Europe
Anti-Muslim hysteria dominates French political establishment after terrorist killing of Samuel Paty
By Will Morrow, 23 October 2020
The anti-Muslim hysteria of the French political establishment is continuing, a week after the terrorist killing of Samuel Paty, a middle-school history and geography teacher in Conflans, on October 16.
Nigerian airport workers one-day strike; council workers continue land occupation in Zimbabwe; ballots for strikes by UK workers at Rolls Royce factory, Scottish university academic staff vote to strike
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
23 October 2020
Nigerian Federal airport workers stage one-day warning strike under conditions of mass unemployment, poverty and inequality in Africa’s largest country—which has fueled mass protests against state violence.
UK parent speaks out about catastrophic “herd immunity” policy of Johnson government
By Our reporter, 23 October 2020
“Achieving herd immunity properly means protecting people through vaccination. It has never been shown that herd immunity can be achieved by allowing people to catch a virus and die.”
Germany’s Left Party embraces “herd immunity” policy
By Johannes Stern, 23 October 2020
“I am preparing myself for the fact that we must learn to live with coronavirus,” Left Party State Premier Bodo Ramelow said last week.
The pianist Igor Levit and the defense of culture against fascism
By David North and Clara Weiss, 22 October 2020
Levit has emerged as a powerful voice against the resurgence of neo-Nazism in Germany, which finds its most putrid expression in the growing political power of the Alternative für Deutschland.
Marcus Rashford’s fight against child poverty exposes Labour and trade unions’ partnership with Johnson government
By Barry Mason and Robert Stevens, 22 October 2020
Marcus Rashford has more fight in his little toe than the entire Labour and trade union bureaucracy.
No to police-state rule after the terrorist killing of French teacher Samuel Paty!
By Alex Lantier, 22 October 2020
The bankruptcy of communal terrorism is once more exposed. The state uses such atrocities as opportunities to whip up support for authoritarianism and nationalism.
COVID-19 pandemic surges despite limited curfew measures across Europe
By Anthony Torres, 22 October 2020
With 700,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths from the virus last week, health officials are warning mortality this winter could reach four to five times that in the spring of 2020.
David North presents Thirty Years of War at Frankfurt Book Fair
By our correspondents, 21 October 2020
North spoke with Johannes Stern, a WSWS editor and representative of Mehring Verlag, about the significance of the book and the socialist perspective upon which the analysis contained within it is based.
UK government steps up attacks on asylum seekers and refugees
By Julia Callaghan, 21 October 2020
The Conservative government has no intention of upholding the fundamental “right to asylum” section of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in the aftermath of the Second World War.
Europe on course for double-dip recession
By Nick Beams, 21 October 2020
The IMF’s forecast for a global recovery in 2021 is looking increasingly shaky in the face of a second wave of COVID-19 infections.
UK Labour and Tory politicians support herd immunity in Greater Manchester feud
By Thomas Scripps, 21 October 2020
What is animating Burnham’s opposition to the government are tactical differences and conflicting interests between different groups of capitalists, rather than any consideration of principle
UK COVID-19 “alert” system overseen by UK spy chiefs
By Julie Hyland, 20 October 2020
The decision to invest in this secretive body, rather than the National Health Service, is part of the policy of herd immunity, while using the pandemic to restructure economic and social relations and strengthen the state apparatus.
Macron launches anti-Muslim police-state crackdown after terror attack in France
By Will Morrow, 20 October 2020
Macron’s policy is indistinguishable from the fascistic ravings of National Rally leader Marine Le Pen.
COVID-19 resurgence devastates Spanish working class
By Alice Summers, 20 October 2020
Despite the devastation caused by COVID-19, the Socialist Party-Podemos government is refusing to take any serious measures to contain the pandemic.
IG Metall union demands state involvement at German steelmaker Thyssenkrupp
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 20 October 2020
The billions in state funds being called for are aimed not at saving jobs, but preserving the fortunes of the big shareholders.
Cost-cutting and “visual appearance” main concerns for Grenfell Tower refurbishment
By Charles Hixson, 19 October 2020
David Gibson, KCTMO former heard of capital investment, explained last Wednesday that all his discussions at the time had been about cost and appearance. “The discussions we were having were: what does it look like, is it acceptable for planners and what’s the cost”.
