The tombs were unearthed in Marina El Alamein, west of Alexandria (Picture: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
A group of ancient Egyptian cemeteries unearthed along the Mediterranean coast have given new insight into the ancient culture – with artefacts found at the site including golden tongues and coffins.
The excavations at Marina el-Alamein, a site 60 miles west of ancient Egyptian capital Alexandria, revealed about two dozen ‘tongues’, which were customary to place into the mouths of some deceased at the time.
It was thought that they would help the dead communicate in the afterlife.
A statement released by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities explained that one of the objects found is shaped like the Eye Of Horus — a symbol which is commonly associated with healing.
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‘Gold tongues are a well-documented feature of some burials dating to the Ptolemaic and Roman periods in Egypt,’ Hesham Hussein, undersecretary for Lower Egypt and Sinai archaeology, told Live Science.
‘They are generally interpreted as symbolic funerary amulets intended to enable the deceased…to communicate and recite sacred formulas in thenext world.’
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Golden tongues were often placed in the mouth of a deceased person before burial (Picture: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
Golden tongues have also been found in recent years in the Taposiris Magna temple, near Alexandria, and the ancient city of Oxyrhynchusm about 200 miles south-east of the current discovery.
According to Smithsonian magazine the practice of placing a golden tongue in a dead person’s mouth comes from spell 158 in the Egyptian Book of The Dead which asks for a ‘golden collar…to be set on the throat of the deceased on the day of internment.’
Most of the tombs unearthed in the latest find were in an ‘exceptional’ state of preservation, having been kept closed by stone slabs since they were built.
The tongues formed part of a ritual conducted on the day of internment (Picture: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
Experts have said they were likely part of the ancient city of Leukaspis, mentioned by the Greek geographer Strapo.
Leukapsis, founded by the Greeks in the second century, was a thriving commercial hub known for its wine, wheat and olive trade.
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However, it was destroyed in July 365 AD by a massive underwater earthquake in Crete.
The tremor – which geologists have estimated had a magnitude of around 8.5 – triggered a tsunami which devastated the southern coast of the Mediterranean, with Alexandria and the Nile Delta also suffering severe damage.
Other items of note in the discovery included a water well and surface burials near the newly discovered tombs, which experts say reflects the social diversity of the city’s occupants as wealthy elites would traditionally have had deeper burials.
Both shallow and deeper burial sites were found, pointing to a diversity of people living in the ancient city (Picture: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities/Cover Images)
The finds point to Egyptian funeral rituals, as well as architectural influences, lasting into the Ptolemaic and and Roman eras, according to researchers.
A limestone altar, featuring an incomplete marble statue thought to represent the goddess Aphrodite, had what experts describe as ‘distinctive architecture’ pointing to an ‘imaginary door’ — a gateway between the living and the dead which is a part of Egyptian funeral doctrine.
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Another of the cemeteries featured a 2.5 metre granite coffin which contained the remains of a plaster sphinx, while pottery, dishes, camphor and basins were also found at the site of the tombs.
Robotaxi firm Zoox has issued a software recall after one of its vehicles drove into smoke near a fire scene in Las Vegas.
About 100 vehicles from the Amazon-owned company were potentially affected by the software issue, which was discovered after the June 20 incident, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall report submitted Thursday.
On that day, an unoccupied Zoox vehicle encountered heavy smoke, obscuring a fire scene that was not blocked off with traffic cones. The report didn’t specify where the incident took place, but a person with knowledge of the matter told The Independent that it happened in Vegas.
After entering the fire scene, the robotaxi braked hard as it attempted to steer away. Guided by a remote operator, the vehicle reversed, and then first responders placed cones to block off two of the three lanes of traffic.
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Robotaxi firm Zoox has issued a software recall after one of its vehicles drove into smoke near a fire scene in Las Vegas (AFP via Getty Images)
Within days of the incident, Zoox notified federal regulators and launched its own investigation into the matter. The probe found that the June 20 incident was the “only event of this kind that Zoox has experienced” and no injuries were discovered.
Federal regulators said Zoox developed a software update that “enhances existing capability of detecting and responding to heavy smoke including active EV [emergency vehicle] scenes.”
A spokesperson for the California-based company told The Independent, “Safety is foundational at Zoox. We value our work with first responders, city officials, and regulators to continue to ensure we’re driving safely in the communities we serve.”
