Everything you need to know as car crashes off the M6 into water shutting motorway for over nine hours – Manchester Evening News
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One casualty was rescued by firefighters
The empty southbound carriageway of the M6 in Cheshire this morning during the closure
M6 closed for hours after car crashes into water near Greater Manchester
A stretch of the M6 in Cheshire was closed for more than nine hours this morning (Sunday, March 29) after a car left the motorway and landed partially in water
The serious crash was reported at around 12:40am between junction 19 for Knutsford and junction 18 for Middlewich and Holmes Chapel.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were responding to “a road traffic collision where a car has left the M6 south carriageway and come to rest on the edge of a brook with the rear of the vehicle partially in the water.”
One casualty was rescued around 45 minutes later and handed over to paramedics. Their condition is not yet known.
A fire service technician was deployed into the water to help rescue the casualty and stabilise the car, which was then winched to a fire engine.
The carriageway was shut for more than nine hours whilst the vehicle was recovered and repairs carried out to the barriers before it eventually reopened at around 10:30am
As news of an outbreak of hantavirus aboard a cruise ship continues to make headlines, many travellers may feel nervous ahead of their holidays.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday there had been six confirmed hantavirus cases linked to MV Hondius. It added that a worldwide total of eight cases, including three deaths, had been reported – with one previous suspected case being reclassified after testing negative for hantavirus.
With this in mind, how dangerous is Hantavirus and should we be worried?
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The WHO states that Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe disease in humans.
People usually get infected through contact with infected rodents or their urine, droppings or saliva. Infection with hantaviruses can cause a range of illnesses, including severe disease and death – although the virus can vary in severity and geographical location play a role.
In the Americas, severe infections have led to hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) which affects the lungs and heart. In Europe and Asia, hantaviruses have been known to cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) affecting the kidneys and blood vessels.
Hantavirus infections are relatively uncommon globally but are associated with a case fatality rate of 1–15% in Asia and Europe and up to 50% in the Americas.
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Should we be worried in the UK?
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has stressed that the overall risk to the British public remains very low.
In a recent statement, Dr Meera Chand, deputy director for Epidemic and Emerging Infections at UKHSA, said: “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the hantavirus outbreak onboard the MV Hondius. It’s important to reassure people that the risk to the general public remains very low.
“We are standing up arrangements to support, isolate and monitor British nationals from the ship on their return to the UK and we are contact tracing anyone who may have been in contact with the ship or the hantavirus cases to limit the risk of onward transmission.”
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The WHO states that in humans, symptoms can begin from one to eight weeks after exposure and typically include:
Fever
Headache
Muscle aches
Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting
In HCPS (more commonly seen in the Americas) the disease may progress rapidly to cough, shortness of breath, accumulation of fluid in the lungs and shock.
In HFRS (more often seen in Europe and Asia) later stages may include low blood pressure, bleeding disorders and kidney failure.
The WHO states: “Early diagnosis of hantavirus infection can be challenging because early symptoms are common with other febrile or respiratory illnesses, such as influenza, COVID-19, viral pneumonia, leptospirosis, dengue or sepsis.
“A careful patient history is therefore essential, with particular attention to possible rodent exposure, occupational and environmental risks, travel history, and contact with known cases in areas where hantaviruses are present.”
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The WHO states that there is no licenced specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for hantavirus infection. The WHO states: “Early access to intensive care, when clinically indicated, improves outcomes, particularly for patients with hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome.”
Preventing hantavirus infection depends primarily on reducing contacts between people and rodents. Effective measures include:
keeping homes and workplaces clean
sealing openings that allow rodents to enter buildings
storing food securely
using safe cleaning practices in areas contaminated by rodents
avoiding dry sweeping or vacuuming rodent droppings
dampening of contaminated areas before cleaning
strengthening hand hygiene practices.
During outbreaks or when cases are suspected, early identification and isolation of cases, monitoring of close contacts, and application of standard infection prevention measures are important to limit further spread.
The UKHSA states: “None of the British nationals on board MV Hondius are currently reporting symptoms, but they are being closely monitored.
“Further checks will be carried out by medical staff of all passengers and crew on board before they disembark. British Passengers and ship crew not displaying any symptoms of hantavirus will be escorted by UK government staff to an airport and a chartered flight will fly them back to the UK.
