General news

• Theresa May gets standing ovations at start of US visit

  26-01-2017 23:37
  
  Theresa May has been given three standing ovations by leading Republicans as she gave a speech at the start of her US visit. The Prime Minister evoked the relationship between Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan as she called on the US to renew its special bond with the UK. Countries in central and eastern Europe were free "because of the leadership of Britain and America, and of Mrs Thatcher and President Reagan", she said.
  
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• French presidential hopeful François Fillon denies claims about wife - The Guardian

  26-01-2017 23:25 via theguardian.com
  
  The Guardian
  French presidential hopeful François Fillon denies claims about wife
  The Guardian
  He also said he would not stand down when he appeared on the evening news on TF1 to answer questions about a scandal that could prove explosive for his presidential bid. Fillon said his British wife Penelope had worked for him since his first election ...
  French Favorite Imperiled by Same Anger That Fired Trump VictoryBloomberg
  Francois Fillon's enemies hope family affair will end presidential
  
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• 'Opposites attract,' PM May calls on Trump to renew special relationship

  26-01-2017 23:22
  By Elizabeth Piper PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Joking that "opposites attract," Prime Minister Theresa May called on President Donald Trump on Thursday to renew the "special relationship" between Britain and the United States and lead in a new, changed world. In the United States for what will be Trump's first meeting with a foreign leader since he took office last week, May signalled a shift in foreign policy, bringing her position more in line with that of Trump. Because when others step up as we
  
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• 6 talking points from Theresa May's speech to Republican leaders in the US

  26-01-2017 23:11
  
  She signalled a strong relationship with Trump ahead of her meeting with him.
  
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• Labour MP resigns after Jeremy Corbyn tells party they must trigger Brexit

  26-01-2017 22:51
  Labour front bench MP Tulip Siddiq has resigned after Jeremy Corbyn ordered his party not to "block" the bill to trigger Article 50 and start Britain's exit from the EU. The shadow early years minister, who represents the Hampstead and Kilburn constituency in north London, had said on Thursday she would be willing to resign if a three-line whip was imposed on the Article 50 decision. In her resignation letter, she said she would be better able to fight against a "hard Brexit" from the backbenche
  
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• Tam Dalyell dies: Labour MP was scourge of prime ministers

  26-01-2017 22:28
  Tam Dalyell, a Labour MP for more than 40 years and one of the great House of Commons eccentrics, has died aged 84. Former prime minister Gordon Brown said: "For four decades Tam Dalyell was one of the truly great characters of Scottish political life.
  
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• Donald Trump has revealed where the money for the Mexico border wall is going to come from

  26-01-2017 22:28
  
  Imports from Mexico are set to be taxed to raise the money.
  
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• Why Doomsday Is Closer Than You Think - TIME

  26-01-2017 21:06 via time.com
  TIME
  Why Doomsday Is Closer Than You Think
  TIME
  Two and a half minutes to midnight. That's the new setting of the Doomsday Clock, the iconic symbol that attempts to show just how close humanity is to inadvertently ending the world. In an announcement this morning, the Science and Security Board of ...
  Doomsday Clock registers Cold-War-style pessimismThe Seattle Times
  The DOOMSDAY clock is two-and-a-half minutes from midnightDaily Mail
  Doomsday Clock moves to 150 seconds before midnight. Thanks,
  
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• Donald Trump takes his first trip on Air Force One - Daily Mail

  26-01-2017 21:05 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Daily Mail
  Donald Trump takes his first trip on Air Force One
  Daily Mail
  Today, the mogul-turned-politician took his first trip on Marine One and Air Force One as the 45th President of the United States. Mr Trump took the presidential helicopter to Joint Base Andrews, to ride Air Force One less than 150 miles up the beltway ...
  Trump delays voter fraud probe's executive orderWashington Times
  Donald Trump says Air Force One is a 'nice plane'The Indian Express
  President Trump's first ride on Air
  
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• Readers recommend: share your songs about cheating

