Thousands of videos are being shared on the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) TikTok app, showing young American users lauding Osama bin Laden’s infamous ‘Letter to America’, suggesting the al-Qaeda leader was right about the West, while encouraging others to read the screed.
As of the time of publication, TikTok videos with the hashtag #LetterToAmerica have been viewed well over seven million times, with most of the videos expressing surprise, feigned or otherwise, at how much they agree with the deceased terrorist, and urging people to read it.
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In the letter, the Saudi-born sheikh laid out a number of grievances against the United States, including the way Jews allegedly “control [its] policies, media and economy” and the “Satanic American Invention” of the AIDS virus.
Bin Laden’s letter, published in full in the Editor’s Notes below, is an Islamic supremacist tract which intentionally muddles anti-colonial and non-interventionist sentiment with pro-Sharia invocations.
The Chinese app has driven so much interest in the letter that the Guardian website felt compelled to remove it 20 years after publication.
WATCH:
Over the past 24 hours, thousands of TikToks (at least) have been posted where people share how they just read Bin Laden’s infamous "Letter to America," in which he explained why he attacked the United States.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Nearly 40,000 inmates have been released early in England and Wales under a government scheme aimed at tackling prison overcrowding.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ), former Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and prison officials across England and Wales.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The scheme began in September 2024, with releases continuing through June 2025 across various prisons in England and Wales.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The criminal justice system was on the verge of collapse.” – Shabana Mahmood
🎯IMPACT: The scheme has temporarily alleviated overcrowding, but at the cost of public safety, and long-term prison capacity and operational challenges remain.
IN FULL
An estimated 40,000 prisoners across England and Wales have been released early under the Labour government’s emergency program, which it says is aimed at addressing prison overcrowding. According to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), 38,042 inmates were freed as of June 2025 after the program was launched on September 10, 2024. The program allows eligible prisoners to be released after serving just 40 percent of their sentence, instead of the usual 50 percent.
The initiative came as the prison population hit a record 88,521, with officials warning that male prisons could reach zero capacity by November 2025. His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Humber in Brough has released the highest number of inmates under the Labour government scheme (1,126), followed by Berwyn in Wrexham (1,064), Fosse Way in Leicester (1,037), and Parc B in Bridgend (830).
Then-Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood—currently the Home Secretary, roughly equivalent to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary—introduced legislation in September 2024 to address the crisis, stating, “The criminal justice system was on the verge of collapse.” However critics have noted that a lack of asylum accommodation has not stopped the government from allowing an ever-increasing number of boat migrants to lodge claims, with additional spaces for them always being funded at the taxpayers’ expense. Spending on migrant hotels alone is now more than the entire prison budget.
Notably, figures show that as of September 30, 2025, the prison population in England and Wales was 87,465, with 12.3 percent being foreign nationals. Prisons suffer serious operational issues related to foreign criminals, as highlighted by a recent incident where a migrant pedophile was mistakenly released instead of being transferred to an immigration detention center for deportation.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: A former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent has alleged that the agency uses its internal review processes to retaliate against whistleblowers.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Valentine Fertitta, a former FBI special agent, and his wife Emily Fertitta, a former FBI employee, along with their attorney Matthew Crotty.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The events began in 2021 following Fertitta’s return from an overseas deployment and have continued through his ongoing clearance dispute.
💬KEY QUOTE: “This is an agency that makes loyalty part and parcel to its core—and if you go against it by trying any of these internal processes—[they] are going to get back at you.” – Matthew Crotty
🎯IMPACT: The Fertitta family’s case highlights broader concerns about whistleblower protections within the FBI, with implications for national security and federal employment law.
IN FULL
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), under the former Biden government, has been accused of retaliating against whistleblowers by using its internal review processes to discourage complaints, according to former special agent Valentine Fertitta. Fertitta’s case began in 2021 after he returned from an overseas deployment with serious injuries, which limited his workplace productivity. A manager’s dissatisfaction with his reduced output led to Fertitta being blocked from a promotion, which he believed violated federal employment law.