Macron promotes anti-Muslim “free speech” hypocrisy after terrorist killing
By Will Morrow, 19 October 2020
Less than 48 hours after the murder of a teacher near Paris on Friday, the political establishment launched a campaign for “national unity” behind anti-Muslim laws.
UK’s Johnson government looking to appoint cronies to BBC and press regulator
By Paul Bond, 19 October 2020
Charles Moore’s refusing the offered position will be a disappointment to Johnson, but the fact that he was proposed is telling as to the government’s general direction of travel as it seeks to “complete the Thatcher revolution.”
German parents’ associations protest against dangerous school openings
By Gregor Link, 19 October 2020
More and more workers and young people in Germany and Europe as a whole oppose the policy of herd immunity decreed by ruling circles, a policy that will result in the death of hundreds of thousands of people.
Student council at Leipzig University opposes invitation to German right-wing extremist professor Jörg Baberowski
By Noah Windstein, 17 October 2020
It is particularly cynical for Baberowski to speak on the issue of peace in light of his trivialisation of the Holocaust and the arson attacks by neo-Nazis on refugee centres.
Mobilize the working class against the European Union’s “herd immunity” policies!
By Alex Lantier, 17 October 2020
As Europe emerges as an epicenter of a global resurgence of COVID-19, the EU is pursuing a policy leading to deaths on an unprecedented scale, far surpassing the 200,000 deaths this spring.
Johnson calls off Brexit negotiations following EU summit deadlock
By Thomas Scripps, 17 October 2020
Brexit is a nodal point of interlocking domestic crises confronted by the UK, the EU states, and the United States, and of rising geopolitical tensions between them all.
7,000 new infections in 24 hours: Germany’s highest COVID numbers since beginning of pandemic
By Marianne Arens, 17 October 2020
The German chancellor and leaders of the federal states are maintaining their policy of herd immunity despite the eruption of a second wave of coronavirus cases.
UK’s local lockdown system in disarray as COVID-19 cases surge out of control
By Robert Stevens, 17 October 2020
This dispute been the local Labour authorities and central government confirms that combating the spread of this deadly disease cannot be left in the hands of any faction of the ruling elite, and their political representatives.
Global surge in COVID-19 cases as governments abandon efforts to contain the pandemic
By Benjamin Mateus, 16 October 2020
The policy of “herd immunity,” effectively allowing a killer disease to run rampant, threatens to overwhelm hospitals and lead to a rising tide of deaths and suffering.
Pseudo-left promotes dangerous illusions following criminal conviction of Greek fascists
By Peter Schwarz, 16 October 2020
Greece’s supreme court ruled that the neo-fascist party Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) was a criminal organisation, and convicted 68 members on charges including violence, membership in a criminal organisation, grievous bodily harm, and illegal possession of weapons.
Amnesty International condemns Johnson government for thousands of UK care home deaths
By Simon Whelan, 16 October 2020
What occurred in care homes was mass murder due to the policy of herd immunity.
Large-scale police deployment evicts alternative housing project in Berlin, Germany
By Justus Leicht and Peter Schwarz, 16 October 2020
The mobilization of thousands of police officers to evict an alternative housing project must be understood as a serious warning. In the face of social tensions and the catastrophic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, the ruling class is preparing to violently suppress any opposition from below.
Greek public sector 24-hour strike; Amazon workers in Germany walk out; Nigerian workers in Kwara state resume wage strikes
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
16 October 2020
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
State-orchestrated anti-Semitism witch-hunt extended to UK university campuses
By Thomas Scripps, 16 October 2020
Williamson’s letter is the latest move in a five-year conspiracy of the Conservative government, the Labour Party, and Zionist organisations aimed at criminalising vast swathes of the political left.
UK at “perilous moment” with NHS unable to cope
By Rory Woods, 15 October 2020
Treatment and care for the victims of the government’s herd immunity strategy is under threat, with the NHS facing a “triple whammy” of staff burnout, a massive backlog of treatment built-up during the pandemic, and a huge surge of COVID-19.
