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Catherine Connolly wins presidency in Ireland

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PA Media Catherine Connolly is standing at a podium which says Dublin Castle in both English and Irish. She is wearing a navy suit and silver necklace. She has grey hair and is smiling.PA Media

From early on Saturday, Catherine Connolly was ahead in count centres nationwide

Catherine Connolly has been elected as the president of Ireland after a landslide victory.

She has become the 10th president of the Republic of Ireland after defeating Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, who had already conceded to her rival.

The result, long clear from early tallies, was officially declared at Dublin Castle.

Connolly – an independent who was backed by the major left-wing parties – pledged to be “an inclusive president for all” in her acceptance speech.

The 68-year-old, from Galway, has been a TD (member of the Irish parliament) since 2016.

She will be the country’s 10th president, taking over from Michael D Higgins who has served the maximum two terms in office

Connolly secured 914,143 first preference votes (63%), the largest amount in Irish presidential election history.

She made her acceptance speech first in Irish and then in English.

“I will be a president who listens and reflects and who speaks when it’s necessary,” she said.

“I will be a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality, a voice that articulates the existential threat posed by climate change, and a voice that recognises the tremendous work being done the length and breadth of the country.”

Dublin correspondent Gabija Gataveckaite said Connolly was the anti-establishment candidate who took on Humphreys, the government’s pick.

She said in recent weeks, Connolly had been insisting her campaign was a “movement” and she has now won a clear mandate from the people.

Reuters Two women shake hands on stage. The woman to the left has short blonde hair and is wearing a blue blazer, the woman two the right has short hair and is wearing a navy blazer. A man in a suit and blue tie stands behind them. Two other men is suits stand to the left and people in the crowd are taking pictures with their phones. Reuters

Heather Humphreys said her opponent Catherine Connolly would be “a president for all of us”

Humphreys, who spoke after Connolly, thanked everyone who voted for her, her campaign team and Fine Gael for the nomination.

“I know Catherine will be a president for all of us. Catherine will be my president and I want to wish her well, this is her evening,” she said.

The president of Ireland is the country’s head of state. They represent the country abroad, take centre stage at major national events, and are responsible for ensuring that the constitution – the set of rules for government and politics – is followed.

While the president’s powers are limited, the office-holder’s influence can be profound.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin said an “outstanding honour” had been bestowed upon Connolly.

“The people have spoken resoundingly and given Catherine a tremendous majority and a very clear mandate,” he said.

Tánaiste (Ireland’s deputy prime minister) Simon Harris said: “The great thing about this country is that we live in enduring democracy.

“We have an election, we go at it hammer and tongs and then we come together proudly behind the winner of the election.”

Earlier he acknowledged the high level of spoiled votes, saying he saw “people going to quite a lot of effort to spoil their ballot”.

Live Updates: ASU vs Cal vs Stanford Session 2

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By Madeline Folsom on SwimSwam

2025 Arizona State vs. California vs. Stanford

  • Saturday, October 25, 2025
    • 11 am PST/2 pm EST
  • Berkeley, California — Spieker Aquatics Complex
  • SCY (25 yards)
  • Live Results available on Meet Mobile: “ASU and CAL @ Stanford Double Dual Meet”
  • Livestream (ACCNX Subscription Required)

The first session of the ASU, Cal, and Stanford meet saw some fast swimming, and multiple times that found their way in the top-10 national rankings for this season.

We have another session of the meet today that will start with the 800 freestyle relay, where the Stanford women are the reigning NCAA Champions, and it will end with the 200 free relay.

The athletes will also swim the 200 breast, 200 back, 50 free, 500 free, 100 fly, and 200 IM.

The meet is being streamed on ACC Network Extra (ESPN+ subscription required), with live results available on Meet Mobile under “ASU and CAL @ Stanford Double Dual Meet.”