Fertitta filed a whistleblower complaint after alleging that the FBI violated protections for injured employees and veterans. Shortly after, he received his first-ever negative performance review and faced additional challenges, including being asked to provide past, present, and future medical records, according to his wife, Emily Fertitta. The case escalated when Fertitta appealed to the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management (OARM), the FBI’s internal body for whistleblower retaliation claims. Within weeks, the FBI began evaluating his security clearance.
“The key thing is the timing,” said the Fertitta family’s attorney, Matthew Crotty. He continued: “Within two weeks of Val starting this OARM process, the FBI starts to investigate Val’s suitability to hold a top-secret security clearance.” Crotty explained that revoking a clearance is a way the FBI can effectively terminate an employee without formally firing them. During this process, Fertitta’s pay was suspended, and his wife, Emily, was pressured to testify against him without access to legal counsel. Emily Fertitta eventually resigned from the FBI.
The Fertitta family’s case is ongoing, with a pending civil lawsuit against the FBI. Crotty noted that the Supreme Court has granted the FBI broad authority over employee security clearances, leaving agents with little external recourse. “It doesn’t matter who’s in the White House. It’s a structural FBI thing. It’s been going on since Hoover,” Crotty stated. He added that Congress could address the issue by allowing FBI reservists to take retaliation claims to federal court.
According to records, the OARM has received 107 whistleblower complaints in the past decade, with only nine cases identified as retaliation. Emily Fertitta emphasized the broader implications of their struggle, saying, “This is much bigger than Val and Emily. It applies to so many other people who just don’t have the ability to speak up.”
❓WHAT HAPPENED: An 88-year-old Democrat politician was scammed out of thousands of dollars in her home by scammers posing as HVAC workers.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Eleanor Holmes Norton, Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the District of Columbia’s at-large district, and her house manager, Jacqueline Pelt, and the alleged scammers.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred in Norton’s Washington, D.C. apartment last week.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Congresswoman Norton doesn’t have a caretaker. A longtime employee and friend serves as the house manager.” – Norton’s spokesman
🎯IMPACT: Norton’s credit card and driver’s license numbers may have been compromised, and the incident is under felony fraud investigation.
IN FULL
Eleanor Holmes Norton, the oldest member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a non-voting delegate from Washington, D.C., fell victim to a scam at her home last Thursday. Posing as HVAC workers, a group of people entered her apartment, charged her nearly $4,400 using her credit card, and left without performing any work. The fraud was discovered when Norton’s house manager, Jacqueline Pelt, reviewed security footage and called the police.
The police report revealed that Norton is in the “early stages of dementia” and has a caretaker with power of attorney, though her office disputes this claim. Norton’s spokesman insisted, “Congresswoman Norton doesn’t have a caretaker. A longtime employee and friend serves as the house manager, residing at a separate address.” The spokesman also said that Norton initially believed the visit was prearranged by her staff.
Authorities, including the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and U.S. Capitol Police, are investigating the incident as felony fraud. They noted that this was the third fraud attempt targeting Norton this year, though the first two were unsuccessful. No arrests have been made.
Norton, who has announced her intention to run for re-election despite her advanced age and visible frailty, has faced increasing scrutiny over her ability to serve. At public events, she has appeared unsteady, relying on aides for assistance. Some Democrat colleagues and former allies, such as Donna Brazile, have publicly urged Norton to retire, arguing that the district needs “a new champion to defend us.”
Despite these challenges, Norton has doubled down on her decision to remain in office, citing her seniority as a key asset. “I say that my seniority is what is very important, and I am not going to step aside,” she vowed in September.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Local politicians in Britain’s capital are also running for office in their native Bangladesh, a move the British government says is unacceptable.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: London councilors Sabina Khan, Ohid Ahmed, and several others from London’s Tower Hamlets area.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Bangladesh’s national elections are expected in February of 2026.
💬KEY QUOTE: “I don’t believe it is fair. Most of the time she is in Bangladesh. She should resign. We elected her to represent us, not Bangladesh.” – London resident Mohammed Hussein.
🎯IMPACT: If allowed, the move could lead to foreign national governments having direct power in British politics, approaching a form of colonialism.
IN FULL
Criticism is growing over East London councillors in England pursuing parliamentary seats in Bangladesh while serving their British constituents. Several officials in the Borough of Tower Hamlets municipal government have confirmed plans to seek nominations for the South Asian nation’s February 2026 election, the first since protests overthrew the former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, in August 2024.
