Uneasy calm in Kenya after court ruling on vote

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) ? Kenyan police deployed forces Sunday in the capital and in the lakeside city of Kisumu to contain the continuing threat of violence after two people were killed in riots Saturday, officials said, but the country remained mostly peaceful after a court upheld Uhuru Kenyatta's election as president.

Rowdy youths in Nairobi's slums were still trying to protest the Supreme Court's ruling against Prime Minister Raila Odinga's challenge to the validity of Kenyatta's win, Moses Ombati, the deputy police chief for Nairobi, said Sunday. He said he hoped the presence of armed police would deter illegal protests like those that erupted Saturday immediately after the court's ruling.

"There is tension obviously, but with the deployment of officers we have done we don't anticipate anything," Ombati said.

Although losing candidate Odinga accepted the court's decision, some of his supporters reacted angrily to his loss, taking to the streets and engaging the police in running battles.

Two people were killed and five seriously injured Saturday in riots in Kisumu, Odinga's home region, said Ole Metito, police chief for Nyanza province. At least seven rioters are now in police custody for their alleged roles in the Kisumu violence, he said.

"There was chaos in places where people were throwing stones. Now we have officers monitoring the general situation," Metito said.

Kenyatta, who is to be sworn in on April 9, said late Saturday that he would be a president for all Kenyans and urged them to move past the election and build a nation "at peace with itself."

The March 4 election was described by many as the most complicated in Kenya's history. It pitted Kenyatta against Odinga, whose disputed loss in the 2007 election triggered postelection violence that killed more than 1,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. Kenyatta faces criminal charges at the International Criminal Court for allegedly encouraging that postelection violence.

Kenyatta will become the second sitting African president to face charges at the Hague. William Ruto, his running mate, who is set to become Kenya's deputy president, faces similar charges. Both men deny any wrongdoing.

Unlike after the 2007 election, which degenerated into tribe-on-tribe violence, Kenya has been largely peaceful following these elections.

Odinga charged the presidential election was "tainted" by irregularities. Odinga's lawyers alleged in court that the electoral commission boosted Kenyatta's numbers at some polling stations, helping him to avoid a runoff election with Odinga. According to official figures, Kenyatta avoided a runoff by about 8,000 votes out of 12.3 million cast.

The Supreme Court decided that Kenyatta was validly elected and that the election was conducted in compliance with the constitution. The judges are expected to release a detailed judgment in two weeks.

Odinga said he accepted this verdict even though he regretted that some of the evidence produced by his lawyers had been disregarded.

"Casting doubt on the judgment of the court could lead to higher political and economic uncertainty, and make it more difficult for our country to move forward," he said Saturday after the verdict. "We must soldier on in our resolve to reform our politics and institutions. Respect for the supremacy of the constitution in resolving disputes between fellow citizens is the surest foundation of our democratic society. "

___

Muhumuza reported from Kampala, Uganda.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uneasy-calm-kenya-court-ruling-vote-093210892.html

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'BUCKWILD' star, 2 others found dead in W.Va.

FILE - This Jan. 2, 2013 file photo shows Shain Gandee, from MTV's "Buckwild" reality series in New York. Gandee and his uncle have been reported missing in West Virginia. The Kanawha County Sheriff's Department said 21-year-old Shain Gandee and his uncle, 48-year-old David Gandee, were last seen around 3 a.m. Sunday, March 31, at a bar in Sissonville, W. Va. Family members said the men planned on riding their all-terrain vehicles, but did not say where. They reported the men missing after they couldn't get in contact with them Sunday. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP, file)

FILE - This Jan. 2, 2013 file photo shows Shain Gandee, from MTV's "Buckwild" reality series in New York. Gandee and his uncle have been reported missing in West Virginia. The Kanawha County Sheriff's Department said 21-year-old Shain Gandee and his uncle, 48-year-old David Gandee, were last seen around 3 a.m. Sunday, March 31, at a bar in Sissonville, W. Va. Family members said the men planned on riding their all-terrain vehicles, but did not say where. They reported the men missing after they couldn't get in contact with them Sunday. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP, file)

