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Dad-of-two ‘paid hitman neighbour £1.5k to kill his wife – then kicked off when he saw her still breathing on beach’

A DAD paid a hitman £1,500 to kill his wife – then kicked off when he saw her “still breathing” on a beach, a court heard.

Paul Lewis, 54, allegedly handed over the cash “in good faith” to bump off his estranged wife of ten years Joanne Atkinson-Lewis.

a bald man wearing glasses and a blue shirt
Athena
Paul Lewis allegedly paid to have his wife killed[/caption]
a man wearing a hat that says pitbull on it
Athena
He gave neighbour Dominique Saunders £1,500, jurors were told[/caption]

Neighbour Dominique Saunders, 34, took the bounty and vowed to hire a hitman to do the job before claiming he had images of the so-called killing, jurors heard.

But the following day, Lewis saw Joanne “still breathing” while walking on Aberavon beach in Wales.

Swansea Crown Court heard he messaged Saunders due to his “increasing frustration” – but was told to “grow a pair” and sort his own problems out.

Saunders carried out Google searches for guns, coffins, car hire, Charles Bronson and “Vince from Swansea who killed a person”.

He also searched post codes in Port Talbot where Joanne lived, the court was told.

His alleged scheming was exposed when the couple’s son Keiran Lewis went to his dad’s home in April 2023 and asked him outright.

He told jurors: “I asked him bluntly whether he had put a hit out on Joanne. He nodded in response.

“With my father’s permission I began looking through his phone and as I did so he mentioned something about Dominique sorting it out.

“That’s when I understood there was more than just him involved in this.”

In her own evidence, Joanne told how her “very old fashioned” husband was never violent but would “turn things” to make them her fault.

She said Lewis left the family home in January 2021 before messaging her six weeks later saying he wanted a divorce.

The couple had been together for 16 years and married for ten before splitting.

The court was told Lewis was diagnosed with complex PTSD, was on medication for depression and he had been a patient at a psychiatric hospital before the alleged murder plot.

Paul Lewis and Dominique Saunders, both of Swansea, deny conspiracy to commit murder.

The trial continues.

a man standing in front of a waterfall wearing a hat that says lumberjack
Athena
Saunders has denied conspiracy to commit murder[/caption]

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Cult Beauty Advent Calendar 2024, tried and tested — here’s why you’ll want to keep it under lock and key

a woman holding a bag that says cafe beauty

I’LL be the first to admit that a box filled with beauty products isn’t very festive.

Despite this, Advent calendars have become one of beauty’s most-wanted products, often selling out within weeks.

a woman holding a bag that says cafe beauty
SUPPLIED
Is the Cult Beauty Advent Calendar 2024 really worth it?[/caption]

Cult Beauty Advent Calendar, £235 (worth £1,100)

In 2022, over a quarter of shoppers planned to buy a beauty Advent calendar globally and their popularity hasn’t waned.  

So, whether it’s the promise of new products, the mystery of discovering something new, or the guaranteed bragging rights, beauty Advent calendars are doing something right.

The Cult Beauty Advent Calendar is one of the most popular options on the market; last year’s edition housed over £1000 worth of products.

However, that simply wouldn’t do for 2024.

Enter this year’s Cult Beauty Advent Calendar, containing £1,100 worth of beauty products; it is Christmas after all.

Pros

  • Sturdy packaging which could be reused and repurposed
  • An eclectic range of must-have products
  • Multiple products inside some drawers
  • You receive a £10 Cult Beauty voucher when you buy, plus golden tickets up for grabs

Cons

  • Total saving is slightly lower than some competitors
  • The design isn’t very festive
  • Fewer full-size products in comparison to some competitors

RATING: 4.5/5

a box full of beauty products including cult beauty
CULT BEAUTY
This calendar contains over £1,100 worth of beauty products[/caption]

Cult Beauty Advent Calendar, £235 (worth £1,100)

Cult Beauty Advent Calendar review: how we tested

Growing up, my parents told me that Santa would give me the cold shoulder if I opened my Advent calendar early.

But this year, I’ve ignored their advice and opened the whole thing in one sitting.

While we’re still many weeks away from Christmas, I’ve been giddily opening beauty Advent calendars all month, critiquing their contents, packaging, and element of surprise.

And I’m a tough judge.

A top beauty Advent calendar should look good and contain an array of interesting products.

However, a great Advent calendar will be bursting with bestselling beauty finds and look so good that you’ll want to keep it on your mantelpiece forever.

Beauty Advent calendars should also strike a balance between products you know and love, and lesser-known gems.

