Thursday, September 21, 2017

Kuwait National Overwatch Tournament KNOT taking place now

Photo Courtesy to KNOT
Overwatch is a hugely popular team based multiplayer online first-person shooter video game. Blizzard Entertainments has released this across Windows platform, PlayStation 4 and also Xbox One. To know more about the game check my previous post on them. CLICK HERE to read the post about the Initial Release and CLICK HERE to read about the upgrade in characters of Overwatch (Origins 21 Heroes).

UPDATE
You can check out the videos at the bottom of the page for an insight of the amazing things  that were taking place at KNOT and all due credits to the content creators. The below video by KNOTkw gives a gist of what took place. Also CLICK HERE for the complete playlist on Youtube for all KNOT related videos.
A post shared by 🇰🇼 NationalOverwatchTournament (@knotkw) on

Below video by Photographer/Videographer/Instagram user Bin_muhsen (Ahmad Bin Muhsen) really gives an amazing introduction to KNOT.
A post shared by 🔹أحمد بن محسن شخصيا🔹 (@bin_muhsen) on

Below are the videos by Faisal Al Rajhi (Videographer). CLICK HERE for his Youtube Channel.


Below are the videos by Sara Al Tuhaih aka Saltphotography. CLICK HERE to check out her website. https://www.saltkw.com/


To check out the amazing photographs taken by HEROESKW and MEMPHOTOG of the different cosplayers during the 3 days at KNOT. Check out Memphotog's WEBSITE. All credits to Memphotog. (COSPLAY PHOTOS)
The video by HEROESKW has been uploaded and they have done an awesome job of covering the KNOT event. Shout-out to these amazing gamer, photography and videography girls.
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work
The video below is taken by Urbanq8 films. Check out their Instagram page for some of the photos taken during KNOT. Definitely waiting for their KNOT video to come out. (Youtube) It is out and you can have a look below. (They have a sweet url: http://uq8.co/knot) It gives a good amount of coverage of the event with some one on one interviews with chief guest and cosplayers.
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

More Videos below by KNOT Kuwait
A post shared by 🇰🇼 NationalOverwatchTournament (@knotkw) on

A post shared by 🇰🇼 NationalOverwatchTournament (@knotkw) on

Youtuber/Instagrammer Duaij Hutari uploaded an amazing interactive on his Youtube Channel.
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work.
Youtuber Gamers RA (aka Gamer Girls Rafouyi and Anous) give their take on KNOTKw 2017. CLICK HERE to have look at their Youtube Channel and CLICK HERE for their Instagram page.
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work
More updates

 Date: 21, 22, 23 September 2017
Time: 4-10 pm
Venue: Hall 4A, Kuwait International Fairgrounds, Kuwait (Mishref Fairgrounds)
United Events are the organisers for the event. They quote
Kuwait's biggest national Overwatch event and tournament.
To Book online tickets or one can purchase at the gate CLICK HERE
Ticket prices:
  • Gold Ticket : 5 KD - One Day Ticket
  • Platinum Ticket: 10 KD (All days Entry and Tournament Participation)
  • Diamond Ticket: 20 KD (All days Entry and Tournament Participation + Autographs and photographs with all guests)
  • Grand Master Experience: 80 KD (All days Entry and Tournament Participation + Autographs and photographs with all guests without waiting in queue + Lunch with the guests plus a meet and greet)
What can one find at the Event - Other than the tournament, Cosplay catwalk along with amazing cosplayers, Photography stalls for the cosplayers and anyone interested in getting their photographs taken, stalls by different gaming companies displaying their amazing products,  Spend time with some of the amazing guests like voice actors, and creators.
Voice Actors for Overwatch Characters .Photo Courtesy for Quadra Stores
Getting to meet some of the Voice actors for Overwatch Characters
  • Overwatch Character Mercy - Lucie Pohl - CLICK HERE to check her Instagram page.
  • Overwatch Character Genji - Gaku Space - CLICK HERE to check his Instagram page.
  • Overwatch Character Lucio - Jonny Cruz - CLICK HERE to check his Instagram page.
  • Overwatch Character Torbjorn - Keith Silverstein - CLICK HERE to check his Instagram Page.
Get to meet YelizCosplay - CLICK HERE to check her Instagram page.
Get to meet Greeniicosplay - CLICK HERE to check her Instagram page.