Team Scores After Day One

Women

  • #2 Stanford 122.5 — #4 Cal 73.5
  • #2 Stanford 139 — ASU 57
  • #4 Cal 132 — ASU 66

Men

  • #4 ASU 106 — #5 Cal 90
  • #4 ASU 106 — #11 Stanford 90
  • #11 Stanford 125 — #5 Cal 73

Stay tuned for live updates below.

800 Free Relay

200 Breast

200 Back

50 Free

500 Free

100 Fly

200 IM

200 Free Relay

Read the full story on SwimSwam: ASU vs Cal vs Stanford: Session 2 Live Updates

Israeli military confirms carrying out ‘targeted strike’ in central Gaza

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Israeli military says it conducted 'targeted strike' in central Gaza

Evidence from brainwaves reveals the role of inner speech in triggering hallucinations in schizophrenia

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For decades, scientists have suspected that the voices heard by people with schizophrenia might be their own inner speech gone awry. Now, researchers have found brainwave evidence showing exactly how this self-monitoring glitch occurs.

A longstanding theory proposes that the auditory verbal hallucinations experienced by people with schizophrenia may occur because the brain mistakes a person’s own inner speech for external voices, due to a breakdown in a mechanism called corollary discharge, a system that normally tells us, “I caused this sound.”

A new study co-led by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has tested this theory, using recordings of brain activity to see whether auditory hallucinations in people with schizophrenia stem from the misattribution of inner speech.

“This idea’s been around for 50 years, but it’s been very difficult to test because inner speech is inherently private,” said the study’s joint lead and corresponding author, Thomas Whitford, PhD, a professor in UNSW’s School of Psychology. “How do you measure it? One way is by using an EEG, which records the brain’s electrical activity.

“Even though we can’t hear inner speech, the brain still reacts to it – and in healthy people, using inner speech produces the same kind of reduction in brain activity as when they speak out loud. But in people who hear voices, that reduction of activity doesn’t happen. In fact, their brains react even more strongly to inner speech, as if it’s coming from someone else. That might help explain why the voices feel so real.”

The researchers recruited 142 people in total, dividing them into three groups: 55 patients with schizophrenia (or related, schizophrenia-spectrum disorders) who were currently hearing voices; 44 patients with schizophrenia who weren’t hearing voices; and 43 healthy control participants. They were recruited from sites in Australia and Hong Kong, and their diagnoses were confirmed via standard psychiatric interviews.

Participants watched a moving line on a screen that cued them when to “say” a syllable silently in their heads (either ba or bi). At the exact same moment, a sound (ba or bi) was played through headphones.

Three conditions were tested: match (inner and outer syllables were the same), mismatch (inner and outer syllables were different), and passive (participants only listened; there was no inner speech). Brain activity was recorded using EEG, focusing on a specific brainwave pattern called the N1 component, which reflects how the auditory cortex responds to sounds. Normally, when we speak (even silently), our brain reduces its response to expected sounds. This is called “speaking-induced suppression” (SIS). The researchers wanted to see whether this inner version was reduced or reversed in people who hear voices.

A greater understanding of the biology driving schizophrenia symptoms may lead to more effective treatments

The healthy control group showed the expected suppression pattern. Their brains had a smaller N1 response when inner and outer syllables matched (the inner SIS effect). This meant that their brains correctly recognized “I made that sound,” so the auditory response was reduced.

People with schizophrenia who experienced auditory hallucinations showed the opposite effect: an enhancement. When their inner speech matched the external sound, their brains had a stronger N1 response, as if the sound was more surprising. Meaning their brains failed to recognize the sound as self-generated, potentially leading to confusion between internal thoughts and external voices. Schizophrenics without auditory hallucinations didn’t show the normal suppression pattern either. They showed reduced responses in the Mismatch condition instead, which might mean they are partially impaired but less so than those with hallucinations.

In short, healthy brains dampened the response to self-generated speech, both spoken and imagined. Schizophrenic brains, especially in people hearing voices, failed to suppress and sometimes even amplified this response. This could make internally generated thoughts – “inner voices” – feel as if they’re coming from outside sources, thereby explaining auditory hallucinations.