FILE - This Jan. 2, 2013 file photo shows Shain Gandee, from MTV's "Buckwild" reality series in New York. Gandee and his uncle have been reported missing in West Virginia. The Kanawha County Sheriff's Department said 21-year-old Shain Gandee and his uncle, 48-year-old David Gandee, were last seen around 3 a.m. Sunday, March 31, at a bar in Sissonville, W. Va. Family members said the men planned on riding their all-terrain vehicles, but did not say where. They reported the men missing after they couldn't get in contact with them Sunday. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP, file)

SISSONVILLE, W.Va. (AP) ? A cast member of the MTV reality show "BUCKWILD" was found dead Monday in a sport utility vehicle in a ditch along with his uncle and a third, unidentified person, authorities said.

Kanawha County Sheriff's Department Cpl. B.D. Humphreys said the bodies of cast member, Shain Gandee, 21, his uncle David Gandee, 48, and the third person were found Monday in a remote area near Sissonville.

Authorities had been searching for the men since early Sunday morning. They were last seen around 3 a.m. Sunday at a bar in Sissonville and they told people they were going driving off-road.

Humphreys said state police were getting ready to send out an aviation unit to search for the men when authorities received a call Monday morning that a vehicle was found wrecked in a muddy area a few miles from Gandee's home in Sissonville, about 15 miles outside of Charleston.

Authorities found the 1984 Ford Bronco that belonged to the Gandee family in a ditch with all three men inside. Humphreys did not provide details on the condition of the vehicle or the bodies. He said no foul play was suspected.

The terrain in the Thaxton Hollow area was "very muddy, very rough," Humphreys said, adding that authorities had to use all-terrain vehicles to get to the site.

Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said the news was devastating for the small community near Charleston.

"It's a very sad day for the Sissonville area and for these families," he said. "This is a small community, and most of us know directly members of these families. We're keeping them in our hearts and prayers."

Shain, nicknamed "Gandee Candy" by fans, was a breakout star of the show that followed the antics of a group of young friends enjoying a wild country lifestyle. It was filmed last year, mostly around Sissonville and Charleston.

MTV issued a statement saying it was shocked and saddened to learn of its star's death.

"We are waiting for more information but at this time, our main concern is for the Gandee family and their friends," the network said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Shain had a magnetic personality, with a passion for life that touched everyone he met and we will miss him dearly."

A neighbor, Swanna Frampton, said she had known Shain Gandee since he was a small child.

"He loved to live and have fun. He was a great person," Frampton said. "He did what (the show) wanted him to do, but he wasn't like that. He was a real person. If you needed help, if needed something, he would come help you no matter what."

Shooting for the second season of "BUCKWILD" had begun, but MTV spokesman Jake Urbanski said Monday afternoon it has been suspended. He had no further details.

MTV said the half-hour series in the old "Jersey Shore" time slot was pulling in an average of 3 million viewers per episode since its premiere and was the No. 1 original cable series on Thursday nights among 12- to 34-year-olds.

Shain Gandee is the third BUCKWILD cast member to make headlines.

Last week, 24-year-old Salwa Amin was sent back to jail for violating the terms of her bond following a February arrest. She was charged with two counts of drug possession with intent to deliver and initially jailed on $200,000 bond. That was later reduced to $100,000, but Amin remained behind bars without bond on Monday.

State Police say a multi-agency task force arrested Amin and two other people at a Summersville residence after receiving a tip from an informant. A search found oxycodone pills, heroin and $3,000 in cash.

Another cast mate, Michael Douglas Burford, was charged in February with driving under the influence.

Urbanski said none of Gandee's cast mates was available to do an interview Monday, and none immediately planned to issue a statement. But their feelings came through on Twitter, where Ashley Whitt called her friend "the most amazing person I've ever known."

"I know you will be watching over me every time I hit a mudhole. You will always be my best friend, I love you!" she wrote.