About 100 vehicles from the Amazon-owned company Zoox were potentially affected by a software issue (Getty Images)
This is not the first time Zoox vehicles have been subject to a recall.
A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall report from December noted that Zoox had to update its robotaxi software after discovering its vehicles crossed lanes “unnecessarily” at or near intersections in certain circumstances.
Amazon acquired Zoox in 2020, about six years after the company was formed.
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Zoox officially launched its robotaxi service on and around the Las Vegas Strip in September. The company started offering rides to the public in San Francisco in November.
The loved ones of a teenager who died at a festival following a ‘severe medical emergency’ have paid tribute to the ‘caring, funny, clever’ young woman.
Lucy Halpin, 18, attended the Tonnau festival in North Wales last Saturday but was rushed to hospital following the unspecified medical emergency, where she later died.
It is unclear what caused her death, with police treating it at the time as unexpected.
Ms Halpin’s sister, Jessica Mariee, shared a message of her devastation, confirming in a tribute that the teen died just a few weeks following her 18th birthday.
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Tonnau festival, an independent music and arts festival aimed at families, said paramedics, who arrived around 1.45am on July 11, did ‘everything they could’ to treat Ms Halpin.
The event, held annually on the Carreglwyd Estate near Llanfaethlu on Anglesey and featuring international bands and DJs alongside culture, food and drink, later closed and attendees were asked to leave the site following the teenager’s death.
Meanwhile, Ms Halpin’s workplace, Breeze Hill Bar, Eatery & Hotel, shared their condolences, writing that they are ‘a broken pub full of broken hearts’.
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Lucy Halpin, 18, attended the Tonnau festival in North Wales last Saturday but was rushed to hospital following the unspecified medical emergency, where she later died
Ms Halpin’s workplace described her as ‘caring, funny, clever and always smiling’
It described the ‘wonderful’ Ms Halpin as ‘caring, funny, clever and always smiling’, as well as being a ‘treasured’ ‘member of our extended family’.
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It added: ‘Lucy was exceptionally good at looking after our customers, many of whom will miss her lots.
‘Our thoughts are very much with Lucy’s family and friends.
‘Lots of her closest friends have visited The Breeze this last week and their pain and sorrow is clear to see. Lucy was like a glue between them, a magical bond.’
In a statement immediately following Ms Halpin’s death, the event’s organisers said: ‘Everyone at Tonnau Festival is deeply saddened to confirm that a festival attendee tragically passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning following a severe medical emergency.
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‘Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the attendee’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.
‘From the moment the attendee became unwell, our on-site welfare teams, security, and emergency medical staff responded immediately.
‘Paramedics and welfare personnel did everything they could to provide emergency care, but unfortunately they later died in hospital.
‘The safety and well-being of our audience is always our highest priority. Following this tragedy, and to allow emergency services and local authorities to conduct their necessary work, we made the decision to close the remainder of the festival and have asked people to vacate the site when it is safe for them to do so.’
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They added the festival was cooperating ‘fully’ with the police investigation and added: ‘Our thoughts and hearts are with the family.’
North Wales Police said emergency services arrived at the festival early on Saturday morning ‘following reports of a medical emergency’.
‘Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, sadly, the 18-year-old woman later died in hospital.
‘The death is being treated as unexpected whilst investigations are ongoing and the coroner has been informed.’
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Detective Inspector Iolo Edwards said: ‘Our thoughts remain with the woman’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.
‘We urge members of the public not to speculate on the circumstances of the death, and anybody with information that could assist our enquiries should contact us via our website or by calling 101.’
Here’s what the stars have in store for your day (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
With the Moon in Scoprio and Jupiter gaining a larger cosmic prescence, confidence and purpose are on the rise. Be bold today.
Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces, something cathartic or validatingis just over the horizon. Stay consistent and you will be rewarded.
Allow the funky vibe of this celestial placement to add some fun to your daily routine. Don’t be afraid of straying outside of the box.
Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Tuesday July 21, 2026.
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Aries
March 21 to April 20
Your speed of thought and clarity of expression can be exceptional today, as long as there are no lingering personal issues clouding the celestial airwaves. For the first time in many years, as Jupiter amplifies your confidence to express yourself creatively, Uranus adds an extra slice of electric energy to amp up the vibe furthermore. Some group politics may, though, lurk.