I’m a firm believer that opening a calendar should be an experience in itself, so packaging is important too — but not at the expense of the environment.

Hundreds of beauty Advent calendars have dropped this year, and I’m on a hunt to discover the best one on the market.

Let’s see if Cult Beauty takes the crown.

a box of oxox lipstick is pulled out of one of the drawers
MIA LYNDON
I’m impressed with this calendar’s packaging[/caption]

Cult Beauty Advent Calendar, £235 (worth £1,100)

Cult Beauty Advent Calendar review: quick summary

Alarm bells immediately began to ring when I found out that this year’s Cult Beauty Advent Calendar is £235, making it one of the pricier choices on the market.

Will it be full of posh products that no one’s ever heard of, or adorned with gold leaf meaning it’s totally non-recyclable?

The very simple answer is no.

Yes, the Cult Beauty Advent Calendar costs the same as a small mountain of chocolate, but it promises 25 days of sheer beauty-fuelled joy, and saves you hundreds on the job lot.  

Every beauty retailer has its merits (Boots for its meal deals and last-minute sunscreen, Sephora for its Instagrammable shelves) but Cult Beauty does exactly what it says on the tin.

Boasting the latest launches, cult classics and newly viral beauty products, there’s a je ne sais quoi about Cult Beauty — and the brand has channelled this into its 2024 Advent calendar.

Brimming with 40 ‘beauty icons’, including 19 full-sized products, it stacks up to a total saving of £865 (or 79%) compared to buying each product individually.

And while its baby-pink design isn’t very festive, its compact size means you can squeeze it into a corner or pop it under the tree, plus it’s fully recyclable (minus the inner magnet and plaque).

Cult Beauty Advent Calendar review: full review

a box of byoma moisturizing rich cream in front of a calendar
MIA LYNDON
You’ll find several skincare saviours inside[/caption]

Cult Beauty Advent Calendar, £235 (worth £1,100)

First impressions

This calendar looks more like a Pinterest mood board than a Christmas decoration.

However, it’s so pretty that I’m tempted to repurpose this into a beauty storage unit once the festivities are over.

Visually speaking, the Cult Beauty Advent Calendar will speak to the Insta-girlies but I also expect its neutral, pastel hues to be a hit among families.

Overall, I haven’t been very impressed with Advent calendars’ packaging this year — most are so flimsy you’d be forced to chuck them after Christmas — but this is a classic, chest-like Advent calendar with drawers.

However, I must confess, my first impressions were of disappointment; three lucky punters will find a £1000 Cult Beauty voucher nestled in their calendar, but I wasn’t one of them.

a variety of beauty products including brazilian bum bum cream by elemis
CULT BEAUTY
This is one of the best-curated calendars I’ve seen this year[/caption]

Cult Beauty Advent Calendar, £235 (worth £1,100)

What’s inside the Cult Beauty Advent Calendar?

The contents of this calendar look like the bathroom shelf of your coolest friend.

The contents of this calendar look like the bathroom shelf of your coolest friend.

Being the beauty geek I am, I’ll often scroll through a beauty retailer’s website, curating a better version of their Advent calendar in my head.

However, I’m not ashamed to admit that you’ve won, Cult Beauty; because this Advent calendar’s line-up is impressive.

It perfectly balances viral products with the lesser-known, and features an array of fragrance, skin, hair, and body care offerings.

This year, Cult Beauty has two Advent calendars on offer – Curated with Love and Scent with Love – which look identical, cost the same and largely feature the same products, with a few variations.

I tried the Scent With Love calendar, but you can find the entire Curated with Love line-up on the Cult Beauty website.

Things begin swimmingly on Day 1, where you’ll find a full-size Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief Serum (worth £51); a Cult Beauty exclusive that hit UK shores less than a year ago. 

Don’t be fooled by the small, travel-sized Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream inside Day 14, as this luxury moisturiser (starring a patented repairing complex) will set you back £74 (or 30% of the price of the entire calendar) alone.

Several 2024 beauty Advent calendars include a Medik8 product, and Cult Beauty has picked wisely. Day 22 contains the H.E.O Mask set, typically £60, a hydrating, rejuvenating one-weekly treatment.

If there’s one thing that this Advent calendar doesn’t excel in, it’s that there is the occasional dud day; I’m a little disappointed with the bite-size Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato 33 EDP Intense found in Door 23.

It’s a brilliant, cult perfume but its miniature 10ml bottle looks lost inside its rather large drawer.

As I child, I’d keep my fingers crossed for a slightly larger chocolate behind Door 25, so you can imagine my surprise when I found seven beauty products inside the final door of this Advent calendar.