Cast mate Cara Parrish and others asked fans to pray for Gandee's parents, Loretta and Dale. "This is the emptiest I've ever felt," she wrote in a tweet.

___

Associated Press Writer Vicki Smith contributed from Morgantown.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-04-01-BUCKWILD%20Death/id-7fdee3c4bf3945749eb8bc008011b8e4

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3 Ways Work Visas Could Still Blow Up the Immigration Bill

Let?s start with the positive viewpoint. Big labor (i.e., the AFL-CIO) has agreed, for the first time in its history, to accept a new foreign-worker program for low-skilled jobs, including in construction, food service, and janitorial work?in many ways the mainstay of union membership.

The new foreign-worker program is considered an essential component of an immigration bill by business groups and Republicans. Without it, there is no immigration reform, as Republicans made plain last week when they went home for a spring break without a deal in place on "future flow."

Lobbying negotiators made some progress after that. The AFL-CIO publicized its understanding of the ?agreement in principle? with business groups over the weekend. It included wage rates for the new foreign workers that business groups actually like: They will pay the same wage as a similarly situated American worker or the Labor Department's "prevailing wage" for that occupational classification. So far so good.

"We have created a new model, a modern visa system, that includes both a bureau to collect and analyze labor market data, as well as significant worker protections,? said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in a statement.

Then came the harder part. Business groups were not willing to sign off as quickly and publicly as Trumka did. (The trust level between the two sides is low.) Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a key Senate negotiator, made sure to walk back from news of the deal on Sunday, saying that reports of an agreement on work visas were premature.

The new W Visa Program under discussion would be part of a sweeping immigration overhaul expected to be on the Senate floor in a month or two. The legislation allowing visa waivers would also give legal status to some 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the United States.

The ?future flow? of foreign workers has always lurked in the background as the ogre that could kill the deal. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., insists that the four Republicans and Democrats negotiating the bill are on track to produce a draft next week for consideration by the Judiciary Committee. There is no reason to think he is wrong, but the last-minute haggling over details has everyone involved in the talks sweating, and probably cursing.

Now, here?s the negative viewpoint?three ways the back-and-forth over work visas could blow up the immigration deal:

1. The Numbers Don?t Match. The AFL-CIO has agreed to allow 20,000 foreign workers into the country by 2015. (That?s up from 10,000 in an offer made last week.) By 2019, the numbers would go up to 75,000. That?s not nearly enough, from businesses? perspective, to respond to the need. For the past 10 years, illegal immigrants have come into the country to fill these low-skilled jobs at the rate of about 350,000 a year?almost 700,000 in the 2007 economic boom and at about 165,000 in 2011, at the height of the recession.

The whole idea behind the W visa is to replace the illegal population with a legal one. Most of the current illegal population already works in the low-skilled jobs, such as hotel-room cleaning or dishwashing, that would be covered by the W visa. But immigration experts say you can?t expect the current workforce to remain static. The undocumented workers now will not fill future workforce needs.

The prospect of 75,000 visas available seven years from now is not enough to appease business groups or Republicans. Unless labor and business can start talking remotely in the same ballpark, the deal is finished. The AFL-CIO is willing to endorse 200,000 visas per year at some point in the future. That is close to what business groups say they need in terms of numbers, but not in terms of timing.

?It?s a huge breakthrough that there is bipartisan agreement that we need a program like this. The problem is, it?s too small,? said ImmigrationWorks USA President Tamar Jacoby. ?If there is a deal, let?s hope we can fix it going forward.?

2. Gaming the Economic Model. Negotiators' ultimate goal is to come up with a system in which the foreign workforce will respond to economic need. If the U.S. unemployment rate goes up, the number of available foreign work visas goes down. Alternatively, if the unemployment rate in a particular job sector is high, the price of a foreign work visa for that same job could go up.

The concept is easy. The execution is not. The basic idea, as outlined by AFL-CIO and business lobbyists involved in the talks, is some type of government commission staffed by labor experts and economists that would identify labor shortages and make recommendations as to the number of work visas that would be available in any given year.

