Iceland Weekly News Roundup

The Reykjavík Grapevine
  • 4.9 (16)
  • DAILY NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup is a weekly news oriented podcast show hosted by a rotating cast of staff members and hangers on, with special expert guests. Highlighting the broad strokes of Icelandic news and the local views.For more about life, travel and entertainment in Iceland, go to www.grapevine.is

  1. DEC 17

    Top Stories Of 2025 + Audience Questions + Yule Lads Explained

    Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in Iceland. In this episode we ponder the main stories of the year so far, answer reader's questions and explain some of the Yule Lads. Top Stories Of 2025 We discuss 2025 top political scandal, top political event, top ecological and geological events, top cultural event, we nominate the "Mess of the Year", the bankruptcy of the year, the rise of right wing politics in Iceland and our favorite tourism related stories of the year.  Audience Questions We answer questions from our audience on subjects such as Christmas gifts, the Icelandic language, traditional Christmas dinners, hikes and forestry. Yule Lads Explained We try our best to explain how having 13 Yule lads works in practice, and how there are actually records of a total of 80 different yule lads and ladies from various parts of Iceland. Then we discuss our favorite Yule lad names. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SHOW SUPPORT Support the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://grapevine.is/high-five-club/ Or donate to the Grapevine here: https://support.grapevine.is You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine’s goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland’s most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it’s not sponsored content. www.grapevine.is

    1h 20m

  2. DEC 8

    Björk, Sigur Rós, Eurovision, Israel, Municipality Politics & Tunnels

    Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are:  Sigur Rós Join Björk in “No Music For Genocide”, Boycotting Israel “No Music For Genocide” was launched in September this year, and news of Iceland’s Björk joining the boycott made headlines. This means that Sigur Rós music will not be available on streaming platforms in Israel, just like the music of Björk, Lorde, My Bloody Valentine and more. Björk Supports Calls For Iceland Boycotting Eurovision Over the weekend, Björk shared an interview with another local music legend and Eurovision fanboy no. 1, Páll Óskar, where he urged the National Broadcaster RÚV to not participate in Eurovision this year, after news broke that Israel would be allowed to participate in the competition next year, leading countries such as Spain, Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia to announce they would not participate in the competition in 2026. Politics Gearing Up For Municipality Elections Next Spring A new poll shows that only 2% of the people of Reykjavík want the current mayor, Heiða Björk Hilmarsdóttir, to continue as mayor. Some names have been tossed around for the upcoming elections in Reykjavík, such as Aðalsteinn Leifsson, the former state negotiator, regional Chief-of-Police Úlfar Lúðvíksson, and Gísli Marteinn Baldursson, a veteran of city policies who has been hosting a popular TV show on the National Broadcaster RÚV for years now. Parties like the Center Party, are looking to gain seats in upcoming elections around all of Iceland, cashing in on their good poll numbers recently. Government’s New Transportation Infrastructure Plan Announced To Little Fanfare Last week Iceland’s government announced a new plan for transportation infrastructure in Iceland. The minister responsible for the new transportation plan, Eyjólfur Ármannsson, got a lot of flack for not having read the report the plan is based on. People in the Eastfjords were unhappy, because the next road tunnel project is not planned for that region, an the city of Reykjavík complained that there are now plans to build up infrastructure around the City Airport, which ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SHOW SUPPORT Support the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://grapevine.is/high-five-club/ Or donate to the Grapevine here: https://support.grapevine.is You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine’s goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland’s most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it’s not sponsored content. www.grapevine.is