With a heat protector, dry shampoo, scalp serum, conditioning treatment, hair oil, mask and clips concealed inside, you’ll certainly be equipped for a good hair day when the big day arrives.

(*Spoiler alert*) Here’s the full list…

What's inside the Cult Beauty Advent Calendar 2024?

Here's everything you'll find inside the Cult Beauty Scent with Love Advent Calendar 2024...

Full Sizes

KraveBeauty Great Barrier Relief Serum (full size; 45ml)

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in ‘Vanilla Beige’ (full size; 15g)

Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment (full size; 30ml)

Saie Sculpt Multi Use Cream Highlighting Blush in ‘Mauve Glow’ (full size; 5.8g)

ISAMAYA Spur Stick Suede Lip Liner (full size; 0.07g)

Pat McGrath Labs Perma Precision Liquid Liner in ‘Xtreme Black Coffee’ (full size; 1ml)

Natasha Denona Baby Love Palette (full size; 4g)

PATRICK TA Major Dimension Precision Gel Liner (full size; 0.2g)

Cult Beauty Anti-Drip Wrist Bands (Set of 2)

BIOEFFECT EGF Serum (full size; 15ml)

Decree SOS Revitalising Eye Mask (full size; 1 Sheet)

MZ Skin Hydra Lift Gold Face Mask (full size; 1 Sheet)

BYOMA Moisturising Rich Cream (full size; 50ml)

Jo Loves Jo by Jo Loves a Hand Cream (full size; 50ml)

Medik8 H.E.O Mask (full size; 2 x 50ml )

Tower 28 ShineOn Milky Lip Jelly in ‘XOXO’ (full size; 3.9ml)

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Matte Beauty Blush Wand in ‘Pink Pop’ (full size; 12ml)

Ceremonia Guava Rescue Spray (full size; 200ml)

Cult Beauty Hair Clips in ‘Pink/White’ (Set of 2)

Deluxe Sizes

LANEIGE Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner and Moisturiser (deluxe size; 15ml)

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Peel Pads (deluxe size; Pack of 3)

OLE HENRIKSEN Banana Bright+ Instant Glow Moisturizer (deluxe size; 7ml)**

111SKIN Rose Gold Eye Mask (deluxe size; Single Sheet)

OUAI Scalp and Body Scrub in ‘Melrose Place’ (deluxe size; 30g)

OUAI Eau De Parfum in ‘Melrose Place’ (deluxe size; 1.5ml)**

L’OCCITANE Almond Milk Concentrate (deluxe size; 20ml)

Fable & Mane Saha Scalp Amla Soothing Serum (deluxe size; 14.4ml)

JVN Nourishing Shine Drops (deluxe size; 5ml)

amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask (deluxe size; 60ml)

Travel Sizes

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops (travel size; 15ml)

Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Volume Cleanse Shampoo (travel size; 100ml)

Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Volume Nourish Conditioner (travel size; 75ml)

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil (travel size; 20ml)

Dr. LEVY Switzerland Intense Stem Cell Eye Booster Concentrate (travel size; 7ml)

Huda Beauty One Coat Wow! Mascara (travel size; 7ml)

Color Wow Money Mist (travel size; 50ml)

Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream (travel size; 15ml)

ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Energising Marine Cleanser (travel size; 30ml)

Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance Perfume Mist (travel size; 90ml)**

Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum (travel size; 15ml)

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder (travel size; 2g)

Vyrao Witchy Woo Mini Candle (travel size; 30g)

KAYALI Yum Pistachio Gelato 33 Eau de Parfum Intense (travel size; 10ml)**

Living Proof Perfect hair Day (PhD) Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo (travel size; 90ml)**

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer 2024 Limited Edition Fragrance Lemon and Bergamot (travel size; 75ml)

a box that says cult 's beauty on it
CULT BEAUTY
The calendar has a pink, aesthetic design – which isn’t very festive[/caption]

Cult Beauty Advent Calendar, £235 (worth £1,100)

How much is the Cult Beauty Advent calendar?

Scanning at £235, the Cult Beauty Advent Calendar isn’t cheap.

That said, it’s one of the best-curated beauty Advent calendars on the market this year, and will save you hundreds.

If you were to buy all the contents of this calendar individually, you’d be tapping your card at a bill of over £1,100.

So, not only does the calendar save you £865 or 79% on the beauty products found inside, you’ll also get a stunning calendar (and some festive fun) thrown in for good measure.

