.
Houston Yacht Club--History
Houston Yacht Club via Rice University
The copyright holder for this material is either unknown or unable to be found. This material is being made available by Rice University for non-profit educational use under the Fair Use Section of US Copyright Law.Permission to examine physical and digital collection items does not imply permission for publication. Fondren Library's Woodson Research Center / Special Collections has made these materials available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any uses beyond the spirit of Fair Use require permission from owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns. See http://library.rice.edu/guides/publishing-wrc-materials
Houston waterways collections [739]


text:
Egypt gives Italy phone records of street vendors' union chief: legal source
ReutersMay 7, 2016
Egypt has handed over the mobile phone records of the head of a street vendors union to Italian investigators who are looking into the killing in Cairo of student Giulio Regeni, a legal source said on Friday.
Regeni, who was doing postgraduate research into the union, was last seen by his friends on January 25. His body, which showed extensive signs of torture, was found in a roadside ditch on the outskirts of the Egyptian capital on February 3.
Italy, which has repeatedly complained that it has not received full cooperation from Egypt over the killing, has asked for the phone records of 13 individuals as well as a mass of other information, including video from surveillance cameras.
Earlier this week, the Egyptian authorities sent to Rome the records of five people, including Mohammed Abdullah, the head of the street vendors union, said the legal source, who has direct knowledge of the probe but declined to be named.
The identities of the other four people whose phone data was handed over were not revealed. Italy has not said why it was seeking information about Abdullah.
In the aftermath of the 2011 uprising, vendors were often used by police to attack protesters or acted as informers. Some vendors were also targeted by the police for blocking roads.
Reuters was not able to contact Abdullah or the Interior Ministry on Friday, a weekend day in Egypt. A Foreign Ministry spokesman declined to comment.
The legal source said Italy was also requesting help from Google about Regeni's email account. An email was sent from the account on March 23 and investigators are trying to find out who hacked into it, and why.
Italy last month recalled its ambassador to Egypt for consultations to protest what it said was the slow pace of the investigation and the perceived lack of cooperation. Italian investigators are due to fly to Cairo on Sunday for talks with their Egyptian counterparts.
Human rights groups have said the torture indicated Regeni, 28, died at the hands of the security forces, an allegation Cairo denies.
Three Egyptian intelligence officials and three police sources told Reuters that Regeni was detained by police and then transferred to a compound run by Homeland Security on the day his friends say he disappeared. The Interior Ministry and Homeland Security department denied this, saying Regeni was not held by police or Homeland Security.
Following the report, local media reported that two individuals filed criminal complaints asking police to investigate Reuters and its Cairo bureau chief.
Giulio Regeni Mohamed Abdullah phone records street vendors street vendors union
Italy judge suspends trial of Egyptians charged after student killing
Egyptian prosecution hands Italy documents on Giulio Regeni murder
Italian prosecutors ask judge to try Egyptian officers over Regeni murder
Egyptian prosecution wants accusations against police excluded from Regeni case


There's never a shortage of drama at the Grammys, and this year, it's no different. Prior to the show last night, Twitter was set abuzz when Ariana Grande called out Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich for lying about her reason for not performing this year. Aside from that, Childish Gambino, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar—who were all nominated for a number of awards also declined to perform during the event, although Drake was present to accept his award for Best Rap Song. But that's not it. There was drama on the red carpet too, although this time, it's for good reasons. It's only apt for the stars of the night to make their appearances for music's biggest event in the most eye-catching looks, and here are some of our favourites.
Nominated (and won) the awards for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (alongside Bradley Cooper) and Best Pop Solo Performance, Lady Gaga—who has been on a roll lately—turned up in a head-to-toe silver look from Celine that's streamlined and chic, so did Dua Lipa who snagged the Best New Artist prize. Miley Cyrus kept things fail-proof this year with her Mugler pantsuit, and the tailored ensembles will always be an A+ in our books. On the other side of the spectrum, while their effort to stand out is appreciated, there were also some looks that fell short. The pink shade seemed to be a popular pick this year—as seen on Katy Perry, Cardi B, and Kylie Jenner, but the exaggerated silhouettes didn't flatter their hourglass figure at all.