“It was always a plausible theory – that people were hearing their own thoughts spoken out loud – but this new approach has provided the strongest and most direct test of this theory to date,” Whitford said.

Despite some limitations, including that some “non-hallucinating” participants had past experiences of hallucinations, so total separation of groups wasn’t perfect, and that the researchers didn’t distinguish between different hallucinatory types, the study’s findings have important clinical relevance. It could help identify individuals at risk of psychosis before symptoms appear. Treatments such as neurofeedback, brain stimulation, or targeted cognitive training might aim to strengthen or restore normal corollary discharge functioning. And, as the researchers point out, “inner speech suppression” could be used as a biomarker.

“This sort of measure has great potential to be a biomarker for the development of psychosis,” said Whitford. “Ultimately, I think that understanding the biological causes of the symptoms of schizophrenia is a necessary first step if we hope to develop new and effective treatments.”

The study was published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin.

Source: UNSW Sydney

Connolly poised to become Ireland’s next president as opponent concedes defeat | Election Update

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Catherine Connolly, a pro-Palestine, left-wing candidate, is on course for a landslide victory as vote counting continues.

Left-wing independent candidate Catherine Connolly is set to become Ireland’s next president after her rival conceded defeat.

Vote counting in the presidential election was still under way on Saturday, but Heather Humphreys of the centre-right Fine Gael party told reporters she “wanted to congratulate Catherine Connolly on becoming the next president of Ireland”.

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“Catherine will be a president for all of us, and she will be my president, and I really would like to wish her all the very, very best,” Humphreys said.

Voting slips were being counted by hand with the final result of Friday’s election expected to be declared later on Saturday once all 43 electoral constituencies across the country have completed counting.

Polls had suggested consistent and strong voter support for Connolly, 68, over her rival Humphreys, 64.

Deputy Prime Minister and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris also was quick to wish Connolly “every success”, adding: “She will be President for all this country.”

“Her success will be Ireland’s success,” he posted on X.

Vote counting at the RDS count centre in Dublin, Ireland, on October 25, 2025 [AFP]

Connolly, a former barrister and independent lawmaker since 2016, has been outspoken in criticising Israel over its war in Gaza and has garnered the backing of a range of left-leaning parties, including Sinn Fein, the Labour Party and the Social Democrats.

Her campaign was especially popular among young people, who approved of her strong pro-Palestine stance and her commitment to social justice, among other issues.

Connolly and Humphreys were the only contenders after Jim Gavin, the candidate for Prime Minister Micheal Martin’s Fianna Fail party, quit the race three weeks before the election over a long-ago financial dispute. Martin had backed Gavin in the race.

While Irish presidents represent the country on the world stage, host visiting heads of state and play an important constitutional role, they do not have the power to shape laws or policies.

The winner will succeed Michael D Higgins, who has been president since 2011, having served the maximum two seven-year terms.

If confirmed, Connolly will be Ireland’s 10th president and the third woman to hold the post.

JPMorgan refuses to foot the bill for fraudsters’ legal fees, accuses Javice’s lawyers of abusing their authority

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For nearly three years, JPMorgan Chase has picking up the legal tab of Charlie Javice and Olivier Amar, the two convicted fraudsters who sold their financial aid startup Frank to the bank.

But the two have racked up an astronomical, nine-figure legal bill that far exceeds any reasonable amount the two may have needed for their defense, the bank said in a court filing late Friday. Chase shouldn’t have to pay and its agreement as part of the startup purchase to shoulder the costs should end, the bank argued.

According to the filing, Javice’s team of lawyers across five law firms have billed JPMorgan approximately $60.1 million in legal fees and expenses, while Amar’s lawyers have billed the bank roughly $55.2 million in fees.

