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Russia-Ukraine war: Canada detains chartered flight carrying Russian nationals, holds Russia ‘accountable’ by harassing civilians

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Russia-Ukraine war: Canada detains chartered flight carrying Russian nationals, holds Russia ‘accountable’ by harassing civilians

Russian citizens are now bearing the brunt of Russian troops’ intensified attack on Ukraine. A charter flight carrying Russians en route to the High Arctic has been detained and grounded at the Yellowknife airport in Canada’s Northwest Territories on March 3, Wednesday.

The Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra took to Twitter to share the news on March 4, Thursday. He said that Canada will continue to hold Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine, even though it is unclear how Canada plans to do that by harassing civilians who have nothing to do with the war.

“A charter aircraft that carried Russian foreign nationals have been held at the Yellowknife airport. We will continue to hold Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine,” Tweeted Omar Alghabra.

CBC also quoted Northwest Territories’ Infrastructure Minister Diane Archie as saying, “It appears that the plane and its passengers were on their way to Resolute, Nunavut, with the intention of taking a planned Arctic overland expedition in a large all-terrain utility vehicle.”

Canadian minister threatens Russia with reprisal

Prior to this, the Transport Minister, in his Tweet, condemned Russia’s aggression and unprovoked attacks on Ukraine and its civilian population. He exclaimed that Russia’s actions will be met with retaliation. “Canada stands with the brave people of Ukraine,” Alghabara Tweeted.

The Transport Minister’s Tweet came in response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Tweet wherein he reiterated Canada’s support for Ukraine. Trudeau also commended Zelensky for his front-line leadership and the courage of the people of Ukraine.

“Spoke with President @ZelenskyyUa today. I applauded his leadership and the courage of Ukrainians. Volodymyr, Canada and the world stand with you – and call for an immediate end to President Putin’s illegal attacks that have resulted in the deaths of civilians,” the Canadian PM had Tweeted.

Canada does not buy crude from Russia but Justin Trudeau bans the import

Interestingly, like many other countries, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau had announced yesterday that his govt will stop importing crude oil from Russia. This, despite the fact that Canada imports zero crude oil from Russia.

In an address on Monday, PM Justin Trudeau said that even though Canada is not dependent on Russia for oil, the ban will send a strong message. “While Canada has imported very little amounts in recent years, this measure sends a powerful message,” he said.

He also announced that Canadian banks would be barred from transactions with the Russian central bank. The Canadian PM announced sending more military equipment to Ukraine to fight Russian forces, including anti-tank weapons, body armours, helmets, gas masks, night-vision goggles. Canada has already sent three shipments of lethal and non-lethal equipment to Ukraine.

The champion of freedom of speech Justin Trudeau also announced that Canada will be banning Russian media houses, including Russia Today, in Canada.

‘Your sister is lying in the forest, go and get her’: Sahil in Saharanpur poisons a minor Dalit girl for resisting rape, victim dies

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‘Your sister is lying in the forest, go and get her’: Sahil in Saharanpur poisons a minor Dalit girl for resisting rape, victim dies

On Thursday, the Uttar Pradesh Police arrested a person named Sahil for attempting to rape a Dalit girl and then poisoning her in Dehat Kotwali area of Saharanpur. The girl was recovered in a very critical condition from a nearby Bijopuri forest and was immediately shifted to the hospital where she was declared dead.

According to the reports, the girl was studying in class 9 and had left her home for school exams. While on her way to school, the accused from the same village abducted her and took her to a hotel. He abused her and made several attempts to rape her. The girl kept on resisting his attempts to sexually assault her.

The accused then forced her to eat some poisonous substance and abandoned her in the nearby Bijopuri forest area. The family of the girl came to know about the brutal incident only when the school teacher called them up to inform that the girl had not appeared for the exams. The family then began to search for the girl.

One of her friends reportedly informed the family about the accused and his puzzling involvement in the girl. The family of the girl then contacted the accused to enquire about their daughter.

The accused who has been identified as Sahil, abused the family members of the girl and confessed that he had thrown the girl in the Bijopuri forest. “Your sister is lying there. Go and get her”, he said to the girl’s brother. The family rushed to the Bijopuri forest and saw that the girl was lying in a critical condition with froth coming out of her mouth. They took her to the hospital where the doctors declared her dead.

Hundreds of local people from the village rushed to the hospital as soon as they came to know about the brutal incident. They held protests outside the hospital and demanded immediate arrest of the accused. According to the reports, the girl had narrated the entire incident to the family while she was admitted in the hospital, the video of which was submitted to the Police. The Police has registered the case and has arrested Sahil on charges of murder. The Police also has sent the body of the girl for postmortem in the process of investigation and is awaiting the reports.

