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☆ Well, this is weird: Photos show Tesla's Cybertruck is driving around disguised as a Ford F-150
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Tesla appears to be driving a Cybertruck disguised as an F-150, according to unverified photos. Elon Musk's biographer said Musk was inspired to build Cybertruck because Ford trucks are "boring." New images of Tesla's Cybertruck appear to show the carmaker has disguised one of its models as Ford's F-150 pickup truck. Up until recently, Ford has been one of few automakers to produce an EV pickup truck. Last year, Ford said it delivered over 13,000 electric F-150 trucks as the company worked to ramp up production and fulfill about 200,000 reservations.

Persons: Tesla, Sandy Munro, Elon Musk's, Musk, Munro, Brian Sullivan, Buddy, Sullivan, Dodge, Insider's Tim Levin, Elon Musk, Musk's, Walter Isaacson, CNBC's, Jim Farley, CNBC's Jim Cramer, Ford, Rivian Organizations: Auto, Ford, YouTube, YouTube CNBC, EV Locations: Palo Alto, Silicon

☆ I got an early look at Volvo's $34,950 electric SUV and saw why it's one of the best Tesla rivals yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I got an early look at Volvo's $35,000 electric SUV coming in 2024. The little EX30 packs an estimated 275 miles of range and a stylish, minimalist interior. It's one of the most exciting Tesla rivals yet. The little SUV serves up stylish looks, enough range for most people, and a minimalist interior that improves upon the sort of uncluttered, tech-forward design that Tesla pioneered. All that, plus the electric SUV's bargain-bin starting price, makes the EX30 one of the most exciting Tesla rivals coming down the pike.

Persons: Elon Musk's Tesla, Tesla Organizations: Volvo

☆ Car companies like Honda, BMW, and Hyundai are banding together to build an EV-charging network bigger than Tesla's Supercharger empire
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Seven automakers plan to build an electric-vehicle charging network to take on Tesla. Seven car companies are making their own charging network to take on Elon Musk's Tesla Superchargers. Tesla, by comparison, has spent over a decade building out a vast network of charging stations specifically for its owners. And that network, which historically only allowed Tesla owners to plug in, has been a huge driver of Tesla sales. It sounds like the planned charging network aims to mimic some of the things Tesla got right, and add some extra conveniences.

Persons: Tesla, Elon Musk's Tesla Organizations: Tesla, Elon, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Benz, Fiat, Dodge, EV, Volkswagen, CCS Locations: North America, America, North, Superchargers

☆ Chinese Tesla rival XPeng just got a $700 million investment from Volkswagen. Take a look at its quick-charging SUV with more range than the Model Y.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Chinese auto startup XPeng unveiled its fifth electric model in April at the Shanghai auto show — and it's shaping up to be a pain for Tesla and Elon Musk. The XPeng G6 electric SUV. XPengOn Wednesday, it got some extra dough to make its Tesla-topping dreams come true as Volkswagen announced plans to invest $700 million into its partnership with Xpeng, eventually holding just under 5% of the company.

Persons: Tesla, Elon Musk Organizations: Volkswagen, Xpeng Locations: Shanghai

Lawmakers, including Yariv Levin, the Justice Minister, and Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Minister of National Security, at the Knesset in Jerusalem after the vote on Monday. Israel’s nationalist right celebrated a hard-won victory Monday after seven months of struggling to advance the contentious plan to weaken Israel’s judiciary in the face of mounting opposition. Many on Israel’s right say Israel’s Supreme Court is staffed by activist judges who have tied the hands of elected leaders. Right-wing voters commonly say they “vote for the right and get the left” and blame the courts for striking down popular policies. A weakened court would allow Mr. Ben-Gvir to fulfill such campaign promises, he said.

