examples of current issues globally

8/12/2019 Examples of Current Issues Globally

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Examples of Current Issues globally:

Ongoing territorial disputes between China and the Philippines

It is a dispute over territory and sovereignty over ocean areas and the Paracels and the Spratlys - two

island chains claimed in whole or in part by a number of countries. Alongside the fully fledged islands,

there are dozens of uninhabited rocky outcrops, atolls, sandbanks and reefs, such as the Scarborough

Shoal.

China claims by far the largest portion of territory - an area defined by the "nine-dash line" which stretches hundreds of miles south and east from its mostsoutherly province of Hainan. Beijing says its right to the area comes from 2,000years of history where the Paracel and Spratly island chains were regarded asintegral parts of the Chinese nation.

In 1947 China issued a map detailing its claims. It showed the two island groupsfalling entirely within its territory. Those claims are mirrored by Taiwan, as theRepublic of China.

Vietnam hotly disputes China's historical account, saying China had neverclaimed sovereignty over the islands before the 1940s. Vietnam says it hasactively ruled over both the Paracels and the Spratlys since the 17th Century -and has the documents to prove it.

The other major claimant in the area is the Philippines, which invokes its

geographical proximity to the Spratly Islands as the main basis of its claim forpart of the grouping.

Both the Philippines and China lay claim to the Scarborough Shoal (known asHuangyan Island in China) - a little more than 100 miles (160km) from thePhilippines and 500 miles from China.

Malaysia and Brunei also lay claim to territory in the South China Sea that theysay falls within their economic exclusion zones, as defined by UNCLOS. Bruneidoes not claim any of the disputed islands, but Malaysia claims a small number

of islands in the Spratlys.

Why are so many countries involved?

The Paracels and the Spratlys may have reserves of natural resources aroundthem. There has been little detailed exploration of the area, so estimates arelargely extrapolated from the mineral wealth of neighbouring areas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1947_Nanhai_Zhudao.png






The sea is also a major shipping route and home to fishing grounds that supplythe livelihoods of people across the region.

How much trouble does the dispute cause?

The most serious trouble in recent decades has flared between Vietnam and

China. The Chinese seized the Paracels from Vietnam in 1974, killing more than70 Vietnamese troops. In 1988 the two sides clashed in the Spratlys, whenVietnam again came off worse, losing about 60 sailors.

The Philippines has also been involved in a number of minor skirmishes withChinese, Vietnamese and Malaysian forces.

The most recent upsurge in tension has coincided with more muscular posturingfrom China.

The Philippines has accused China of building up its military presence in theSpratlys. In early 2012, the two countries engaged in a lengthy maritime stand-off, accusing each other of intrusions in the Scarborough Shoal.

In July 2012 China formally created Sansha city, an administrative body with itsheadquarters in the Paracels which it says oversees Chinese territory in theSouth China Sea - including the Paracels and the Spratlys. Both Vietnam and thePhilippines protested against this move.

Unverified claims that the Chinese navy deliberately sabotaged two Vietnameseexploration operations in late 2012 led to large anti-China protests on the

streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam was also one of a number of nations that refused to stamp new editionsof Chinese passports which include a map showing disputed areas of the SouthChina Sea as Chinese territory.

In January 2013, Manila said it was taking China to a UN tribunal under theauspices of the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea, to challenge its claims inthe South China Sea.

In May 2014, the introduction by China of a drilling rig into waters near theParacel Islands led to multiple collisions between Vietnamese and China ships.

Over the years, China has tended to favour bilateral arrangements negotiatedbehind closed doors - but other countries want international mediation.

Even if the Philippines is successful in its attempts to pursue China at a UNtribunal, however, China would not be obliged to abide by the ruling.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13664408






Recent attempts by regional grouping Asean to discuss new ideas for resolvingthe dispute appear to have left the bloc severely divided.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark – The head analyst of Norway‟s intelligence agency says a group of

people is en route from Syria “to carry out an act of terror in the West,” adding that Nor way has

been “concretely named” as the target.

Jon Fitje Hoffmann spoke in a live interview with Norwegian broadcaster TV2 on Friday but

didn‟t elaborate further. He was not immediately available for further comment.

However, Hans-Joergen Bonnichsen, former operational head of Denmark‟s intelligence

agency, told The Associated Press such information always could be disinformation because

those who discuss such plans likely want others to hear.

PST said Thursday it had information about an imminent “concrete threat” based on “reliable

information.” The threat was unspecific about what the target might be, or when or where an

attack could take place.

WATCH: Arizona‟s governor says she is ordering a review of the state‟s execution process after

it took a condemned inmate almost two hours to die Wednesday.

FLORENCE, Ariz. – The nearly two-hour execution of a convicted murderer prompted a series

of phone calls involving the governor‟s office, the prison director, lawyers and judges as the

inmate gasped for more than 90 minutes.

They discussed the brain activity and heart rate of Joseph Rudolph Wood, who was gasping

over and over as witnesses looked on. The judge was concerned that no monitoring equipment

showed whether the inmate had brain function, and they talked about whether to stop the

execution while it was so far along.

But the defence lawyers‟ pleading on the grounds that Wood could be suffer ing while strapped

to a gurney, breathing in and out and snoring, did no good.

Nearly two hours after he‟d been sedated Wednesday, Wood finally died.

A transcript of an emergency court hearing released Thursday amid debate over whether the

execution was botched reveals the behind-the-scenes drama and early questions about whether

something was going wrong.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1471977/possible-attack-against-norway-expected-within-days-officials/








READ MORE: Masking death penalty‟s violence increases suffering, Arizona execution shows

Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan read a statement Thursday outside his office

dismissing the notion the execution was botched, calling it an “erroneous conclusion” and “pure

conjecture.” He said IV lines in the inmate‟s arms were “perfectly placed” and insisted that Woodfelt no pain.

But he also said the Arizona attorney general‟s office will not seek any new death warrants while

his office completes a review of execution practices. He didn‟t take questions from reporters.

Defence lawyer Dale Baich called it a “horrifically botched execution” that should have taken 10

minutes.

U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake convened the urgent hearing at the request of one of Wood‟s

attorneys, notified by her colleagues at the execution that things were problematic.

