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Labour To Unveil Key General Election Pledges

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 14 Maret 2015 | 18.25

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Ed Miliband is due to launch Labour's General Election pledge card, containing promises on the economy, living standards, the NHS, immigration and tuition fees.

The Labour leader will unveil the list of vows, which the party hopes will simplify its message to voters, at a pre-election rally of more than 1,500 party members and supporters in Birmingham.

The five pledges are:

:: Economy -  Labour claims it will balance the books and cut the deficit every year.

:: Living standards - Boosted by Mr Miliband's pledge to freeze energy bills until 2017.

:: NHS - Labour says it will recruit 20,000 more nurses and 8,000 more GPs.

:: Immigration - People who come to the UK will not be able to claim benefits for at least two years.

:: Young people - Tuition fees cut to £6,000, more apprenticeships and smaller class sizes.

Launching the card, Mr Miliband will say the choice at this election is not simply between parties and leaders, but between different visions of our country.

"The choice is between the pessimists or the optimists, fear or hope, the few or the many, the good of some or the good of all," he is expected to say.

"Today I urge the British people to choose optimism, to choose a country for the many, to choose the good of all, to choose hope - and to recognise that when working people succeed, nothing can stop us as a country."

On the economy, the Labour leader will say: "The Tories promised to eliminate the deficit and they have failed. They've made the cuts but they haven't cut the deficit as they promised."

And on living standards, he will say: "We will stand up to the big energy companies."

On the immigration pledge, a response to pressure from Labour MPs who fear damage by UKIP, Mr Miliband will say: "We will not countenance systems and rules that damage the interests of all those people working hard and trying to get on.

"That's why we say we will have fair rules on immigration. People will have to wait for at least two years until they can claim benefits."

It is not the first time Labour has unveiled a pledge card. Tony Blair and John Prescott did so successfully in 1997, winning a landslide general election victory.

But the pledges were very different in 1997. First was cutting class sizes, second was quicker punishment for young offenders, third was cutting NHS waiting lists, while getting under-25s off benefit and no rise in income tax made up the other two.

Responding to Mr Miliband's speech, Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps said: "The real choice at this election is between the stability and strong leadership of David Cameron and the Conservatives working to a long-term economic plan, securing a better future for Britain.

"Or Ed Miliband carried into Downing Street in the pocket of Alex Salmond and the SNP - meaning more borrowing, more debt, higher taxes and weaker defences."


18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Clarkson Hints At Possible Top Gear Exit

Jeremy Clarkson has hinted he may be ready to leave Top Gear after being suspended over a bust-up with a producer.

Writing in his column for the Sun newspaper he appeared to refer to himself as a "dinosaur", explaining that "the day must come when you have to wave goodbye to the big monsters". 

He wrote: "Nature made a mistake when it invented the dinosaur. It was too big, too violent ...

"All the dinosaurs died and now, years later, no-one mourns their passing.

"These big, imposing creatures have no place in a world which has moved on."

Clarkson, 54, has been suspended over a row in which he allegedly tried to hit a producer, named in reports as Oisin Tymon. 

A petition calling for Clarkson to be reinstated has reached more than 840,000 signatures.

But the controversial presenter wrote: "You can start as many campaigns as you like and call on the support of politicians from all sides, but the day must come when you have to wave goodbye to the big monsters, and move on. 

"We lose one animal and get another. The world turns."

He goes on to say: "As you may have heard, I've been suspended by the BBC following a fracas at a North Yorkshire hotel.

"I don't intend to dwell here on what happened then or what will happen in the future. I'm sure you're as fed up with the story as I am.

"One of the things which has cheered me is how many people have expressed support in the last few days. I'm touched and grateful."

Clarkson is being summoned to appear before a BBC disciplinary panel that will decide his fate.

The panel will be chaired by Ken MacQuarrie, the head of BBC Scotland who conducted the investigation into Newsnight's false expose of Lord McAlpine.

The corporation has not revealed when or where the hearing will take place.

:: Read Sky News' interview with a family who say Clarkson launched into an expletive-ridden rant at the producer.

According to reports, he lashed out because he was unable to order a steak at the Simonstone Hall Hotel near Hawes, North Yorkshire, where the production team were staying.

The Sun and Daily Mirror said the hotel's chef had gone home by the time they arrived and they were only offered cold meat platters, although Clarkson had ordered a £21.95 steak.

The papers quoted a source who claimed Clarkson blamed Mr Tymon for not arranging hot food and said there had been a "scuffle".


18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

At Least 8 Killed By Powerful Cyclone Pam

Powerful winds from Cyclone Pam have caused widespread destruction in the Vanuatu islands, killing at least eight people, aid officials have said.

Unconfirmed reports say dozens more people are feared dead.

The Category Fire storm struck the South Pacific archipelago with winds of up to 167mph, threatening more than 267,000 residents.