INSTAGRAM Accounts for
KNOT: CLICK HERE
United Events: CLICK HERE

Venue Coordinates: 
Latitude: 29.2688534
Longitude: 48.0488889
Lat,Long: 29.2688534,48.0488889
DMS (Degrees, Minutes, Seconds)
Latitude: 29° 16' 8" N
Longitude: 48° 2' 56" E
CLICK HERE to got the the google maps link
CLICK HERE for Link to Google Maps

DAY 1 Footage (All credits to the content creators)

 KNOT Day 1 Snap Map Story (SnapChat)
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 1 Instagram Story by Urbanq8
All Credits to Urbanq8, Check their Instagram and Youtube Channels (1 and 2)
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 1 Instagram Story By HEROSKW
All credits to Heroskw, Check their Instagram and Youtube channel
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 1 Instagram Story by Salt Photography
All Credits to Salt Photography, Check her Instagram, Website, Twitter and Facebook
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 1 Instagram Story by Mem Photog
All Credits to Mem Photography, Check her Instagram and Youtube Channel
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 DAY 2 Footage (All credits to the content creators)

KNOT Day 2 Snap Map Story (SnapChat)
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 2 Instagram Story by KNOTKW
All credits to KNOTKW, Check their Instagram and website
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 2 Instagram Story By HEROSKW
All credits to Heroskw, Check their Instagram and Youtube channel
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 2 Instagram Story by Salt Photography
All Credits to Salt Photography, Check her Instagram, Website, Twitter and Facebook
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 2 Instagram Story by Mem Photog
All Credits to Mem Photography, Check her Instagram and Youtube Channel
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 2 Instagram Story by CGC Kwt
All Credits to Competitive Gaming Club, Kuwait, Check their Instagram and Website
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 2 Instagram Story by Urbanq8
All Credits to Urbanq8, Check their Instagram and Youtube Channels (1 and 2)
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 2 SnapChat Story by Mem Photog (@memphotogg)
All Credits to Mem Photography, Check her Instagram and Youtube Channel
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 2 SnapChat Story by Sarah YOLOTec (@yolotec2)
All credits to Sarah YOLOTec
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 DAY 3 Footage (All credits to the content creators)

 KNOT Day 3 Instagram Story by KNOTKW
All credits to KNOTKW, Check their Instagram and website
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 3 Instagram Story By HEROSKW
All credits to Heroskw, Check their Instagram and Youtube channel
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 3 Instagram Story by CGC Kwt
All Credits to Competitive Gaming Club, Kuwait, Check their Instagram and Website
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 3 Instagram Story by Extrava Gaming
All Credits to Extrava Gaming, Kuwait, Check their Instagram and Youtube
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 3 Instagram Story by Mem Photog
All Credits to Mem Photography, Check her Instagram and Youtube Channel
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 2 SnapChat Story by Sarah YOLOTec (@yolotec2)
All credits to Sarah YOLOTec
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

 KNOT Day 3 Instagram Story by TheMeemGlam
All credits to TheMeemGlam, Check her Instagram
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work
Some of  the information on the people who showed up at KNOT (approx 7582)