A lawyer for the state, Jeffrey A. Zick, assured Wake that Wood was comatose and not feeling

pain.

He spoke to the Arizona Department of Corrections director on the phone and was given

assurances from medical staff at the prison that Wood was not in any pain. Zick also said the

governor‟s office was notified of the situation.

Zick said that at one point, a second dose of drugs was given, but he did not provide specifics.The participants discussed Wood‟s brain activity and heart rate.

“I am told that Mr. Wood is effectively brain dead and that this is the type of reaction that one

gets if they were taken off of life support. The brain stem is working but there‟s no brain activity,”

he said, according to the transcript.

READ MORE: Should we worry about „botched‟ executions?

The judge then asked, “Do you have the leads connected to determine his brain state?”

The lawyer said he didn‟t think so.

“Well if there are not monitors connected with him, if it‟s just a visual observation, that is very

concerning as not being adequate,” the judge said.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1471525/masking-death-penaltys-violence-increases-suffering-arizona-execution-shows/



http://globalnews.ca/news/1300613/should-we-worry-about-botched-executions/







Wood died at 3:49 p.m., and judges were notified of his death while they were still considering

whether to stop it.

Zick later informed the judge that Wood had died.

Anesthesiology experts say they‟re not surprised that the combination of drugs took so long to

kill Wood.

“This doesn‟t actually sound like a botched execution. This actually sounds like a typical

scenario if you used that drug combination,” said Karen Sibert, an anesthesiologist and

associate professor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Sibert was speaking on behalf of the

California Society of Anesthesiologists.

READ MORE: U.S. inmate dies of heart attack after botched execution

Sibert said the sedative midazolam would not completely render Wood incapacitated. If he‟d felt

pain or been conscious, he would have been able to open his eyes and move, she said. The

other drug was the painkiller hydromorphone.

“It‟s fair to say that those are drugs that would not expeditiously achieve (death),” said Daniel

Nyhan, a professor and interim director at the anesthesiology department at Johns Hopkins

medical school.

But the third execution in six months to appear to go awry rekindled the debate over the deathpenalty and handed potentially new evidence to those building a case against lethal injection as

cruel and unusual punishment.

An Ohio inmate gasped in similar fashion for nearly 30 minutes in January. An Oklahoma

inmate died of a heart attack in April, minutes after prison officials halted his execution because

the drugs weren‟t being administered properly.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said later that she was ordering a review of the state‟s execution

process, saying she‟s concerned by how long it took for the drug protocol to kill Wood.

READ MORE: Texas can continue to keep execution drug supplier secret

Family members of Wood‟s victims in a 1989 double murder said they had no problems with the

way the execution was carried out.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1300160/u-s-inmate-dies-of-heart-attack-after-botched-execution/



http://globalnews.ca/news/1383282/texas-can-continue-to-keep-execution-drug-supplier-secret/







“This man conducted a horrific murder and you guys are going, „let‟s worry about the drugs,”„

said Richard Brown, the brother-in-law of Debbie Dietz. “Why didn‟t they give him a bullet? Why

didn‟t we give him Drano?”

Arizona uses the same drugs that were used in the Ohio execution. A different drug combinationwas used in the Oklahoma case.

States have refused to reveal details such as which pharmacies are supplying lethal injection

drugs and who is administering them out of concerns that the drugmakers could be harassed.

Wood filed several appeals that were denied by the U.S. Supreme Court. Wood argued he and

the public have a right to know details about the state‟s method for lethal injections, the

qualifications of the executioner and who makes the drugs. Such demands for greater

transparency have become a legal tactic in death penalty cases.

Wood was convicted of fatally shooting Dietz, 29, and her father, Gene Dietz, 55, at their auto

repair shop in Tucson.

WATCH: Israeli forces continued to bombard the Gaza Strip overnight, striking 30 homes –

including the one in the video above –and killing a Hamas leader and two of his sons. Susan

McGinnis has the story.

LATEST UPDATES:

Israeli warplanes struck 30 houses in Gaza Strip; Security Cabinet will meet Friday to consider

cease-fire

Air Canada flight circles Tel Aviv airport after reported rocket fire

Israeli military says Israeli soldier Oron Shaul was killed in battle Sunday

Hundreds of Palestinians protest in Jerusalem; Palestinian hospital officials say 5 were shot and

killed in the West Bank

Death toll in Gaza: 828 Palestinians (according to Palestinian officials), 35 Israelis (33 of them

soldiers), one Thai worker (according to Israeli army)

Scroll down to follow the latest updates in our live blog

JERUSALEM – Israeli aircraft struck 30 houses in the Gaza Strip early Friday, killing a leader of

the militant Islamic Jihad group and two of his sons, as Israel‟s Security Cabinet was to meet

later in the day to decide whether to expand its operation or consider ideas for a cease-fire.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1473626/air-canada-flight-circles-tel-aviv-airport-after-reported-rocket-fire/





In addition, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met twice Friday in Cairo with UN chief Ban Ki-

Moon and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri to try to bring a week-long pause in the

Israel-Hamas fighting, beginning as soon as this weekend.

Kerry delayed his anticipated departure from Cairo for several hours to talk again by phone toQatari officials who are serving as a go-between with Hamas, which the U.S. considers terrorist

organization and cannot negotiate with directly.

Israeli ground troops and Hamas gunmen fought intense battles in the north and centre of the

territory, Palestinian officials said.

The Israeli military said it hit 45 sites in Gaza, including what it said was a Hamas military

command post, while Gaza militants continued to fire rockets at Israel, with one hitting an empty

house.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said Israeli soldier Oron Shaul –who Hamas claimed to have

captured on Sunday –was in fact killed in battle on that day. (An Israeli soldier in the hands of

Hamas could have been a game changer in the current round of Israel-Hamas fighting and

efforts to end it).

On the 18th day of fighting, Israel‟s Security Cabinet was to convene later Friday to consider

international cease-fire proposals, an Israeli defence official said, speaking on condition of

anonymity because the deliberations were taking place behind closed doors.

One plan calls for a five-day humanitarian truce during which Israel and Hamas would negotiate

new border arrangements for blockaded Gaza, said Hana Amireh, a senior Palestine Liberation

Organization official in the West Bank, who is involved in cease-fire efforts.