Sabina Khan, a key figure on the council’s Overview and Scrutiny and Licensing Committees, is campaigning for the Bangladesh National Party (BNP). Elected for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s leftist Labour Party in Mile End in 2022, she defected to the council’s ruling Aspire party, which only runs Bangladeshi candidates, last year. Council records show she has attended fewer than half of the required meetings since February, with social media posts indicating time spent promoting her bid in Bangladesh.
Mile End resident Mohammed Hussein voiced outrage to the local press: “I don’t believe it is fair. Most of the time she is in Bangladesh. She should resign. We elected her to represent us, not Bangladesh.”
Neighbor Zakir Hussain added: “I am not happy with my councillor. There are a lot of not happy people. Five or six months we have not seen her. Any problems [we have] she cannot answer.”
Independent councillor Ohid Ahmed, representing Lansbury ward in Poplar, is also vying for BNP candidacy. His online activity highlights Bangladesh’s economy, women’s education, and regional infrastructure issues like northeastern potholes. At least one other Tower Hamlets councillor shares similar ambitions.
Bangladesh’s top UK diplomat, Abida Islam, recently noted that “so much of London—especially east London—feels like Bangladesh.” Local governance under Aspire Mayor Lutfur Rahman, a Bangladesh native once removed from office for electoral fraud, has sparked controversy, including allowing Palestinian banners post-October 2023 while removing English flags.
A British Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman condemned the actions of the councillors: “This behaviour is unacceptable. We are clear that councillors must be able to effectively serve the constituents who elected them. All councillors must uphold the Nolan principles including integrity, objectivity, accountability.” In 2025, ministers were dispatched to monitor the council after a 2024 report decried distrust among parties and dominance by Rahman’s inner circle.
A council spokesman noted: “UK law does not automatically disqualify a person from being a councillor in Tower Hamlets solely because they are running for or hold an elected office in another country. The other country however may have laws that restrict dual mandates or foreign office-holding.”
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly released from His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Chelmsford but deported to Ethiopia after a manhunt.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hadush Kebatu, British authorities.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Kebatu was released on Friday, deported on the night of October 28, and arrived in Ethiopia on the morning of the 29th.
🎯IMPACT: The incident highlights the inept handling of foreign criminals.
IN FULL
A migrant child sex offender who triggered nationwide protests across Britain earlier this year was mistakenly released from prison before finally being deported to Ethiopia after a manhunt this week. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an Ethiopian national who arrived in Britain by small boat in June, was serving time at His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Chelmsford after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, where he had been housed as an asylum seeker.
He was supposed to be transferred to an immigration detention centre on Friday but was wrongly freed, prompting a two-day manhunt by British authorities. Police eventually located Kebatu, who was deported to Ethiopia on Tuesday night under the United Kingdom’s voluntary return scheme. However, officials have since confirmed that the sex offender received a payment of about $635 to go quietly after threatening to physically resist removal.
Kebatu’s crimes earlier this year sparked large-scale protests outside migrant hotels and in several English cities. The demonstrations, initially led by local residents demanding tougher immigration controls, grew after reports emerged of other violent and sexual offences committed by asylum seekers. Some protests turned violent, with clashes between police, anti-immigration activists, and counter-demonstrators from far-left extremist groups.
Kebatu’s case reignited public debate about the government’s poor handling of the asylum system and the housing of migrants in taxpayer-funded hotels. The British Home Office later admitted that hundreds of asylum seekers accommodated in such facilities have been charged with serious crimes in recent years, including rape, assault, and drug offences.
Image via Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Over 1,700 arrests were made in Memphis, Tennessee, following a federal crime crackdown led by the Trump administration.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Federal agencies, local law enforcement, the Trump administration, and Memphis criminals.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The operation began in September 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Tolerating crime is a choice. Under President Trump, we choose law and order: residents of our cities do not have to live in fear of violent crime.” – Attorney General Pam Bondi
🎯IMPACT: Crime in Memphis reportedly dropped 46 percent since the operation began, with dozens of missing children found and hundreds of firearms seized.