    1h 6m

  3. DEC 1

    Helipad, Tourists Rescued In The Highlands, Former First Lady #Mugged & More

    Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are:  Icelandic Made A Must For Hospital Staff All staff at Landspítali are expected to be able to speak Icelandic according to the hospital’s newly approved language policy. These requirements will first be applied to nurses, nursing assistants, and medical residents. Better Icelandic proficiency means higher pay. New Hospital Being Built, But Will There Be A Helipad? The most expensive building in Iceland’s history, a new hospital in Reykjavík, will be opened in 2030 according to plans. However, issues remained unsolved regarding a helipad for said hospital. In an interview this weekend, minister of Health Alma Möller told RÚV that the plan is either to build a helipad on top of one of the buildings of the new hospital, or to acquire a plot of land near by the hospital, probably near the BSÍ Bus Terminal, for that purpose.  Two Tourists Rescued  North Of Torfajökull  On Saturday night two tourists, driving god-knows-how  north of Torfajökull in the Icelandic highlands, got their Suzuki Jimny stuck in the river Dalakvísl. The two SARS teams sent to rescue them took eight hours to do so. 40 Years Of TV News On Weekends Over Sýn, which used to be known as Stöð 2 until recently, announced Friday, that the TV news on their station would be no more. The network, founded in 1986 as the first non-state owned TV station, has been facing financial troubles recently, as have many media companies. The announcement , that also brought with it news of layoffs, added to an ongoing discussion about the dire financial straits media companies in Iceland find themselves in. Thanksgiving Is Becoming Popular In Iceland RÚV reported that more turkey is being sold at this time of year than before and that celebrating Thanksgiving seems like it is becoming something Icelanders do, along with celebrating Halloween.  Dorrit Moussaief Mugged In London Former First Lady of Iceland, Dorrit Moussaief, was, according to her own instagram #mugged in #London, this weekend, calling the incident, appropriately, a #crime.  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SHOW SUPPORT Support the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://grapevine.is/high-five-club/ Or donate to the Grapevine here: https://support.grapevine.is You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine’s goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland’s most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it’s not sponsored content. www.grapevine.is

    59 min

  4. NOV 24

    Physicians, Investigating Investigations, Hot Dog TikTok, North Korea

    Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Grapevine Editor-In-Chief Bart Cameron, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are:  Too Few Physicians In North Iceland It was reported before the weekend, that the Akureyri hospital in north of Iceland was hardly operational because too few physicians currently work there. Three doctors quit because they were overworked. The situation is also connected to how hospitals and health clinics have been staffed over the past decade or so, which is to hire doctors as  short term contractors, a practice which has turned out not to be strictly legal. Staffing generally is a problem in the Icelandic health care system, and the Reykjavík hospitals have been running in an emergency mode for over a year. Half of Municipalities In Iceland Without Policy Towards Disabled People Fifteen years ago, municipalities in Iceland took over responsibility for services to disabled people. Since then, only half of them have even taken up a policy regarding those services. This has in legalistic terms, not been a problem, but just recently Althingi ratified the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which in turn will make some of those lackluster policies regarding disabled persons, illegal. 55% of Icelanders Want An Investigation Of The State’s Special Prosecutor  The office of Special Prosecutor, setup after the 2008 economic collapse, has had tumultuous moments, and now 55% of Icelanders want that particular office, to be investigated. This recalls some parliamentarians interest in investigating the investigation committee that wrote a report for Althingi in 2010, on the reasons for the economic collapse. Investigate the investigation is a perpetual motion machine, of sorts. CEO Of Beloved Hot Dog Stand Shares Questionable Videos On TikTok Local news outlet Heimildin reported on Bæjarins Bestu CEO having reposted a TikTok video which defends the actions of one Adolf Hitler. The CEO in question said he did not remember reposting the video. North Korea Is A Prosperous Country According To One Icelander Last week it saw a report on Icelander Kristinn Hannesson, who visited Nort ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SHOW SUPPORT Support the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://grapevine.is/high-five-club/ Or donate to the Grapevine here: https://support.grapevine.is You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine’s goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland’s most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it’s not sponsored content. www.grapevine.is

    1h 6m

  5. NOV 17

    Icelandic Language Day, Organized Crime, Pets, Mosquitos & more.

    Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are:  Icelandic Language Day Took place on November 16th. The celebrations sometimes felt a bit like a premature wake. Former PM Katrín Jakobsdóttir said in an interview - in English - with The Guardian, “Having this language that is spoken by so very few, I feel that we carry a huge responsibility to actually preserve that. I do not personally think we are doing enough to do that,” her co-author Ragnar Jónasson, in the same interview said “We are just a generation away from losing this language because all of these huge changes”.  Organized Crime Doubles In A Decade A new report released Friday on organized crime in Iceland. So Groups that engage in organized crime are now twice as many as they were ten years ago. These groups often have international connections,  they pray on immigrants, refugees and young people and engage in prostitution, human trafficking, theft, money laundering and drug trafficking. Pets Now Legal In Apartment Buildings Before, if you wanted to keep a pet in an apartment building, you had to ask permission from other residents. This is no longer the case after a new law was passed, leaving many an allergic person, scratching more than their respective heads. Mosquito takeover continues Last week it was reported that more mosquitoes had now been found in Iceland. This time in South Iceland, in a horse stables, and off a different type than those found earlier this fall in Hvalfjörður.  Centre Party embraces “Great Replacement Theory” Snorri Másson of The Centrist Party wrote an Op-Ed for Viðskiptablaðið stating that Icelanders were facing an imminent threat of being replaced by immigration. An article on Visir.is with a picture of Snorri holding one of his kids by at the podium of a Center Party event, then caused a stir.  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SHOW SUPPORT Support the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://grapevine.is/high-five-club/ Or donate to the Grapevine here: https://support.grapevine.is You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine’s goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland’s most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it’s not sponsored content. www.grapevine.is

    50 min

  6. NOV 10

    Airwaves, Time, Racism, Lava Bailouts, Mexican Standoff & Listener's Questions

    Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are:  Iceland Airwaves 2025 Iceland Airwaves 2025 took place last weekend with hundreds of artist performing over three day in 8 venues in downtown Reykjavík. The Reykjavík Grapevine reviewed every single show. Check out the coverage on our website.  Time Delay Our neighbors in Greenland are changing their clock in order for people to squeeze more sunlight out of the day. This has woken up the discussion in Iceland from a sleep of some years. Should we move the clock, or not? SARS And Racism Iceland’s SARS have been doing their annual fundraising rounds of selling the so called “Neyðarkall” or “Emergency man”. This year the man of emergency brown of color, in memory of one Sigurður Kristofer, who tragically suffered a fatal accident last year, while training with SARS. This has sparked some negative discussions, or at least according to the father of one 19 year old SARS volunteer. Otherwise no report of people complaining about the color of the man of emergency have been reported, but this seems to have sparked enough outrage that the man of emergency has been selling like never before. Berm-in Out The Private Sector, Iceland’s minister of finance, discussed the idea that perhaps the privately owned energy company HS Okra, who’s Svartsengi powerplant has been saved fro lava by very expensive efforts of building berms, paid for by the State, should share in the costs. The CEO of HS Orka has found this suggestion to be “surprising”.  Mexican standoff between Minister of Justice and Chief of Police We reported on questionable and costly outsourcing of the Chief of the Icelandic police last week. What has ensued is a stare down, where Minister Of Justice is hoping the Chief of Police will resign. Which then actually ended while we were recording this show, with the Chief of Police stepping down. Listener’s questions We also answer some of these. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SHOW SUPPORT Support the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://grapevine.is/high-five-club/ Or donate to the Grapevine here: https://support.grapevine.is You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine’s goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland’s most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it’s not sponsored content. www.grapevine.is