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“Infection prevention and control measures will be in place throughout the journey. Passengers, crew and medical teams boarding the flight will wear personal protective equipment such as face masks while journeying from Tenerife and during transit to facilities at Arrowe Park Hospital. Risk to the public in the UK will remain very low.”
For the latest UKHSA guidance on Hantavirus cases, see here.
A trespasser died after he was sucked into a plane’s engine as it prepared to take off, airport authorities said.
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The unidentified person reportedly jumped the fence at Denver International Airport in Colorado and was hit and killed by the Frontier Airlines plane within two minutes.
The collision, which happened as Flight 4345 prepared to depart for Los Angeles International Airport, sparked an engine fire and forced passengers to evacuate the plane.
As the incident unfolded, the plane’s pilot told the airport’s control tower ‘we’re stopping on the runway’ because they had ‘just hit somebody’ which had caused ‘an engine fire’, according to the site ATC.com.
The pilot then explained that there were 224 passengers and seven crew aboard the plane and that the individual was ‘walking across the runway’ when they were hit.
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In response, the air traffic controller said the airport is ‘rolling the trucks now’ before the pilot explained that smoke had entered the aircraft and they are going to ‘evacuate on the runway’.
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Part of this evacuation was caught on mobile phone footage and showed people getting their bags, some of whom are wearing masks, as they prepare to exit the plane.
Later shots showed numerous passengers outside the plane while others descended from the plane down inflatable slides.
Footage from inside the plane shows people trying to get out (Picture: CNN)
Children can be seen in the background as a member of staff tells the passengers that they ‘need to all move away from the aircraft’.
In a statement released afterwards, Frontier Airlines said the collision only involved one person and the takeoff was aborted after smoke was reported in the cabin.
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It remains unclear if the smoke was linked to the collision.
‘We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities,’ the statement added.
After being safely evacuated from the plane via slides, passengers were bused to the terminal.
An airport spokesperson said 12 passengers suffered minor injuries and five were taken to hospital.
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One passenger, Jacob Anthens, posted video on his Facebook page showing people sliding down inflatable slides with their backpacks. He also posted photos of what looked like a damaged engine.
‘As we were lifting off the engine of the plane exploded. There was so much smoke we couldn’t even see 1 ft in front of us,’ Jacob said as he recorded the footage.
A figure is seen as the plane prepares to take off (Picture: CNN)
He explained that spent over an hour on the runway without ‘transport or help with the cold’.
Other video shows passengers calmly walking down the aisle of the plane and using the slide to evacuate. They were told to step away from the plane.
The National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation and temporarily closed runway 17L, where the incident took place.
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It reopened at around 11am yesterday.
The incident came a day after a Delta Air Lines employee was killed while on the job at the Orlando International Airport.
In a statement, the airline said the employee was killed on Thursday night without providing further details.
‘We are focused on extending our full support to family and taking care of our Orlando team during this difficult time,’ the airline said.
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‘We are working with local authorities as a full investigation gets underway to determine what occurred.’
Here’s what the stars have in store for your day (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
The Sun in Taurus aligns with Jupiter in Cancer, giving an uplifting sense to the day ahead. Use this opportunity to take healthy risks.
Virgo, Leo and Cancer, new experiences call your name. Take a leap of faith and say yes to adventure.
Luck is on your side today, so don’t be afraid to rock the boat. Enjoy your good fortune that awaits, as it will come naturally.
Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Monday May 11, 2026.
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Aries
March 21 to April 20
The Sun in Taurus aligns with upbeat Jupiter in Cancer, creating a lovely uplifting aspect that is perfect for enjoying your garden, growing a business, or seeing the other seeds you have planted start to blossom. It can seem that things are finally coming together, and a slice of good fortune could help push things along. It is also a wonderful day for a homely get-together.
Things can flow so well today. You can feel positive and more confident that people are attuned to exciting ideas and plans. Even if you sometimes run on the cautious side, you are likely to feel cheerfully hopeful about your prospects. Conversations also flow well, especially around friendships and group situations. This can be one of the most uplifting days of May.
