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Wednesday, May 13, 2026

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1 hour ago
News

UK Govt Proceeds With Digital ID Scheme Despite Public Opposition.

King Charles III’s announcement of a Digital ID initiative faces significant public opposition and political challenges.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: King Charles III announced the introduction of a Digital ID system during the 2026 state opening of Parliament in the United Kingdom, as part of the Labour government’s Digital Access to Services Bill.
📰 DETAIL: The King’s speech, traditionally written by the government, was delivered on behalf of Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, which is currently facing political challenges after losing numerous council seats to Reform UK. The Digital ID proposal is controversial, with significant opposition from the public and political figures like Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, who has campaigned against it.
🎯 IMPACT: If implemented, the Digital ID system could change how citizens interact with public services, but its future is uncertain given the public’s opposition and the potential for a Reform UK government to cancel the policy if they win the 2029 election.

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By Popular Demand.
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30 minutes ago
News
UK

REPORT: UK PM Starmer to Face Leadership Challenge as Soon as Tomorrow.

British Health Secretary Wes Streeting is reportedly on the cusp of resigning from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government and challenging him for the leadership of the country’s governing Labour Party.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: British Health Secretary Wes Streeting held a brief meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at his official residence in London on Wednesday morning, as dozens of lawmakers from the governing Labour Party are urging the premier to resign. Following heavy losses in English, Scottish, and Welsh local and regional elections last week, Starmer’s premiership is in jeopardy, with many detractors looking to Streeting to mount a leadership challenge.
📺 DETAIL: The BBC and other British media outlets report that allies of Streeting say he is preparing to quit as soon as Thursday. Over 80 Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) have signed a letter calling on Starmer to resign, and if they back a specific challenger, such as Streeting, a leadership contest process will be activated under party rules. Officially, Starmer’s office is saying the Prime Minister has “full confidence” in Streeting. A spokesman for Streeting has said, “He is not planning to say anything following his meeting with the Prime Minister that might distract from the King’s Speech,” referring to the Wednesday morning speech in Parliament by King Charles III setting out the Starmer government’s legislative agenda. However, this does not rule out Streeting making a move against Starmer on Thursday, following Wednesday’s coverage of the King’s Speech.
💬 KEY QUOTE: A Streeting ally has told the BBC that, if the Health Secretary does not mount a leadership challenge, “we’ll have knifed ourselves for nothing.” Notably, several junior government ministers and ministerial aides have already resigned from Starmer’s government, although Streeting would be the first Cabinet-level resignation.
🎯 IMPACT: Notably, a British prime minister is not directly elected by the public, instead depending on his ability to command a majority in the House of Commons—roughly equivalent to the U.S. House of Representatives, but with the ability to override the Senate-equivalent House of Lords. In practice, this usually means that the largest party in the Commons can replace the Prime Minister at any time, and this has happened with multiple recent prime ministers, including Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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British Health Secretary Wes Streeting is reportedly on the cusp of resigning from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's government and challenging him for the leadership of the country's governing Labour Party.

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By Popular Demand.
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15 hours ago
Immigration
News

ICE Flags 10,000-Plus Foreign Student Fraud Cases.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has identified nearly 10,000 cases of alleged fraud among students enrolled in a work permit initiative, including the use of fake employers.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has identified over 10,000 potential fraud cases linked to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows foreign students to work in the U.S. post-graduation.
📰 DETAIL: ICE Director Todd Lyons described the program as a “magnet for fraud,” reporting that investigators uncovered shell companies, some reportedly operated from India, that were used to help international students maintain legal status and employment authorization. The agency said investigators found cases involving nonexistent offices, locked buildings, and questionable job placements, raising concerns about oversight and abuse of the visa system. The OPT program, created under President George W. Bush and later expanded by the Obama administration, has long faced criticism from immigration hardliners who argue it undercuts American workers and lacks proper congressional authorization. ICE officials said enforcement efforts will include increased site visits and investigations into employers participating in the program
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Our nation will not tolerate security threats originating from the foreign student program,” said ICE acting Director Todd Lyons.
🎯 IMPACT: The findings are expected to bolster calls from immigration restrictionists for reforms to visa programs used to bypass hiring American graduates. The Trump administration had already initiated a crackdown on such programs, leading to legal challenges from affected students.