Such a system could certainly work in theory, but there are lots of ways the measurements could run askew and make the annual visa caps as arbitrary as they are now. First, the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn?t have the finely parsed, regional industry-sector unemployment numbers that would make for a truly useful analysis. Any reliance on unemployment data paints only a broad portrait of the employment situation. Guiding the immigration system based on such numbers would be like steering a Porche with water balloons.

Second, unemployment numbers are lagging economic indicators, reflecting the past and not the future. Overuse of that data would mean that the people charged with making recommendations could find themselves months behind the actual economic need.

Finally, it matters who is in charge. Under the AFL-CIO?s outline, the person running the ?Bureau of Immigration and Market Research? would be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Remember Consumer Financial Protection Board fights? That will be nothing compared with this.

3. Unemployment Is No Joke. The argument against the new visa-waiver program is that Americans don't have jobs. The national unemployment rate is at 7.7 percent. In construction, the rate is nearly double, at 15.8 percent. Construction is also where many undocumented immigrants happen to be employed.

Lawmakers who want to stop the immigration overhaul from happening are fond of saying that there are 11 million Americans out of work now who would be happy to have a fruit-picking or roofing job. It?s an effective argument, particularly for conservative politicians representing blue-collar districts or populist politicians representing labor-friendly districts. Notably, it?s not something you hear from anyone actually involved in crafting the legislation. But eventually, those lawmakers will have to sell this bill to their colleagues who worry about such things.

The argument in favor of the new visa program is best articulated in terms of what happened without one under the 1986 amnesty signed by President Reagan. Once the 3 million newly legalized immigrants moved on to bigger and better things, a new group of illegal immigrants swarmed to the United States to fill those empty, crummy jobs. Now we have 11 million illegal immigrants. But that doesn't make the unemployed American feel any better.

We?ll end on some good news, for what it?s worth. The "path to citizenship" for illegal immigrants appears to be resolving itself, as Republicans are repeatedly being assured that the unauthorized workforce will not get any ?special? treatment other than the ability to work and live here without fear of deportation. It?s a path to citizenship, but it will be no different than the path that any other law-abiding immigrant would take. And the illegal guys have to go last.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/3-ways-visas-could-still-blow-immigration-bill-075512795--politics.html

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PFT: Geno Smith will attend NFL Draft

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The play of Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs and Bengals CB Leon Hall after Achilles injuries gives?Dolphins CB Brett Grimes hope.

Will the Jets?add another back?in the draft?

A look at what prospects are being linked to the Bills in various mock drafts.

There are some fine candidates now eligible for the Patriots? Hall of Fame.

The Ravens? Super Bowl win doesn?t figure to hurt their ability to build their brand.

The Bengals have brought back the majority?of their unrestricted free agents.

The Browns? uniform-changing process?is a 24-month project.

Former Steelers S Will Allen reportedly made some interesting comments about the difference between the approach of the offense and defense in Pittsburgh.

Texans DE J.J. Watt will throw out the first pitch?in Sunday?s Rangers-Astros game.

The Colts have had a solid offseason, but there?s work left to be done.

One take on how Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert improved last season.

Two plays involving the Titans ? one good, one not-so-good ? are still alive in a vote for the greatest in history.

The official website of the Chiefs took a closer look at Florida State DE Bjoern Werner.

A take on the beginning and (seeming) end?of the Carson Palmer era in Oakland.

The Chargers are pledging $250,000 in nutritional- and athletic-related grants.

What secondary players would be good fit for the Broncos?

A look at where some of the Eagles? free agents have landed.

The Cowboys were adept at scoring points near the end of halves and games last season.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III apparently met?President Barack Obama on Saturday.

A take on the risk Giants WR Victor Cruz?could be taking if he doesn?t strike a longer-term deal this offseason.

The University of Illinois football team?will play?at Soldier Field, home of the Bears, for the first time in 19 years.