The more dextrous you can be about how you use your home, its space, or your personal resources, the more you’ll feel enriched. This can be about clever shuffling of money, but more likely to be how you utilise whatever you currently have and bring a fresh and imaginative approach to this. This could also be looking at close relationships in a different way.
No one can ever accuse you of being one-dimensional. Even in the space of a day, you flex into many different topics, conversations, and ideas, with rapid élan. However, this talent for quick thinking and fast pivots can go up several gears today, so don’t underestimate just how much impact you can have on the people you meet. Someone can find you inspirational!
Many of us have base values that come from our early lives and the influence of the caregivers we had. And these can be enduring, as well as reassuring. At some times, life or the sky above may just nudge us to consider whether a refresh might be valuable, and today can be one of those times, especially if an old hurt can be rooted out and released.
The expansive Jupiter has been gaining influence in your sign for the last three weeks and has been forging a series of influences with other planets. Today, however, it perfects the standout one so far, as a sparkling, radiant, and quite brilliant link to the progressive Uranus gives you a wonderful platform for personal expansion or to build new contacts or friendships.
You might be reviewing your life role just now, but however much you scan the possibilities available, the one thing you should stay aware of is the skills, experiences, and knowledge you’ve gained over many moons. Granted, if you used some of these now, they might require adaptation but do value the journey you have had so far; it can shape your future route.
Cosmic messages for Cosmic messages for Virgo today
Libra
September 24 to October 23
We can all get caught up in life’s daily routines and demands. However, the planets are conspiring in a truly positive way for you now pushing you to pursue a big idea, expansive hope, or a reset in your approach. Your default can be to carefully weigh possibilities up but today is a time to listen to your intuition and let that guide you boldly forward, Libra.
The Moon in your sign today briefly angles to your modern ruler, Pluto, and this can create some intensity. You could feel strongly about something and feel caught up in this. If you step away from the immediate issue, other planetary action is seeking your attention, and if you can connect to it, it can see you dazzle someone influential with a brilliant, perhaps lucrative, idea.
Your dynamic ruler Jupiter is tearing things up in a potentially exciting way, in fellow fire sign Leo, for the next year. Today he links to the planet of innovation, Uranus, in a fabulous way, that could see you encounter someone new with exciting fresh ideas, or you can forge a new partnership that is bright-minded and progressive. Today is unlikely to be is dull!
You are one of the zodiac’s shrewdest signs, but sometimes that means your cautious instincts can see you wary of new approaches, knowing, as you do, that the tried and tested works for the very reason it has done so for so long. Today be open to new approaches. For in time, the best of these can endure and become well established. A gem awaits being unearthed.
Your co-ruler, Uranus, is loving life in his new home in Gemini, enjoying great affinity with the sign’s fleet-footed ruler, Mercury. A palpable sense of excitement can be building up in many parts of your life, but especially where you can combine your love of the quirky and new with warmth and charisma. Today, this dazzling vibe can link you to someone special.
You may have possessions that are like a timeline of your life story, and that you have great affection for. However, the word that defines your day Pisces, is space. That can apply to creating more space in your abode, with a selective declutter of these or creating space by letting go of some old hurts or sadness that may be lingering. This may prove cathartic.
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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Prime Minister Andy Burham’s Cabinet appointments: (top row, left to right) Chancellor John Healey, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Education Secretary Lucy Powell, Chief Whip Anneliese Midgley and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, (second row, left to right) Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Louise Haigh, Health Secretary Yvette Cooper, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle, Justice Secretary Alex Norris and Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh (UK Parliament/PA)
Aldi has said it is continuing to work with North Yorkshire Council on the creation of a new £7 million supermarket in Eastfield, Scarborough.
Despite an initial setback regarding demolition proposals at the site, the company said the “demolition works are expected to be completed in July, helping to make the site safe and secure”.
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Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), they added: “We continue to work closely with North Yorkshire Council as it considers Aldi’s planning application for a new store at the former Driving Test Centre in Eastfield.
“The site has been cleared in advance to help facilitate the timely delivery of the development should planning permission be granted.”
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In January, North Yorkshire Council rejected Aldi’s prior notification for the demolition of two buildings as part of its scheme to build a supermarket at Cayton Low Road.