Macron hails herd immunity, rejects lockdown as COVID-19 surges in Europe
By Alex Lantier, 15 October 2020
In a national interview, Macron said non-essential work and in-person schooling would continue and that he is aiming for 90,000-150,000 monthly new COVID-19 cases in France.
French, Spanish hospital workers protest as COVID-19 spreads across Europe
By Will Morrow, 15 October 2020
Protests are driven by demands for desperately-needed resources for hospital workers to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Tripling of new coronavirus infections in Germany in only one month
By Marianne Arens, 15 October 2020
Anger is growing among workers at the herd immunity policy being imposed by big business, as the government is using the pandemic as an excuse to deploy the army within Germany.
Britain: The world’s second largest arms exporter and friend to warmongers and despots
By Jean Shaoul, 14 October 2020
The list of Britain’s customers reads like a roll call of the most corrupt and blood-soaked regimes on the planet.
Johnson UK government rejected scientific advisers’ call for temporary national lockdown in September
By Robert Stevens, 14 October 2020
The measures advised by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies fell way below a full lockdown, but such was the Tories’ determination to enforce their herd immunity agenda that every measure was rejected bar one.
One year after anti-Semitic terrorist attack in Halle
Right-wing extremist networks in German state apparatus continue to grow
By Jan Ritter, 14 October 2020
Recent days have seen several new instances of right-wing extremists within the German state apparatus come to light.
Polish high school students strike to demand end to in-person classes
By Clara Weiss, 14 October 2020
Schools have become the main vector for the second wave of the pandemic, with at least two teachers and one 20-year-old student dying over the past week alone.
UK Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee meets as COVID-19 sweeps through student campuses
By Our reporter, 14 October 2020
Emma, a parent of primary school age children, said, “I could not agree more with all of you. How can anybody make schools safe? Even our primary school head said they couldn’t guarantee safety.
Coronavirus infections threaten Germany’s hospitals with overload
By Markus Salzmann, 13 October 2020
In the last months, protective measures against the virus have been almost completely dismantled. The government has done nothing to prepare hospitals for the inevitable rise in serious cases.
UK jobs cull continues as thousands more redundancies are announced
By Margot Miller, 13 October 2020
The pandemic is having a devastating impact on lives and livelihoods, thanks to the disastrous policies of the Johnson-led Conservative government—fully supported by the Labour opposition and trade unions.
Poverty in Germany: Power cuts for 289,000 households
By Elisabeth Zimmermann, 13 October 2020
Hundreds of thousands had no lights, no warm water, could use neither stoves nor refrigerators, could not do laundry and had no access to radio, television or the internet.
Irish government rejects medical experts as coronavirus infections spiral out of control
By Dermot Byrne, 13 October 2020
Ireland's coalition government has scorned advice from scientists and medical experts to impose a full lockdown.
A reply to the OKDE-Spartakos party’s letter on Greek school occupations
By Alex Lantier, 13 October 2020
The WSWS replies to a denial by the Greek affiliates of the New Anticapitalist Party (NPA) that it is linked to the NPA’s support for austerity and herd immunity policies.
As COVID-19 claims the life of London bus driver Kofi Opoku, Unite mounts fake “safety campaign” to stem drivers’ anger
By Laura Tiernan, 13 October 2020
Unite is seizing on a second wave of COVID-19 to deepen its corporatist partnership with Transport for London and the bus companies.
Grenfell Tower landlord rejected safety checks to save £30,000
By Charles Hixson, 12 October 2020
The 2014-16 refurbishment, including enveloping the tower in flammable cladding, turned the building into a death trap that claimed 72 lives.
Protest strikes in German public transit: Workers’ anger grows over unsafe working conditions
By Andy Niklaus and Christoph Vandreier, 12 October 2020
While the trade unions are limiting the public transit strikes to a set of minimum demands, anger amongst the workforce at the miserable level of wages and unsafe working conditions is growing.
The lifestyles of the pseudo-left
Podemos minister Irene Montero poses for Vanity Fair
By Alice Summers, 12 October 2020
The interview with the partner of Podemos general secretary Pablo Iglesias aimed to reassure Vanity Fair’s affluent readership that Podemos is utterly corrupt.