KNOT - Instagram: knotkw -CLICK HERE
United Events - Instagram: unitedeventskw -CLICK HERE
Mubarak Mado - Instagram: mubrkm -CLICK HERE
Greenii - Instagram: greeniicosplay - CLICK HERE
Yeliz - Instagram: yelizcosplay -CLICK HERE
Ahmed Alajeel - Instagram: ahmedalajeel -CLICK HERE
Lucie Pohl - Instagram: ulovelucie - CLICK HERE
Jonny Cruz - Instagram: jonnycruzzz -CLICK HERE
Keith Silverstein - Instagram: keithsilverstein - CLICK HERE
Gaku Space - Instagram: gakuspace - CLICK HERE
Upshot Dance Company - Instagram: upshot_dance -CLICK HERE
Angelo Alagao aka Chun-Li - Instagram: chun_li_q8 -CLICK HERE
Urbanq8 Films - Instagram: urbanq8films -CLICK HERE
Ahmad Bin Muhsen - Instagram: bin_muhsen -CLICK HERE
Faisal Al Rajhi -  Instagram: f_alrajhii -CLICK HERE
Heros Kuwait - Instagram: heroskw -CLICK HERE
Sara Al Tuhaih - Instagram: saltphotography -CLICK HERE
Marwa AlBenali - Instagram: memphotog - CLICK HERE
Quadra Stores - Instagram: quadrastores -CLICK HERE
Extrava Gaming - Instagram: extravagaming - CLICK HERE
Sharingan Store - Instagram: sharinganq8 -CLICK HERE
Statues house - Instagram: statues_house -CLICK HERE
Neo - Instagram: neo -CLICK HERE
i-Guts - Instagram: i.guts -CLICK HERE
Gstoreq8 - Instagram: gstoreq8 -CLICK HERE
Gamesq8 - Instagram: gamesq8 -CLICK HERE
Far7an Al Bannai - Instagram: far7an_albannai -CLICK HERE
Hussain Al Rajhi - Instagram: hussain_alrajhi -CLICK HERE
Duaij Hutari - Instagram: duaij_hutari -CLICK HERE
Abdulaziz Askar - Instagram: abdulaziz.s.askar -CLICK HERE
Meme Curry - Instagram: meme_curry -CLICK HERE
Paris Delicieux - Instagram: paris_delicieux -CLICK HERE
The Backlot Genuine Sausages - Instagram: thebacklotkw -CLICK HERE
Themed beauty aka themed injection - Instagram: themedbeautymua -CLICK HERE
Themed Injection II - Instagram: themedinjection -CLICK HERE
Azgardian Comics - Instagram: comics_for_sale -CLICK HERE
Animate Q8 - Instagram: animate_q8 -CLICK HERE
Dodo-Style - Instagram: dodo.style88 -CLICK HERE
Pro Gaming Online Store - Instagram - pgamingkw -CLICK HERE
q8 Toy shop - Instagram: q8_toys -CLICK HERE
Gulf Gameboy - Instagram: gulf_gameboy -CLICK HERE
Mohammad Al Otaibi - Instagram: ba7waitee -CLICK HERE
Abdulla Al Sager - Instagram: _aa1987 -CLICK HERE
Hussain Abbas - Instagram: hussain_ahaa -CLICK HERE
Anbro2 - Instagram: anbro2 -CLICK HERE
Ai Show Store - Instagram: ai_showq8 -CLICK HERE
T-shirts Kuwait - Instagram: teebros - CLICK HERE
Comics Center - Instagram: comics_centere -CLICK HERE
Pixel your Life - Instagram: nixel.q8 - CLICK HERE
Otakunation Store - Instagram: otakunation.store -CLICK HERE
Black Beard - Instagram: black_beard_ kw -CLICK HERE
Khaled Al Raed - Instagram: toxic.kw -CLICK HERE
Lucifer Kuwait - Instagram: lucifer.kwt -CLICK HERE
Controller q8 - Instagram: controller_q8 -CLICK HERE
q8 Akuma - Instagram: q8.akuma -CLICK HERE
Nano Mangas - Instagram: nanomangas -CLICK HERE
Anime4you Kuwait - Instagram: anime4you_q8 -CLICK HERE
Gamer Snack - Instagram: gamer_snack -CLICK HERE
Angel Ashknani - Instagram: kuwaitya_gamer -CLICK HERE
Abdulla Asghar - Instagram: 4gx -CLICK HERE
Gamers RA (Rafouyi and Anous) - Instagram: gamers_ra -CLICK HERE