In total, the bank alleges Javice and Amar’s lawyers have racked up legal fees of $115 million, with one law firm receiving $35.6 million in reimbursements alone. In comparison, Elizabeth Holmes, who was convicted of defrauding investors in the Theranos case, reportedly ended up with a legal bill of roughly $30 million.

The bank would be “irreparably injured” if the court does not put an end to “abusive billing,” the bank said. Javice and her lawyers have treated the process “like a blank check,” Chase said.

Javice, 33, was convicted in March of duping the banking giant when it bought her company, called Frank, in the summer of 2021. She made false records that made it seem like Frank had over 4 million customers when it had fewer than 300,000. Amar was convicted of the same charges.

Early in the case, a Delaware court ruled that the bank was required to advance Javice and Amar for any legal fees, which was part of the bank’s agreement when Frank was acquired in 2021.

Part of Javice’s legal team is Alex Spiro of Quinn Emanuel, who is also the lawyer who has previously represented Elon Musk. Spiro did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.

A law firm representing Amar did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“The legal fees sought by Charlie Javice and Olivier Amar are patently excessive and egregious. We look forward to sharing details of this abuse with the court in coming weeks,” said Pablo Rodriguez, a spokesman for the bank

Fire on Indian Bus Worsened by Hundreds of Smartphones

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A bus fire that killed at least 20 people in southern India was intensified by hundreds of smartphones being onboard, local reports say, citing forensics officials.

Flames rapidly engulfed the Bangalore-bound bus after it collided with a motorcycle that ruptured its fuel tank and triggered an explosion early on Friday.

Eyewitnesses said the approximately 40 passengers had struggled to escape as locals rushed to pull out survivors.

Forensic experts have now told local media that the bus had been carrying a shipment of 234 mobile phones, and that the lithium-ion batteries they contained likely exacerbated the fire once they ruptured.

“The bus batteries, presence of flammable furnishings in the bus and the cargo consisting of cell phones aggravated the fire leading to the tragic event,” CNN News18 quotes Kurnool Superintendent of Police Vikrant Patel as saying.

Meanwhile, P Venkataraman, the director-general of the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services Department, said electrical batteries used for the air conditioning system of the bus also exploded and made the fire worse.

“We saw bones and ash dropping through the melted sheets,” he told local media.

The smartphones were worth 4.6m Indian rupees (£39,361; $52,377) and were being sent from Hyderabad to an e-commerce company in Bengaluru, broadcaster NDTV reports.

Most smartphones have lithium-ion batteries, which can pose a fire risk when damaged.

This is because they can experience thermal runaway – uncontrollable temperature increases – which is hard to stop with conventional firefighting means. It can also spread to other batteries in close proximity.

Authorities have opened an investigation into possible negligent driving over the crash. The bus driver fled the scene. The motorcyclist is said to be among the dead.

Buses are a common mode of transport in India, but operators frequently ignore safety rules and overcrowd vehicles, while the nation had the highest road accident death tolls in the world last year.

Impala Claims UMG/Downtown Deal Threatens Cultural Diversity; Universal Denies Allegations in Industry Report

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IMPALA has taken various potshots at Universal Music Group‘s proposed $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings.

Previous concerns have included claims about UMG’s market share, access to commercially sensitive information from rival labels, and warnings about reduced competition in the independent sector.

Now the trade body has switched to yet another angle, suggesting that UMG’s acquisition would damage “cultural diversity” by reducing revenues for independent labels, leading to fewer and less diverse music releases across Europe.

The deal is currently under investigation by European competition authorities.

In a newly published paper titled “Universal/Downtown – Why does it matter from a cultural diversity perspective?”, IMPALA presents economic modeling by Professor Amelia Fletcher arguing that even small revenue reductions for independent labels would decrease the total number of releases and harm artist income.

The paper, which you can read in full here, claims that lost releases would disproportionately affect smaller genres and countries, including non-English language music.

IMPALA says that its analysis concludes that if UMG acquires Downtown, there will be “a material detrimental impact on artistic cultural diversity within the EEA as a result of the independent labels generating less income and having less money to spend on new music.”