A Jarrod Austin-trained gelding who excels at the mile looks well placed at Kembla on Saturday.
Hirokin will be having his second run back from a break when the five-year-old son of Dubawi takes his place in the Hansen & Cole Funerals Benchmark 67 Handicap (1600m).
Hirokin turned in a "be on me next time performance" at Canberra resuming when he came from the rear of the field to miss reeling in Arigold and Ready Set Sing by the narrowest of margins in a benchmark 65 handicap over 1400m.
Hirokin's latest outing looked a perfect pipe opener as he steps up to his preferred distance range on Saturday.
Each of Hirokin's five career wins from 29 starts have been over the 1600 metre journey with the gelding finishing in the placings on four other occasions over the mile.
Indeed, the last time Hirokin returned to the winner's stall was over 1600 metres at Kembla on November 14 on a soft track and with a soft 5 tracked posted on Saturday the ability to handle the sting out of the ground looks a significant factor.
Hirokin gets in well at the weights after the 3kg claim for apprentice Brock Ryan and with the first-up run under his belt is ready to win.


text:
Q: Scala: defining main method that can be used by 'java' The usual way of defining main in Scala (as shown below) can be used to run classes with 'scala', but not 'java' (since the created method is not static). How do I write a Scala class/object that can be executed with 'java'?
object HelloWorld {
  def main(args: Array[String]) {
    println("Hello, world!")
  }
}

A: javap will in fact show you that your main is static.
javap HelloWorld
Compiled from "HelloWorld.scala"
public final class HelloWorld extends java.lang.Object{
    public static final void main(java.lang.String[]);
    public static final int $tag()  throws java.rmi.RemoteException;
}

Perhaps you just need the Scala jars on your classpath?
There is a similar question here on Stack Overflow: "Creating a jar file from a Scala file".
I just verified this works with the instructions (linked) above.
Just run via:
java -jar HelloWorld.jar

A: You are incorrect. You can run it with "java", and the reason you gave for not being possible is not true. Here, let me show what is inside "scala".
Unix:
#!/bin/sh
...
exec "${JAVACMD:=java}" $JAVA_OPTS -cp "$TOOL_CLASSPATH" -Dscala.home="$SCALA_HOME" -Denv.classpath="$CLASSPATH" -Denv.emacs="$EMACS"  scala.tools.nsc.MainGenericRunner  "$@"

Windows:
@echo off
...
if "%_JAVACMD%"=="" set _JAVACMD=java
...
"%_JAVACMD%" %_JAVA_OPTS% %_PROPS% -cp "%_TOOL_CLASSPATH%" scala.tools.nsc.MainGenericRunner  %_ARGS%

However, if you happen to have a class with the same name defined, then there's a bug that might be affecting you, depending on the Scala version you are using.

A: The simplest way, and the one I always use, is to define the object (as you did) but not a corresponding "companion" class. In that case, the Scala compiler will create a pair of classes, the one whose name is precisely the same as the object will contain static forwarding methods that, for the purposes of launcher entry points, are precisely what you need. The other class has the name of your object with a $ appended and that's where the code resides. Javap will disclose these things, if you're curious about details.
Thus your HelloWorld example will work as you want, allowing this:
% scala pkg.package.more.HelloWorld args that you will ignore
Randall Schulz

A: Did you happen to also define a class HelloWorld? There's a bug in Scala 2.7.x that prevents the static methods on the HelloWorld class from being generated when both object HelloWorld and class HelloWorld are defined.


text:
/*
 * Minio Cloud Storage, (C) 2015 Minio, Inc.
 *
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
 *
 *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 *
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 * limitations under the License.
 */

package tasker

// Command is number that uniquely identifies a command function.
type Command uint8

// Enumerate the task commands.
const (
	// CmdNOOP does nothing. It is a default placeholder. Uninitialized variable of this type will point to NOOP command by default.
	CmdNOOP Command = iota
	// CmdSignalEnd gracefully ends current task. Never ending tasks (loop over) or Batched jobs will not take the next iteration,
	// but may finish the current state to completion.
	CmdSignalEnd
	// CmdSignalAbort ends the current task at hand immediately. It may still cleanup dangling issues quickly.
	CmdSignalAbort
	// CmdSignalSuspend suspends the current task.
	CmdSignalSuspend
	// CmdSignalResume resumes a suspended task.
	CmdSignalResume
	// CmdPriorityLow is optimized to conserve resources and complete the task at a slow pace. This option is ideal for batch processed tasks.
	CmdPriorityLow
	// CmdPriorityMedium is the default priority. It is a balanced option between resources and speed.
	CmdPriorityMedium
	// CmdPriorityHigh is optimized for speed. This option is ideal for short lived tasks (like meta-data related) that are latency sensitive. Use this option wisely.
	CmdPriorityHigh
	// CmdPrioritySuper is an exclusive priority. All tasks with priority lower than Super (including High) are paused
	// temporarily until this task completes. Anytime you consider using this priority level, please seek for approval.
	CmdPrioritySuper
)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: python scrapy check if the class exists else check for other I am new to using Scrapy. My response will have this structure.