Previous related Post.
CLICK HERE to check out this year's SuperCon Kuwait 2017 Post.
CLICK HERE to check out this year's Cosplayer HQ 2017 post.
CLICK HERE to check out this year's GX/KBR 2017 post.
CLICK HERE to check out last year's GX/KBR 2016 post.
CLICK HERE to check out this year's COMIC CON 2017 KUWAIT post.
CLICK HERE to check out one of the first Cosplay contest conducted in Kuwait post.
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Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Parents residency renewal procedure for Expats in Kuwait

Photo Courtesy to MoI - Article 22 F Sample

Parents (Dependent) Residency Renewal as of 11/09/2017. (Article 22 for sponsor’s parents) – Around 12,000-13,000 people in Kuwait under this article need to get their residency upgraded in the 4 months since the Executive bylaws were added on June 20, 2017. That is before 20 October 2017.

IN SHORT version: Process is same as previously done. Get Government Health Insurance for KD (50+2) for 1 year. Then with that insurance paper approach any Private Insurance Company – Head offices only (Kuwait Insurance Company, Gulf Insurance, Warba and others). Mention Keyword – “Insurance for Residency”. They will issue insurance (for KD 3000) by charging an amount of KD 150 + 1. The set of papers they give should be attached along with your Residency Renewal Application process. Get to Jawazat and follow procedures (Additional step before final submission and payment of KD 200 – sign by Director General of the Governorate – Mudeer Aam) 

Therefore – Current charges of process (For ONE, 1 Dependent/Parent) are as follows:

  • Government Health Insurance – KD 50 + 2
  • Private Health Insurance – KD 150 + 1
  • Application Typing – KD 0.5 or KD 1
  • Residency charges at MoI Passport (Jawazat) Office – KD 200
  • Civil ID Renewal – KD 5
  • Final Satisfaction – PRICELESS.
Total amount spent - KD 409 (for one parent for a year)

Duration of Process – Minimum 2 working days to 5 working days.


DETAILED Version 

1. Government Health Insurance – (Duration 1 session Morning or Afternoon) Timings 7am till 4pm with break.
Documents Needed - Civil ID Copy of Parent, Civil ID Copy of Sponsor, Passport Size photo of Parent (which will be returned after scanning). KD 50 + 2 (KD 50 per year) (Mention Mobile number on civil Id copy of Parent)

2. Private Health Insurance – (Duration 15 minutes) only done at Head Office branch of any private Insurance Company. Since this is a newly added process, it will be difficult to get to the right person handling it. Hence, the keyword “Insurance for Iqama – Residency” Timings (7:30 am till 3pm on weekdays)
Documents Needed – Just the Government Health Insurance Receipt and Cash or KNET of KD 150+1 (KD 150 per year)

3. MoI Residency Renewal Application Typing – (Tajdeed Iqama Lil Aba wal Ummi ) KD 0.5 or KD 1 (Any Typing Center or Translation Centers)
Documents Needed – Civil ID Copy of Parent and Sponsor, Passport and Residency copy of Parents, Also mention mobile number and Sponsor will need to sign application form.

4. MoI Passport Office for Expatriates – (Duration 1 day to 2 days depending on Coupon/Token number, Quantity of people [more] or employee [less] and mood factor.) (Timings 7:30am till 1:15pm - weekdays)
Documents Needed – Application Form with Photo pasted, Sign of Sponsor on application form, Attachments – Government Health Insurance Receipt, Private Health Insurance Receipt documents, Passport and Residency page of Parent, Civil ID copy of Parent and Sponsor, Original Passport of Parent.
a. TOKEN to be taken at SECTION for Application checking section (Welcome/Istaqbal). Original Passport need not be submitted here.
b. TOKEN to be taken at Cashier Section where KD 200 needs to be paid (CASH).
c. TOKEN to be taken at the Director General office (or just ask for a signature – Tajdeed Iqama Lil Aba wal Ummi)
d. TOKEN to be taken for Section for Final submission of documents – HERE submit documents along with PASSPORT.