Sometimes the things we harvest are less obvious, and today could be one of them. Someone’s quiet word of encouragement, noticing that we are dealing with some of life’s challenges more successfully, or making some inner connections which give us a greater sense of our personal value. All of this is possible today and can quietly cheer you.
Every twelve years or so and for twelve months, the planet of serendipity, Jupiter, returns to your sign and feels more than content in your celestial residency, where it can truly sparkle. This visit, since last June, though, has seen him face challenges, but today, his link to the Sun in the earthy Taurus can give you a genuine sense of hope of better things to come.
You can find yourself taking the lead in a situation today when your experience and practical knowledge can be of great assistance. So can your humanity, Leo, which can help you tune into a person’s needs wordlessly by quickly realising that their current situation may be due to a lack of support or understanding. Your caring words of encouragement can truly resonate.
You may find yourself in the mood for an adventure, and whether you are able to link up with a friend or group of people and make something happen right away, or you book something for the future to look forward to, it can prove exhilarating to envision something outside the daily grind. Good for you if so, Virgo, as you are so often very conscientious and hard working.
Cosmic messages for Cosmic messages for Virgo today
Libra
September 24 to October 23
Think of the main goals you have in life, Libra, and then put every effort into pursuing them today. Whether it is making a phone call to someone influential, writing a proposal, applying for a job, spending time refining your internet presence, or shuffling your resources to extract more financial value, your dynamism can be amazing, and so can your charm.
We all love pleasant exchanges, even short, informal ones, that help the world go round. And today you could have a discussion with someone who could prove really inspirational. It may be their ideas and encouragement that spark you, but just as easily it could be you who makes a real difference in someone else’s situation, by cheering them on.
Your guide planet is Jupiter, which is very much about exuberance and expansion. And generally, the trends are very strong for you over the next two months regarding your long-term finances or business hopes. What you can bring to the situation today, however, is also a great eye for detail, which can be a truly winning mix and a fortunate one too.
If you are meeting up with a friend today, or maybe even going on a date, it could be a very bubbly affair. With the planet of fortune, Jupiter, in your sector of relating, and the radiant Sun in the most happy-go-lucky part of your situation, and collaborating beautifully with one another, the celestial mood music could not be more perfect. Seize the moment, Capricorn.
Was there not a song written about Mondays? You know the one. Well, today, returning to workday routines can prove challenging, but these can be lightened by some cosmic levitation, as the Sun and Jupiter forge one of their most enlivening connections of the whole astral calendar. Sure, there may be basic strands to attend to, but the chances are you can do so with gusto.
The Moon in your sign can heighten your perceptions and help you effortlessly tune into situations. This can also help you to empathetically connect to others. And with your traditional ruler Jupiter brightened by a fabulous connection to the warmth of the Sun, you just seem to ease through all you need to, but without expending too much raw energy.
Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.
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CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — The remains of a U.S. soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco a week ago were recovered in the Atlantic Ocean, the army said Sunday. Military teams were still searching for a second missing soldier.
The remains were those of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer who was one of two U.S. soldiers who fell off a cliff during a recreational hike in Morocco while off duty. He was 27 years old.
The two were reported missing May 2 after participating in African Lion, an annual multinational military exercise held in Morocco.
“A Moroccan military search team found the Soldier in the water along the shoreline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time May 9, within roughly one mile of where both Soldiers reportedly entered the ocean,” U.S. Army Europe and Africa said in a statement.
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The two went missing around 9 p.m. near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, a terrain characterized by mountains, desert and semidesert plains, according to the Moroccan military.
Their disappearance triggered a search-and-rescue operation involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco and other military partners. The operation deployed frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones.
Search efforts will continue for the missing second soldier, a U.S. defense official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to speak publicly on the issue.
The official said a U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after the war games ended Friday to provide command and control and to continue search and rescue operations.
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Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, the army said. His decorations include the Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon.
He entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate and earned his commission through Officer Candidate School in 2024 as an Air Defense Artillery officer. He later completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, according to the statement.
African Lion 26, is a U.S.-led exercise launched in April across four countries – Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal – with more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations. Since 2004, it has been the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa.
In 2012, two U.S. Marines were killed and two others injured during a helicopter crash in Morocco’s southern city of Agadir while taking part in the exercises.