    Listing ID: 777247

Not sold

    Listing ID: 777248

Sold Post

    Listing ID: 777249

Sold

I can use this
response.xpath("//*[contains(@class, 'padb-ribbon') and contains(@class, 'padb-ribbon-sold')]").extract()

for finding sold results, but the classes differ based on the property auction results. There are three different class types padb-ribbon-not-sold, padb-ribbon-sold-post, padb-ribbon-sold. How do i capture this in order?

A: You could try the following xpath to get the sold status for each listing:
sold_status = response.xpath('//*[starts-with(@class,"padb-ribbon")]/span/text()').extract_first()

Not sure what the page structure looks like, but if you need to loop through the property-cards you can do something like this:

property_xpaths = response.xpath('//*[@class="padb-property-card"]/div')
for property_xpath in property_xpaths:
    sold_status = property_xpath.xpath('//*[starts-with(@class,"padb-ribbon")]/span/text()').extract_first()


The Major League Baseball is back in action on Wednesday afternoon as the Houston Astros will battle the Oakland Athletics as the Oakland, Coliseum in Oakland, California in the final game of a three-game set. The Astros have been the better team so far as they have taken three of the first four games from the A's this year. The Astros will start this game with Gerrit Cole (3-1, 1.42 ERA) and the A's will give the nod to Daniel Mengden (2-3, 4.30 ERA).
The Houston Astros were facing below average home form as their recent record is just 2-5 in their last seven games. However it seems that the Astros bounced back as they won game one by a score of 16-2 and 4-2 in game two. The Astros have averaged 6.0 runs per game and have allowed just 2.28 runs per game out on the road so far.
The Astros will give the node to Gerrit Cole and his stats are 3-1 with a 1.42 ERA and a 0.69 WHIP in seven starts on the year, including 4-0 with a 0.39 ERA and a 0.61 WHIP in three away game starts. This will be his first game at the Coliseum and many pundits are eager to see how he will perform.
The Oakland A's did not start this series in a good form as they lost the first two games. They were good against Baltimore, but they lost the momentum going into this game as they were demolished in game-one of this series falling by a score of 16-2 and a 4-2 in a consecutive loss. Moreover, the Athletics were not able to bounce back as they lost the second game with a score of 4-2. Oakland has averaged 4.39 runs per game and has allowed 4.33 runs per game at their home ground for the season.
On the offensive side of the game, the Athletics have an above average stats so far as they are placed on the 13th spot in the league in scoring, putting up 4.54 runs per game, while also being the 10th team in hitting at .251 and 9th in homers with a total of 42. On the mound, they have been in a poor form as they are placed on the 20th spot in the league in ERA at 4.34, while also being placed on the 12th in WHIP at 1.28 and 23rd in K's with 277.
The Astros have been enjoying a fine form again the Athletics and I can't see the A's bouncing back. Their offence firepower is probably the best in the MLB and they have Gerrit Cole on the mound, who is 3-1 with a 1.42 ERA for the season. I expect that Houston will maintain the momentum and win this third game of the series.