Meanwhile, the local Bajrang Dal activists have stated that the case is another example of the rampant Love Jihad cases in the state where non-Muslim girls are being targeted for sexual harassment and exploitation by Muslims. They have demanded the death penalty for the accused.

As the Australian Cricket Team is in Pakistan after 24 years, here is how the Sri Lanka team had come under attack on a similar tour in 2009

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As the Australian Cricket Team is in Pakistan after 24 years, here is how the Sri Lanka team had come under attack on a similar tour in 2009

The Australian men’s cricket team landed in Pakistan last Sunday for a multi-format cricket tournament series. This is Australia’s first visit to Pakistan in 24 years, following the 1998 tour of the country.

The tournament starts today with a three-match Test series, followed by an ODI series on March 29, and one T20 match on April 5. This will be Pat Cummins’ first foreign Test since taking over as captain of the Australian cricket team.

This tour by the Australian Cricket Team to Pakistan comes after a long gap of international cricket teams visiting the terror-stricken country. Last September, shortly before the toss in the first one-day international scheduled in Rawalpindi, New Zealand had cancelled its tour to Pakistan citing security concerns.

Since an attack by Islamist terrorists on the Sri Lankan Cricket team in Lahore in 2009, international teams have stayed away from Pakistan. 

The terrorist attack of Sri Lankan Cricketers in 2009

In 2009, the Sri Lankan cricket team visited Pakistan to play cricket matches. On March 3, they were on their way to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore in their team bus. They were accompanied by some more vehicles of staff and security personnel.

Terrorists armed with Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and assault rifles attacked the whole convoy before they could get to the stadium. When terrorists opened fire on the visiting team’s cricketers and assistants, six Sri Lankan players were critically injured, as was the team’s assistant coach who was British. Terrorists killed six security personnel and two civilians in the horrific attack.

The incident reverberated throughout the sports community and all over the world. The tour was cancelled immediately following the cancellation of the test. The Sri Lankan players were escorted to a neighbouring airbase after being evacuated from the Gaddafi stadium in a helicopter.

Pakistan says three accused of 2009 Sri Lanka cricket team attack killed
Image: Livemint

No major team played any cricket match in the country since then. After terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan experienced worldwide sports isolation. ICC President David Morgan stated that security was “not as expected” during the March 3 attacks in Lahore.

In March 2019, ten years after the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan, Bangladesh’s trip to New Zealand was cancelled after a gunman opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch. The incident happened close to the location where Bangladesh was due to play the last Test match of their New Zealand trip.

In light of Pakistan’s past with international cricket, authorities have deployed 4,100 security personnel, army snipers, and road closures for the players. Despite the high level of security, Pakistani authorities have apparently planned for the worst-case scenario.

Bhagalpur: Massive explosion leaves 7 dead, cause of blast believed to be illegal firecrackers. Here is what we know so far

OpIndia Staff
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Bhagalpur: Massive explosion leaves 7 dead, cause of blast believed to be illegal firecrackers. Here is what we know so far

On Thursday (March 3) night, a massive explosion rocked a 3-storey residential building in the Kajwalichak area in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar. The area falls under the jurisdiction of the Tatarpur police station.

As per reports, the incident claimed 7 lives and injured 8 others. About 10-15 people are believed to be stuck underneath the debris of the collapsed building. The blast took place near an orphanage and damaged 2-3 nearby buildings as well.

On receiving information, the police and emergency services rushed to the spot. The injured were taken to Jawaharlal Nehru College and Hospital in Mayaganj for immediate medical attention.

According to the neighbours, the owners of the damaged 3-storey building were into making firecrackers. A man by the name of Mohammad Yusuf, who lived in the same neighbourhood, confirmed the development to India Today.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Bhagalpur Range) Sujit Kumar informed that the blast took place due to the presence of country-made bombs, gun powder and illegal firecrackers in the building.

“We have so far taken out four bodies from underneath the debris of the house. Prima facie investigation shows it was firecracker and desi bomb manufacturing unit. Forensic samples are being taken. So far, only one person has been identified,” he remarked.

A probe has been launched into the matter. So far, the police have made no arrests and are involved in the rescue operation.

Russia Ukraine war: Indian student shot while trying to escape from Kyiv, hospitalized

OpIndia Staff
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Russia Ukraine war: Indian student shot while trying to escape from Kyiv, hospitalized

On Friday, an Indian student was shot with a bullet in the capital city of Ukraine and was hospitalized immediately in Kyiv amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The news was confirmed by the Minister of State (MoS) for Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) General VK Singh who said that the student is in the hospital and is being treated.