New research suggests a major oil spill in Canada‟s western Arctic would likely spread quickly

and foul oceans around Alaska and possibly as far west as Russia.

The research, funded by the World Wildlife Fund, comes as the National Energy Board prepares

to consider blowout prevention plans in two separate proposals for offshore energy drilling.

The authors considered 22 different oil-spill scenarios in the Beaufort Sea, off the northwest

coast of the Northwest Territories.

RELATED STORIES

http://globalnews.ca/news/1471503/un-school-hit-in-gaza-strip-say-palestinian-officials-as-international-ceasefire-efforts-intensify/






Room for compromise on Arctic not Ukraine, Putin tells Canada

http://globalnews.ca/news/1351762/room-for-compromise-on-arctic-not-ukraine-putin-tells-canada/








Canada-Russia relationship’s officially on ice – except in the Arctic

http://globalnews.ca/news/1269993/arctic/










WATCH: Iceberg 6 times the size of Manhattan on the move in Antarctic

READ MORE: Greenpeace, Inuit join to fight Arctic seismic testing for oil and gas

http://globalnews.ca/news/1284243/watch-iceberg-six-times-of-manhattan-on-the-move-in-antarctic/



http://globalnews.ca/news/1467020/greenpeace-inuit-join-to-fight-arctic-seismic-testing-for-oil-and-gas/









They found that in all cases there would be at least an up to 50 per cent chance that an oily slick

would spread into Alaska.

In the case of a blowout, it‟s almost certain that oil would spread across international

boundaries, with an up to a 25 per cent chance of affecting Russia.

Subsurface oil contamination from a blowout would also be highly likely to spread into Alaska.

The energy board is considering proposals from Imperial Oil and Chevron Canada for offshore

drilling in the Arctic.

Current rules require them to have a second drill rig nearby to promptly sink a pressure-relieving

well in the case of a blowout, which would make capping it much easier.

But both companies are proposing methods they say would be equally effective and muchcheaper.

The board has agreed to consider their alternatives.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Vladimir Putin had tough talk for Canada on Saturday, saying he

understands Canadian concerns about Arctic sovereignty but Canada‟s stance on Russia‟s

involvement in Ukraine is far more puzzling.

The Russian president suggested Canada‟s physical distance from Ukraine meant it had little

business meddling in the conflict,

adding that Russia acted within the scope of international law when it annexed the Crimean

peninsula in March.

“Look at where Canada is, and look at where Ukraine and Russia are,” he said in a question-

and-answer session in St. Petersburg

with senior representatives of international news agencies,including The Canadian Press

“Neither Canada nor the U.S. have the same amount of interests in Ukraine as Russia does.”

READ MORE: Close to 3,000 Ukrainians in the GTA could vote in upcoming election

Other than Ukraine itself, Canada is home to the largest population of Ukrainians in the world.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has called for a “complete reversal” of Russia‟s actions in

Crimea and has levelled sanctions against a slate of Russian officials and

institutions.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1350931/close-to-3000-ukrainians-in-the-gta-could-vote-in-upcoming-election/






Putin says he‟d be happy to meet with Harper regarding Ukraine, including in Normandy during

D-Day events next month.

“We are ready for discussion, including with the prime minister,” he said. “And I have spoken

with him various times at summits on various issues and questions. If there is such a necessityor desire now, we are ready.”

But on the eve of Ukraine‟s presidential election, Putin accused the West of paying short shrift

to Russia‟s interests in Ukraine.

READ MORE: 5 things to know about the Ukrainian election

“Where is the guarantee that, after the forceful change of power, Ukraine will not tomorrow end

up in NATO?” Putin asked.

“We hear only one answer, as if on a record: Every nation has a right det ermine on its own the

security system in which it wants to live, and that doesn‟t concern you.”

Putin has said that part of what motivated Russia to annex Crimea was to prevent NATO ships

from assembling in the strategic Black Sea peninsula.

The West hopes Sunday‟s vote could help ease the crisis in eastern Europe; the Russian leader

has promised to respect the

results.

As for Canada‟s concerns about sovereignty in the Arctic, Putin says he intends to respect

international law in the region and to

negotiate with all interested nations.

READ MORE: Canada, Russia continue to meet over Arctic

Russia, Canada, the United States, Denmark and Norway have all been trying to assert

jurisdiction over parts of the Arctic given

it‟s believed to contain up to a quarter of the Earth‟s undiscovered oil and gas.

“For a very long time, we conducted negotiations with our Norwegian partners with regard to the

distribution of the shelf in

the northern seas,” Putin said.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1350901/five-things-to-know-about-the-ukraine-election/



http://globalnews.ca/news/1232298/canada-russia-continue-to-meet-over-arctic/







“We conducted those talks over 10 years. They are always complicated questions, particularly

when they‟re connected to

hydrocarbons, but we nonetheless started these talks … and it seems to be the best path to

resolve all questions with regards to

the Arctic.”

He brushed off Canadian objections to the Russian flag being dropped via canister to the ocean

floor near the North Pole in 2007,

comparing it to the so-called space race of the 1960s.

“That was a non-governmental act; it was more of an emotional act and I don‟t see anything

scary in it,” he said.

“The Americans in their time stood on the moon and put their flag there, but we aren‟t arguing

with them for what they did and we

don‟t talk about how they have ambitions to take over the moon. Thank God we are developing

co-operation in space.”

FALL RIVER, Mass. – A judge has rejected a motion by lawyers for Aaron Hernandez to

dismiss charges stemming from the 2013 slaying of a Boston man whose body was found near

the former New England Patriot player‟s home.

Hernandez‟s lawyers argued that prosecutors hadn‟t shown probable cause to sustain the

murder charge against Hernandez in the death of Odin Lloyd and hadn‟t presented any

evidence or motive for the slaying.

READ MORE:

The Bristol Superior Court judge said in her ruling Thursday that probable cause, and a

defendant‟s guilt, can be established by circumstantial evidence, and prosecutors don‟t need to

prove a motive to secure a murder conviction.