  26-01-2017 21:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Make your nomination in the comments and a reader will pick the best eligible tracks for a playlist next week – you have until Monday 30 January What does the word “cheating” mean to you and how have musicians summed this up in song?
  You have until 11pm on Monday 30 January to post your nomination and make your justification. RR contributor George Boyland (who posts as sonofwebcore in the comments) will select from your recommendations and produce the playlist, to be published
  
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• Tata Steel's UK pensions trustee warns deficit to surge

  26-01-2017 20:12
  By Maytaal Angel and Carolyn Cohn LONDON (Reuters) - Tata Steel UK's pension scheme deficit is set to balloon to 1-2 billion pounds and Britain's largest steelmaker believes it could face insolvency unless a way can be found to tackle it, the scheme's trustee has told members. Indian parent company Tata Steel has held talks to merge its European assets with Germany's Thyssenkrupp , but the success of those talks hinges on Tata being able to separate itself from its British pension scheme. The st
  
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• 'Opposites attract,' PM May calls on Trump for deeper special relationship

  26-01-2017 19:36
  By Elizabeth Piper PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Saying "opposites attract," Prime Minister Theresa May called on President Donald Trump on Thursday to build a stronger "special relationship" between Britain and the United States to withstand new, modern-day threats. Travelling to the United States on what will be the first meeting with a foreign leader since Trump was inaugurated last week, May sought to find similarities with the U.S. leader when questioned by reporters, avoiding any possible polic
  
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• Theresa May says 'opposites attract' about her meeting with Trump

  26-01-2017 19:30
  The PM has told Sky News she aims to charm Donald Trump into backing a trade deal, declaring that "sometimes opposites attract". Theresa May also believes she is able to endear US President Donald Trump into backing NATO, the UN and even the EU. Speaking to reporters on her flight to the US, Mrs May said President Trump shared some of her political values, and that of Brexit Britain.
  
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• How should journalists respond to Trump? Their response to his inauguration gives some clues - New Statesman

  26-01-2017 17:52 via newstatesman.com
  
  Telegraph.co.uk
  How should journalists respond to Trump? Their response to his inauguration gives some clues
  New Statesman
  All the political players were there: the current and former presidents, the defeated candidate and the senators. So were the big beasts of broadcasting: the American network anchors, and their British equivalents in Tom Bradby, Emily Maitlis, Jon Snow ...
  Call me 'remoaner-in-chief', but I won't be voting to trigger article 50The Guardianall 175 news articles »
  
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• Parents' horrific abuse of baby could have been prevented

  26-01-2017 17:35
  The youngster, called Isabelle, will need to be fed through a tube for the rest of her life after being abused by her parents, Rocky Uzzell, 29, and mother Katherine Prigmore, 24, from Kettering in Northamptonshire. In its report, Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board said that Isabelle was taken to hospital six times in five weeks between her birth and 20 March 2014, when her mother and father were arrested. The youngster, who is referred to in the report as Child N, spent two days in a
  
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• National Fish and Chip Awards 2017: Which chippie took top spot?

  26-01-2017 17:35
  
  And find out who won in your area.
  
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• Government to close 78 jobcentres in shake-up of services

  26-01-2017 17:20
  The Government has announced plans to close 78 smaller Jobcentres as part of plans for "under-used" buildings. Union bosses have vowed to fight the closures. In addition to those closures, 50 other sites would co-locate to bring local authority services under a single roof.
  
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• Tata Steel UK's pensions trustee expects 1-2 billion pound deficit

  26-01-2017 17:08
  The trustee for Tata Steel UK's pension scheme is set to tell its members it expects to report a scheme deficit of between 1 billion and 2 billion pounds at its next actuarial valuation at end-March. In a letter to members seen by Reuters, the trustee said Tata Steel UK has confirmed that it does not expect to be able to pay contributions needed to close the deficit. The trustee added that the deficit estimate had increased sharply because the actuary has to take into account the fact that Tata
  
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• Brexit trigger bill laid in front of Parliament to debate

  26-01-2017 17:05
  
  The Government has published its bill asking Parliament for permission to trigger the official Brexit process but will give MPs just three days to debate it. MPs will debate the European Union Notification of Withdrawal Bill on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Government has announced, with a third day of debate and a vote on 8 February. Labour MPs reacted angrily, saying the Government was trying to "railroad" legislation through without proper discussion.
  