“A student from Kyiv was reported to have been shot and was immediately admitted to the hospital in Kyiv. The Indian embassy had earlier cleared on the priority that everyone should leave Kyiv. In the event of war, the gun bullet does not look at anyone’s religion and nationality,” he added.

According to the reports, the Indian students in Ukraine are making their way back to India safe via countries neighboring Ukraine. The Indian government is also making all the required efforts to rescue all the Indian nationals trapped in the war. Four Union Ministers, Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and Gen (Retd) VK Singh are looking into the evacuation efforts in the countries adjoining Ukraine.

Earlier one Indian national named Naveen from Karnataka was killed in shelling in Kharkiv. Kharkiv is a big Ukrainian city in the Eastern region where intense fighting has been going on between Russian and Ukrainian forces. The MEA had confirmed the news with deep sorrow and had demanded the Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine for safe passage for Indian nationals from the conflict zones.

Nearly 20,000 Indian students, most studying medicine, were stuck in Ukraine amid the conflict. Out of the total number, 60% have already reached India and are safe. Efforts are being made to evacuate the balance 40% of the Indian nationals.

The Indian government has started an evacuation operation named ‘Operation Ganga’ for the stranded Indian students. Several special flights have been running from Poland, Romania, and Hungary to bring the students home. Around 200 more students and Indian citizens reached Delhi yesterday on a special Indigo flight.

Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, and SpiceJet have joined the Operation Ganga mission operating multiple flights from Ukraine’s neighboring countries to Delhi and Mumbai.

Indian Railway designed ‘Kavach’ to be tested: Two trains, one with Minister Vaishnaw and other with Railway Board Chairman, will hurtle towards each other but won’t collide

OpIndia Staff
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Indian Railway designed ‘Kavach’ to be tested: Two trains, one with Minister Vaishnaw and other with Railway Board Chairman, will hurtle towards each other but won’t collide

For strengthening the safety of moving trains, the Indian Railway has designed its own indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System known as “Kavach”. The Railway is promoting ‘Kavach’ as the world’s most affordable automatic train accident protection technology.

Today, Kavach will be tested when two trains will hurtle towards each other at full speed near Secunderabad, one carrying the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and the other the Chairman of the Railway Board. However, due to the indigenous ‘KAVACH’ technology, they won’t collide.

The Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system was created in-house to aid the railways in meeting their aim of “zero accidents.” Kavach is a system that automatically brings a train to a stop when it detects another train on the same track within a certain range.

Kavach is designed and developed in conjunction with three Indian vendors and Research Design and Standards Organization, which is a company under Indian Railways.

Kavach operates on the concept of providing Movement Authority with continual updates through radio. In the event that Loco Pilot fails to do so, it limits the speed by applying brakes automatically. Signal elements are duplicated in the cab, which certainly helps at greater speeds and in foggy conditions. Kavach is connected to current signal interlocking systems for this purpose. Also, it meets the highest level of safety certification, SIL-4 (Safety Integrity Level). 

The project is now being executed as a trial on several sections of the South-Central Railway zone. In the initial phase, Indian Railways plans to install the technology on high-density routes like as Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah. As per sources, it will be deployed on all major routes by 2024. Kavach will also be exported to other nations. In her budget address, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman declared that 2,000 kilometers of the network will be placed under Kavach as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

‘Let them fly on their broomsticks’: Russian space agency to stop delivery of rocket engines to USA after US sanctions

OpIndia Staff
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‘Let them fly on their broomsticks’: Russian space agency to stop delivery of rocket engines to USA after US sanctions

Amid the wave of sanctions from the USA on Russia over the war in Ukraine, Biden had stated that the Russian space industry will be hit.

Dmitry Rogozin, director-general of Roscosmos, has announced on 3rd March 2022 that Russia would be halting the delivery of rocket engines to the US. Rogozin has stated to Russian state media, “In a situation like this we can’t supply the United States with our world’s best rocket engines. Let them fly on something else, their broomsticks, I don’t know what.”

Dmitry Rogozin further said, “Russia will be ending cooperation with the US on experiments on the ISS. The priority of the country’s space program will be adjusted to focus on satellites for defence interests.”

Rogozin stated that Russia has delivered a total of 122 RD-180 engines to the USA since the 1990s. 98 of those engines have been used to power the Atlas launch vehicles. He added that Russia will also stop providing technological assistance for the service and maintenance of the existing rocket engines in the USA.