text:
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Home Bankruptcy Law COVID-19 + CARES Act
How COVID-19 + The CARES Act Affects Bankruptcy Filing
Filing for bankruptcy is never a fun process. Even considering whether or not bankruptcy is the best option for you may cause a certain level of anxiety. Not to mention: add the stress of the current pandemic on top of the stress surrounding a bankruptcy filing, and it's not a surprise why you may feel bummed.
However, the process of filing for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, or any form of bankruptcy during the COVID outbreak doesn't need to be overwhelming. When taken step by step and with sufficient guidance, the process can be completed swiftly and as painlessly as possible.
Unknown to many Americans are the changes currently made to bankruptcy law, as stated in the recently enforced CARES Act (the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act). There are important revisions to the bankruptcy code in the U.S. that may affect your potential bankruptcy filing.
What is the CARES Act anyway?
The CARES Act was signed into effect on March 27th 2020 and includes $2.2 trillion worth of relief to individuals, families, and business suffering from the economic consequences of the current pandemic. Nestled into the changes alongside the stimulus, unemployment benefits, and small business relief are changes to the Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy filings.
Changes to Bankruptcy Laws: Small Business Reorganization Act (SBRA)
As part of the CARES Act, a new portion of Subchapter 5 was added to the Small Business Reorganization Act (SBRA) to lower the cost and expense for small businesses that are reorganizing under Chapter 11 filing. Originally, if a small business wished to qualify under SBRA, the total of their secured and unsecured debts could not exceed $2,725,625. However, section 113 was added to the CARES Act to increase the debt limit to $7.5 million.
This increased debt limit applies to cases filed after the CARES Act went into effect and is valid for up to one year after the CARES Act becomes effective. After that point, the debt limit will return to its previous cap.
This change is very important due to its ability to allow for more businesses to qualify for a potential Chapter 11 Bankruptcy filing. The increased potential to qualify is likely to be warmly welcomed, given the currently difficult economic situation many businesses are facing due to the COVID pandemic.
Don't Let Coronavirus Put You Into Total Bankruptcy
Use our 24/7 online tool to schedule time with one of our experienced lawyers.
Other Key Provisions in the SBRA
The U.S. Trustee will now be required to appoint a trustee in each and every small business Chapter 11 case, and this trustee's role will be to assist the debtor in developing a viable plan of reorganization. The trustee will then be held responsible for disbursing payments under the plan.
The aforementioned trustee will serve in a supervisory role and will not be involved in the operational aspects of the business which he/she is supervising.
An unsecured creditors' committee will not be appointed except for circumstances in which such committee has been ordered by the court.
To avoid delays in the filing process, by no later than 60 days of the date of the petition, a status conference must be held; during this conference, a conversation must be had regarding how to proceed with the case.
To further avoid delays, no later than 90 days after the petition date, a plan of reorganization must be filed by the debtor; no disclosure statement is required, though the plan must include information regarding liquidation analysis and the projection of the debtor's ability to make payments under the proposed plan.
The plan may modify the rights of a secured lender with a lien on the principal residence of the debtor if the "new value" received from the loan was not used primarily to acquire the residence and was used primarily in connection with the small business.
It is now easier for a debtor to confirm a plan while maintaining ownership of his/her business; in Chapter 11 cases of the past, the "absolute priority rule" was set to ensure that business owners could not retain equity in a business unless creditors are fully paid by the Chapter 11 plan. However, the SBRA revoked this rule and allows for business owners to retain full ownership without providing "new value" if and only if the plan provides for the debtor to distribute all of its projected disposable income over a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years from the date the first payment is due, as per the plan.
In Chapter 11 cases of the past, debtors had to pay administrative expense claims for goods and services incurred during the post-petition period; these needed to be paid on the effective date of a reorganization plan. However, the SBRA now allows small business debtors to stretch payments of administrative expense claims out over the term of the plan.
Other, subtle and important changes have also been made to bankruptcy laws; if more information is needed – or if clarification on the existing information is needed, it's best to speak with a qualified Bankruptcy Attorney who can help walk you through the process and determine what the best options are for you!
More in the HEALS Act?
The Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act was recently unveiled, yet continues to be argued over (rather than passed) by members of both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Some elements of the proposed HEALS Act include: another round of stimulus checks, continuing unemployment benefits, aiding schools, and helping out the United States Postal Service. Stay tuned for how the HEALS Act may affect your own financial situation.
Boring Company Poised To Expand on Bankrupted Las Vegas Monorail
How to File For Bankruptcy Without An Attorney
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Bankruptcy For Independent Business Owners
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text:
Carriera
Le gemelle hanno iniziato a praticare il nuoto sincronizzato all'età di sei anni nel club di Senlis. L'anno successivo, hanno preso parte a uno stage con Virginie Dedieu, tre volte campionessa del mondo nella disciplina. All'inizio, si sono rifiutate di unirsi al Pôle Espoirs della Federazione, il che non ha impedito loro di vincere i Campionati francesi all'età di 14 anni nel 2013.

All'età di 15 anni sono entrate all'INSEP per combinare la loro istruzione e formazione. Nel 2016 hanno ottenuto un diploma di liceo scientifico e si iscrivono all'Institut polytechnique des sciences avancées.

Sono state selezionate per la squadra francese nel 2015 e hanno preso parte ai Giochi europei per la loro prima competizione senior.

