‘Pegasus spyware on my phone,’ says Akunuri Murali
1 year, 2 months ago

‘Pegasus spyware on my phone,’ says Akunuri Murali

The Hindu  

In a startling claim, Akunuri Murali, a former civil servant based in Hyderabad, claimed that his phone was targeted by the Pegasus spyware developed by the Israeli company NSO. According to the message, “State- Mr. Murali, who is the convener of the Social Democratic Forum and is also an activist, stated that he was contacted by The Citizen Lab, University of Toronto, a few days after receiving the alert from Apple. Speaking to The Hindu on Saturday, Mr Murali said: “I was contacted by The Citizen Lab, University of Toronto, a few days after I got the alert from Apple. It was determined that the phone was on the Pegasus list since August 2022.” Mr. Murali stated that before giving his consent, he took “four or five” days to check with his friends and acquaintances about whether to continue remaining in communication with those who contacted him.

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History of this topic

US Court ruling on Pegasus: Here's its direct impact in India
2 days, 17 hours ago

US Court ruling on Pegasus: Here's its direct impact in India

New Indian Express  

The US court's decision on Friday in favor of WhatsApp, the messaging platform owned by Meta, which holds Israeli spyware maker NSO Group directly liable for targeting around 1,400 users with its spyware, Pegasus, is expected to have ripple effects in India. In 2021, many reports in the media revealed that Pegasus spyware was used to target over 300 Indian …

Has Serbia hacked activists’, journalists’ phones? Why?
4 days, 17 hours ago

Has Serbia hacked activists’, journalists’ phones? Why?

Al Jazeera  

Amnesty International has revealed that phones belonging to Serbian activists and journalists have been hacked by Serbian intelligence and police using Israeli spyware and other mobile device forensics tools. In October, 2023, Amnesty International’s Security Lab revealed that two prominent journalists had been targeted via their iPhones with Pegasus spyware. It is not known who was responsible., Amnesty International’s Security …

A New Phone Scanner That Detects Spyware Has Already Found 7 Pegasus Infections
2 weeks, 5 days ago

A New Phone Scanner That Detects Spyware Has Already Found 7 Pegasus Infections

Wired  

In recent years, commercial spyware has been deployed by more actors against a wider range of victims, but the prevailing narrative has still been that the malware is used in targeted attacks against an extremely small number of people. The company’s Mobile Threat Hunting feature uses a combination of malware signature-based detection, heuristics, and machine learning to look for anomalies …

Thai court dismisses activist’s suit against Israeli spyware producer over lack of evidence
1 month ago

Thai court dismisses activist’s suit against Israeli spyware producer over lack of evidence

Associated Press  

BANGKOK — A Thai court on Thursday threw out a lawsuit brought by a pro-democracy activist which alleged spyware produced by an Israeli tech firm had been used to hack his phone. The NSO Group welcomed the ruling, saying it reaffirmed “the lack of evidence to support the claims against our company.” “We remain committed to the responsible use of …

Apple warns Indian iPhone users of Pegasus-like possible ‘spyware attack’
5 months, 1 week ago

Apple warns Indian iPhone users of Pegasus-like possible ‘spyware attack’

Hindustan Times  

Apple issued warnings to some iPhone users in India that their device could become a likely target of Pegasus-like “mercenary spyware attack”. Apple warned some iPhone users in India of possible spyware attack. Apple also informed targeted iPhone users that attacks possibly “cost millions of dollars and are individually deployed against a very small number of people, but the targeting …

Apple issues two fresh Pegasus-like spyware alerts in India
5 months, 1 week ago

Apple issues two fresh Pegasus-like spyware alerts in India

The Hindu  

At least two people in India on July 10 reported receiving a Pegasus-like alert from Apple, Inc. on their iPhones. Iltija Mufti, political adviser and daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, reported receiving the alert, and so did Pushparaj Deshpande, founder of the Samruddha Bharat Foundation, which says on its website it works to “forge progressive …