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• Government - no plan to strip rail contract from strike-hit operator

  26-01-2017 17:02
  The British government dismissed media reports that it was planning to take a rail contract away from GTR, as strikes on the Southern network disrupt hundreds of thousands of London commuters. "There are no plans to strip GTR of the franchise. This is pure speculation," a Department for Transport (DfT) spokesman said on Thursday.
  
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• Disabled fans: is your football club doing enough to help you watch the game?

  26-01-2017 17:01 via theguardian.com
  
  We want to hear from disabled football supporters about the ways in which your club is improving or needs to improve accessibility at their stadium
  Manchester United this week announced they would move 2,600 season-ticket holders to create 300 more places for disabled supporters at Old Trafford. The move comes after the government warned Premier League clubs that they weren’t doing enough to improve facilities and access. Related: Manchester United to reduce Old Trafford capacity and accom
  
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• Comedian Lee Hurst wants to know what you'd do if a terrorist tied a bomb to your baby

  26-01-2017 16:58
  
  What exactly is a time bomb?
  
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• UK does not condone torture, says spokesman as May flies to see Trump

  26-01-2017 16:41
  Britain does not condone torture or inhumane treatment and its close relationship with the United States allows frank exchanges on areas of disagreement, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said on Thursday. May is on her way to the United States where she will meet Trump on Friday.
  
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• Suicides, self-harm and assaults soar in UK prisons

  26-01-2017 16:36
  Prisons are seeing record levels of deaths, suicides, self-harming and assault, official figures show. Ministry of Justice figures reveal self-harm incidents soared by almost 7,000, a 23% increase to 37,784, while 25,049 assaults were recorded in the 12 months to September - a rise of 31% compared to the previous year. A report setting out the figures from the MoJ said: "The rise in assaults since 2012 has coincided with major changes to the regime, operating arrangements and culture in public s
  
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• What should Theresa May ask Donald Trump? These students told us which issues matter to them

  26-01-2017 16:06
  
  And their answers may surprise you…
  
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• Text - Britain publishes legislation to approve Brexit trigger

  26-01-2017 16:02
  Britain on Thursday published the legislation it will use to seek parliamentary approval for triggering the Article 50 legal process for leaving the European Union. The full text of the bill is here: "A bill to confer power on the Prime Minister to notify, under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the EU. Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal,
  
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• What is the process for Britain's Brexit legislation?

  26-01-2017 15:56
  The British government needs to pass legislation before it can trigger the formal Article 50 process of leaving the European Union. Below is a summary of the legislative process and the points to look out for. OVERVIEW Prime Minister Theresa May has said she wants to trigger Article 50 by the end of March.
  
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• Prepare to be completely underwhelmed by what the Brexit bill actually looks like

  26-01-2017 15:37
  
  Is that… it?!
  
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• Marmitegate boss: Get used to higher prices after pound's fall

  26-01-2017 14:44
  The head of Unilever, the company at the centre of the Marmitegate dispute, says Britain should "get used to" price rises after the fall in the pound. Chief executive Paul Polman also questioned - in separate remarks to Sky News - whether the stand-off between Tesco and his company last autumn was simply a "publicity stunt". Unilever, maker of a huge range of well known brands including Marmite, Dove soap, Ben & Jerry's ice cream and PG Tips tea, raised wholesale prices after the post-refere
  
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• UK government takes first step towards triggering Brexit

  26-01-2017 14:42
  By William James and Estelle Shirbon LONDON (Reuters) - Brexit minister David Davis began the process of passing a law that enables the government to trigger Britain's exit from the European Union, saying on Thursday he expected the legislation to pass quickly. Earlier this week, Britain's top court ruled that Prime Minister Theresa May must seek parliamentary approval to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, rejecting the government's argument that it could do so unilaterally. The rulin
  
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• Mystery body found on Saddleworth Moor identified by police

  26-01-2017 14:37
  The identity of a mystery body discovered on a moor in the Peak District has now been confirmed after more than a year of investigations. David Lytton, 67, was found on the morning of 12 December 2015, fully clothed and facing the summit of Indian's Head, a prominent feature above Dovestone Reservoir on Saddleworth Moor. On the day before Mr Lytton's body was found, he was seen on CCTV pacing outside London's Ealing Broadway station.
  