A UMG spokesperson has dismissed the claims.

They told us in a statement today (October 24) that “IMPALA continues to promote analysis from its affiliates that is inaccurate and misleading”.

They added: “We’ve seen similar claims in the past regarding market share data, which we have publicly clarified and refuted. UMG has a long-standing commitment to cultural diversity in Europe and values the vital role of the independent sector. The combination of Downtown and Virgin Music will strengthen the services available to independent labels, supporting their growth and contribution to Europe’s cultural landscape.”

“We remain confident that the European Commission will recognize the benefits of this transaction for artists, labels, and independent music in Europe.”

“IMPALA continues to promote analysis from its affiliates that is inaccurate and misleading”.

UMG

Helen SmithIMPALA’s Executive Chair said: “It’s about balance. Big companies are important and so is collaboration, with the joint AI licensing project with Spotify as an example.

“At the same time, concerns have been raised about the health of the digital market and the ecosystem if the leader is allowed to become too big. The conclusions point to the risk of the independent sector losing revenue as a result and that means fewer and less diverse releases.”

The cultural diversity argument represents IMPALA’s latest strategy in opposing the deal, which is currently under Phase II investigation by the European Commission.

IMPALA notes that assessing impact on cultural diversity falls under the EC’s obligations under European treaty and UNESCO convention.

“If UMG buys Downtown, there will be a material detrimental impact on artistic  cultural diversity within the EEA.”

IMPALA

IMPALA’s latest paper follows the organization’s “100 Voices” campaign launched earlier this month, featuring testimonies from indie reps urging the EC to block the deal. Signatories included the heads of BeggarsSecretly Group, and Exceleration Music, plus several smaller indie labels, and a collection of reps from trade bodies.

Last week, Music Business Worldwide published a collection of views from leaders in the global independent music distribution space on the topic of Universal‘s proposed $775 million takeover of Downtown.

The EC escalated its review of the UMG/Downtown transaction to a Phase II investigation earlier this year, citing potential concerns that the acquisition could enable UMG to access commercially sensitive data from Downtown subsidiaries FUGA and Curve Royalty Systems.

The EC’s investigation deadline was originally set for December 10 but has been suspended while awaiting requested information, with a new timeline yet to be confirmed.

UMG’s Virgin Music Group announced the transaction in December 2024.Music Business Worldwide

Real Madrid and Barcelona Face Off in La Liga Clasico: Team Details, Start Time, and Lineups Revealed | Latest Football Updates

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Who: Real Madrid vs Barcelona
What: El Clasico in Spain’s La Liga
Where: Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain
When: Sunday at 4:15pm (14:15 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 1:15pm (11:15 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

Last season, Barcelona romped to four Clasico victories over Real Madrid, but led by in-form striker Kylian Mbappe, Los Blancos are aiming to redress the balance on Sunday in La Liga.

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Hansi Flick’s side won a domestic treble, beating Madrid twice in La Liga and in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals, precipitating the end of Carlo Ancelotti’s reign.

The Italian’s replacement, Xabi Alonso, has started well, and Madrid lead Barcelona by two points at the top of the table going into the clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the first Clasico of the season.

What is Real Madrid’s form ahead of El Clasico?

Madrid have some doubts around them regarding their performance in big matches, having lost against Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semifinals this summer and then suffering a 5-2 thrashing by Atletico Madrid in a derby in September.

A victory in El Clasico would open up a five-point gap on their rivals and ease those concerns while Flick’s Barca are yet to reach the same level they managed last season.

What is Mbappe’s form like for Real Madrid?

Despite the doubts about Madrid’s credentials, Mbappe has hit new heights in the current campaign after finishing the previous campaign strongly.

Mbappe had scored in all 11 of his previous matches for club and country before Wednesday’s Champions League win against Juventus, in which Jude Bellingham netted the only goal.