French universities enforce de facto herd immunity policy on COVID-19
By Samuel Tissot, 12 October 2020
Despite a nominal commitment to limited measures to contain the virus, in reality French universities are allowing the virus to rapid spread amongst students, accelerating infections and deaths in the wider population.
As pandemic surges worldwide, governments resist new lockdowns, step up back-to-work drive
By Benjamin Mateus, 12 October 2020
The world is seeing a resurgence of the pandemic as daily cases of COVID-19 reach record highs. Governments internationally are rejecting future lockdowns and instead are continuing the homicidal policy of “herd immunity,” which sacrifices potentially millions of lives to protect the profits and wealth of the ruling elites.
Accelerated job cuts in German auto industry
By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 12 October 2020
Barely a day goes by without a new announcement of cutbacks and job cuts in the German auto industry.
University and College Union moves to prevent strikes as COVID-19 cases surge on UK campuses
By E.P. Milligan, 10 October 2020
Northumbria University’s decision to move online prompted the University and College Union (UCU) leadership to call off strike action, while claiming a victory.
Thirty years of German unity: Berlin increases military spending, incites nationalism and war
By Johannes Stern, 10 October 2020
The defence minister made no secret of the fact that Germany is arming itself with the deadliest weapons in order to wage war around the world in defence of its economic and geostrategic interest—increasingly against its erstwhile allies.
State of emergency declared in Madrid as COVID-19 resurgence sweeps Europe
By Jordan Shilton, 10 October 2020
New daily infections in Europe Friday surpassed the 100,000 mark for the second day running.
Reopening of German schools leads to explosion of COVID-19 infections
By Gregor Link, 10 October 2020
The ruling class knows that it is preparing a catastrophe with its ruthless policy of opening up the economy and its refusal to take serious measures to contain the virus.
Germany, France to sanction Russia over Navalny’s alleged poisoning
By Clara Weiss, 10 October 2020
Nothing published by the OPCW and the imperialist powers on the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny can be taken at face value.
Dutch government’s malign neglect accelerates resurgence of COVID-19
By Harm Zonderland and Parwini Zora, 10 October 2020
The Netherlands has become a major hot-spot in western Europe for COVID-19 infections, with record numbers of confirmed infections each day.
National public sector strike in South Africa; health workers’ stoppage spreads in Kenya; union ends long-running dispute at London’s Tate Gallery
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
9 October 2020
Thousands of South African workers held a nationwide strike Wednesday, while the PCS union ended the stoppage at the Tate art galley’s commercial arm after 42 days of strike action, with a deal that includes job losses.
After the Assange hearing—the fight against imperialism
By Thomas Scripps, 9 October 2020
What took place at London’s Old Bailey was a process of vicious retribution against a journalist who exposed the barbarism of the ruling class before the world.
UK COVID-19 cases triple in a fortnight
By Robert Stevens, 8 October 2020
The spread of COVID-19 in the north of England is presented in the media as a regional disparity. But the most infected areas are in deindustrialised, socially deprived regions where fewer people work from home.
Macron’s anti-Islamic separatism law: The death throes of French democracy
By Alex Lantier, 8 October 2020
This bill, which would impose control of Islam by the state and mass surveillance of the population, exposes the fascistic and anti-secular policies of the Macron government.
The University and College Union’s incredible disappearing pensions dispute
By Ioan Petrescu, 7 October 2020
Under the cover of the coronavirus pandemic, the University and College Union has conspired with employers to push through changes to its members’ pension plans that will see them paying more for smaller benefits.
Germany’s parliamentary parties elect far-right AfD candidate to Gera city council
By Martin Nowak, 7 October 2020
The latest developments in the east German city of Gera underline the sharp turn to the right by the ruling class.
Inquiry hears that Manchester Arena bomber was on radar of UK intelligence for seven years
By Margot Miller, 7 October 2020
The inquiry heard from MI5 that bomber Abedi came to their attention 18 times before he perpetrated his horrific crime.
The return of the Hohenzollern imperial dynasty to Germany
By Ulrich Rippert, 6 October 2020
The impudent demands of the Hohenzollerns aim at not only the shameless enrichment of the former ruling family, but also its return to a place “at the top” of German society.