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• Madeleine Albright is 'ready to register as Muslim' in response to Trump's immigration policies

  26-01-2017 14:24
  
  The former secretary of state is standing in solidarity with Muslims.
  
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• These are the presents Theresa May will be giving Donald Trump

  26-01-2017 14:19
  
  How on earth do you actually pronounce “quaich”?
  
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• Sky scraps satellite dishes in the fight to keep customers

  26-01-2017 13:55
  
  Find out how the TV giant is trying to stay ahead of on-demand competition.
  
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• Consumers drive UK economy, defying expected Brexit vote hit

  26-01-2017 13:54
  By David Milliken and William Schomberg LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's free-spending consumers again confounded warnings that June's Brexit vote would cause an immediate slowdown in the country's economy, driving robust growth in the final three months of 2016, data showed on Thursday. Gross domestic product rose at a quarterly pace of 0.6 percent between October and December, keeping up the same above-average pace seen in the initial three months after the referendum decision to leave the Europea
  
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• We can only aspire to throw as much shade as the ex-US ambassador to Singapore wearing an Obama T-shirt after being sacked by Trump

  26-01-2017 13:51
  
  So simple, yet so effective.
  
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• British astronaut Peake to make second space flight

  26-01-2017 13:21
  British astronaut Tim Peake is to return to the International Space Station to carry out more research, the government said on Thursday. The announcement was made at London's Science Museum, where the capsule which carried Peake on his previous 186-day 'Principia' mission to the space station was unveiled for display. "Tim Peake's Principia mission inspired a generation, and showed just how far science can take you," said business secretary Greg Clark.
  
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• Comedian Rory McGrath pleads guilty to harassment

  26-01-2017 13:20
  Comedian Rory McGrath has pleaded guilty to one count of harassment after being accused of stalking a married woman he had previously been having an affair with. McGrath, who had been due to stand trial today, has been given a ten week prison sentence suspended for 18 months. The court also heard that McGrath, who lives in Cambridge, had contacted the woman's husband at work by pretending to be someone else, asking him how it felt to be a "laughing stock".
  
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• This tweet by a Mexican-born congressman hits out at Trump's border wall plan

  26-01-2017 13:17
  
  He’s got a very personal story to share.
  
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• British parliament to start debating Brexit trigger bill Jan. 31

  26-01-2017 13:16
  Legislation authorising the British government to begin the legal process of exiting the European Union will be debated in parliament on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, the government said on Thursday, outlining the first steps of the lawmaking process. Earlier this week, Britain's top court ruled that Prime Minister Theresa May must seek parliamentary approval to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, rejecting the government's argument that it should be able to do so unilaterally. The bill seeking
  
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• Article 50 vote to be held within two weeks

  26-01-2017 13:13
  
  The Government will publish the European Union Notification of Withdrawal Bill, forced on ministers by defeat in the Supreme Court, later today. Within hours of publication of the Government's bill on Article 50, pro-Remain MPs will begin tabling dozens of amendments which pro-Leave MPs claim are part of a plot to sabotage Brexit. After Mr Corbyn said last week he would "ask" his MPs to vote for the Government's bill, he immediately faced a revolt from inside the shadow cabinet and among his bac
  
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• UK ends 2016 with better than expected economic growth

  26-01-2017 13:01
  
  Strong consumer spending helped the UK grow by a better-than-expected 0.6% in the final quarter of last year and by 2% for the whole of 2016. Chancellor Philip Hammond said the official figures showed the "fundamental strength and resilience" of the economy, though he acknowledged uncertainty ahead as Brexit looms. Instead strong household spending, bolstering the dominant services sector, has kept growth firing - though Bank of England governor Mark Carney has voiced doubts about how sustainabl
  
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• UK does not condone torture, says spokesman as PM May flies to see Trump

  26-01-2017 12:57
  Britain does not condone torture or inhumane treatment and its close relationship with the United States allows frank exchanges on areas of disagreement, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said on Thursday. May is on her way to the United States where she will meet Trump on Friday.
  