Hernandez is being held without bail after pleading not guilty to killing Lloyd, who was datingHernandez‟s fiancee‟s sister. His trial is scheduled to start Jan. 9.

Wikipedia administrators have imposed a ban on page edits fromcomputers at the US House of Representatives, following "persistentdisruptive editing".



The 10-day block comes after anonymous changes were made to entries onpoliticians and businesses, as well as events like the Kennedy assassination.

The biography of former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld was edited tosay that he was an "alien lizard".

One staffer said they were being banned for the "actions of two or three".

Edits from computers using the IP address belonging to the House ofRepresentatives have been banned before, following similar acts of vandalism.

Continue reading the main story

Maybe someone at the House of Representatives better think about their IT staff”

Jimmy WalesFounder of Wikipedia

The latest block comes after rogue edits were brought to light by a Twitter feed,@congressedits, which posts every change made from the government-ownedaddress.

'Russian puppet'

One of the acts highlighted was an alteration to the page on the assassination ofJohn F Kennedy, which was changed to say that Lee Harvey Oswald was acting"on behalf of the regime of Fidel Castro".

An entry on the moon landing conspiracy theories was changed to say they were"promoted by the Cuban government".

Another entry, on the Ukrainian politician Nataliya Vitrenko, was edited to claimthat she was a "Russian puppet".

The biography of former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld was revised,describing him as an "alien lizard who eats Mexican babies".

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-28481876#story_continues_2





One edit said the Cubangovernment was behind the murder of John F Kennedy

However the edit that finally brought administrators to ban anonymous edits fromthe House IP address was made on the entry for media news site Mediaite,describing the blog as "sexist transphobic" and saying that it "automaticallyassumes that someone is male without any evidence".

Mediaite had previously run a story on the rogue edits from congressionalcomputers.

Counter productive?

Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, told the BBC that the incident did not

surprise him, and vandalism has "always gone on and it always will".

The MediaIte entry on Wikipedia was edited to say thesite was "sexist transphobic"

But he said that the @congressedits Twitter feed may have been counter-productive.

"There is a belief from some of the [Wikipedia] community that it only provokedsomeone - some prankster there in the office - to have an audience now for thepranks, and actually encouraged them rather than discouraged them."



He added: "Maybe someone at the House of Representatives better think abouttheir IT staff - they might be hunting them down this very moment."

UK government edits

Earlier this year, the BBC discovered that the phrase "all Muslims are terrorists"was added to a page about veils by users of UK government computers.

One edit wrote that moonlanding conspiracy theories were endorsed by Cuba

That followed a report by the Liverpool Echo which found that insults had beenadded to the entry for the Hillsborough disaster.

Wikipedia allows any user to make changes to a page, even anonymously.

However, the changes are policed by volunteers, known as Wikipedians, whocan reverse false edits, and even impose bans on users who continually flout thesite's editing rules.

Collective punishment

Wikipedians have been warning editors from the House of Representatives sinceMarch 2012, and moved to block the address for one day earlier this month.

On Thursday, the IP address was blocked for 10 days, but one staffer protestedthat they were being punished for the actions of a few.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/hillsborough-wikipedia-insults-added-government-7029881






Donald Rumsfeld'sbiography was altered to say he was an "alien lizard"

"Out of over 9,000 staffers in the House, should we really be banning this wholeIP range based on the actions of two or three?

"Some of us here are just making grammatical edits, adding information aboutbirds in Omsk, or showing how one can patch KDE2 under FreeBSD."

Another user from the Hill was quick to dismiss suggestions that the rogue editswere made by elected officials.

"I think the probability is near zero that these disruptive edits are being done by amember of Congress."

Russia's main consumer watchdog has filed a lawsuit in Moscow againstMcDonald's, urging the restaurant chain to withdraw certain products.

Rospotrebnadzor said its inspectors in the city of Novgorod, western Russia, hadfound violations of food standards by McDonald's.

The US fast-food chain could not immediately be reached for comment.

Cheeseburgers and Filet-o-Fish are among the foods named in the complaint.Russia is a major market for the firm.

In early April McDonald's suspended work at its three Crimean restaurants,following Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula.

McDonald's operates about 400 restaurants in Russia. The first one opened inMoscow in 1990, and the burgers quickly became very popular among Russians.



Under international treaties, Australia cannot return people to places where theymight face persecution. UN refugee body UNHCR has also expressed concernabout the fairness of on-water screening of asylum claims.

Earlier this month, Australia returned a boat of asylum seekers to Sri Lanka

'Will not settle' Australian officials have not revealed where the group were being held.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that - following talks withIndian officials - they would be brought to Australia.

Consular officials from the Indian High Commission would be given access todetermine identities and "arrange where possible the return of any persons toIndia".

India would also consider taking non-nationals who were Indian residents, hesaid.

It was not clear what might happen to those who did not fall into this category,nor was the extent to which asylum claims would be assessed addressed.

But Mr Morrison said no members of the group would be allowed to settle in Australia.



He declined to comment on where the group would be detained but local reportssay they are being transferred to the Curtin detention centre via the CocosIslands.

'Prolong suffering'

The move is an apparent set-back for the government, which enforces toughpolicies aimed at ending the arrival of asylum boats.

Australia detains all those who arrive by boat. In recent months detainees havebeen processed offshore, in camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. Thosefound to be refugees will be settled in PNG and Nauru, not Australia.

Reports have also emerged in recent months of Australia towing boats back toIndonesia, the most common embarkation point.

The government says the aim is to save lives by preventing people getting ondangerous boats. But refugee advocates and the UN have voiced increasingconcern about the policies, with severe criticism of conditions in Australia'sdetention camps.

Responding to Mr Morrison's announcement, Amnesty International said thedevelopment showed that "stranding a boatload of people in the middle of thesea, in an effort to 'stop the boats', has achieved nothing".

"All it has done is prolong and exacerbate the suffering of more than 150 asylumseekers and their families," said Graeme McGregor, the group's refugee

campaign co-ordinator.

All asylum seekers must have the opportunity to undergo a "full, fair andrigorous" assessment for refugee status, he said.

A suicide bomber has killed four people, including at least three foreignsecurity guards, in an attack outside Kabul airport, officials say.