Agli Campionati europei di nuoto 2018, le gemelle sono arrivate 7º in classifica, a soli cinque punti dal podio. A luglio 2019, durante i Campionati mondiali di nuoto 2019 di Gwangju in Corea del Sud, il duo si è classificato 8° e ha ottenuto il biglietto per i giochi olimpici di Tokio 2020.

Nel 2020 sono arrivate seconde nel duo tecnico dell'Open de France.

Palmarès

Note

Collegamenti esterni


Gothenburg Ro/Ro Terminal AB had an ageing lighting system that needed replacing with an energy-saving system able to meet all the requirements of a good lighting environment.
the fittings, and light intensity can be easily reconfigured. That's a big advantage."
High ceilings used to mean expensive lighting installations and high operating costs. Maintenance was complicated, and it was difficult to integrate a control system. GreenWarehouse is a package solution with dimmable LED fittings and wireless presence detection. The presence sensor sits in a small box close to the LED fitting. The control and intelligence system are integrated into the fitting itself. The system is flexible and easy to configure in zones, ensuring an efficient and advanced solution.
The GreenWarehouse lighting concept gave Gothenburg Ro/Ro Terminal an energy-efficient and eco-friendly lighting system that requires minimal maintenance. CO2 emissions will be cut by 143 tonnes per year. Thanks to the lighting controls coupled with long life LED technology, the lighting installation is expected to last around 90,000 hours, which equates to a staggering 20 years.


text:
Q: Emgucv turn the black background transparent I'm very new to Emgucv, so need a little help?
The code below is mainly taken from various places from Google. It will take a jpg file (which has a green background) and allow, from a separate form to change the values of h1 and h2 settings so as to create (reveal) a mask.
Now what I want to be able to do with this mask is to turn it transparent.
At the moment it will just display a black background around a person (for example), and then saves to file.
I need to know how to turn the black background transparent, if this is the correct way to approach this?
Thanks in advance.
What I have so far is in C# :
imgInput = new Image<Bgr, byte>(FileName);

Image<Hsv, Byte> hsvimg = imgInput.Convert<Hsv, Byte>();

//extract the hue and value channels
Image<Gray, Byte>[] channels = hsvimg.Split();      // split into components
Image<Gray, Byte> imghue = channels[0];             // hsv, so channels[0] is hue.
Image<Gray, Byte> imgval = channels[2];             // hsv, so channels[2] is value.

//filter out all but "the color you want"...seems to be 0 to 128 (64, 72) ?
Image<Gray, Byte> huefilter = imghue.InRange(new Gray(h1), new Gray(h2));

// TURN IT TRANSPARENT somewhere around here?

pictureBox2.Image = imgInput.Copy(mask).Bitmap;

imgInput.Copy(mask).Save("changedImage.png");

A: I am not sure I really understand what you are trying to do. But a mask is a binary object. A mask is usually black for what you do not want and white for what you do. As far as I know, there is no transparent mask, as to me that makes no sense. Masks are used to extract parts of an image by masking out the rest.
Maybe you could elaborate on what it is you want to do?
Doug

A: I think I may have the solution I was looking for. I found some code on stackoverflow which I've tweaked a little :
public Image<Bgra, Byte> MakeTransparent(Image<Bgr, Byte> image, double r1, double r2)
{
    Mat imageMat = image.Mat;

    Mat finalMat = new Mat(imageMat.Rows, imageMat.Cols, DepthType.Cv8U, 4);
    Mat tmp      = new Mat(imageMat.Rows, imageMat.Cols, DepthType.Cv8U, 1);
    Mat alpha    = new Mat(imageMat.Rows, imageMat.Cols, DepthType.Cv8U, 1);

    CvInvoke.CvtColor(imageMat, tmp, ColorConversion.Bgr2Gray);

    CvInvoke.Threshold(tmp, alpha, (int)r1, (int)r2, ThresholdType.Binary);

    VectorOfMat rgb = new VectorOfMat(3);

    CvInvoke.Split(imageMat, rgb);

    Mat[] rgba = { rgb[0], rgb[1], rgb[2], alpha };

    VectorOfMat vector = new VectorOfMat(rgba);

    CvInvoke.Merge(vector, finalMat);

    return finalMat.ToImage<Bgra, Byte>();
}

I'm now looking at adding SmoothGaussian to the mask to create a kind on blend, where the two images are layered, rather than a sharp cut-out.


You are listening to "Blue Skies"
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