IN FULL
Law enforcement officers in Memphis, Tennessee, have made over 1,700 arrests in a month as part of a federal crime crackdown initiated by President Donald J. Trump. Those arrested included suspects charged with homicides, drug offenses, gun charges, and sex offenses. Among them were 126 known gang members.
The Department of Justice (DOJ)-led effort also located dozens of missing children and seized 293 firearms. Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the operation, stating, “Tolerating crime is a choice. Under President Trump, we choose law and order: residents of our cities do not have to live in fear of violent crime.”
The operation, known as the “Memphis Safe Task Force,” was launched by President Trump in mid-September. Federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) have been involved, as well as National Guard troops and local law enforcement. The effort has no set end date.
Since September, serious crime in the city has reportedly dropped by 46 percent. Arrests included a gang member charged with first-degree murder and suspects found with over $1 million in cash, methamphetamine, and firearms.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senate Democrats are demanding transparency regarding the financing of President Donald J. Trump’s planned White House ballroom.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senate Democrats led by Adam Schiff (D-CA), donors including major corporations and individual Trump supporters, and the Trump administration.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The call for disclosure follows recent donor list revelations, with a response deadline set for November 5.
💬KEY QUOTE: “To assess possible conflicts of interest and violations of law and ethics obligations, Congress and the American public deserve meaningful transparency.” – Senate Democrat letter
🎯IMPACT: Opponents of the effort contend that Sen. Schiff and his allies intend to use the disclosures to create a chilling effect, scaring off private donors in the hope of starving President Trump’s project of funding.
IN FULL
Senate Democrats, led by Russia hoax ringleader Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), are working to force the disclosure of private, identifying information of donors financing President Donald J. Trump’s planned White House ballroom. In addition, the Schiff-led effort seeks details on how the ballroom construction is being financed.
Democrats argue that without transparency, the financing of the ballroom could become a channel for improper influence within the administration. However, opponents of the effort contend Sen. Schiff and his allies intend to use the disclosures to create a chilling effect, scaring off private donors in the hope of starving President Trump’s project of funding.
A number of corporations are helping Trump fund his $300 million ballroom, for which a section of the East Wing of the White House has recently been demolished. Donors include tech companies Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Google, and communication companies like Comcast.
Sen. Schiff and Democrat lawmakers claim, in a letter addressed to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, that the Trump administration’s approach “raises troubling questions about the potential for influence peddling and other forms of corruption.” The letter requests a complete accounting of all donations to the White House ballroom construction project, including the conditions under which contributions were made.
Specific details demanded include a complete list of all donors, individual and corporate, and details of any terms tied to donations. It also requests identification of donors with federal contracts, regulatory matters, or pending litigation, as well as records of any ethics advice or approvals related to the solicitation or acceptance of private donations. The letter, signed by Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), among others, gives the White House until November 5 to produce the information.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Elon Musk warned of a “civil war” in Britain following a triple stabbing in London, allegedly by an Afghan migrant.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Elon Musk, a 22-year-old Afghan migrant, three victims, the British authorities, and Professor David Betz of King’s College London.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The stabbings occurred on Monday in West London, with Musk’s comments posted on Wednesday.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Civil war in Britain is inevitable.” – Elon Musk
🎯IMPACT: Musk’s remarks have intensified debates about immigration and security in Western nations.
IN FULL
Elon Musk has predicted that “civil war in Britain is inevitable” following the fatal stabbing of a dogwalker in London. The incident involved a 22-year-old Afghan migrant who was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after a triple stabbing on Monday. According to reports, the suspect had entered Britain illegally, further fuelling controversy over immigration and public safety.
Musk expanded on his remarks by claiming that “a civil war in the United Kingdom already began quietly several years ago, but only the other side was fighting.” He also likened native Britons to the Hobbits in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, suggesting they had been slow to defend their homeland due to naivete about the state of the wider world.
Footage of the attack, which appeared to show the victim being thrown to the ground and repeatedly stabbed, circulated widely on social media before London police warned against sharing it. Musk posted the video himself on Wednesday morning, amplifying the debate over censorship and policing.