The storm blew roofs off houses, uprooted trees and downed power lines.

Officials in the capital Port Vila say there is no power or running water.

Vanuatu is about a quarter of the way from Australia to Hawaii and the population is spread over 65 islands. About 47,000 people live in the capital.

There are reports of entire villages being destroyed in more remote areas, according to Chloe Morrison, a World Vision emergency communications officer.

"It's still really quite dangerous outside. Most people are still hunkering down," she said.

"The damage is quite extensive in Port Vila but there are so many more vulnerable islands.

"I can't even imagine what it's like in those vulnerable communities."

Australia is preparing to send a crisis response team to Vanuatu if needed, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.

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  1. Gallery: Red Alert In Vanuatu Ahead Of Cyclone Pam

    A map showing the location of Vanuatu

A satellite image of Cyclone Pam. Pic: Japan Meteorological Agency

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18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Family: Clarkson Said He'd Have Colleague Fired

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 13 Maret 2015 | 18.25

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson is facing new allegations over the "fracas" at a Yorkshire Dales hotel that led to his suspension by the BBC on Monday.

Four members of the same family who overheard the row say Clarkson told a colleague he would have him fired because there was no hot food at the end of a day's filming.

The Ward family from Leeds told Sky News that Clarkson ranted for up to half-an-hour at the Simonstone Hotel near Hawes and say they were shocked at his language and the way he treated his colleague.

They also claimed he criticised the BBC, saying it was "getting worse".

Sue Ward, 54, a medical receptionist, described Clarkson's behaviour towards the unnamed employee as shocking.

"He said he hadn't done his job properly, it was ridiculous that there was nothing to eat, obviously there was lots of expletives in between all this, and that he would be losing his job, he would see to it that he would lose his job," she said.

"Even someone who's really inept at their job should be told properly, in a proper manner," she said

"But the fact that it was in a public place, I didn't want to listen to that language."

Sue's brother in law Bob Ward, 60, said Clarkson arrived with his co-presenters by helicopter at around 9.30pm and refused to have his picture taken.

"I said 'Any chance of a selfie Jeremy?' and he said 'No, not with the day I've had today'."

Within minutes, Bob's wife Denise, 51, said Clarkson was shouting and swearing and had spoiled the evening they had been looking forward to.

"We were sort of, 'Ooh, celebrities, will we see them?' and then it was just the shock of how can someone be so rude?" she said.

"It was just the swearing and the length of time and this poor guy that he was ripping into," she added.

Top Gear is the BBC's biggest global brand, worth more than £50m a year, but with Clarkson suspended the next three episodes have been scrapped.

The only Top Gear fan among the Ward family, Sue's husband Alan, 56, agreed with the three quarters of a million people who have signed an online petition for Clarkson to keep his job.

"He's brash, we know what he's like, he's been in trouble before and I think he'll be in trouble again," he said.

"I think he'll continue to do that job because without Clarkson there's no Top Gear."

Sky News has approached Clarkson for a comment but he has not responded.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Clarkson's Twitter profile has changed from saying, "I am a presenter on the BBC2 motoring show, Top Gear" to "I am probably a presenter on the BBC2 motoring show, Top Gear".

One fan responded by tweeting "brilliant", while an opponent wrote "You'll soon be changing the verb tense in your profile then?"


18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Service Marks End Of Afghanistan Conflict

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

A memorial service is taking place at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the end of the Afghanistan conflict.

Veterans of the campaign as well as next of kin of the 453 service personnel killed in the 13-year war are attending the service.

They are joined by the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, who himself served two tours in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister David Cameron and other senior political and military figures are also service.

A Memorial Cross made from used shell cases will be processed through the cathedral by representatives from the RAF, Royal Navy and Army.

It will be blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury before it is taken to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire as part of a permanent installation.

After the service, a parade of servicemen will march through the streets of London ending at the Guildhall in the city.

It will be made up of veterans representing many parts of the military.

There will also be a flypast of aircraft that flew in the conflict: a Sea King helicopter, two Chinooks and two Apaches, followed by an RAF C-130 Hercules and two Tornado fast jets.

Various members of the Royal Family will then host three receptions at the Honourable Artillery Company, Horse Guards Parade, and the Guildhall.

A service will also be held in Kabul at the same time.

Following the announcement of the service last month, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said he hoped people throughout the UK would join together in "remembering those we have lost and recognising the extraordinary courage and dedication of all those who served".

He said: "They leave a proud legacy - terrorists have been prevented from using Afghanistan as a safe haven for attacks on our streets and it is a safer and more prosperous country."

The final chapter in the conflict came last October when the last British troops were airlifted from Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, leaving just a few hundred personnel in advisory, logistical and support roles to help the Afghan army.