The Taliban said they carried out the bombing, which targeted a key counter-narcotics building.

Four insurgents also died, officials say. There is no word on the nationalities ofthe foreigners killed.

The attack comes days after security forces repelled an attack on Kabul airportby the Taliban.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-28457953








In a separate attack on Tuesday, a roadside bomb injured a civilian close to the Afghan meteorology department near the civilian entrance of the airport.

'Invader forces' Heavily armed militants attacked the counter-narcotics building with grenades

and automatic weapons.

Police say the bomber rode a motorcycle and detonated his explosives outsidethe main entrance, located close to a foreign military base 2km (1.2 miles) fromthe main runway.

In addition to the security guards and insurgents killed in the exchange, at leastsix other guards were wounded.

Broken glass and debris in the aftermath of the attack lay strewn across the road near Kabul's internationalairport



Afghan and foreign security personnel were quick to arrive at the scene of the attack

This is the second attack on Kabul airport in days

An interior ministry spokesman said that the guards were protecting the entranceto the building, where counter-narcotics operations throughout Afghanistan areorganised and executed.



Taliban spokesman Zabihulllah Mujahid told the Reuters news agency that "up to15 invader soldiers were killed or wounded and many vehicles were damaged".

The attacks come against the backdrop of a hotly disputed election process.

The election commission is conducting an audit of votes cast during apresidential run-off, held on 14 June.

Ashraf Ghani won the run-off, according to preliminary results. His rival Abdullah Abdullah came top in the first round in April, but failed to secure 50% of the voteto avoid the run-off.

Both candidates accuse each other of electoral fraud.

Australia's Senate has voted to repeal the carbon tax, a levy on the biggestpolluters passed by the previous Labor government.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott, whose Liberal-National coalition beat Labor in anelection last year, had made the repeal a central aim of his government.

Politicians have been locked in a fierce row about the tax for years.

Labor says it helps to combat climate change, but the Liberals claim it penaliseslegitimate businesses.

The Australian Senate voted by 39 to 32 votes to repeal the tax.

Introduced in July 2012, it charges the 348 highest polluters A$23 (£13; $22.60)for every tonne of greenhouse gases they produce.

'Bereft of policy' Australia is the developed world's worst polluter per head of population. Butcritics, including Mr Abbott, said that the tax cost jobs and forced energy pricesup.

There were widespread protests against the introduction of the tax in Australiaand its repeal formed a major part of Mr Abbot's election manifesto.

Jump media player Media player help Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the carbon tax had been "useless and destructive"

He says he plans to replace it with a A$2.55bn taxpayer-funded plan under whichindustries will be paid to reduce emissions and use cleaner energy.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28339663


http://www.bbc.co.uk/faqs/online/mp_accessibility_help


http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28339663#afterFlash







His coalition does not hold a majority in the Senate but the repeal went throughwith the support of senators from mining tycoon Clive Palmer's Palmer UnitedParty.

"Scrapping the carbon tax is a foundation of the government's economic action

strategy," said Mr Abbott, calling the move "great news for Australian families".

"We are honouring our commitments to you and building a strong andprosperous economy for a safe and secure Australia."

Labor and the Greens voted against the repeal, with Greens leader ChristineMilne describing the vote as an "appalling day for Australia".

Labor accused Mr Abbott of "taking Australia backwards while the rest of theworld is moving forward".

"All of Australia's major trading partners are taking serious action on climatechange, including in our own region," opposition leader Bill Shorten said in astatement.

He says his party will include a policy to introduce an emissions trading schemein its campaign for the 2016 election.

The Climate Institute think-tank said in a statement that the move left Australia"bereft of credible climate policy".

"What we are left with as potential replacement policy rests on three wobbly legs- a government fund subject to an annual budgetary arm wrestle, uncertain non-binding limits on some company emissions, and a renewable energy target underassault," it said.

Australia has promised to reduce its emissions levels by 5% on 2000 levels by2020.

A target of obtaining 20% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020 alsoremains in place, and Mr Palmer has said he will not support its repeal.

Because the college essay is not the same kind of essay that you write for your high school English teacher, it

does not have to have the typical essay introduction, which provides a thesis statement.

1. Your first paragraph should grab the reader

The college essay has to grab the attention of an admission's reader. It is imperative, then, that the

introduction to the college essay capture the reader‟s attention and make the reader want to read more.

There are different ways to grab a reader.

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Try starting with a question.

Begin with a bold statement.

Use an interesting quote.

Put the reader in medias res, that is, in the middle of things. Place the reader in the middle of something

happening or in the middle of a conversation.

Challenge the reader by speaking directly to him/her.

Tell the reader what you do NOT want to do in your writing.

Sometimes even a single word that stands as a paragraph can make the reader wonder and read on.

2. Be a real person, not an anonymous author

Do not be just another of thousands of applicants that do not make an impression. If you are reading a

newspaper article, the writer fades behind the facts and you know nothing about the writer except that s/he can

collect, organize, and present the facts that you need to now. You want the admissions reader to say, “Ah, this

is a real person writing to me.

That means you should write with voice, that is, you need to write with your own personality. Honesty, humor,

talking the way you talk, showing the way you think, all help to create voice.

3. Don’t be boring

Trying to be proper or trying to impress or trying to be intellectual can be a drag. What you should be are doing

is getting noticed as unique. It‟s like you are on a date with the admissions reader and you want to be asked

out again.

If you are on a date, you would naturally want to be smart, funny, nice, caring, unique, not boring. You also

want to have an opinion, not step back like an unthinking geek. Write your essay as though you would be a

great second date.

4. Make your essay correct and beautiful Dates should look good, too. You can make your essay beautiful by giving thought to a few things. Use

a font that is readable. Consider whether or not bold type face could make your essay easier to read. Don't

crowd your essay near the top of the page, but balance it on the page and attend to soothing margins. Provide

the essay prompt at the opening. Separate paragraphs in a consistent way, either by indenting each paragraph

or by using block style, keeping all the words to the left margin but spacing extra between paragraphs.

If there are a lot of mistakes in your essay, it can not be pretty. Make sure you have spelled everything

correctly. Make sure your basic punctuation is correct.