5. Civil ID Renewal through Website, Phone or Mobile Application. KD 5 to be paid Online using KNET (Timings for Delivery 7 am till 8pm weekdays)

References (Newspaper Article):
  • 09/09/2017 – Dual Health Insurance for Parents (CLICK HERE)
Photo Courtesy to Arab Times
  • 26/07/2017 - Entry on Family Visas Awaits MP approval on Health Fees - Nod to Above-Quota Foreign Hires for KD 250 (CLICK HERE)
Photo Courtesy to Arab Times
  • 20/06/2017 - Rectify Status of parents, Siblings in 4 months or Leave - Insurance of KD 3,000/- Mandatory for Annual Medical expenses (CLICK HERE)
Photo Courtesy to Arab Times
  • 20/06/2017 - Bylaws issued for Parental Residence - Parents cannot sponsor Children above 24 yrs on Family Visa (CLICK HERE)

Photo Courtesy to Arab Times
  • 19/06/2017 - KD 3,000 Docus Mandatory for Sponsoring Parents or Siblings (CLICK HERE)
Photo Courtesy to Arab Times
  • 14/06/2017 - Parents and Siblings Residence Fees to increase to KD 300, Health Insurance KD 200- Sponsors Salary KD 1000 (CLICK HERE)
Photo Courtesy to Arab Times
  • 13/06/2017 - Parents and Siblings, can now Renew their Visas, Insurance cost may reach KD 300 per year per person (CLICK HERE)
Photo Courtesy to Arab Times
  • 10/06/2017 - MP Queries Family Visa Policy - Fees Questioned (CLICK HERE)
Photo Courtesy to Arab Times
  • 04/06/2017 - Rethink on Family Visas - Decision Expected to Freeze (CLICK HERE)
Photo Courtesy to Arab Times
  • 01/06/2017 - Interior's decision to limit family visas taken after conducting many studies (CLICK HERE)
Photo Courtesy to Arab Times
  • 31/05/2017 - New visa ban puts families in serious crisis (CLICK HERE)
Photo Courtesy to Arab Times
  • 21/06/2017 - Al Rai Newspaper. Residency for Parents will cost KD 1100 and 1700 yearly. (Arabic and English Translation)
Photo Courtesy to Al Rai Newspaper (Arabic)
Photo Courtesy to Al Rai Newspaper & Google Translate (English Translation)
Currently still searching for the MoI Bylaw copy.
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Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Hike in electricity and water tariffs

Kuwait has been considering for a long time to cut down on subsidiaries, so as to put ease on its revenue structure which predominantly depends on crude oil sales. Many moves have been made in this regard. For example, On 1st April 1999 Kuwait introduced KD 1 fees for government health clinic visits and KD 2 fees for government hospital visits; these fees were for meeting with the doctors and also included for basic medicines & lab tests (Ministry of Health - Ministerial Decision 392/1999). Previously, no charges were levied.

One of the moves that garnered a lot of attention was the Fuel price hike. Naturally the Petrol (Premium, Super and Ultra) prices hike had a lot of hue and cry compared to previously subsidiary removal of Diesel and Kerosene which shot from 55 fils to 170 fils (Currently at 105/110 fils - Market value fluctuations; each month revision based on international crude oil prices). Petrol prices were hiked from 60 fils to 85 fils for Premium, 65 fils to 105 fils for Super and90 fils to 165 fils for Ultra but later brought down to 150 fils.  (Council of Minister decision 32/2016) These prices are not subsidiary removal prices as they would be more higher at 160 fils and onward. Citizens of Kuwait have a monthly ration/account of Petrol which is given for free after which they will be charged the market price (started with 75 litres and now increase to 100 litres per month). Similarly some sectors and industries avail the subsidised rate (55 fils) of diesel and kerosene; for example Kerosene for government related bakeries for the Tandoori/Afghani/Irani Kabous/Roti. Also agricultural/government sectors avail similar diesel subsidy.

At the same time period, the Council of Ministers had passed the decision for reduction in subsidy towards electricity and water on 16th May 2016 (Council of Ministers' decision no 20/2016). The implementation of the decision is to take effect in 4 stages giving time for all sectors of Kuwait to implement rationalisation and efficient methods in terms of electricity and water usage by reducing wastage like applying more LED lights.