The 26-year-old has scored 10 of Madrid’s 20 La Liga goals, leading Spain’s scoring charts, and has 15 for his club across all competitions, totalling 54 percent of their goals.

“We’re not dependent on him,” Alonso said last week, although the statistics suggest otherwise.

“We are very happy with his performance. He’s being decisive.”

Why was last season so difficult for Mbappe at Real Madrid?

Mbappe struggled for confidence and form in his early days at Madrid with his first Clasico a huge disappointment.

Exactly a year before this weekend’s Clasico, Barcelona visited the Bernabeu and came away with a 4-0 victory, a match notable for the French superstar’s struggle to beat the Catalans’ high defensive line in his first outing against them for Madrid.

Mbappe had one goal disallowed for offside and was caught offside eight times in total. The forward was “shrunken and without venom”, the Spanish newspaper AS wrote.

“It’s time to change my situation and show who I am as a player,” Mbappe pledged a few weeks later as Madrid continued to slump.

By the time Mbappe next faced Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in January, he had clicked into a higher gear.

Madrid were dismantled 5-2, but Mbappe found the net, as he did in their far tighter 3-2 Copa del Rey final defeat.

In May Mbappe, now in full flow, hit a hat-trick against Barcelona, but Los Blancos still fell 4-3 at the Olympic stadium as Flick’s side virtually wrapped up the league title.

What else is making Real Madrid tick before Barcelona clash?

This season, Turkish playmaker Arda Guler has started to form a strong connection with Mbappe, having a knack for spotting the forward’s bursts behind the defence.

“Arda gets between the lines, and there he finds Mbappe well,” Alonso explained.

With Barcelona struggling badly in defence at the start of the current campaign, Madrid are confident Mbappe will be able to get in behind to devastating effect on Sunday.

Why has Barcelona’s Yamal been in the headlines with Real Madrid?

Teenage winger Lamine Yamal has been in the spotlight in the Spanish capital after joking during an appearance on a social media stream that Real Madrid “steal” and “complain”.

Barcelona’s assistant coach said on Saturday, however, that the furore created could go the way of the youngster.

“Lamine is a top player, and I think [the criticism] will be motivating for him,” Marcus Sorg, Flick’s assistant, said at a news conference.

“I hope we all see him [give] the best performance.”

The 18-year-old Spain international will be up against Madrid left back Alvaro Carreras, whom he struggled against at times last season for Benfica on three occasions they faced Barcelona in the Champions League.

“Lamine is always motivated, and if I remember right, we won all three games against Benfica,” Sorg noted.

Why did Flick not speak before El Clasico?

Flick is suspended for the game after a red card last weekend during the win over Girona, and Sorg is taking over duties on the touchline.

“Honestly, Hansi is missing always if he is not there because he’s the most important part of the team,” Sorg said.

“It’s a disadvantage of course, [but] it’s the same as [missing] players. We have to deal with it. Everyone knows what he expects, and I think we will do it.”

Will Barcelona’s Raphinha be back for El Clasico?

Barcelona will be without winger Raphinha, who has suffered a setback in his return from a hamstring injury.

“Raphinha – every team would miss him, but it is how it is. We have enough players and have to deal with it,” Sorg said.

Head-to-head

This is the 262nd Clasico with Real claiming 105 wins and Barcelona taking the spoils on 104 occasions.

Real Madrid team news

Real Madrid hope to welcome back Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Dani Ceballos and Dean Huijsen. Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba are out due to muscle and groin injuries.

Barcelona team news

Frenkie de Jong has returned from illness, but Jules Kounde is a doubt due to a slight knock.

Raphinha’s hamstring injury is keeping him sidelined while Joan Garcia, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo are all confirmed absentees.

Real Madrid predicted starting lineup

Courtois; Valverde, Militao, Asencio, Carreras; Guler, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Mastantuono, Mbappe, Vinicius

Barcelona predicted starting lineup

Szczesny; E Garcia, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Pedri, de Jong; Yamal, Fermin, Rashford; Ferran

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