Did you separate dialogue correctly from the rest of your text? Did you use capitalization correctly?

5. Approach the essay from a different angle

If you look at things a little differently from others you stand out. In answering an essay prompt, you need not

always do it the most normal way.

What if you were to take the negative approach to answer the prompt? What are your hopes? Maybe you

can tell what your hopes are by writing what you do not hope for.

Perhaps you can create a little mystery by not answering the prompt immediately. What to you want to

study? Maybe you could reveal that in the last sentence of your prompt after telling about all the little



things that have some relevance to your area of study. For example, you might describe many natural

flora, observe fauna, then list feelings you have about nature to lead up to writing that you want to study

biology.

You might even bury your answer to a prompt in a story or in a moral tale or even in a description.

6. Be clear and logical

As much as you wish to shine, the shine will be lost if your sentences and thoughts do not string together

logically. You must make sense to the reader.

Reread your essay as though you have no idea what the writer is talking about. Does it make sense? Are there

transitions between different sections of the essay? Is the essay organized? Have you started at the

beginning? Have you provided an ending? Have you given enough background information?

It is a good idea to make sure different audiences understand what you have tried to write. Test your essay with

a friend, a teacher, a parent, even a younger reader. Ask them not to judge but simply read to see if they know

what you are saying. "Tell me," say to them, "exactly what you got from this." If there is confusion, fix it.

7. Leave your reader with a lasting impression

People remember last things first or, at least, best. As Alan Alda said in a commencement address he delivered

to his daughter‟s graduating college class, the most important things are said on the way out the door. His last

words in that speech were, “I love you.”

In the same way, you should end your college essay with something that not only summarizes the most

important aspects of you but that is also memorable. Memorable endings are poignant, making the reader feel

an emotion. Or, they capture a several-line conclusion in one pithy, well-worded phrase or sentence. Or, maybe

they end with a simple, clean truth written from the heart.

Final Tip! After you have completed your final draft, Improve Your College Application Essay at

EssayEdge.com! Let Harvard-Educated editors give you an edge!

FI ve Tips For Writing Winning Essays

Wondering what goes on inside the heads of scholarship reviewers as they read your essay? So were we. To

minimize your worries and maximize your scholarship potential, we went straight to the sources. We contacted

men and women who took part in the essay review process and found the qualities of a winning essay. We

asked what applicants could do to stand out and what kind of essays made readers cringe. Here is what they

had to say:

1. Directly Answer The Question

Too many times, writers make interesting points, but they are not about the questions at hand. If you are

asked to answer a specific question, stick to it. Listing off your merits when asked about environmental

problems can be tempting, but it can hurt your chances at a scholarship. If you find a way to twist your

swamp cleaning experience into the essay, you’re very slick. When it is not that easy to do, just stick with

the direct answer.

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2. Address Your Mistakes

As nice as it would be, we can’t change our GPA’s before sending out scholarship essays. But don’t

despair because of academic problems. If you have done poorly in a class, address the reasons. Explain

what went wrong and what you are doing to improve. A few mistakes don’t have to spell disaster.

Learning from your errors shows character, and it breathes life into your essay.

3. Show That You Are Well Rounded

There are many good students sending in scholarship essays. If you want to stand out, you need to

convince the readers that you are more than just your grades. List organizations in which you took part

and hobbies to which you dedicated time. Remember to explain why these hobbies and organizations

make you unique. Being part of the Frisbee club might not score you many points. For all the judges

know, you could have attended one game and watched the clouds go by. Explain how you contributed,

recognition you have received, and, if possible, leadership positions you have held.

4. Add A Personal Touch

Credentials are great and all, but a dash of personality can take your essay above and beyond. Adding a

bit of humor or sharing an interesting but relevant experience will make your essay stand out. None of us

want to ruin our chances by appearing nonchalant, but adding a little personality will help you in the final

round.

5. Last But Definitely Not Least, Proofread

We all know the importance of putting our papers through a spell and grammar check. Still,

grammatically incorrect essays continue to be turned in. Until that stops, this point deserves to be

repeated. Otherwise excellent applications can be taken out of the running because of spelling mishaps.

Even when you have put a lot of time into your essay, it may appear sloppy if it is grammatically incorrect.

You have a lot to offer. Make sure your essay stands out for its excellence and not its errors.

Do you know the difference between a great essay contest entry and one that's just

average?

1. Great Essay Contest Entries Stand OutWhen you submit a contest entry, your essay will be competing with hundreds, maybe

thousands, of other entries. So you really need to think about what will make your entry

stand out from the crowd.

Some ideas include:

Using a different format: try writing a poem, a rap, or a jingle instead of a standard essay.

Using humor: make your essay funny or comedic.

Playing with language: try using puns, coining words, having fun with alliteration.



2. Great Entries Fit the Contest's ThemeWhen a sponsor holds a contest, they are looking for something particular, and great entries

are spot-on to that theme. Whether the contest is asking for examples of how you care for

other people, a description of your perfect vacation, or a story about how you used the

sponsor's product, that theme has to be strong and clear throughout the entire essay.

3. Great Essays Fit the Sponsor's ImageA great contest entry appeals not just to the sponsor, but also to the sponsor's target audience.

Does the sponsor market primarily toward kids? Toward young adults? Senior citizens? The

tone of a great essay will be a good fit with the sponsor's company image.

4. Great Entries are Gramatically CorrectA really good essay contest entry won't trip the reader up with poor grammar or spelling.

Most contests use grammar and spelling as part of the judging criteria, but even if they don't,

you don't want your judges thinking about how badly you write instead of the story you'retrying to tell.

5. Great Contest Entries Start StrongA great contest entry is compelling from the very first sentence. That's your best chance to

grab your judges' attention. If your first sentence is compelling, your judges are going to be

focused on your writing and more receptive to hearing what you have to say.

6. Great Essays Are MemorableA great essay with stay in the contest judges' mind long after they've finished reading. One

way to make a contest entry memorable is to finish really strongly. Make that final sentence

resoundingly strong so the judges can't ignore you.

7. Great Contest Essays are Clear, Concise,CoherentThe three C's of a great contest entry are clear, concise, and coherent. That doesn't mean that

your entries have to be short, it just means that every word has to communicate meaning.