The multinational supermarket chain, now one of the UK’s “big four”, said it was “disappointed” but was still going ahead with the proposal.
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However, in March, planning officers said that “prior approval of the method of demolition and any proposed restoration of the site is not required” and that the demolition “must be carried out within five years from the date when the application was submitted”.
Aldi Eastfield Proposed Site.
The spokesperson for Aldi added: “We look forward to continuing to engage with the planning process and supporting the council towards determination of the application in the coming months.”
Officers discovering several more illegal snares in the area in Musselburgh, including one containing a rabbit.
A “much-loved” family cat has died after becoming caught in an illegal snare trap in a woodland.
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The pet was found entangled in the deadly device on a footpath near Musselburgh leading into Whitecraig from Wallyford on the evening of Sunday, July 12.
Police attended the scene and shockingly discovered several more snares, including one which had caught and killed a rabbit.
All of the traps were seized by officers for further investigation.
Police Scotland is now appealing for information from anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the Whitecraig area in the days before the cat’s death.
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Constable Whitby, Wildlife Crime Coordinator for the Lothians and Scottish Borders, said the incident highlighted the dangers posed by illegal snares.
They said: “Snares have been illegal in Scotland since 2024, and they were banned for this very reason.
“A much-loved family pet has sadly died due to someone operating these illegal devices.
“If anyone has any information in relation to this incident or saw anyone acting suspicious in the Whitecraig area in the last week, please contact officers on 101, quoting incident number 3158 of 12 July, 2026.
“In addition, if you have any information or concerns regarding wildlife crime in the area, please get in touch.”
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Police are urging anyone with information to come forward as enquiries into the incident continue.
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An everyday kitchen staple could transform your homemade jacket spuds, helping create a soft-to-the-touch texture without the extra effort
A perfectly cooked jacket potato should have a crispy skin and a light, fluffy centre. Achieving this is surprisingly easy, with culinary experts backing one inexpensive kitchen ingredient to get the job done.
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While many home cooks simply rub their potatoes with a concoction of oil and salt before baking, a number of chefs recommend adding baking soda to the preparation process instead. They say the ingredient can help break down the surface of the spud, creating that softer, fluffier texture once baked.
According to food science writer J. Kenji López-Alt, baking soda raises the pH level of the water when potatoes are parboiled, causing the outer layer to break down more quickly. Writing for Serious Eats, he explains this creates a starchy coating that encourages a crisp exterior while helping the inside become lighter and fluffier.
How to use baking soda with jacket potatoes
Serious Eats recommends to add around half a teaspoon of baking soda to a pan of salted water before briefly parboiling whole potatoes for around 10 minutes. After draining, allow the potatoes to steam dry before rubbing them with a little oil and seasoning, then roast until the skins are crisp and the centres are tender.
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The Idaho Potato Commission also recommends allowing potatoes to dry thoroughly before roasting, saying excess moisture can prevent the skins from becoming crisp. It advises baking potatoes directly on the oven rack where possible to allow hot air to circulate evenly around them.
According to BBC Good Food, choosing a floury potato variety such as Maris Piper, King Edward or Russet also makes a noticeable difference. These varieties naturally contain more starch and less moisture than waxy potatoes, producing a softer, fluffier centre when cooked.
Food experts also advise avoiding wrapping jacket potatoes in foil during cooking. BBC Good Food says that foil traps steam around the potato, softening the skin rather than allowing it to crisp up in the oven.
The Idaho Potato Commission recommends baking potatoes at a high temperature, typically around 200C to 220C, until they are tender all the way through. Cooking times will vary depending on size, but most medium potatoes take around an hour.
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Although baking soda is commonly used by chefs when preparing roast potatoes, food experts say the same principle can help improve jacket potatoes by encouraging a fluffier interior. Combined with choosing the right potato variety and baking at a high temperature, it could help elevate a simple midweek meal.
The fan, whose name is Troy Grevelding, alleges that he was watching the performance along with his wife, brother and 8-year-old niece when an unidentified concertgoer behind them exposed himself before urinating freely, splashing the family.
Grevelding says the man was ejected by concert security, but that Maryland State Police said they couldn’t arrest the man as they hadn’t witnessed the incident.