Révolution Permanente (NPA) silent on Greek youth protests against COVID-19
By Anthony Torres and Alex Lantier, 6 October 2020
The New Anticapitalist Party’s (NPA) web site is silent on the mass struggles in Greece because it supports the official policy of herd immunity on COVID-19.
COVID-19 infections on the rise in Germany
By Marianne Arens, 6 October 2020
The age of the infected, for both mild and severe cases, has been decreasing as infections rise. The average age of those hospitalised has dropped to 37 years.
Tens of thousands of UK COVID-19 cases and contacts went unreported
By Thomas Scripps, 6 October 2020
Besides giving a completely false picture of the spread of the disease, the failure to report 15,841 positive Covid-19 cases has left tens of thousands of their potentially infected contacts untraced for up to a week.
UK plans to detain refugees on prison ships
By Robert Stevens, 6 October 2020
Repressive anti-immigration policies, in Britain and Australia alike, have been built up over decades by all political representatives of the ruling class.
Spanish court bars Catalan regional premier from holding public office
By Alejandro López, 5 October 2020
Regardless of who is in power in Madrid, the ruling class exploits the Catalan issue in order to shift politics further to the right and build a police state.
Foreword to 30 Years of War, the German edition of David North’s A Quarter Century of War
By Johannes Stern, 5 October 2020
After three decades of US-led wars, the outbreak of a third world war, whichwould be fought with nuclear weapons, is an imminent and concrete danger. Based on a thorough understanding of the wars of the past three decades and the socioeconomic and political processes in which they were rooted, this book develops a socialist perspective for the struggle against war.
Almost half of UK coronavirus infections in schools, colleges and universities
By Harvey Thompson, 5 October 2020
Figures from the latest Public Health England’s COVID-19 epidemiology surveillance summary show that educational settings now account for 45 percent of all positive cases in the UK.
30 years of German unity
By Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, 3 October 2020
As German political leaders commemorate the dissolution of East Germany and its incorporation by West Germany 30 years ago, the earlier promises of freedom, democracy, and prosperity are being refuted daily by reality.
Johnson’s UK government forwards legislation flouting the rule of law
By Robert Stevens, 3 October 2020
Parliament has become an arena for enshrining naked criminality within the highest echelons of the state. And there is no constituency in ruling circles for opposing this.
UK students denounce dangerous conditions in universities and halls of residence
By Our reporters, 3 October 2020
University students, lecturers and members of the public have been speaking out against the absurd and dangerous conditions facing thousands of young people as they start the university year.
Wolfgang Clement: The unvarnished face of Germany’s SPD
By Peter Schwarz, 3 October 2020
Clement was a ruthless defender of capitalist interests and regarded as his party’s most important task disciplining the working class and ensuring they kept working.
EU summit backs herd immunity policy and sanctions against Belarus
By Johannes Stern and Alex Lantier, 3 October 2020
The European Council of EU heads of state met for two days in Brussels, Thursday and Friday, to discuss the bloc’s foreign and economic policy.
Russia prepares health care cuts as COVID cases rise
By Andrea Peters, 3 October 2020
The Kremlin’s proposed budget axes spending on health care and allocates 27 percent of all federal expenditures to the army, national guard and security forces of the interior ministry.
PSOE, Podemos propose herd immunity as COVID-19 rips through Madrid
By Alejandro López, 3 October 2020
This week, the Spanish government reached a deal with Madrid regional authorities on policies for the working class districts hardest hit by the virus.
COVID-19 in Germany: No protection for high-risk groups despite dramatic increase in infections
By Joshua Seubert and Markus Salzmann, 3 October 2020
As in other European countries, the number of infections in Germany is reaching dramatic highs after school reopenings, exposing schoolchildren, teachers and educators to mortal danger.
Cost cutting and council’s austerity measures led to Grenfell tragedy
By Charles Hixson, 3 October 2020
The role of JRP, the company overseeing onsite safety at Grenfell, mainly consisted of walking around, getting “a general feel for what the client has asked us to do” and asking the questions “have you guys checked that it’s compliant and have building control approved it?”