The Department for Transport review, which ends at 11:59pm on Sunday 11 May, is seeking public views on sweeping changes to road safety law, the most significant overhaul of motoring penalties in decades.
Proposals under consideration include lowering the drink-drive limit in England and Wales, introducing penalty points for failing to wear a seatbelt, and strengthening penalties for uninsured, unlicensed and hit-and-run drivers.
Ministers are also consulting on immediate licence suspensions for suspected drink and drug drivers, expanded police powers to seize vehicles, and the potential use of alcohol interlock devices as part of rehabilitation programmes.
The consultation comes as road safety remains a growing political and public concern, both nationally and across Bolton.
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In Bolton, official figures underline the scale of the issue.
Data from the DVLA and Department for Transport shows the borough has the second-highest number of penalty points in Greater Manchester, with more than 58,000 recorded as of September 2024.
In 2023, more than 100 road traffic incidents in Bolton were linked to motoring offences, a significant rise on the previous year and more than double the figure recorded in Stockport.
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Recent fatal and serious collisions have added to concerns, including a multi-fatality crash on Wigan Road in January, a double pedestrian fatality in Smithills in December, and a fatal incident on the M61 in April.
The scene of the Wigan Road crash (Image: Phil Taylor)
Across Greater Manchester, provisional figures show road deaths increased to 51 in 2024, while the number of people killed or seriously injured also rose sharply.
Nationally, more than 1,600 people died on roads in England and Wales in 2024, with little overall improvement in casualty figures in the most recent data.
The Government says the consultation is intended to ensure penalties reflect the seriousness of offences and act as an effective deterrent, particularly in relation to dangerous and illegal driving.
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Police stopping cars for no insurance, MOT or tax (Image: GMP)
Further proposals include increasing penalties for failing to stop after a collision, extending prosecution time limits in the most serious cases, and raising fines for driving without insurance, tax or a valid MOT.
Responses can be submitted via the Government’s website or by email before the deadline.
A summary of feedback is expected within three months, with potential legislative changes to follow.
Irene Campbell said a leadership contest should take place.
A third Scottish Labour MP has urged Keir Starmer to quit as Prime Minister after their Holyrood election drubbing.
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Irene Campbell called for an “orderly transition of leadership” amid claims former deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting are planning to challenge Starmer.
The PM is making a crunch statement tomorrow.
In a tweet, the North Ayrshire and Arran MP wrote: “Knocking on doors over recent weeks and months, voters were very angry with Labour citing many mistakes and U-turns especially the Winter Fuel Payment decision. It didn’t matter that it was a Scottish election and addressing the failures of the SNP.
“It didn’t matter that it was a Scottish election and addressing the failures of the SNP, voters were telling us that we weren’t offering anything new, radical or different… I will listen to what the Prime Minister has to say tomorrow.
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“My view is that we must fully consider what happened, why it happened and what we do to address this. I believe that the solution is likely to be a full and democratic contest to allow an orderly transition of leadership and for this to be achieved by the end of the year.”
It comes after fellow Scottish Labour MPs Euan Stainbank and Brian Leishman also called for Starmer to go.
Candidates have told the Record Starmer’s mistakes in office gifted the SNP a fifth term on Friday.
This is a breaking news story – we’ll bring you updates, pictures and video as it happens.
The MV Hondius, at the centre of the hantavirus outbreak, docked in Tenerife in the Canary Islands on Sunday
19:24, 10 May 2026Updated 19:33, 10 May 2026
A military aircraft has been dispatched to repatriate two Irish nationals stranded aboard a virus-stricken cruise ship, the republic’s Department of Health has confirmed.
The MV Hondius, at the centre of a hantavirus outbreak, docked in Tenerife in the Canary Islands on Sunday morning. Later that day, an Air Corps aircraft departed from Baldonell Aerodrome, a military air base in west Co Dublin, bound for the island.
The aircraft has been deployed to conduct “an aeromedical evacuation” of the two Irish citizens, who are reported to have been adhering to isolation protocols aboard the vessel and are said to be in “good health”.
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Subject to their medical condition, the pair are due to return to Ireland on Sunday aboard the Air Corps aircraft, accompanied by Health Service Executive (HSE) medical personnel.