Persons: Yariv Levin, Itamar Ben, Gvir, ”, —, Benjamin Netanyahu —, Rafi Sharbatov, Ben, Arnon Segal, Segal, “, we’ve, Bezalel Smotrich, God’s, Mr, Smotrich, Smotrich’s, Dan Odenheimer, Odenheimer, “ It’s Organizations: of National Security, West Bank, Air Force, West Locations: Jerusalem, Israel’s, Israel, West Bank, Efrat

☆ Toyota's China venture dismisses some factory workers as sales fall - workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The joint venture between Toyota and China's state-owned Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) (601238.SS) laid off the workers over the weekend and offered them compensation, said the workers, who declined to be named for privacy. The workers affected were hired by labor service companies and dispatched to work at the factory of GAC Toyota in the southern city of Guangzhou. The GAC Toyota factory has an annual output capacity of 1 million vehicles and employs around 19,000 people, according to its website. Toyota has been counting on its electric vehicle (EV) models to revive sales in China, which fell 9% in the first six months. The company joined a price war started by Tesla in January and slashed the starting price for its bZ4X EV by 15% in February.

Persons: Levin, bZ4X, Toyota's, Tesla, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Mark Potter Organizations: Toyota Motor Corp, Reuters, Toyota, Guangzhou Automobile Group, GAC Toyota, GAC, Mitsubishi, China Association of Automobile Association, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China, Guangzhou

☆ Benjamin Netanyahu, a hawk in the eye of the storm
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/4] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sits between Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant as lawmakers gather at the Knesset plenum to vote on a bill that would limit some Supreme Court power, in Jerusalem July 24, 2023. POLARIZINGPerhaps the most polarizing of Israel's leaders, but a supreme pragmatist, Netanyahu had always been seen as a recognizable conservative - pro-business and tough on security. A stocky, imposing figure, his poise and flawless American English have underlined his outsized role on the world stage. That meant closing ranks with religious and ultra-nationalist parties untroubled about upsetting Israel's allies with their openly expansionist agenda. A lifelong security hardliner and a scourge of liberal opinion, Netanyahu described himself in his autobiography - "Bibi My Story" - as "conservative but decidedly not extreme".

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Yariv Levin, Yoav Gallant, Amir Cohen JERUSALEM, Netanyahu, Herzi Halevi, pragmatist, Israel's, Bibi, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Joe Biden, James Mackenzie, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Special Forces, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israel

☆ Israel parliament starts vote on limiting supreme court power
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Nonetheless, commanding a comfortable majority in parliament, Netanyahu's coalition looked set to win the vote on the bill that limits the Supreme Court's powers to overrule decisions made by governments and ministers. 'DISASTER'[1/10]Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows Justice Minister Yariv Levin his phone as lawmakers gather at the Knesset plenum to vote on a bill that would limit some Supreme Court power, in Jerusalem July 24, 2023. "If you vote for this bill you will weaken the state of Israel, the people of Israel and the Israel Defence Forces." Justice Minister Yariv Levin who has been driving the changes defended the bill, which would amend a law enabling the Supreme Court to void decisions it deems "unreasonable". Netanyahu's coalition has been determined to push back against what it describes as overreach by a Supreme Court that it says has become too politically interventionist.

Persons: gov't, Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Isaac Herzog, Yair Lapid, Yariv Levin, Amir Cohen, We're, Lapid, Levin, Dan Williams, Steven Scheer, Miral Fahmy, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Monday, Police, Netanyahu's, REUTERS, Israel Defence Forces, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Washington, JERUSALEM, Jerusalem, Israel

☆ It looks like Tesla's Cybertruck is missing 1 thing Ford nailed in its electric truck: A big frunk
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

It looks like frunk in the Ford F-150 Lightning, one of the Cybertruck's closest rivals, is way bigger. The Ford F-150 Lightning looks like it has one big edge over Tesla's upcoming Cybertruck. Judging by an unverified photo posted online and first spotted by the EV news website Electrek, the Cybertruck's frunk looks rather tiny, which may disappoint potential buyers. When I drove the F-150 Lighting last year, the truck's frunk easily handled multiple backpacks and duffels that I didn't want sliding around in the bed. Tesla's Texas factory just built its first Cybertruck, and deliveries are set to begin later this year — two years behind schedule.

Persons: Tesla, Ford, Hummer Organizations: Ford, Morning, EV, Rivian's, Ram, Silverado Locations: Tesla's Texas

The market for e-bike delivery has grown dramatically in the past few years. Here's how startups, delivery companies, and city governments are improving safety. The explosion of delivery startups and e-bikes in the past few years has led to a new type of boom: increasing battery fires. "E-bike batteries are made up of a bunch of small batteries stacked together," Charlie Welch, ZapBatt's cofounder and CEO, said. JOCOOther startups, such as Popwheels, are engineering safe batteries that are compatible with the e-bikes delivery drivers already own.