    52 min

  7. NOV 3

    Snowpocalypse, housing Policy, humans outnumber sheep in Iceland and more

    Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are:  Snowpocalypse, Iceland Version Tuesday saw a record snowfall in Reykjavík, for October that is, breaking a record from 1921, with 27 centimeters of snow in one day.  The snowfall resulted in massive traffic disruptions in Reykjavík, both because of the copious amounts of snow, and because  not all drivers had managed to change to winter tires. We used to think Icelanders could drive in snow. That myth has now been shattered. National Police Commissioner Spends 160 Million ISK On “Advice” From A Single Person The National Police Commissioner, Sigríður Björk Guðjónsdóttir, has found herself in potentially job ending circumstances, after RÚV revelled she had been buying the services from a single company over the past 5 years, for 160 million ISK, which is roughly 2.7 million ISK a month.  The company in question, Intra, is a single person operation whose only employee is a Þórunn Óðinsdóttir. The tasks she did ranged from buying office furniture to introducing “lean management” to the police offices, to helping move the office of the Police Commissioner between locations.  Government Announces Housing Policy Plans As often discussed on this podcast, the Icelandic housing market is fucked. Last week the government announced their ideas to “fix” the market. These include; Building 4000 apartments in a new suburb in Reykjavík, deregulating building regulations, giving funding to non-profit, housing companies. The government also plans to tax empty building plots, decrease AirBnB availability, increased taxes on rent and sell of copious amount of state owned real estate.  Fewer Sheep Than Humans In Iceland, For First Time Ever The Icelandic sheep population has dropped by a 100.000 in the past 10 years, meaning that there are now “only” 350.000 sheep in Iceland. This also means that there are fewer sheep than people in Iceland, which has never ever happened before in the history of Iceland. Former Prince Andrew And Naming Royals In Icelandic Iceland has the somewhat idiosyncratic policy of giving fo ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SHOW SUPPORT Support the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://grapevine.is/high-five-club/ Or donate to the Grapevine here: https://support.grapevine.is You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine’s goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland’s most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it’s not sponsored content. www.grapevine.is

    53 min

  8. OCT 27

    Listener questions, winter arrives, fining the bankers & police raids

    Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: Snow And Ice Expected All Over Iceland Consider this a weather warning. We’re expecting a lot of snow in Iceland in the next 24-48 hours, with snowfall up to 20-30 centimeters, in the south and east of Iceland, including Reykjavik Stuck In The Highlands (With Your Mom) A mother and son, who arrived in decent weather at Landmannalaugar in the Icelandic highlands this Saturday, woke up yesterday in deep snow, rendering them stuck, far from civilization. They had to be towed from there by SARS.   The Last Criminal Case Following the 2008 Economic Collapse, Resolved. The last Icelandic criminal case in relations to the 2008 banking collapse was resolved in 2021. However, one case in Luxembourg remained and that case was finally finalized with a settlement in a Luxembourg court last week. The case in question, called the Lindsor case, had been under investigation for 15 years and had to do with the bank Kaupthing buying up bonds from Kaupthing’s employees, just days before the bank collapsed in October 2008. The Icelandic Housing Market Freezes Over Following a recent Supreme Court ruling on inflation indexed housing loans, all the major Icelandic banks stopped issuing such loans. The result is, at least temporarily, that very few Icelanders can actually take out a hosing loan. Police raids the wrong address, Twice.  Twice this year, the police entered the wrong house to perform a search. 00:34:30 Question Time We respond to some listeners questions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SHOW SUPPORT Support the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/ You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ WHO ARE WE? The Reykjavík Grapevine is an alternative monthly magazine, bringing you all the news and views on I ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SHOW SUPPORT Support the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://grapevine.is/high-five-club/ Or donate to the Grapevine here: https://support.grapevine.is You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast. The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine’s goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland’s most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it’s not sponsored content. www.grapevine.is

    1h 12m
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4.9
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup is a weekly news oriented podcast show hosted by a rotating cast of staff members and hangers on, with special expert guests. Highlighting the broad strokes of Icelandic news and the local views.For more about life, travel and entertainment in Iceland, go to www.grapevine.is

Information

  • Creator
    The Reykjavík Grapevine
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Reykjavík Grapevine
  • Show Website
    Iceland Weekly News Roundup

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