‘Got an Apple alert…’: Mehbooba Mufti's daughter accuses BJP of snooping
5 months, 1 week ago

‘Got an Apple alert…’: Mehbooba Mufti's daughter accuses BJP of snooping

Hindustan Times  

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's daughter and media advisor, Iltija Mufti, on Wednesday, alleged that her phone is being hacked by the Pegasus spyware. "Got an Apple alert that my phone's been hacked by Pegasus which GOI has admittedly procured & weaponised to harass critics & political opponents," Iltija Mufti said in a post on X. Mehbooba Mufti also alleged that …

Journalists, lawyers and activists hacked with Pegasus spyware in Jordan, forensic probe finds
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Journalists, lawyers and activists hacked with Pegasus spyware in Jordan, forensic probe finds

Associated Press  

Israeli-made Pegasus spyware was used in Jordan to hack the cellphones of at least 30 people, including journalists, lawyers, human rights and political activists, the digital rights group Access Now said Thursday. The U.S. government was unpersuaded and blacklisted the NSO Group in November 2021, when iPhone maker Apple Inc. sued it, calling its employees “amoral 21st century mercenaries who …

Is Pegasus spyware targeting journalists in India?
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Is Pegasus spyware targeting journalists in India?

The Hindu  

The story so far: The Washington Post and human rights non-profit Amnesty International have alleged that the spyware instance known as Pegasus continues to be in use, on this occasion targeting journalists in India. After Apple issued a security notification to certain iPhone users, including MPs, in October, researchers at Amnesty International’s Security Lab analysed the allegedly infected devices, including …

Indian government is targeting high-profile journalists with Pegasus: Report
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Indian government is targeting high-profile journalists with Pegasus: Report

Hindustan Times  

India's government has again targeted high-profile journalists with Pegasus spyware, Amnesty International and The Washington Post said in a joint investigation published Thursday. "Increasingly, journalists in India face the threat of unlawful surveillance simply for doing their jobs," said Donncha O Cearbhaill, head of Amnesty International's Security Lab. Adani's conglomerate shed more than $100 billion in value earlier this year …

Pegasus Spyware found on Indian journalists’ phones after Apple alert: Amnesty International
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Pegasus Spyware found on Indian journalists’ phones after Apple alert: Amnesty International

The Hindu  

The Wire news website’s founder editor, Siddharth Varadarajan, and another journalist in India were targeted with Pegasus spyware this year, the nonprofit Amnesty International’s Security Lab was able to determine after testing their devices, it announced on Thursday. The journalists had received an alert from Apple that they were being targeted by “state- Separately, TheWashington Post reported that after the …

Indian journalists targeted by Israeli spyware again: What do we know?
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Indian journalists targeted by Israeli spyware again: What do we know?

Al Jazeera  

A new forensic investigation by Amnesty International and The Washington Post has shown the use of the Israeli Pegasus spyware, likely by the Indian government, to surveil high-profile Indian journalists. The report, published by Amnesty’s Security Lab, found continued use of the software to target high-profile Indian journalists including a journalist who had also previously been a victim of attacks …

Indian journalist's phone targeted with Israeli spyware Pegasus: Report
1 year, 1 month ago

Indian journalist's phone targeted with Israeli spyware Pegasus: Report

Hindustan Times  

An Indian journalist has been allegedly subjected to hacking using Pegasus, a spyware manufactured by Israel-based NSO Group. Anand Magnale, who works for a global group of investigative journalists called Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, was reportedly among those in India who received alerts on their Apple mobile devices which prompted a row over issue of national security and …

India’s opposition leaders’ iPhones targeted by state-sponsored hackers | Explained
1 year, 1 month ago

India’s opposition leaders’ iPhones targeted by state-sponsored hackers | Explained

The Hindu  

On October 31, more than half a dozen Indian opposition leaders and prominent journalists received a notification from Apple, warning them their iPhones were targeted by state- The iPhone maker confirmed it had sent the threat notifications, but clarified later that it hadn’t named the Indian government in its nor if the hacking attempts were a success. A spokesman later …