Persons: —, Uber, Ravindra Kempaiah, Michael Pecht, Brian O'Connor, O'Connor, Charlie Welch, ZapBatt's, Welch, Jonathan Cohen, Grubhub, Jonathan A, Cohen, David Hammer, Hammer, Baruch Herzfeld, they've, We've Organizations: Bloomberg, Zen Electronics, University of Maryland, Fire Protection Association, UL Solutions, US Consumer Product Safety Commission, UL Locations: New York City, New York, Halifax , Nova Scotia, China, Carlsbad , California, Brooklyn , New York

☆ Canada releases framework to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Nia Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

July 24 (Reuters) - Canada on Monday released a framework for eliminating inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, making it the first G20 country to deliver on a 2009 commitment to rationalise and phase out government support for the sector. Eliminating fossil fuel subsidies is part of a deal signed between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberal and the New Democratic Party (NDP), formalising NDP support. Climate campaigners Environmental Defence also criticised the framework for not applying to public financing of fossil fuel projects through government-owned crown corporations, such the loan guarantees for the C$30.9 billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. Ottawa plans to release a framework to phase out public financing of fossil fuel projects within the next year. "The Government of Canada must quickly take the final step and end all fossil financing – without any loopholes for fossil gas, fossil hydrogen or CCS," Environmental Defence program manager Julia Levin said in a statement.

Persons: Steven Guilbeault, Justin Trudeau's, Laurel Collins, Collins, Laura Cameron, Julia Levin, Nia Williams, Jonathan Oatis, Grant McCool Organizations: Monday, Liberal, New Democratic Party, NDP, International Institute of Sustainable Development, Trade, Pathways Alliance, CCS, Environmental Defence, Thomson Locations: Canada, Ottawa, Alberta, British Columbia

☆ Toyota's China joint venture dismisses about 1000 workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI/TOKYO, July 24 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor's (7203.T) joint venture (JV) in China said on Monday that it has terminated early the contracts of about 1,000 dispatch workers, in a sign of pressure on automakers from a price war in the world's largest auto market. Toyota's JV in China, Guangzhou Toyota Motor Co, said in a statement to Reuters that it had prematurely terminated contracts for about 1,000 workers with labour services companies in light of recent production levels. The GAC Toyota factory has an annual output capacity of 1 million vehicles and employs around 19,000 people, according to its website. The production of Mitsubishi's new Outlander model remained suspended, Kato added, describing the conditions faced by the company in China as "severe". The company joined a price war started by Tesla in January and slashed the starting price for its bZ4X EV by 15% in February.

Persons: Levin, bZ4X, Toyota's, Takao Kato, Kato, Tesla, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Daniel Leussink, Mark Potter, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Toyota, JV, Guangzhou Automobile Group, Reuters, Toyota's JV, Guangzhou Toyota Motor, GAC Toyota, Mitsubishi Motors, GAC, China Association of Automobile Association, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, TOKYO, China, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Tokyo

☆ Israeli parliament approves key part of Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul as opposition exits chamber
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Demonstrators gather with national flags outside the Israeli parliament (Knesset) in Jerusalem on July 23, 2023. JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli lawmakers on Monday approved a key portion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's divisive plan to reshape the country's justice system despite massive protests that have exposed unprecedented fissures in Israeli society. The vote came after a stormy session in which opposition lawmakers chanted "shame" and then stormed out of the chamber. In Monday's vote, lawmakers approved a measure that prevents judges from striking down government decisions on the basis that they are "unreasonable." Ahead of Monday's vote, opposition leader Yair Lapid had declared: "We are headed for disaster."