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In a video circulating on social media, Grevelding can be heard in conversation with officers.
A Morgan Wallen fan has alleged a fellow concertgoer peed on his family (Getty)
“There’s nothing we can do about a guy physically pulling out his dick and pissing on me right now? In front of an 8-year-old girl?” asks Grevelding.
The Maryland officer responds to say: “We cannot take him into custody. We’re going to give you his information, and you can be referred to the commissioner.”
Grevelding then addresses the camera and says: “I’m going to make it known that I had a gentleman whip his dick out at a Morgan Wallen concert, piss on me, my brother and my niece, and the Maryland State Police can do nothing about it. Not a thing.”
In a statement to TMZ, MDTA Police said that they are “aware of this incident and the video that is on social media. There is an active and open criminal investigation into this matter.”
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Wallen’s performance in Baltimore was part of his ongoing “Still The Problem” tour, which continues in Ann Arbor, Michigan this week before concluding in Philadelphia at the start of August.
Last month, Wallen cancelled one of his tour dates in Pittsburgh due to bad weather. Backlash immediately ensued as fans complained that canceling the show was unnecessary because the predicted thunderstorms were not near the concert venue, and the bad weather ended hours before the show was scheduled to begin.
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The country star claimed that after speaking with “local officials,” he had “no choice” but to call off the show.
However, Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor later denied that any conversation with city officials took place and said that Wallen had “no contact” before making his decision.
Larne boss Gary Haveron is relishing the opportunity to pit his underdogs against the 1991 European Cup winners
The stars have aligned for Larne as the Irish League champions prepare for a glamour tie at Inver Park on Tuesday evening.
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Red Star Belgrade are in town for the first leg of their Champions League qualifier and Larne boss Gary Haveron is relishing the opportunity to pit his underdogs against the 1991 European Cup winners.
With Champions League winner Dejan Stankovic in the dugout and Austrian striker Marko Arnautovic – fresh from scoring twice at the World Cup – leading the line, the visitors are huge favourites to progress.
Haveron, however, is embracing the challenge of facing a club who have won the last nine Serbian top-flight titles, insisting it is the sort of occasion Larne should relish.
He said: “It is simply one of those games where you have to try and enjoy the occasion.
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“To host such a big, prestigious club like Red Star is a special occasion for the club and the town of Larne itself.
“I’ve always said that if you can’t draw a competitive tie, then you want a glamorous one and we’ve certainly got that with Red Star.
“I’m an Irish League fan and when you look at some of the historical games in Europe, Glentoran have faced the likes of Benfica and Juventus, Linfield have taken on Celtic and Copenhagen, then you look at Crusaders, who have met Fulham and Wolves recently.
“So that’s what you’re hoping for if you want a glamour tie.
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“As a club, you want to test yourself against the best and Red Star are certainly a powerhouse domestically and a big name around Europe.”
Haveron knows eliminating Red Star over two legs is a huge ask, but Larne’s 3-1 aggregate victory over Tre Fiori of San Marino has guaranteed them an extended spell in Europe.
Defeat against the Serbian champions would send them into the third qualifying round of the Europa League, with a Conference League play-off awaiting if they are eliminated again.
The Inver boss said: “We aren’t naive. We know our level and we are realistic about our chances over the two legs, but we want to give a good account of ourselves.
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“When you get to this stage, you know the quality levels of the teams are going to be good.
“We’ll pay them respect, but we’ll try to impose ourselves on the game and see what we can do.
“We’re maybe not shoulder to shoulder with them, but while we’re on the pitch we’ll try our best to get a result.
“Our aggregate win against Tre Fiori has guaranteed another six games in Europe, which is amazing for the club and our fans.”
“If they’re hungry, they’ll eat. I don’t force them to because I think that can instil pressure,” says Doone, from London.
She says her daughter Cora, two, used to be the “best eater” but seeing others at nursery turn their noses up at certain foods made her do the same.
“I’m trying not to make a big deal of it. Even though they don’t eat it, I always put the broccoli on the plate so that they’re seeing it.”
Emma suggests giving lots of options, so that kids think they are getting to choose. In Alfred’s lunchbox, she always adds two or three healthy options.
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And she says to praise them when they take an interest. “If they say one day they want carrots, run and get the carrots and give big praise when they eat them,” Emma says.
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