Israeli firm NSO’s spyware again hacking iPhones: Report
1 year, 8 months ago

Israeli firm NSO’s spyware again hacking iPhones: Report

Al Jazeera  

A research group says the Israeli NSO Group’s spyware was used to launch at least three “zero click” attacks on the iPhones of civil society members last year. Citizen Lab released its findings on Tuesday into NSO’s global reach after its software infected the phones of at least two human rights defenders in Mexico in 2022. ‘Penetrate and perhaps blunt’ …

‘Officers told me to be careful...’: Rahul Gandhi on Pegasus issue
1 year, 9 months ago

‘Officers told me to be careful...’: Rahul Gandhi on Pegasus issue

Live Mint  

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has once again raked up the Pegasus snooping issue, saying that a large number of politicians including him had the Israeli spyware software on their phones. Journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, SNM Abdi, Prem Shankar Jha, Rupesh Kumar Singh, and Ipsa Shatakshi, who are reported to be on the potential list of snoop targets of Pegasus spyware, …

Explained |  Is there clarity on Pegasus malware report?
2 years, 3 months ago

Explained |  Is there clarity on Pegasus malware report?

The Hindu  

The story so far: The Supreme Court on August 25 said that the panel that it had constituted to look into the Pegasus issue had found no conclusive evidence of the Israeli-origin spyware on the 29 phones it examined. The panel informed the court in an interim report in May this year that it had come up with its own …

Malware found in 5 phones, no proof of Pegasus: panel
2 years, 3 months ago

Malware found in 5 phones, no proof of Pegasus: panel

The Hindu  

A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India N. V. Ramana on August 25 said the Pegasus technical committee has reported that out of 29 phones examined, five were found infected with "some malware" but that did not mean it was Pegasus spyware. However, the court said it would publish on its website the separate report of the overseeing …

Victim of private spyware warns it can be used against US
2 years, 4 months ago

Victim of private spyware warns it can be used against US

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Months after her father was lured back to Rwanda under false pretenses and jailed, Carine Kanimba discovered her own phone had been hacked using private spyware. But the FBI has acknowledged buying a license for Pegasus for what it said was “product testing and evaluation only.” While spyware companies make huge profits in the Middle East and Europe, …

Explained | One year since the Pegasus spyware revelations
2 years, 5 months ago

Explained | One year since the Pegasus spyware revelations

The Hindu  

The story so far: The Supreme Court will be hearing the case pertaining to the alleged use of the Pegasus spyware software later this month. Back then, the court constituted a committee, overseen by former Supreme Court judge Justice R.V Raveendran, to look into the charges and accordingly submit a report “expeditiously”. The article had alleged that Pegasus was part …

In Pegasus battle, the fight for surveillance reform
2 years, 5 months ago

In Pegasus battle, the fight for surveillance reform

The Hindu  

A year has passed since the disclosures about the Pegasus Project revealed the threat to India’s democracy. But on July 19, 2021, the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, referring to “press reports of 18th July 2021”, refused to directly address the claims made by the Pegasus Project; he stated that the existing legal framework prevents unauthorised surveillance. …

Pegasus spyware targeted Thai democracy activists: Report
2 years, 5 months ago

Pegasus spyware targeted Thai democracy activists: Report

Al Jazeera  

NGO investigation finds controversial malware on the phones of 30 activists and civil society leaders after they receive an Apple security warning. At least 30 Thai activists involved in pro-democracy protests were victims of Pegasus spyware during a government crackdown on dissent, according to an investigation by a group of internet watchdog organisations. Canadian group Citizen Lab and Thai NGOs …

Spain sacks spy chief over Pegasus spyware scandal
2 years, 7 months ago

Spain sacks spy chief over Pegasus spyware scandal

Al Jazeera  

The decision comes after Paz Esteban admitted that her agency had legally hacked several Catalan separatists’ phones. Spain’s government has fired the director of its top intelligence agency amid two separate cases of the hacking of politicians’ mobile phones using Pegasus spyware, according to the country’s defence minister. Paz Esteban, the first woman to head Spain’s National Intelligence Centre, will …