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, Netanyahu —, —, Yariv Levin, Netanyahu's, Yair Lapid Organizations: Movement for Quality Government Locations: Jerusalem, JERUSALEM, United States

☆ White House blasts Israel for passing sweeping judicial changes with 'the slimmest possible majority'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The White House expressed concern after Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition jammed through judicial reforms. Biden has made it repeatedly clear that he wants Israel to reach a consensus on an issue that has led to an uproar. "It is unfortunate that the vote today took place with the slimmest possible majority," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. "As a lifelong friend of Israel, President Biden has publicly and privately expressed his views that major changes in a democracy to be enduring must have as broad a consensus as possible," she said in the statement. The tensions between Biden and Netanyahu come at a time when progressive lawmakers are increasingly skeptical over Israel's rightward push.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Biden, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jean, Israel, nudging Netanyahu, Thomas Friedman, Netanyahu's, Yariv Levin, Israel's, Isaac Herzog's Organizations: Service, Israel, New York Times, The Times, Democratic Locations: Israel, Wall, Silicon, Israel's

The prime minister will be sedated during the surgery. “During the procedure, the Minister of Justice and Deputy Prime Minister Yariv Levin will take his place,” the statement added. Netanyahu, 73, earlier announced on Twitter he would be fitted with the device, which sends electrical pulses to the heart. “The doctors tell me that I will be free tomorrow afternoon already,” said the prime minister. Doctors said the prime minister was fitted with a heart monitor during his stay.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Yariv Levin, Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, ”, “, Doctors Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Tel Hashomer Hospital, Justice, Twitter Locations: Israel

☆ Israel's Netanyahu says he will be fitted with pacemaker overnight
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JERUSALEM, July 23 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be fitted with a pacemaker overnight between Saturday and Sunday, he said in a video statement released by his office. That device beeped this evening and said I must receive a pacemaker and that I must do this already tonight," Netanyahu said in the video. Critics fear the judicial changes aim to curb court independence by Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption which he denies. Washington has urged Netanyahu to seek broad agreements over any judicial reforms. In his video, Netanyahu suggested that last minute agreements could be reached.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Yariv Levin, Maayan Lubell, Paul Simao, Richard Chang Organizations: Sheba Medical, Thomson Locations: Tel HaShomer, holidaying, Galilee, Jerusalem, United States, Washington, Israel, Yom Kippur

☆ I spent a day with Rolls-Royce's newest car and saw why it's worth every penny of its $420,000 price tag
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I spent a day with the Rolls-Royce Spectre and saw what a $420,000 car interior looks and feels like. Morning Brew Insider recommends waking up with, a daily newsletter. Whenever I mention that the electric Rolls-Royce I recently tested costs $420,000 and up, people can't help but burst out laughing in disbelief. It's mind-boggling that a car — with four wheels, a steering wheel, some seats — can cost about as much as the median US home. But the Rolls-Royce Spectre, the British brand's first electric vehicle, is a very special car.

Persons: Royce Locations: British

☆ Israel's Netanyahu taken to hospital for a heart procedure and placed under sedation as hundreds of thousands march in protest of his plans to overhaul the judiciary
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Sunday he was going to the hospital for an emergency procedure to receive a pacemaker, but vowed to press ahead with his controversial judicial overhaul plan. Netanyahu's office made the announcement as Israel faces widespread street protests over Netanyahu's contentious judicial overhaul plan. Levin is the mastermind of the overhaul plan. The signatories included Ehud Barak, a former Israeli prime minister, and Moshe Yaalon, a former army chief and defense minister. In a speech Thursday, Netanyahu doubled down on the overhaul and dismissed as absurd the accusations that the plan would destroy Israel's democratic foundations.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Yariv Levin, Levin, throngs, Monday's, Joe Biden, Ehud Barak, Moshe Yaalon, Israel Katz, Yoav Gallant Organizations: Israeli, National Institutes of Health, Likud, Channel, West Bank Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Jerusalem, Israel's, Beersheba, Haifa, Netanya

☆ Car companies think fake vroom vroom sounds will make you want an electric car
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some car companies think that fake engine noises will get drivers to consider going electric. Hyundai and Dodge have both unveiled EVs that blast fake exhaust noises outside the car. Electric cars are inherently quiet. Last year, the brand showed off an electric concept car with a multi-speed transmission and a phony exhaust sound that mimics a supercharged V8 engine. "Automakers are responding to some enthusiasts' worries that electric cars have no soul," Ed Kim, president and chief analyst at AutoPacific, an automotive research and consulting firm, told Insider.