Germany halts scientific projects in collaboration with Russia, switches off its own blackhole mapping telescope

ROSCOSMOS has informed that Dmitry Rogozin has also written a letter to the administrator of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla. In this letter, he has announced that Roscosmos would be terminating all joint scientific projects in the International Space Station.

Tweet by ROSCOSMOS

Dmitry Rogozin has written in his letter, “The termination of cooperation with the Russian Federation in the field of higher education, scientific research and professional training announced by the leadership of the Federal Republic of Germany, of course, causes irreparable damage to the established long-term cooperation ties and significantly slows down activities in the field of outer space exploration for peaceful purposes.”

On February 25, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Higher Education and Research had announced that they are halting all existing, long-standing cooperation in scientific research collaborations with Russia.

It is notable that the DLR has announced on Thursday that it was terminating all collaboration activities with Russian institutions and would not start any new projects or initiatives with them. Later, Germany switched off its own eROSITA telescope, engaging in the mapping of blackholes on board a Russian satellite.

The Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany announced last week that it would immediately freeze cooperation with Russian universities and businesses until further notice, issuing a condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier on Wednesday, Russian space agency ROSCOSMOS chief Dimitry Rogozin had posted a video showing workers at the Baikonur launch pad covering up the flags of the USA, Japan, and the UK on the OneWeb rocket which is scheduled to be launched on Friday. However, the flag of India was left intact.

13,000 Indians moved out of Ukraine under Operation Ganga: CNN News 18 anchor asks why Indian students were not evacuated ‘earlier’. What Jyotiraditya Scindia said

OpIndia Staff
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13,000 Indians moved out of Ukraine under Operation Ganga: CNN News 18 anchor asks why Indian students were not evacuated ‘earlier’. What Jyotiraditya Scindia said

Amidst the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia informed that about 13,000 Indian students have been safely evacuated to the neighbouring countries and only 1000 more Indian nationals are still stuck in war-torn Ukraine.

While speaking to CNN-News 18, Scindia was asked about the supposed ‘late’ evacuation by the Centre. “Why couldn’t it have been done earlier? Why did you wait till the situation became so bad for the incoming students?” quizzed ‘journalist’ Pallavi Ghosh.

He remarked, “Any government or Opposition party cannot preempt when the war is going to break out. And the day the war broke out, from that day onwards, we have been working 24/7 to ensure that all our children could get out. There were 19760 odd children in Ukraine. Prior to the war breaking out, through the advisories, about 4800 children had left.”

Jyotiraditya Scindia informed, “So, we had roughly about 14000 students left after the war broke out. We have roughly about 1000 or so odd students left in Ukraine. We have moved out close to 13000 students over the last 6 days, safely from Ukraine to all our neighbouring countries and being moved to India.”

On being asked about using the allegations of using Operation Ganga as a Public Relations (PR) exercise, the BJP leader responded, “My heart and soul is with every child. When I landed at 10:30 in the night, I was at the airport till 2 am, trying to reassure every child, understand their pain points. (I was not focused) on the elections, Opposition or criticism.”

“I have been given a task and that is the only thing that I am concentrating on. There are people, who even in times of emergency wants to sit and criticise. That is something that I cannot help. If there is an ostrich in the sand approach of just criticising, then, this is not my mentality,” he concluded.

Earlier on Thursday (March 3), Jyotiraditya Scindia had informed that 18 flights were scheduled for the day to evacuate Indian nationals from neighbouring countries of Ukraine. The destinations included Bucharest and Suceava in Romania, Kosice in Slovakia, Budapest in Hungary and Rzeszow in Poland.

On February 15 this year, the Indian embassy in Ukraine had issued the first advisory, urging Indian nationals to immediately evacuate the country in the run-up to the full-fledged war. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, a total of 18000 Indians had been moved out of Ukraine since February 15, 2022.

“30 flights under Operation Ganga have brought back 6,400 Indians from Ukraine so far,” he informed on Thursday (March 3). It must be mentioned that by Tuesday (March 1), the Indian government had evacuated over 9000 Indian nationals.

The Central Government on Wednesday (March 2) confirmed that 60% of the Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine have crossed the borders and are safe amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The government added that it was undertaking all possible efforts to evacuate the remaining 40% as well.

“We will continue to make utmost efforts to ensure the return our citizens stranded in Ukraine,” ANI had tweeted, citing government sources.

Operation Ganga to the rescue

The Indian government has started an evacuation operation named ‘Operation Ganga’ for the stranded Indian students. Several special flights have been running from Poland, Romania, and Hungary to bring the students home.