Do the Packers and Brett Favre still need more time apart before mending fences?

The Lions have an intriguing?new safety tandem.

Former Vikings defensive lineman Alan Page has written a?rather unique children?s book.

Former Falcons player Antoine Harris has been impressed with Mike Smith from the start.

Add Saints head coach Sean Payton?to the list of those amazed?by LeBron James.

Can Derek Landri supply some interior pressure?for the Buccaneers?

A WR prospect is working out?for the Panthers.

A take on how the Rams are building their roster.

The expansion Seahawks found a gem in the 1976 allocation draft.

Former Cardinals assistant Deshea Townsend is now Mississippi State?s DBs coach.

How will the 49ers use all of those draft picks?

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/30/geno-smith-will-attend-the-draft/related

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Tips, Advice And Ideas For Home Improvement Success | Everything ...

Getting through a home improvement project is a thing that can do a lot for your family. You need to become educated on the process, though. Use the following tips to turn your house into your dream home.

Don?t decide on any major home renovations without taking a look at homes in brand new subdivisions. There, you can see how others have been using the newest colors and styles to decorate their homes. Many model homes even hire a decorator to include window coverings and furniture to complete the effect, so you can copy the ones you like best and skip a lot of trial and error when updating your own home.

To add texture and make your walls look unique, apply both glossy and flat paints of the same color. Use two coats of the flat paint followed by stenciled or freehand glossy paint over it. Glossy paint is going to reflect light, giving it visual interest that?s subtle.

When the grout colors available don?t cut it, customize your own. A great paint for your tiles is acrylic craft paint, which can be found at virtually every hobby and discount store. You can experiment with adding paint to a small sample of grout, then you can test out shades on a paper plate.

It?s interesting to see what some people settle for when it comes to the paint schemes in their homes. Then there are people who do pick out their own color schemes but make idiosyncratic choices that are unappealing to guests and potential home-buyers. Take the time to select the perfect paint schemes, and you?ll see just how much a few coats of paint can do for your house.

You should never put off addressing mold or rust issues, even if they seem minor. These problems generally occur in homes that are older and may end up becoming very large problems quickly. Getting these things taken care of shouldn?t take you a lot of time. When you procrastinate, they?ll only get worse. If your mold problem is minor, you may be able to fix it with a bit of bleach. Sand small areas of rust away.

Those who live in a dry climate are better off with white or red cedar fences. Cedar is very durable and also has a nice smell. It is rated high when it comes to safety concerning wildfires.

If a designer just isn?t in your budget, get to work. Look online to find inspiration. Something you see on a magazine page can inspire your home improvement project. These resources can also provide information for less expensive projects that you can do on your own.

If you?re going to take on a home improvement project by yourself, you should write down the plan you?re hoping to follow, then have a professional look it over for you. If you overlook an important step during the planning phase, it can result in work that is subpar or a renovation that is more expensive than what you budgeted for.

There are both positives and negatives associated with home improvement. Certain home improvement projects backfire, making the house more difficult to sell. Follow these rules to get the most bang for your buck regarding your improvements.

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Late equalizer boosts LA

It?s still troubling to see all those empty seats at BMO Field, once the gold standard in passionate MLS support.

Hopefully the fans who have abandoned TFC (or stashed their scarves for the time being) will recognize that a better product can be found these days along Exhibition Place, where Ryan Nelsen has the Reds organized and working hard for one another.

Unfortunately, Nelsen and his side still have miles to go in terms of getting the personnel where it needs to be, and in teaching the team how to manage matches and situations.

We saw it all there Saturday as TFC gave up an early goal, rallied to take a lead and held that margin until stoppage time. But a mistake in the back gave young Galaxy attacker Jose Villareal a chance to demonstrate his opportunism and his athleticism.

His late goal was the equalizer in a 2-2 draw at BMO Field.

Here are a few quick thoughts, followed by the highlights.