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has identified nearly 10,000 cases of alleged fraud among students enrolled in a work permit initiative, including the use of fake employers.

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By Popular Demand.
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16 hours ago
Crime
News

Trans Student Used Bathroom Access to Take Photos and Videos of Dozens of Girls.

A notoriously woke Virginia school district faces backlash after allegations of a transgender student taking inappropriate photos and videos in school bathrooms of over 40 other students.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A transgender student at Freedom High School in Loudoun County, Virginia, is under investigation for allegedly filming and photographing over 40 classmates in school bathrooms. The incidents, reportedly occurring over three years, have sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of the school district’s woke gender policies.
📺 DETAIL: Principal Tania Brown informed parents in late April that administrators were coordinating with law enforcement, while advising families to discuss appropriate technology use with students. The incident has renewed scrutiny of the district’s policies allowing transgender students to use opposite sex bathrooms, an issue that previously placed the district at odds with the Trump administration’s interpretation of Title IX protections for women and girls based on biological sex. Education Secretary Linda McMahon previously warned northern Virginia school districts they could risk losing federal funding if found to be in violation of federal law. The district has faced repeated controversy since a 2021 sexual assault case at Stone Bridge High School, where former superintendent Scott Ziegler was criticized for initially denying knowledge of assaults despite internal emails showing otherwise. Ziegler was later fired amid concerns over his handling of multiple incidents.
🎯 IMPACT: The allegations have reignited debates over LCPS’s handling of privacy concerns and its adherence to federal Title IX regulations. The district’s policies have previously placed it at odds with both federal interpretations and parental concerns, raising questions about accountability and student safety.

Image by Oriel Frankie Ashcroft.

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A notoriously woke Virginia school district faces backlash after allegations of a transgender student taking inappropriate photos and videos in school bathrooms of over 40 other students.

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By Popular Demand.
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16 hours ago
Economy
News
War

Treasury Ramps Up ‘Economic Fury’ Sanctions on China-Iran Network.

The U.S. Treasury has more sanctioned individuals and entities tied to a network facilitating Iranian oil sales to China.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Treasury announced sanctions on a dozen individuals and entities for their involvement in facilitating Iranian oil sales to China in a May 11 press release.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “As Iran’s military desperately tries to regroup, Economic Fury will continue to deprive the regime of funding for its weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions. Treasury will continue to cut the Iranian regime off from the financial networks it uses to carry out terrorist acts and to destabilize the global economy.” – Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.
📰 DETAIL: Since February last year, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned over 1,000 individuals, vessels, and other entities linked to Iran. The latest sanctions are part of Operation Economic Fury, a mirror campaign of Operation Epic Fury. On Monday, the U.S. Treasury designated another 12 individuals and entities. The most recent sanctions specifically relate to the shipment of Iranian oil by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to China. The newly sanctioned individuals include three senior officials based at the IRGC’s Shahid Purja’fari Oil Headquarters: headquarters chief Ahmad Mohammadi Zadeh, head of finance Samad Fathi Salami, and head of commerce Mohammadreza Ashrafi Ghehi. The sanctioned entities include front companies based in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Blue Ocean Ltd, Hong Kong Sanmu Ltd, Jiandi HK Ltd, Max Honor International Trade Co Ltd), Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (Atic Energy FZE), Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (Ocean Allianz Shipping LLC, Universal Fortune Trading LLC, Blanca Goods Wholesaler LLC), and Oman (Zeus Logistics Group). These front companies are used to obscure the IRGC’s role in selling crude oil, facilitating oil shipments, arranging vessels for shipments, and acting as a front for the National Iranian Oil Company, the country’s government-owned oil producer. The entities are capable of laundering tens of millions of dollars in revenue.
🎯 IMPACT: The sanctions aim to cut off the IRGC’s access to international financial systems. By cutting off Iran from international oil markets, the Islamic Republic’s ability to fund its military, foreign proxies, and terrorist activities is limited. On top of the most recent sanctions, the U.S. Treasury warned that it is willing to impose secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions involved in facilitating oil shipments from Iran to China.