It must be mentioned that the Ukrainian airspace was closed for civilian aircraft from Thursday (February 24) morning onwards. As such, the Indian embassy in Ukraine had to coordinate with the embassies of neighbouring countries in Poland, Romania and Hungary for the creation of safe evacuation channels.

Under ‘Operation Ganga’, Indians were first taken in batches from Ukraine to bordering countries (currently Hungary and Romania) via buses/commute arranged by the embassy. They were then airlifted to Delhi or Mumbai through chartered Air India flights.

The Indian government had sent its 4 Union Ministers, namely, Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and General (Retd) VK Singh to Hungary, Romania and Moldova, Slovakia, and Poland respectively, to coordinate the Operation Ganga

West sponsored foreign mercenaries in Ukraine will not be treated as Prisoners-of-War, warns Russian military: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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West sponsored foreign mercenaries in Ukraine will not be treated as Prisoners-of-War, warns Russian military: Read details

Mercenaries deployed by the western countries in Ukraine will not be treated as prisoner-of-war (POW) and will be subject to criminal liability, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Thursday, reports Russian News Agency TASS.

Amidst the ongoing clashes between NATO-backed Ukrainian and Russian troops, the Russian Defense Ministry has said that the mercenaries the West is sending to Ukraine will not enjoy the right of combatants under international humanitarian law.

“I wish to make an official statement that none of the mercenaries the West is sending to Ukraine to fight for the nationalist regime in Kiev can be considered as combatants in accordance with international humanitarian law or enjoy the status of prisoners of war,” Konashenkov said.

Igor Konashenkov stated that mercenaries in Ukraine are carrying out sabotage activities with the weapons supplied by the West. Konashenkov said that foreign mercenaries were attacking the Russian military and supporting aircraft. Konashenkov also said the US intelligence has launched a mass campaign to recruit more mercenaries.

The Russian Defense Ministry accused Great Britain, Denmark, Latvia, Poland, and Croatia of legally authorising their citizens to participate in the ongoing Ukraine war. France plans to send ethnic Ukrainians serving in its foreign legion to Ukraine as well, Konashenkov added.

“According to Zelenskyy, about 16,000 foreign mercenaries are expected to arrive in Ukraine in addition to those already available to compensate for the crushing military failures of the Ukrainian security forces. A visa-free regime is officially introduced for them,” the spokesperson said.

Konashenkov also revealed that nearly 200 troops arrived in Ukraine from Croatia to join one of the Nazi battalions.

He also warned that all foreign mercenaries detained in Ukraine would be brought to justice on criminal charges.

“At best, they can expect to be prosecuted as criminals. We are urging all foreign citizens who may have plans to go and fight for Kiev’s nationalist regime to think a dozen times before getting on the way,” Konashenkov said.

Konashenkov also alleged that the Ukrainian secret services are putting out propaganda videos filmed by local civilians.

China reverts to its own currency in pursuing trade with Russia, opposes sanctions posed by the US, EU against Russia

OpIndia Staff
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China reverts to its own currency in pursuing trade with Russia, opposes sanctions posed by the US, EU against Russia

As Russia’s economy gets hammered by sanctions imposed upon by many countries including the US, China has emerged as the key player after it has decided to revert back to its own currency in pursuing trade with Russia.

Amid Moscow’s deepening international isolation, Analyst Tom Fowdy on Thursday opined that the US might have to face long-standing consequences of strategic changes in trade pacts between China and Russia. “Both China and India are reverting to their own currencies in pursuing trade with Russia. The combined population total of these countries is 2.7 billion people. Do the US and its allies realize the long term strategic consequences of this?”

According to the reports, China has opposed to the sanctions imposed upon Russia by the United States, European Union and has said that it will continue to carry out normal trade cooperation with Moscow. “China and Russia will continue to carry out normal trade cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit”, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

He added that economic sanctions are not a solution to the problems, instead, they create new ones. He also demanded that US should not harm the legitimate rights and interests of China and other parties when handling the Ukraine issue and its relations with Russia.

This is specifically after the US moved to disallow certain Russian banks from SWIFT, the payment system used for international financial transactions amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Western governments are trying to shut off Russia’s economy from the global financial system, pushing international companies to halt sales, cut ties and dump tens of billions of dollars worth of investments.

It is pertinent to note that China and Russia had decided to reduce their dependence on the US dollar before the year 2020 itself. As of 2020, only 46% of the trade between the two countries was recorded in the US dollar as compared to 90% in 2015 and before.

China and Russia have close bilateral ties in trade. According to the reports, trade between Russia and China has recorded a rise of 35.9% last year recording the total trade at $146.9 billion. The two have aimed to boost the total bilateral trade to $250 billion by 2024, as unveiled on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics.

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