While this saving isn’t quite as high as some competitors — the Look Fantastic calendar boasts a saving of 82% — it stands its ground among Liberty, Fortnum & Mason, and ASOS.

a box with a tube of elemis in it
MIA LYNDON
Many of the drawers contain multiple products[/caption]

Cult Beauty Advent Calendar, £235 (worth £1,100)

Where to buy the Cult Beauty Advent calendar

I’m a firm believer of the ‘try before you buy’ mantra but there are some things that you just have to jump on.

Considering you can’t buy this Advent calendar in-store — and it’s been so popular that I worried it would sell out while writing this review — it’s one you’ll have to take the plunge on.

Fortunately, if you get a move on, the calendar can be bought on the Cult Beauty website.

There, you’ll find super-speedy delivery that’s free over £25, meaning your calendar will arrive within 2-3 days, free of charge.

For the impatient, there’s the Next Day Delivery option, which costs just £5.95, and Cult Beauty offers free returns within 30 days of receipt.

a woman holding a box that says safe beauty
MIA LYNDON
I had high hopes for Cult Beauty – and it didn’t disappoint[/caption]

Cult Beauty Advent Calendar, £235 (worth £1,100)

The verdict: is the Cult Beauty Advent calendar worth it?

I’m calling it — this is one of 2024’s best Advent calendars.

I’m calling it — this is one of 2024’s best Advent calendars.

For a festive(ish) way to celebrate December while topping up on beauty products, you can’t really go wrong with Cult Beauty.

Starring products that you won’t find elsewhere (I’m looking at you, Krave Beauty and Saie), plus some failsafe brands like Charlotte Tilbury and Sol de Janeiro, you’ll want to keep this calendar under lock and key.

Thanks to my brilliant excuse of “I’m writing a review, so I can open mine early”, I didn’t experience the adrenaline rush of opening a new calendar drawer every morning.

But I can only imagine how exciting this will be, as this Advent calendar offers an eclectic array of products, which will keep your excitement levels topped up all December long.

It’s worth mentioning that you’ll also receive a £10 Cult Beauty voucher when you purchase a calendar, but who knows when you’ll spend it because you’ll be inundated with beauty products after the 25th.

(As long as your family don’t get to them first.)

Cult Beauty Advent Calendar, £235 (worth £1,100)

Want to find more savings on your online shopping? Then head to Sun Vouchers where you can get discounts and voucher codes from hundreds of top retailers including B&Q, Boots, Iceland, Lookfantastic, Dunelm, Adidas, Marks & Spencer and more.

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BBC reveals lineup of brand new drama series starring Royle Family legend – with Happy Valley star at the helm

THE BBC has now unveiled the impressive cast for their latest drama, Riot Women.

The show was created by BAFTA winning writer Sally Wainwright – who is known for her acclaimed works such as Happy Valley and Gentleman Jack.

a woman wearing glasses and a denim shirt smiles
BBC
Sally Wainwright has written a new BBC drama[/caption]
a woman holding a trophy in front of the british academy of film and television
She is known for her award winning work on Happy Valley and Gentleman Jack
Rex Features
a woman in a sequined dress stands on a blue carpet with the word jane on it
Splash
Joanna Scanlan is set to play one of the main characters in Riot Women[/caption]
a woman with red hair is wearing a blue jacket with rhinestones on it
Rosalie Craig is another of the female leads

Currently filming in West Yorkshire, Riot Women follows the story of five women who form a punk rock band alongside two backing singers in order to compete in a local talent contest.

In the process of crafting their first song, the girl band discover that they have a lot to say, and find it easier to express their frustrations and desires through music.

The six part series will explore themes of friendship, resilience, and the struggle from women to defy social expectations.

As the leads juggle demanding jobs and complicated family dynamics, the band becomes an escape for them and eventually begins to transform their lives.

However, a secret from the past begins to resurface, threatening to tear the group’s main creatives Kitty and Beth apart.

Leading the talented ensemble cast are Joanna Scanlan (After Love, The Thick of It) as Beth and Rosalie Craig (Moonflower Murders, Serpent Queen) as Kitty.

They are joined by Tamsin Greig (Sexy Beast, The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin) as Holly, Lorraine Ashbourne (Sherwood, Alma’s Not Normal) as Jess, and Amelia Bullmore (The Buccaneers, Vienna Blood) as Yvonne.

Sue Johnston, who is beloved for her role in The Royle Family, features as Jess’s Aunt Mary.

Meanwhile, Anne Reid from The Sixth Commandment plays Nancy, the mother of Holly and Yvonne.

The cast is rounded out with notable names including Peter Davison (Doctor Who), Claire Skinner (Outnumbered), Angel Coulby (Merlin), Taj Atwal (Line of Duty), Chandeep Uppal (Holby City), and Richard Fleeshman (The Sandman), among others.