2021 Pegasus attack targeted Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez’s phone
2 years, 7 months ago

2021 Pegasus attack targeted Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez’s phone

The Hindu  

Spanish officials said on Monday that the cellphones of the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister were infected last year with Pegasus spyware that is only available to government agencies in an unauthorised operation. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s mobile phone was breached twice in May 2021, and Defence Minister Margarita Robles’ device was targeted once the following month, Presidency Minister …

Spain detects Pegasus spyware on PM, defence minister’s phones
2 years, 7 months ago

Spain detects Pegasus spyware on PM, defence minister’s phones

Al Jazeera  

Authorities say the phones of the two top officials were tapped in an ‘illicit and external intervention’ last year. Spanish authorities have said that the mobile phones of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Minister of Defence Margarita Robles were tapped using Pegasus spyware in an “illicit and external” intervention. “There is no evidence that there was other tapping after those …

Powerful ‘Pegasus’ spyware found on Downing Street phone, researchers claim
2 years, 8 months ago

Powerful ‘Pegasus’ spyware found on Downing Street phone, researchers claim

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The researchers said they had identified “multiple suspected instances of Pegasus spyware infections” on devices …

Pegasus: What you need to know about Israeli spyware
2 years, 10 months ago

Pegasus: What you need to know about Israeli spyware

Al Jazeera  

The Israeli company has been linked to governments exploiting its technology to spy on journalists, activists and politicians. Pegasus, spyware made by the Israeli technology company NSO Group, is making headlines again after it was reported that the Israeli police used it for spying on dozens of its own citizens – including senior government officials and protesters rallying up against …

Explained | The operations of the Pegasus spyware
2 years, 10 months ago

Explained | The operations of the Pegasus spyware

The Hindu  

The story so far: On January 28, the New York Times published an article extensively detailing how Pegasus, a spyware developed by Israel-based NSO Group, has been used as a tool to firm up Israel’s interests across the globe. The article claims that it was after this deal that India changed its historically pro-Palestine stance and voted in Israel’s favour …

HRW says staffer was targeted with Israeli-made Pegasus spyware
2 years, 10 months ago

HRW says staffer was targeted with Israeli-made Pegasus spyware

Al Jazeera  

The Israeli NSO Group’s technology has been used by governments to target political opponents, activists and journalists. Human Rights Watch says one of its senior staff members was targeted five times last year with Pegasus, a spyware made by the Israeli company NSO Group. The NSO Group, which does not disclose its client list, has been mired in controversy in …

Israel lawmakers outraged over claim police used NSO spyware
2 years, 11 months ago

Israel lawmakers outraged over claim police used NSO spyware

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Israeli lawmakers on Tuesday called …

Israeli police under fire for alleged use of Pegasus spyware
2 years, 11 months ago

Israeli police under fire for alleged use of Pegasus spyware

Al Jazeera  

Israeli lawmaker says she will question the police about their reported use of the NSO Group hacking tool on Israeli citizens. Without citing sources, the Calcalist financial daily said on Tuesday police have possessed the Pegasus spyware made by Israel’s NSO Group – which is now on a US government blacklist – since 2013. On Israel’s Channel 12 TV news, …

Pegasus used to target El Salvador activists, journalists: Report
2 years, 11 months ago

Pegasus used to target El Salvador activists, journalists: Report

Al Jazeera  

Citizen Lab watchdog says Israeli NSO Group’s spyware used by operator working in country since early 2020. The University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab said on Wednesday it had identified an operator of the spyware working exclusively in El Salvador and targeting journalists and activists, many of whom were investigating alleged state corruption. While the researchers could not conclusively determine the …

Pegasus Snooping- Counsel Of Bhima Koregaon Accused Writes To SC-Appointed Technical Committee Suspecting Hacking Of His Device
2 years, 11 months ago