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• Article 50 Brexit bill to be published at 1230 GMT - PM's spokesman

  26-01-2017 12:54
  LONDON (Reuters) - The British government's bill seeking authorisation from parliament to start the formal Brexit process by triggering Article 50 of the European Union's Lisbon Treaty will be published at 1230 GMT on Thursday, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said. Parliament is scheduled to start debating the bill on Tuesday next week. (Reporting by William James, writing by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Stephen Addison)
  
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• British astronaut Tim Peake to return to space on a second mission

  26-01-2017 12:39
  
  British astronaut Tim Peake is to return to space on a second mission to the International Space Station. Major Peake told Sky News he was "hugely excited" about returning to space. "Myself and my classmates from 2009, we are all going to get the second mission to the space station which is wonderful.
  
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• Donald Trump presidency a boost for post-Brexit trade deal - poll

  26-01-2017 12:38
  
  The majority of Britons expect a boost to prospects of a beneficial trade deal with the US thanks to Donald Trump's election, a Sky Data poll reveals. The nation are evenly split as to whether Mr Trump's presidency will be a good or bad thing for Britain overall, however. Some 37% believe his presidency will be beneficial, while 38% think it will be a bad thing for the UK.
  
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• Brexit 'turf wars' a 'waste' of Whitehall time, says leading think tank

  26-01-2017 12:36
  Brexit "turf wars" between Government departments have wasted time and energy in the process of leaving the EU, according to a report by a leading think tank. Whitehall is also facing "big challenges" over Brexit because of "deep staff and budget cuts" in departments whose EU exit workload will be greatest. The Institute for Government said that the territory spats between the ministries of Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox had led to "fragmentation, incoherence and a lack of clarity aroun
  
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• Theresa May accused of 'grovelling' after praising Trump for renewing America - Politics live

  26-01-2017 12:25 via theguardian.com
  
  Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen 11.25am GMTThe Labour MP Ben Bradshaw has described the amount of time set aside for the article 50 bill as a “disgrace”.The Tories' restriction of debate on detail of #Article50 to just 3 days is a disgrace. @UKLabour must oppose this contempt for ParliamentNot enough. We had much more on Maastricht. https://t.co/UzduEOMKHc 11.16am GMTDavid Lidington, the leader of the Commons, has just told MPs that MPs will
  
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• West Ham and Middlesbrough match Snodgrass bid – transfer window live!

  26-01-2017 12:23 via theguardian.com
  
  Today’s Rumour Mill: Chelsea to sign Vidal and Morata?Watford agree loan deal for Niang with £13.5m option to buyBurnley, Middlesbrough and West Ham in contention for SnodgrassDrop Marcus an email here or tweet him at m_christenson 11.23am GMTThis is what we expect from France today, courtesy of our friends at Get French Football, who you can follow here. Dimitri Payet has reached a provisional contract agreement worth €7m a year (gross) with Marseille, due to run for four and a
  
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• Roger Federer v Stan Wawrinka into fifth set: Australian Open semi – live!

  26-01-2017 12:23 via theguardian.com
  
  Australian Open semi-final updates from Melbourne ParkVenus Williams’ fairytale continues as she books final with SerenaAnd feel free to email Jacob or tweet him @JacobSteinberg 11.23am GMTFifth set: Federer 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 2-2 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka shows the first sign of weakness on serve for a while, netting a backhand to make it 0-15. Then, when Federer cracks a backhand from left to right, he nets a volley for 0-30. Wawrinka’s response is a second serve ace o
  
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