• Richard Eckersley, once a right back, then a center back and then a right back again ? he?s now apparently a left back.
• ?We?ve mentioned before about how TFC still needs more quality in several areas, something club president Kevin Payne is presumably addressing. One is right I the middle of the park, where TFC were clearly outmanned over stretches Saturday. Juninho and Marcelo Sarvas ? good MLS midfield men, but not great ? mostly had their way through the center.
• Donovan (pictured from Satruday)? Meh. Then again, what did we expect? Getting him on the field was about elevating his fitness, as much as anything.

(MORE: Landon Donovan back on field for LA Galaxy)

• TFC was just not a bit creative for most of Saturday afternoon. Luis Silva?s second-half introduction helped (and a clever little something surely helped on TFC?s second goal), but the Reds need more imagination. So far, too many of the TFC goals tends to rise out of Robert Earnshaw?s opportunism.
• Hard to say what TFC defender Darel Russell might have been thinking with a ?clearing? header that he put right back in front of his own goal in stoppage time. Anywhere else and the Reds probably get all three points. A draw against the champs, even at home, isn?t terrible for TFC. But conceding a late equalizer (losing two points in the process) is a real bummer, and surely feels like a loss for Nelsen and Co.

Highlights of Saturday?s match:

Source: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/30/thoughts-and-highlights-on-toronto-la-galaxy-draw/related/

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BJP in India could name controversial politician their prime ministerial candidate

On Sunday, India's Bharatiya Janata Party elevated Narendra Modi to the party's top decision-making bodies. Narendra has been accused of ignoring or stoking violence between Hindus and Muslims.

By Associated Press / March 31, 2013

Gujarat state Chief Minister Narendra Modi waves to supporters in Ahmadabad, India in September 2011. On Sunday, the opposition BJP, which has resisted naming a prime ministerial candidate from among its many leaders, began coalescing around Modi, the successful and deeply polarizing politician.

Ajit Solanki/AP/File

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The main opposition Hindu nationalist party on Sunday elevated Narendra Modi, a deeply divisive figure in Indian politics, to the party's top decision-making bodies, with his supporters believing he could become prime minister in national elections next year.

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However, Rajnath Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party president, did not name Modi as the party's prime ministerial candidate, apparently because of opposition from some allies.

Smriti Irani, a BJP vice president, said the party would make a decision on the issue later. It is not known when the party will announce its candidate. The elections are due in May 2014.

On Sunday, Modi was made a member of the BJP's parliamentary board and the central election committee, which will select candidates and lead the election campaign.

Modi, 62, currently heads the BJP government in western Gujarat state. For more than a decade, he has worked relentlessly to market the idea of Gujarat state as a business-friendly state and become a hero to a generation of businessmen.

Modi says he has transformed his state, bringing it industries, jobs, electricity and water in a country where power outages and joblessness are epidemic.

However, Modi is accused by rights groups and survivors of not doing enough to stop the violence and even stoking it when marauding mobs of Hindus killed and burned their way through Muslim neighborhoods in Gujarat state in 2001, leaving more than 1,100 people dead. He was never charged with a crime.

The riots began in February 2002 when a train filled with Hindu pilgrims was attacked by a Muslim mob in a small Gujarat town. A fire erupted ? it remains unclear whether it was arson ? and 60 Hindus burned to death. In retaliation, Muslims were attacked across the state. Since that bloodletting, Modi has ruled over a state sharply divided along religious lines.

In 2005, the U.S. State Department denied a visa to Modi under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, which bars people responsible for violations of religious freedom from getting a visa.

The Congress party, which has led India's national government for the past nine years, has seen its position dramatically weakened in recent years, its reputation battered by clumsy political maneuvering, weak leadership and a seemingly endless stream of corruption scandals.

The BJP is expected to pose a strong challenge to the Congress party in the 2014 elections.

Kapil Sibal, a Congress party leader and telecommunications minister, said Sunday that the elevation of a controversial leader would pose a serious challenge to the BJP in the run-up to the elections.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/DhJ0VYNm32s/BJP-in-India-could-name-controversial-politician-their-prime-ministerial-candidate

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