Pegasus Snooping- Counsel Of Bhima Koregaon Accused Writes To SC-Appointed Technical Committee Suspecting Hacking Of His Device

Live Law  

A lawyer, who represented several persons implicated in the Bhima Koregaon Elgar Parishad case has written to the Technical Committee appointed by the Supreme Court to probe into the allegations of snooping through Pegasus, suspecting compromise of his mobile device by Pegasus Malware.Advocate Nihalsing B Rathod, a practicing lawyer based in Nagpur has argued that his phone was intercepted. A …

SC panel probing Pegasus snooping scandal issues public notice; here's what it says
2 years, 11 months ago

SC panel probing Pegasus snooping scandal issues public notice; here's what it says

India Today  

The Supreme Court-appointed committee to investigate the alleged use of Pegasus spyware to snoop on citizens has asked people who suspect their phones were targeted to contact them by January 7. In a public notice, the panel said any person who believed their phone/instrument has been infected with Pegasus can approach them and get their device examined. HERE'S WHAT THE …

UAE agency placed spyware on Khashoggi fiancee’s phone: Report
3 years ago

UAE agency placed spyware on Khashoggi fiancee’s phone: Report

Al Jazeera  

An Emirati government agency placed spyware developed by Israeli firm NSO Group on the phone of someone in Jamal Khashoggi’s inner circle, just months before the Saudi journalist was killed, The Washington Post has reported. The Post’s findings are the latest example of NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware being used by governments around the world to hack the phones of prominent …

Rona Wilson’s iPhone hacked by Pegasus: forensic report
3 years ago

Rona Wilson’s iPhone hacked by Pegasus: forensic report

The Hindu  

A report released by U.S. forensic investigation firm Arsenal Consultancy on Friday has revealed that activist Rona Wilson’s cell phone was attacked by the Pegasus spyware 49 different times and was successful in infecting his phone before his arrest on June 6, 2018, for alleged involvement in the Bhima Koregaon violence case. Arsenal Consultancy, the Boston-based forensic investigation firm assisting …

US embassy officials in Uganda had their phones hacked with Israeli spyware, reports say
3 years ago

US embassy officials in Uganda had their phones hacked with Israeli spyware, reports say

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy US diplomatic staff in …

For Apple and Google, fight against state-sponsored spyware isn’t getting easier
3 years ago

For Apple and Google, fight against state-sponsored spyware isn’t getting easier

Hindustan Times  

Just days after Apple filed a lawsuit against the Israeli firm NSO Group for the surveillance and targeting of Apple users with the Pegasus spyware, the tech giant has also detailed how it detects traces and activities that are generally consistent with a state- Google, meanwhile, continues to face its own set of challenges with regards to curbing spyware on …

Report: NSO spyware found on 6 Palestinian activists’ phones
3 years, 1 month ago

Report: NSO spyware found on 6 Palestinian activists’ phones

Associated Press  

JERUSALEM — Security researchers disclosed Monday that spyware from the notorious Israeli hacker-for-hire company NSO Group was detected on the cellphones of six Palestinian human rights activists, half affiliated with groups that Israel’s defense minister controversially claimed were involved in terrorism. Asked about the allegations its software was used against the Palestinian activists, NSO Group said in a statement that …

Pegasus snooping row: SC to pronounce verdict on pleas seeking independent probe today
3 years, 1 month ago

Pegasus snooping row: SC to pronounce verdict on pleas seeking independent probe today

Firstpost  

A bench comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana had reserved an order on 13 September, saying it only wanted to know whether or not the Centre used the Pegasus spyware through illegal methods to allegedly snoop on citizens The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce a verdict on Wednesday on a batch of pleas seeking an independent probe into the Pegasus …

India’s top court asks: Did gov’t use Pegasus spyware to snoop?
3 years, 1 month ago

India’s top court asks: Did gov’t use Pegasus spyware to snoop?