Stages of implementation of new electricity and water tariffs.
  1. 22nd May 2017 (22/05/2017) - Commercial Sectors
  2. 22nd August 2017 (22/08/2017) - Investment Sectors
  3.  22nd November 2017 (22/11/2017) - Government Sectors
  4. 22nd February 2018 (22/02/2018) - Industrial, Agricultural Farms and rest of the sectors.
All Investments sectors (Apartment buildings and Residential homes) will be paying from 22nd August 2017. All the public Sector (government related properties) will start paying from 22nd November 2017. The last but least, Chalets (beach houses), Farms (Agricultural or Poultry) and Stables (For horses or other types of Animals) from 22nd February 2018. All Commercial establishments (Malls, shops or Office buildings) are already paying since 22nd May 2017.

NOTE (for Residential and Apartment buildings)
The amount to pay for Electricity is 5 fils per unit (1 KWHr) and for Water KD 2 per 1000 Gallon of Water. (uniform units throughout the month/year)

Following are the modes of Payment and enquiry for electricity and water related matters:

1. Download the App on Google Playstore or Iphone Itunes Appstore.

Name of App: MEW-CAS created by MEW-CAS

Languages available: Arabic and English

Once you download, you just need to choose the consumer type (Residential), Enter Civil Id and enter Meter Number. 

You can load a photo of the meter reading (if you want),

Enter the meter reading and then you can make payment using KNET. (sometimes you may have to wait for 15 minutes after entering Meter reading for system to update)


2. You can also make meter reading updates and payments on the website www.mew.gov.kw
You can make payments (if KNET is not available) at the MEW consumer affairs offices that are available in each area (Once you have updated the meter reading)

3. Official Social Media accounts for MEW Consumer Affairs for Meter Reading and updates.
Instagram: @consumerservics https://www.instagram.com/consumerservics/
Twitter: @consumerservics https://twitter.com/consumerservics
Whatsapp: 98760001, 98760002, 98760003, 98760004, 98760005, 98760006 (One can take photos of their electricity & water meter readings along with the meter numbers and send them to the above Whatsapp numbers to get them updated) CLICK HERE to see an instruction video or view the video at the bottom of the post. 

4. Go to the nearest electrical offices near to the area you reside between 8am till 1:45pm (Official Working hours)

5. Recently the Ministry has started a service for the Elderly citizens, a home service where someone from Ministry will come and assist in getting the readings and update the readings along with options of making payment using KNET facilities. 

Information to keep handy:
  1. Civil Identity Number of Registered User
  2. Meter Reading of Electricity or Water (Better if you have a photo or on smartphone)
  3. Meter Number or Premises Number 
  4. PACI Number of Flat and Building (Public Authority for Civil Information)
MEW Consumer Affairs Tweet about reading Meters. Photo Courtesy to MEW @ConsumerServics.

Electricity Meter Reading with Meter Number. Photo Courtesy to MEW @ConsumerServics.

Water Meter Reading with Meter Number. Photo Courtesy to MEW @ConsumerServics.

 Just for information.
Previous price of electricity was 2 fils per unit (1 KW) and 800 fils per 1000 Gallons (imperial) of Water.
Without Subsidy, Electricity would be 28 Fils upto 40 fils per unit (1 KW) AND water would be KD 10 to KD 12 per 1000 gallons (imperial).

Sources
  • Council of Ministers' Decision 20/2016
  • Minister of Electricity and Water Circular 3/2017
  • Minister of Electricity and Water Circular 20/2017
  • Council of Ministers' Decision 48/2005


Council of Minister Decision 20/2016 Pg 1

Council of Minister Decision 20/2016 Pg 2

Council of Minister Decision 20/2016 Pg 3

Minister's Circular 2/2017  Pg 1

Minister's Circular 2/2017  Pg 2

Minister's Circular 28/2017 
Using the Whatsapp numbers to update the electricity and water meter readings
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

Modes of Payment that can be done for electricity and water meter readings.
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work

Announcement for new rates on Commercial sector from 22/05/2017 and rationalization steps
CLICK HERE if the above video does not work
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