Upon arrival back in Ireland, they will be transferred to an HSE facility where they will be closely monitored throughout their quarantine period, in line with international health guidelines, reports the Irish Mirror.
On Saturday, a Department of Health spokesperson stated: “If they become symptomatic, they will be assessed and treated as appropriate.”
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In an official statement, the department added: “The return of passengers and crew from MV Hondius has been carefully planned and guided by public health authorities to ensure safety for everyone – these measures protect communities while respecting the dignity and wellbeing of those returning home.”
Spanish authorities have confirmed that the health of all passengers is currently being assessed and that the disembarkation process is “proceeding well”.
The vital victory stretched Arsenal‘s lead to five points ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and put league silverware in touching distance after three successive second-placed finishes.
Some will say Arteta’s side have got here the hard way, while others will argue victories secured when a team does just enough to get over the line is the mark of champions.
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The 1-0 win over West Ham was the seventh time this season Arsenal have won by that scoreline in the Premier League.
It wraps up what has been a crucial week for the club, with title rivals Manchester City dropping points in midweek.
Before the win over Fulham last weekend, Arsenal had won just two of their previous eight games in all competitions and suffered back-to-back defeats in the league for the first time during those matches, too.
But now after three successive wins without conceding a goal, one of which secured their place in the Champions League final, Arsenal are on the cusp of history.
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“What a moment, what an afternoon, what a week it’s been for us,” Arteta said.
“So full of emotions, I cannot praise enough the attitude, the desire, the courage and the quality of the team shown throughout this week, because there was so much at stake and today we knew against a team that is fighting for their life, a club with an incredible history, how tough it was going to be.”
Confident Barcelona had several more chances to make their margin of victory more emphatic, but found returning Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in impressive form. They will need to win all of their remaining matches to equal the LaLiga record of 100 points, while a win over Real Betis next weekend would see them go through a whole league season with a 100 per cent winning home record at the Camp Nou. It was a bittersweet moment for head coach Flick, who was in the dugout following the death of his father, which was announced just hours ahead of kick-off.
Emma Willis is reportedly set to accept the Strictly Come Dancing hosting role, with Zoe Ball also tipped to join her as they replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on the BBC show.
Jasmine Allday Assistant TV and Showbiz Editor and Peter Hennessy UK & World News Editor
23:41, 10 May 2026
Emma Willis is reportedly being lined up for the Strictly Come Dancing presenting position alongside another well-known personality.
Considerable conjecture has surrounded who might succeed Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on the BBC ballroom programme after they decided to depart from the show last year, reports the Mirror..
A source said: “Emma has been offered the Strictly job and is going to accept. She absolutely nailed the chemistry tests and the BBC adore her. Emma is a household name and a safe pair of hands so the BBC know she will do the job justice.
“She’s incredibly popular with the public too and will suit the role down to a tee. She was absolutely thrilled to have been offered the job. Strictly is one of the biggest shows on television and to be trusted with the new era is something Emma feels incredibly proud and humbled by.”
Zoe Ball is also expected to be invited to appear alongside Emma, replacing Tess and Claudia. The duo allegedly underwent a chemistry test together, as did other combinations including Alex Jones and Rylan Clark and Bradley Walsh and Rob Rinder.
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“Emma is seen as the Tess of the duo. Her background in live – and occasionally tense – broadcasting situations means she can handle anything that is thrown at her,” a source told The Sun. “Zoe and her really clicked and it’s looking likely that Zoe will take on the role Claudia held in the auditorium with the celebs and the pro’s. The BBC are excited about how their new look Strictly is coming together and think the public will agree.”
The Mirror has approached BBC representatives for comment.
Both Emma and Zoe are prominent figures at the BBC, each presenting their own radio programmes with the corporation. Emma fronts her own Saturday afternoon programme on BBC Radio 2.
She’d previously expressed her affection for the BBC dancing programme. In 2021, when questioned about participating in the show, she said: “If I had time, I would do it in a heartbeat. Like I absolutely love it.”
Back in September, Tess and Claudia revealed they were stepping down from the programme following the conclusion of that series.
They stated: “We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time.
“We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show,” adding: “They’re the most brilliant team and we’ll miss them every day. We will cry when we say the last “keep dancing” but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.”
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