Al Jazeera  

The court said the possible violation of citizens’ right to privacy and free speech compelled it to seek out the truth. India’s Supreme Court has ordered a panel of experts to investigate whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration used the Pegasus spyware to surveil opposition leaders, activists, tycoons, judges and journalists. The top court’s bench of three judges headed by …

Pegasus row: SC to set up technical experts committee to inquire into matter, formal order next week
3 years, 3 months ago

Pegasus row: SC to set up technical experts committee to inquire into matter, formal order next week

Firstpost  

The observation assumes significance as the Centre had earlier offered to set up an expert panel on its own to look into the grievances of alleged snooping on phones New Delhi: In a significant development, the Supreme Court Thursday observed orally that it will set up a technical expert committee to inquire into the Pegasus snooping matter and pass an …

Israel’s Pegasus: Is your phone a ‘24-hour surveillance device’?
3 years, 3 months ago

Israel’s Pegasus: Is your phone a ‘24-hour surveillance device’?

Al Jazeera  

The Pegasus scandal is the latest episode in the dystopian science fiction thriller that we are presently living. Between June 2020 and February 2021, the iPhones of nine Bahraini activists – including two dissidents exiled in London and three members of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights – were hacked using the Pegasus spyware that was developed by NSO Group, …

Pegasus snooping row: Centre against filing detailed affidavit, cites national security in SC
3 years, 3 months ago

Pegasus snooping row: Centre against filing detailed affidavit, cites national security in SC

Firstpost  

The Centre told a Supreme Court bench that it has nothing to hide and that’s why the government has on its own said it will constitute a committee of domain experts to look into these allegations New Delhi: The Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday that it does not wish to file a detailed affidavit on a batch of …

Pegasus Row: SC Tells Govt to Not Disclose Anything Which Compromises National Security
3 years, 4 months ago

Pegasus Row: SC Tells Govt to Not Disclose Anything Which Compromises National Security

News 18  

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday issued notice to the Centre on a batch of pleas seeking independent probe into the alleged Pegasus snooping matter, making it clear that it did not want the government to disclose anything which might compromise national security. The bench, also comprising Justices Surya Kant and Aniruddha Bose, told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the …

Allegations of snooping serious if reports true, says Supreme Court on Pegasus
3 years, 4 months ago

Allegations of snooping serious if reports true, says Supreme Court on Pegasus

India Today  

Allegations of snooping are serious if the reports regarding it are correct, the Supreme Court said on Thursday as it heard a batch of pleas seeking an independent probe into the Pegasus row. No doubt, the allegations are serious, if the reports are true,” the CJI observed and raised the issue of delay, saying the matter had come to light …

Worried about Pegasus? This app will let you detect it in your iPhone
3 years, 4 months ago

Worried about Pegasus? This app will let you detect it in your iPhone

India Today  

Revelations around the Pegasus spyware made waves around the globe recently. Created by Israel's NSO Group, the spyware exploited zero-day vulnerabilities to collect data from targeted smartphones without the user knowing anything about it. Called iMazing, the app works for both macOS and Windows and can be used to find out if a connected iPhone has been compromised by the …

Mohan Guruswamy | Who’s behind Pegasus… and why it’s no big deal
3 years, 4 months ago

Mohan Guruswamy | Who’s behind Pegasus… and why it’s no big deal

Deccan Chronicle  

Big Brother is Listening. Government intelligence and investigative agencies routinely tap telephones as it’s their job to keep their masters well informed, particularly when the masters have a taste for low level gossip grade information. To get a good idea of who bought Pegasus one needs to just track new expenditures by government offices like the PMO. The messages that …

Pegasus spyware row: Supreme Court to hear pleas seeking court-monitored probe on August 5
3 years, 4 months ago

Pegasus spyware row: Supreme Court to hear pleas seeking court-monitored probe on August 5

India Today  

The Supreme Court will hear a batch of petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into the Pegasus spyware controversy on Thursday, August 5. Read: PM Modi has put a weapon in our phones, it's anti-national: Rahul Gandhi on Pegasus row “The targeted surveillance using military-grade spyware is an unacceptable violation of the right to privacy which has been held to be …

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