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The U.S. Treasury has more sanctioned individuals and entities tied to a network facilitating Iranian oil sales to China.

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By Popular Demand.
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17 hours ago
News
War

Iran War Cost Hits $29bn as Tehran Threatens to Enrich Uranium to Weapons-Grade.

Iran is threatening to expand its nuclear program and enrich uranium to weapons-grade purity as the costs of the war have reached $29 billion overall.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war appear stalled after President Donald J. Trump rejected Tehran’s “garbage” response to a U.S. peace proposal as “unacceptable.” The Pentagon reports the cost of the war has hit at least $29 billion, and, in response to suggestions that the U.S. could resume military operations against Iran, Iranian officials have warned they could begin enriching uranium to nuclear weapons-grade.
📺 DETAIL: Trump, speaking ahead of a major summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, said he did not need China’s help to resolve the Iran war, but acknowledged the issue would likely be discussed during the visit. The conflict has increasingly drawn in China because of its economic ties to Iran and dependence on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Beijing has publicly backed mediation efforts while resisting U.S. pressure to cut ties with Tehran, even as Washington is imposing sanctions on Chinese firms accused of aiding Iran’s military capabilities. Analysts say the summit between Trump and Xi could become a key test of whether the two powers can cooperate on containing the crisis while managing broader tensions over trade, Taiwan, and security in the Indo-Pacific. Iran has continued to reject U.S. demands it views as tantamount to surrender, with officials insisting any agreement must preserve the country’s sovereignty and nuclear ambitions.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “One of Iran’s options in the event of another attack could be 90 percent enrichment. We will review it in the parliament.” – Iranian parliamentary official Ebrahim Rezaei
🎯 IMPACT: The rising financial burden of the Iran war and heightened nuclear threats from Tehran underscore the fragility of the ceasefire, which Trump called “unbelievably weak” on Monday, and raise questions about the U.S. administration’s strategy in the Middle East.

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Iran is threatening to expand its nuclear program and enrich uranium to weapons-grade purity as the costs of the war have reached $29 billion overall.

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By Popular Demand.
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18 hours ago
Health
News

DNI Gabbard Targets Secretive US-Funded Foreign Biolabs.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is probing over 120 U.S.-funded biolabs worldwide to halt risky gain-of-function research amid growing biosecurity concerns.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard confirmed an investigation into more than 120 taxpayer-funded overseas biolabs on Monday.
📰 DETAIL: In May last year, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order targeting gain-of-function research in Iran, China, and other nations. Subsequently, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has announced an investigation into U.S. taxpayer-funded biolabs in foreign countries. There are more than 120 of these biolabs in total. The investigation will reportedly identify the locations, pathogens, and research activities of these biolabs. According to ODNI officials, these biolabs exist in over 30 countries, with more than 40 of them based in Ukraine, raising concerns about the threat posed by the ongoing war with Russia. The investigation emphasizes the potential risks of gain-of-function experiments. These experiments involve genetically altering pathogens to enhance their transmissibility and other properties. The research is currently part of the Department of War’s Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, an initiative aimed at preventing future outbreaks and studying pathogens.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the catastrophic global impact research on dangerous pathogens in biolabs can have. Yet despite these obvious dangers, politicians, so-called health professionals, like Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, and entities within the Biden administration’s national security team lied to the American people about the existence of these U.S.-funded and supported biolabs and threatened those who attempted to expose the truth.” – Tulsi Gabbard
🎯 IMPACT: The review could lead to significant changes in how the U.S. funds and manages overseas biolabs, especially those handling gain-of-function research. The investigation could potentially end risky experiments that threaten U.S. biosecurity. The Biden government denied the existence of U.S.-funded biolabs in Ukraine in 2022, although a congressional testimony from Victoria Nuland, then-Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs at the Department of State, said that “Ukraine has biological research facilities which, in fact, we are now quite concerned Russian troops, Russian forces, may be seeking to gain control of.” The review of gain-of-function research follows criticism that such experiments lack sufficient transparency and oversight, especially since they are simultaneously funded by U.S. taxpayers and potentially harm the U.S. public.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is probing over 120 U.S.-funded biolabs worldwide to halt risky gain-of-function research amid growing biosecurity concerns.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
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19 hours ago
Crime
Immigration
News