The Tesla billionaire’s intervention comes amid growing unease about the impact of mass migration and political division in Western societies. Professor David Betz of King’s College London has previously warned that the conditions for civil war “already exist in many Western states,” arguing that the focus has shifted from prevention to damage control.
Musk previously criticised the arrest of a man over a Facebook comment in Britain, calling Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer “Two-Tier Keir” and asking, “Is this Britain or the Soviet Union?” The Prime Minister later described Musk’s remarks as “dangerous” and accused him of undermining public trust in the police.
Musk’s posts about previously ignored child grooming gangs in English cities earlier this year also played a part in prompting the government to announce a statutory inquiry.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) released Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) files revealing that over 430 Republican groups and individuals were targeted by subpoenas in the Arctic Frost probe.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sen. Grassley, special counsel Jack Smith, and other GOP senators.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: October 29, 2025; Washington, D.C.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Contrary to what Smith has said publicly, this was a fishing expedition.” – Sen. Grassley
🎯IMPACT: The probe has drawn criticism for targeting Republican entities and individuals, raising further questions as to the extent of the former Biden government’s lawfare campaign against President Donald J. Trump and his allies.
IN FULL
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) announced on Wednesday the release of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) files showing that special counsel Jack Smith issued 197 subpoenas targeting Republican groups and individuals as part of the Arctic Frost probe. Grassley described the investigation as a “fishing expedition” aimed at improperly scrutinizing the Republican political apparatus.
“I’ve obtained through legally protected whistleblower disclosures,” Grassley stated during a press conference with other Republican senators. “197 subpoenas were issued by Jack Smith and his team. These subpoenas were issued to 34 individuals and 163 businesses, including financial institutions.”
Grassley further noted that the subpoenas sought records and communications involving over 430 individuals and organizations, including prominent conservative entities such as Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA). The investigation also involved a subpoena related to communications with media companies like CBS, Fox News, Newsmax, and Sinclair.
“Arctic Frost was the vehicle by which partisan FBI agents and DOJ prosecutors could improperly investigate the entire Republican political apparatus. Some subpoenas to individuals and businesses sought statistical data and analysis relating to donors and fundraising efforts,” Grassley said, emphasizing the broad scope of the investigation. He added: “Contrary to what Smith has said publicly, this was a fishing expedition.”
The Arctic Frost probe ultimately resulted in a four-count indictment against President Donald J. Trump concerning efforts to contest the 2020 election. Grassley previously revealed that the investigation also targeted phone metadata from at least nine Republican lawmakers.
According to new records provided through “legally protected whistleblower disclosures” @ChuckGrassley 197 subpoenas sought testimony, records and communications..
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Staffing shortages at Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control centers led to a temporary ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), air passengers, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday afternoon, Newark Liberty International Airport, with potential impacts at other major airports.
💬KEY QUOTE: “We have more people calling in sick, more people not showing up for work,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
🎯IMPACT: Over 2,700 flight delays were reported by 4 PM EDT, contributing to a week of significant travel disruptions.
IN FULL
On Wednesday, staffing shortages at Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control centers led to a temporary ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport. The FAA issued an advisory at 3:30 PM EDT highlighting staffing triggers at three control facilities, including the Philadelphia TRACON Area C, the New York ARTCC Area D, and the Indianapolis ARTCC Area 5.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy addressed the situation, stating that the increasing number of staffing triggers is a “sign that the controllers are wearing thin” amid the Senate Democrats’ government shutdown. He noted a rise in absences, with more personnel calling in sick or not showing up for work. Saturday marked the highest number of staffing triggers since the shutdown began, with 22 air traffic control facilities affected.
The ground stop at Newark was issued shortly after 3 PM EDT, with potential ground stops or delays flagged for New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport after 4 PM EDT, and at Dallas and Washington’s Reagan National until 10 PM EDT. As of 4 PM EDT, FlightAware reported over 2,700 flight delays, adding to the 21,000 flights delayed earlier in the week.
The current staffing issues are reminiscent of the 35-day shutdown of 2018-2019, where missing the first paycheck led to increased absences among air traffic controllers. This week, controllers received their first “zero paychecks,” exacerbating the situation as some seek temporary second jobs. Congressional Republicans have tried to pass funding bills multiple times, but the Senate Democrats have consistently blocked them.
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