UK schools told “anti-capitalist” teaching prohibited
By Julie Hyland, 2 October 2020
The guidance builds on the Prevent strategy, first implemented by the Blair Labour government, which targeted Muslims as potential extremists and required schools to report anyone they deemed “vulnerable to radicalisation.”
Coronavirus in the UK: A poor schools’ pandemic
By Margot Miller, 2 October 2020
Private schools have no worries about supply cover or getting their pupils and staff tested for the virus.
Assange’s extradition hearing concludes at London’s Old Bailey, with decision due January 4
By Thomas Scripps, 2 October 2020
In a final affront to due process, Judge Vanessa Baraitser refused to admit into evidence a statement by veteran human rights campaigner and Assange’s instructing solicitor Gareth Peirce.
Watch: Stella Moris, partner of Julian Assange, delivers a statement outside the Old Bailey
2 October 2020
“This case is already chilling press freedom. It is a frontal attack on journalism, on the public’s right to know, and our ability to hold governments, both domestic and foreign, to account.”
British Gas strike vote; Nigerian unions sabotage struggle against price hikes; South African textile workers vote for national strike
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
2 October 2020
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
French Medical Association denounces official inaction on pandemic
By Alex Lantier, 1 October 2020
The herd immunity policy decided by President Emmanuel Macron raises the risk of another terrible spike in deaths, worse than last spring.
Bridgestone, Total shut plants as COVID-19 layoffs sweep Europe
By Anthony Torres, 1 October 2020
After receiving billions of euros from the public purse in the form of European Union bailouts, European corporations are drastically cutting jobs.
Explosive outbreak of COVID-19 at British universities
By Simon Whelan, 1 October 2020
The government knew the start of the academic year would bring about a resurgence of the virus but continued nevertheless as part of its herd immunity policy.
UK Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee hears report on Greek school occupations
By our reporter, 1 October 2020
The meeting heard how the Greek government was following the same “herd-immunity” policy of allowing the virus to rip through the population as others worldwide.
For a London-wide strike to oppose the threat to life from COVID-19!
the London Bus Drivers Rank-and-File Safety Committee, 1 October 2020
We cannot allow a re-run of March, April and May when 33 colleagues died because of deliberate neglect by Transport for London, the bus companies and Unite.
Protest strikes in German public sector and local transport
By Marianne Arens and Andy Niklaus, 1 October 2020
As part of the collective bargaining round for 2.3 million public sector workers, protest strikes are currently taking place in day-care centres and hospitals, town halls, government offices, savings banks, refuse companies and elsewhere.
Ukrainian miners strike for better pay and conditions in defiance of the unions
By Jason Melanovski, 1 October 2020
Workers at the Krivoy Rog Iron Ore Company are carrying out a courageous strike in defiance of the union that puts them into direct conflict with the country’s entire ruling class.
Evidence of war crimes, torture, surveillance and assassination plots: Assange hearing nears final day
By Thomas Scripps and Laura Tiernan, 1 October 2020
The CIA’s surveillance was targeted against Assange’s communication with his legal representatives, considered “priority targets.”
700 Greek schools occupied by students protesting unsafe return to classes
By Robert Stevens and John Vassilopoulos, 30 September 2020
Given that it is mainly secondary education impacted, more than one in five of the country’s 3,168 high schools have been occupied.
With one million dead, governments abandon efforts to contain COVID-19 pandemic
By Andre Damon, 30 September 2020
The fall and winter months in America and Europe are expected to bring a major resurgence of the disease.
Former US prison warden testifies Assange will be treated like a “terrorist”: The “war on terror” comes home
By Thomas Scripps and Laura Tiernan, 30 September 2020
Baird’s testimony made clear that Assange is now the victim of the CIA-backed torture and rendition which he courageously exposed as WikiLeaks publisher and journalist.
More than 2,000 schools in UK hit by COVID-19 outbreaks as thousands of children and staff sent home
By Tom Pearce, 29 September 2020
Thousands of children are being sent home to self-isolate, in some cases to isolate with vulnerable parents.
London bus drivers challenge Metroline over new COVID-19 infections at Cricklewood garage
By our reporters, 29 September 2020
Drivers are calling for urgent safety measures to prevent the further spread of infection. Their open letter to Metroline is published in full.
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