Young Woman Raped in Vape Shop.

A young woman was raped by an employee in a vape shop, underscoring the businesses’ increasing association with criminality and sexual predation.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A young woman was raped inside a vape shop on East Arbors Drive in Charlotte, North Carolina, leading her mother to speak out about the incident to warn others. The accused, Yasir Khater, an employee at the shop, has been charged in connection with the assault.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “No mother wants to see their child hurting like that; it’s been super hard. She is devastated. It has been very, very hard.” – Victim’s mother
📰 DETAIL: The victim was the only customer in the store when Khater, 44, allegedly lured her to the back of the shop under the pretense of showing her something, where the assault occurred. Despite Khater’s denial of any sexual contact, police found physical evidence to the contrary. The victim’s mother emphasized her daughter was simply trying to make a purchase. Police urged anyone with additional information related to the case to come forward as detectives continue gathering evidence. The mother said she wants other families to understand how quickly dangerous situations can develop and emphasized the importance of staying vigilant.
🎯 IMPACT: The incident has left the victim traumatized and has raised concerns about the safety of women in vape shops, forming part of a growing trend of criminality in and around vape shops, often run by immigrant-background owners.

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A young woman was raped by an employee in a vape shop, underscoring the businesses' increasing association with criminality and sexual predation.

show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.

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19 hours ago
News

DOJ Charges Foreign Firms, Indian Worker Over Fatal Baltimore Bridge Collapse.

Federal prosecutors have charged two foreign companies and an Indian superintendent for their alleged roles in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, an incident that killed six workers and resulted in billions in lost economic activity.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed criminal charges against two foreign companies and an Indian superintendent for their alleged roles in the 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland.
📍 WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on March 26, 2024, on the Patapsco River, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence… This indictment is a critical step toward holding accountable those whose reckless disregard for maritime safety regulations caused this disaster. Six construction workers lost their lives, critical infrastructure was destroyed, pollutants were released into the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay, and the economic damage now exceeds five billion dollars. This Department is committed to securing justice for the victims and ensuring those responsible are held to account.” – Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
📺 DETAIL: In late March 2024, the Motor Vessel Dali, a 900-foot cargo vessel, crashed into a bridge pylon belonging to the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. The crash resulted in six deaths and two injuries. On Tuesday, federal prosecutors levied criminal charges against Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., a Singapore-based company, Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd, an India-based company, and Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, a 47-year-old Indian who worked as Technical Superintendent for both companies. The charges include conspiracy, false statements, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and wilfully failing to report a hazardous condition to the U.S. Coast Guard. The charges were announced on Tuesday.
🎯 IMPACT: In addition to half a dozen deaths and two injuries, the collapse resulted in over $5 billion in economic losses. The charges aim to ensure accountability for the disaster and justice for the victims. According to previous reports, the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge costs the state of Maryland almost $200 million a day in lost economic activity.