Persons: Bill Pugliano, Stringer, Dodge, EVs, Ed Kim Organizations: Hyundai, Dodge, Toyota, Wall Street, EV

☆ Elon Musk wants to give amputees robotic limbs powered by chips implanted in their brains
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk floated an idea for a new line of Tesla products on Wednesday: robotic limbs. While updating investors on Tesla's second-quarter performance on Wednesday, the billionaire entrepreneur floated an idea for a new line of Tesla products: robotic limbs. The Tesla Bot would be 5-foot-8, walk 5 miles-per-hour, be powered by AI and cameras, and be able to relieve humans of the drudgery of factory work and other manual labor, Musk said. A Tesla Bot rendering. As for Optimus, Musk said on Wednesday that he's confident that the robots will be doing "something useful" in Tesla factories come next year.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, Musk, Neuralink, he's Organizations: SpaceX, Twitter, Reuters, Optimus, Tesla

☆ Tesla is finally addressing one of its customers' biggest gripes — but only for 3 months
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk announced that Tesla owners can transfer their Full Self-Driving package to a new Tesla for a limited time. Elon Musk has heard you, Tesla owners. Musk on Wednesday announced a solution to one of his customers' biggest gripes — but the deal won't last long. For a limited time, he said, Tesla owners will be able to transfer their expensive Full Self-Driving package to a new Tesla. Tesla charges $15,000 for a suite of driver-assistance features it calls Full Self-Driving (FSD).

Persons: Tesla, Elon Musk, Musk, they've, FSD Organizations: Morning, Wednesday, Beta

☆ Tesla just gave us our best look at the Cybertruck's production line
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Want to see how and where the Tesla Cybertruck is made? In Tesla's earnings report on Wednesday, it showed off some photos of the truck's production line. For years, we the public barely knew what was going on with Tesla's Cybertruck. And on Wednesday, Elon Musk's carmaker reported second-quarter earnings and showed off some photos of the futuristic truck's production line. Tesla said on Wednesday that Cybertruck production was in the "tooling" phase, meaning the company is still outfitting the production line with manufacturing equipment.

Persons: Tesla, Tesla's, Elon Musk's carmaker, Musk Organizations: Morning Locations: Texas

☆ Here are all the ways Judge Aileen Cannon can tip the scales in Trump's favor
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The judge overseeing the DOJ's case against Trump has the power to tip the scales in Trump's favor. In this case, Cannon will also determine the schedule of the trial itself. Cannon could have enormous influence over what Trump's jury will look likeThe former president also lucked out with the location of the trial. Jury selection is one of the biggest ways in which Cannon can influence the case in Trump's favor. If Cannon grants Trump's request for a trial date after the 2024 general election, that order wouldn't be immediately appealable.

Persons: Aileen Cannon, Donald Trump, Cannon, Duncan Levin, Jack Smith's, Trump, Levin, Rahmani, Ken White, who's, Brown, Osborn, White, wouldn't Organizations: Trump, Service, Floridian, Department, West, Trial Locations: Wall, Silicon, Manhattan, Fort Pierce , Florida

☆ Tesla vs. Lucid: What to know about each company's electric vehicles before you buy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A front view of the Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance. The Tesla Model S. TeslaOver the years, Tesla has developed a lineup of cars with a price range spanning from reasonably attainable (think the $40,000 Model 3 sedan) to downright expensive (like the six-figure Model S Plaid). The $180,000 Air Grand Touring Performance that I tested recently was one of the most impressive vehicles I've ever driven. The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance costs $180,00. An aerial view of the Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance.

Persons: Elon Musk's, Tim Levin, Tesla, Peter Rawlinson, Lucid Organizations: Morning, Lucid Motors, Elon Musk's carmaker, Motors, Air, Tesla Locations: California, Arizona

☆ I dropped out of college and now make up to $5,000 a month as a 'meme lord'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jason Levin dropped out of college and turned his content creator side-hustle into a full-time job. He now makes between $2,000 and $5,000 a month by making memes and copywriting for startups and VCs. The growth came mostly from writing Twitter threads on marketing case studies and by making funny memes. While I made about $75 in crypto from the first few memes, I'm now earning between $2,000 and $5,000 a month from between three to five clients. I'm proud to say I'm a "meme lord" now, getting paid to make memes and silly content for companies.

Persons: Jason Levin, weren't, that's, I've, it's, I'm Organizations: Service, Rutgers University, Twitter, Union Square Ventures Locations: Wall, Silicon, New Jersey

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