8. Great Essay Entries FlowA great contest entry flows smoothly from one idea to the next. If your entry is disjointed and

staccato, it's going to be memorable, but not in a good way.9. Great Essays Evoke EmotionsReally great essay contest entries tap into your most authentic feelings to evoke emotions in

your readers. Whether the emotions are joyful, sad, or angry, they will help to make your

contest entry great.

10. Great Contest Entries Follow the Rules



The absolute most important quality of a great contest entry is that it follows the rules

perfectly. It doesn't matter how good your writing is if your essay is disqualified from the

contest.

1. What Is an Essay? Before you start entering essay contests, it's a good idea to have a firm grasp on what an

essay really is. Richard Nordquist, About.com's Guide to Grammar and Composition, covers

what essays are, how they are organized, and how you can bring your own personality into

them.

2. How to Write a Five Paragraph Essay I learned how to write a five paragraph essay in high school, but I didn't get a lot of use out

of it afterwards -- until I started entering essay contests. Grace Fleming, About.com's Guide

to Homework Tips, covers what you need to know to write a strong five paragraph essay.

Even if you don't use a five paragraph format to write your essay contest entries, much of theadvice on how to build a logical essay is useful no matter what format you use.

3. How to Write a Personal Essay Many writing contests are not just looking for great prose, they want to hear about your

personal experiences. Deb Peterson, About.com's Guide to Adult Education, shares some tips

on how to write an effective personal essay.

4. How to Write an Argumentative Essay Another type of writing contest is one that asks you to make a case for something that you

believe in, for a product you love, or for an opinion that you want to share with the world.

Learn how to write an effective essay that makes an argument with Deb Peterson's article.5. Basic Rules of Punctuation Brushing up on the basic rules of using commas, apostrophes, and other punctuation can help

your writing be much more professional and easier to read. Richard Nordquist shares some

basic tips on how to use punctuation properly to make your writing contest entries stronger.

6. How the Writing Process Works Creating a good writing environment can help you clear your mind and get down to the work

of creating a powerful, moving writing contest entry. Richard Nordquist walks you through

the process of writing effectively and how to create a conducive writing environment in your

own home.

7. How to Brainstorm Ideas Once you're ready to get down to the task of starting your writing contest entries, you'll need

to come up with good ideas. Brainstorming is an excellent way to find the perfect topic for a

writing contest entry. Grace Fleming's article walks you through two different methods of

brainstorming -- pick the one that works best for you!

8. Discovery Strategy: Probing Your Topic

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Another way you can generate ideas for writing contest entries is by "probing your topic."

Richard Nordquist shares some creative ways to come up with new and interesting

perspectives on the subject of the contest.

9. 10 Quick Tips to Improve Your Writing Some very small changes can make a big difference in the power of your writing. Richard

Nordquist shares ten easy things that you can do to make a bigger slash in your writing

contest entries.

10. How to Use Transitions to Create EssayFlow One of the important aspects of any writing contest entry is that your writing flows smoothly

from one idea to the next. Grace Fleming covers how to use transitions effectively to create

flow in your essay contest entry.

ENTER A WRITING CONTEST!

Because once you start, you'll be hooked.

Follow these important tips, so you can have fun AND be a winner, both at the same time.

1). FOLLOW ALL THE RULES!

Following the rules is important. If the contest has a theme, you must stick with that as your topic. If the

contest has a "word count," try to get as close to that word count as possible without going over it.

2). STUDY OTHER WINNING ESSAYS!

This is a great way to get an idea of what the judges are looking for when it comes to theme and style.

3). HAVE A GOOD "HOOK"!

Make sure you have a dynamic first sentence. Suck your reader in right away! Often it's in the first few

sentences of a story, that a reader (or a judge!) will form his opinion, good or bad. (Hint: you want it to be

good)!

4). DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECK YOUR SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION!

Remember; this isn't some spur of the minute E-mail you're jotting off to your sister! If you aren't sure how

to spell a word, don't be lazy! Find out! Poor spelling and punctuation will turn the judges off - which is a

shame, if you have a great piece of writing hiding underneath.

5. EDIT - BUT DON'T GO OVERBOARD!

If the deadline allows, let your essay "sit" when you are done - then go back to it after a little while and

read it again. Chances are, you will find some things you want to change. (Remember, once you submit

your essay, it may be too late). Just don't get so bogged down with fiddling and changing and tweaking

that you miss the deadline altogether!

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6). BE CONFIDENT WITH YOUR WRITING, NOT "WISHY WASHY"!

Comb through your work and look for wishy-washy expressions such as "I think that maybe I...." or "I

wasn't sure, but I thought"....JUST GET RID OF THEM! They weigh down your writing and make it far

less dynamic than it should be.

7). DON'T GIVE UP!

Chances are you won't win the very first contest you enter. Just keep trying! Perserverence; that's what

it's all about. The world would be missing out on many fantastic and famous authors if they had given up

too soon. Don't take it personally! The judge may have favored a different piece of writing because he or

she could relate to it better (judges are human too, you know)! Maybe a piece on sailboat racing won

because the judge loves sailboats. The more contests you enter, the more chance you will have of

winning.

8). DON'T LET YOURSELF BECOME INTIMIDATED!

Sometimes you will read other contest entries that make you think, Wow, that's good! That's suchexcellent writing! I can't possibly complete with that! Well, just banish that last thought out of your brain.

Yes you CAN complete with "that" because your writing is just that...YOUR WRITING...unique....not

everyone's writing is everyone's cup of tea (sorry for the lame cliche....) but maybe YOUR writing will be

the judge's cup of tea. So, don't allow intimidation to create an obstacle. The fun and the challenge is in

the actual writing, itself. You'll find that once you get started, your own ideas and creative adrenaline will

take over, banishing all insecurities.

So there you have it. You're all set to go out there and beat the competition. Although you can't do that

without the most important ingredient of all....A GREAT PIECE OF WRITING. And that can only come

from you!

It all starts inside your own head....with a great idea. Then it's up to you to give that great idea life.....and

make it shine.