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Federal prosecutors have charged two foreign companies and an Indian superintendent for their alleged roles in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, an incident that killed six workers and resulted in billions in lost economic activity.

show more
By Popular Demand.
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20 hours ago
News
Politics

South Carolina Voting on Redistricting as New Missouri Map Goes to Court.

The national redistricting battle is heating up in South Carolina and Missouri, with the GOP in the former considering changes to the state’s electoral map as the latter defends a new map in court.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Missouri’s Supreme Court is reviewing a legal challenge to a new congressional map, as GOP lawmakers in South Carolina consider redistricting plans that could eliminate a Democrat-held U.S. House seat.
📰 DETAIL: Missouri’s new map aims to secure more GOP seats by altering the Kansas City district, following a Supreme Court ruling that existing districts racially gerrymandered to create Democrat-leaning black majorities are unconstitutional. In South Carolina, the focus is on potentially redrawing the state’s only Democratic-held seat, which could lead to a Republican sweep. The South Carolina effort has passed the state House, but must be approved by a supermajority in the state Senate, where some GOP lawmakers are hesitant.
🎯 IMPACT: The outcomes of these redistricting efforts could significantly influence the balance of power in the U.S. House following the November midterms, with Republicans aiming to gain additional seats in several states. Notably, the Democrats have also been seeking to redraw electoral maps in their favor in states such as California and Virginia, with mixed success.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The South Carolina State Senate has a big vote… on Redistricting. I’m watching closely, along with all Republicans across the Country who are counting on their Elected Leaders to use every Legal and Constitutional authority they have to stop the Radical Left Democrats from destroying our Country, including leveling the playing field against their decades of egregious Gerrymandering and Census Rigging. South Carolina Republicans: BE BOLD AND COURAGEOUS, just like the Republicans of the Great State of Tennessee were last week! ” – President Trump, urging South Carolina state senators to support redistricting efforts on Truth Social

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The national redistricting battle is heating up in South Carolina and Missouri, with the GOP in the former considering changes to the state's electoral map as the latter defends a new map in court.

show more
By Popular Demand.
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21 hours ago
Politics
UK

Farage Lawyers SLAM Detractors Over Fake Claims, Post Election.

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage has initiated legal proceedings against former Reform member Ben Habib for making unfounded claims about improper donations and election rigging.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform Party, has taken legal action against Ben Habib, a disgruntled former party member, demanding an apology and retraction for allegations of improper election dealings involving Farage, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Reform donor Christopher Harborne.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I do not take legal action often. But I will not accept slander & politically motivated smears after winning a national election.” – Nigel Farage
📰 DETAIL: Pakistan-born Habib left Reform after he failed to secure a seat in Parliament in the 2024 general election, resulting in his replacement as co-deputy leader by Richard Tice. Habib ultimately formed his own splinter party, Advance UK, to compete with Reform, but it performed poorly in local and regional elections across England, Scotland, and Wales last week, while Reform made massive breakthroughs across the board. Following this poor showing by Advance UK, Habib gave an interview on Monday in which he alleged the 2019 election was “sewn up” through a financial arrangement involving one-million-pound donations to Farage and Johnson from Harborne. Farage had stood down Reform, then known as the Brexit Party, against most candidates from Johnson’s Conservative Party in 2019, to ensure the Conservatives would have the parliamentary majority necessary to complete Brexit. Notably, Habib offered no hard evidence to support his allegations.
🎯 IMPACT: In his Monday interview, Habib alleged, “We know Farage is bought and paid for by Christopher Harborne,” adding, “Christopher Harborne tried to break electoral law by hiding his identity when making donations to the Brexit Party in 2019.” He invited Harborne and Farage to sue him for his allegations, but confidently predicted they would not. However, Farage announced on Tuesday that his “lawyers have formally written to Ben Habib” and “demanded an immediate apology and public retraction for the baseless allegations he made today.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Reform Party leader Nigel Farage has initiated legal proceedings against former Reform member Ben Habib for making unfounded claims about improper donations and election rigging.

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By Popular Demand.
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