Sally Wainwright expressed her enthusiasm for the project, gushing: “I think I am more excited about this than anything else I have ever written. Ever. Oh my God.

“We have five of the most fabulous actresses on the planet playing the Riot Women. It’s scarily exciting.”

Her excitement was shared by the BBC Drama’s Director, Lindsay Salt, who praised Wainwright’s “magnificent scripts”, and Robert Schildhouse, President North America and GM BritBox International, who described the series as “unabashed, unapologetic, and unmistakably British”.

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Shoppers could face a shortage of ready meals and pizzas in supermarkets due to a factory row over pay

SHOPPERS could face a shortage of teatime essentials like ready meals in supermarket due to a factory row over pay.

More than 700 workers are set to take “continuous strike action” at the Bakkavor manufacturing firm in Spalding, Lincolnshire this month.

a sign for bakkavor group services soups and sauces only
Bakkavar factory will face industrial strikes from September, 26

The Bakkavor Group makes and prepares meals, soups, dips, salads, desserts, pizzas and breads for supermarkets such as Tesco, Marks and Spencer and Waitrose

Unite the Union confirmed the strikes would “inevitably cause disruption and shortages to supermarkets across the UK”.

This means shoppers could soon notice some of their favourite ready-made dishes missing from supermarket shelves.

The strikes will take place from September 27.

It comes after staff declined a pay increase offer of 7.8% for the lowest-paid workers, and 6.4% across all other grades.

Worker said they felt that their “hard work” in “incredibly tough working conditions” was not being recognised.

Unite the Union told The BBC that workers spend “long shifts working in near-freezing temperatures, doing repetitive and demanding work”.

However, Sadie Woodhouse, general manager at Bakkavor, said the strike made “no sense” as its wages were “well above inflation and National Living Wage”.

The National Living Wage in the UK is £11.44 an hour. 

This is lower than the so-called voluntary real living wage, which is calculated based on the cost of living and is currently £12 around the UK and £13.15 in London.

But, it’s important to note that not all supermarkets may be affected by the strike and some shoppers may notice no changes at all.

Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, told The Sun most retailers shouldn’t face issues.

“Retailers are not anticipating any problems with availability and customers will still be able to purchase the goods they want as normal,” he said.

It is understood that the strikes will not impact M&S as it has a contingency plan in place.

The Sun has also approached Tesco and Waitrose for comment and will update readers once we hear back.

Bakkavor has 20 other sites across the UK which are still in effect.

It has also stated that it already has contingency plans in place to minimise disruption.

Bakkavor bosses have not yet hinted towards an increased pay deal and are holding steadfast to their original offer as the strike date nears.

How to save on your supermarket shop

THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.

You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.

If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.

Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.

Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.

This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.

Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.

For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.

If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.

Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

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Ukraine bans Telegram messenger app on state-issued devices because of Russian security threat

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine has banned government officials, military personnel and other defense and critical infrastructure workers from installing the popular Telegram messaging app on state-issued devices. The move, announced Friday, came after Ukrainian intelligence services and the military said the app was being widely used by Russia for cyberattacks. An exception to the

The post Ukraine bans Telegram messenger app on state-issued devices because of Russian security threat appeared first on KYMA.

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Australian judge rules that a case against alleged Russian spies must be finalized by December

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — An Australian judge has given prosecutors until December to finalize their case alleging that an army private and her husband are Russian spies. Russian-born couple Kira and Igor Korolev in July became the first suspected foreign operatives to be charged under Australia’s modernized espionage laws. Prosecutor Ellie McDonald told Magistrate Peter

The post Australian judge rules that a case against alleged Russian spies must be finalized by December appeared first on KYMA.

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Hezbollah hits northern Israel with 140 rockets

JERUSALEM (AP) — Hezbollah pounded northern Israel with 140 rockets. The strikes came a day after the militant group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed to retaliate against Israel for a mass bombing attack. Israel’s military said the rockets came in three waves Friday afternoon targeting sites along the ravaged border. Hezbollah said it had targeted several

The post Hezbollah hits northern Israel with 140 rockets appeared first on KYMA.

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GM recalling more than 449,000 SUVs, pickups due to issue with low brake fluid warning light

General Motors is recalling more than 449,000 of its SUVs and pickup trucks because the electronic brake control module software may fail to display a warning light when a loss of brake fluid takes place. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday that the recall includes certain 2023-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESVs, 2023

The post GM recalling more than 449,000 SUVs, pickups due to issue with low brake fluid warning light appeared first on KYMA.

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