Remember the basic elements of writing an essay that you learned way back in elementary school

English class: Beginning, middle, end. Mindless rambling is not a good way to go. Not to thwart your

creativity or anything, but you do need some organization. Remember, others like to know what's going

on in your story.

By all means, BE MOTIVATED! Don't just enter a contest to "win the money." You should feel

EXCITEMENT about your idea. It must MOVE you in some way so you feel that SPARK; that DESIRE to

get it out of your head and onto the computer!

Get that ENERGY FLOWING....make sure your writing sucks your reader in, and keeps him engaged

throughout. Your reader just MUST keep reading to find out what happens next! You know when your

writing is like that...you can just FEEL it.



Even if your piece doesn't win the contest,you are still a winner every time you write, because you are

creating something unique. Besides, if you have fun writing your essay, plus experience the added benefit

of honing your writing skills....then entering writing contests can never be considered "a waste of time."

Following, are some current online contests that are going on. (Obviously I will need to update this

section on a regular basis)! Just pick the one (or ones) that interest you the most, and GO FOR IT.

Personally, I never pick competitions with an "entrance fee." There are enough free competitions online,

so there is no need to! But if you choose to, that is up to you. Just make sure the competition is being run

by a reputable source, such as Writer's Digest.com.

Storiesspace.com:

(Currently has a writing competion with the theme CELEBRATION. Deadline is July 31).

Manuscriptediting.com/contests:

(Has a whole LIST of writing contests)

Writing.com/writing contests:

This site does indeed offer contests - however, there are no monetary prizes. Nonetheless, the site offers

a great community environment, interactive features, the ability for you to create your own portfolio, etc...

First writer.com:

This is a great site out of the UK....tons of contests and cash prizes....

Fanstory.com:

This site is loaded with contests that have fun prompts, such as: Pretend you are a real estate agentselling a haunted house.....then you have to write your "sales pitch." The only "caveat?" (Well, in my

opinion, there are two). You need to "upgrade" your membership to enter most contests. It only costs a

few dollars a month, but still.....AND....they actually REVIEW your REVIEWS of other people's writing.

That's a bit much....anyway, some of their prizes include cash, gift cards, or "writing bucks" you use to be

able to "do more stuff" on the site.

Writer's Digest/writing competions:

(Writer's Digest currently has a GREAT short story (1500 words) contest going on! First prize is $3000.00

and a trip to a Writer's Digest convention; second prize is $1500, third prize is $500. The only catch?

There is a $20.00 entrance fee)!

Teen Ink/writing contests;

This site offers oodles of contests for teen writers...they have a "point of view" contest going on right now

with a $200 prize.

Gigglegig.com:



This is a site dedicated to stories that make people laugh. They offer a contest every month - with a $500

prize! Not bad; you'll be giggling all the way to the bank if you win this one!

Authorstand:

Prizes are up to $250....currently, there is a "novella" contest going on..hurry, though..deadline is end of

June!

Poetry for Millions:

They now have a poetry contest running with a $1000 prize....any style of poetry is accepted. This is a

chance to get your poetry published in a giant anthem of poetry that is available at Barnes and Noble (I,

personally, have a poem in the book right now). All those who are chosen for publication, are

automatically entered into the cash prize contest.

Stage Of Life:

This site offers essay contests for both parents and teens - and even grandparents and empty-nesters

(hence, the name of the web-site)! Currently, they have a lot of "blog type" contests going on for new

parents, with question prompts such as: What product do you depend on the most as a new parent, and

could not live without? For teens, they might have a contest such as this: In 500 words or less, write

about a song that has inspired you at one point in your life. Prizes include gift card and various swag (i.e.

cool merchandise)!

Boxing With Pencils:

You will write a flash fiction piece of 100 words or less in their comment line. You must incorporate the

three words that they provide (this makes it challenging when the words are something like fungus, love,

and sunshine, for instance). But it is a FUN challenge, that's the point! (Plus, the winner gets 5 Paypal

bucks)! New contest each week!

Bookrix.com:

This site allows you to turn your writing into a "virtual book" with an actual cover, and pages you can "flip."

This can be a real eye-opener, as it allows you to view your writing in "book form." Bookrix also has

ongoing writing contests that are free to enter with cash and gift cards as prizes. In addition, they have a

young writer's group with "sponsors" available. Currently, the site has a "Young Writer's" contest going

on, and a "Drabble Contest" - a drabble is defined as a complete story written in 100 words or less.

Anyone is eligible - no entry fee - check it out!

Chicken Soup for the Soul Contest for Teens::

Chicken Soup for the Soul is a series of books of inspirational stories and motivational essays. The series

hosts a teen writing contest, accepting stories that teenagers will read "again and again."

Contest participants can submit stories written about issues that concern teens the most; including

school,life,relationships, friendships, and of course, parents (or should I say, the various ways parents



can drive you crazy)? The prize is publication in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book. The deadline in

usually December 31. Check out their website for more details.

NextStepU $100 Teen Writing Contest:

NextStepU offers contest winners not just a $100 prize, but the chance to get their work published in the

Next Step Magazine, which is a publication founded in 1995 that helps students plan for college, career

and life. The competition is open to students all over the world, and accepts short stories on all subjects.

Simply submit all stories online.

Seventeen Fiction Contest:

Seventeen is a widely-known and respected magazine for teenagers that holds an annual contest for

fiction writing. The magazine begins accepting applications in the fall, with a deadline of late December or

early January. In 2010, the winner received a $5,000 cash prize, had her story published in an issue of

Seventeen, and received a phone call from bestselling author Meg Cabot and her editor. Check out their

website for deadlines.

Adventure Write Kids:

Adventure Write Kids offers a yearly writing contest for kids and teens up to 18 years old. Criteria for

judging includes how well the story will fit on the Adventure Write website, along with creativity, spelling,

grammar and punctuation. Entrants must also complete the Totem Head's Tutorial on the site. All stories

must be 1500 words or less, and must incorporate a different phrase or idea determined each year.

(A word of caution: Unfortunately, not all contests are on the up-and-up.....you weren't born yesterday,

though, so this is probably no surprise. Check out the siteEditors and Predator s to confirm that a contest

is legit.).

So what are you waiting for? Get writing! (And... GOOD LUCK)!

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