18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mass Surveillance: Intelligence Staff Sacked

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 12 Maret 2015 | 18.25

A number of British intelligence staff have been sacked for inappropriately accessing personal information, it has emerged.

The revelation came as the results of a long-awaited report by Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) were published.

The inquiry recommended a single law be introduced to regulate the UK's intelligence agencies and their powers to snoop on private communications.

The ISC report concludes that the legal framework governing GCHQ, MI5 and MI6 is "unnecessarily complicated" and "lacks transparency".

But the inquiry found the intelligence agencies were not trying to cheat the law through mass surveillance programmes.

When asked by Sky News for further details about why intelligence staff were sacked, the committee's spokeswoman MP Hazel Blears replied: "I think we say in the report that these incidents have been extremely rare.

"We also recommend in our report that these matters should be a criminal offence because we regard this as extremely serious indeed.

"If you're trying to get public confidence around privacy then if someone breaches the rules then there ought to be severe sanctions for that kind of breach.

"We're not in a position today to give you the detailed information ... but I think the fact the committee recommends it be a criminal offence gives an indication of how seriously we take it."

The committee said thousands of private communications are read by GCHQ spies on a daily basis using bulk interception methods.

In a section of the report that is heavily redacted, the committee said it is "unavoidable that some innocent communications may have been incidentally collected".

It says only a tiny percentage of all web traffic is selected to be read by intelligence analysts, but that it amounts to "around *** thousand items a day".

Ms Blears said: "There is a legitimate public expectation of openness and transparency in today's society, and the security and intelligence agencies are not exempt from that.

"While we accept that they need to operate in secret if they are to be able to protect us from those who are plotting in secret to harm us, the Government must make every effort to ensure that information is placed in the public domain when it is safe to do so.

"This report is an important first step toward greater transparency.

"Nevertheless, there is more that could and should be done.

"This is essential to improve public understanding and retain confidence in the vital work of the intelligence and security agencies."

The report was announced after American intelligence operative Edward Snowden revealed details of mass surveillance by GCHQ and its US counterpart, the National Security Agency (NSA).

The ISC is now without its former chair Sir Malcolm Rifkind after he was forced to step down following the cash-for-access controversy.


18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Two Police Officers Shot In Ferguson Protest

Two Police Officers Shot In Ferguson Protest

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By Sky News US Team

Two officers have been shot during a protest outside the police headquarters in Ferguson, Missouri that turned violent.

Officers, many in riot gear, formed a guard around the police headquarters and witnesses have told how they heard four shots and saw two policemen fall to the ground.

Immediately, other officers drew their weapons as the two on the ground were dragged away.

Fighting also erupted among the crowd of demonstrators, with television footage showing people throwing punches.

The demonstration outside the police station and court building was taking place shortly after the resignation of police Chief Thomas Jackson, who quit following a scathing government report that exposed racial biases in his department and a profit-driven court system.

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  1. Gallery: Violence On Streets Of Ferguson, Missouri

    Fury has erupted into fighting on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, where two police officers have been shot during a demonstration

The city's police chief Thomas Jackson quit his post following a report that exposed racism in his department and a profit-driven court system

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Protesters had been calling for Jackson's removal since the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white Ferguson police officer on August 9 last year

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Following Jackson's resignation, crowds gathered outside the City of Ferguson Police Department, quickly turning violent overnight

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Before Jackson, city manager John Shaw and then Municipal Court judge Ronald Brockmeyer stepped down from their jobs

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Two Police Officers Shot In Ferguson Protest

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

By Sky News US Team

Two officers have been shot during a protest outside the police headquarters in Ferguson, Missouri that turned violent.

Officers, many in riot gear, formed a guard around the police headquarters and witnesses have told how they heard four shots and saw two policemen fall to the ground.

Immediately, other officers drew their weapons as the two on the ground were dragged away.

Fighting also erupted among the crowd of demonstrators, with television footage showing people throwing punches.

The demonstration outside the police station and court building was taking place shortly after the resignation of police Chief Thomas Jackson, who quit following a scathing government report that exposed racial biases in his department and a profit-driven court system.

1/12

  1. Gallery: Violence On Streets Of Ferguson, Missouri

    Fury has erupted into fighting on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, where two police officers have been shot during a demonstration

The city's police chief Thomas Jackson quit his post following a report that exposed racism in his department and a profit-driven court system

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Protesters had been calling for Jackson's removal since the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white Ferguson police officer on August 9 last year

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Following Jackson's resignation, crowds gathered outside the City of Ferguson Police Department, quickly turning violent overnight

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Before Jackson, city manager John Shaw and then Municipal Court judge Ronald Brockmeyer stepped down from their jobs

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18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Scrap Race Discrimination Laws, Says Farage

Nigel Farage, David Cameron and Ed Miliband were embroiled in a Twitter spat following the UKIPs comments that race equality laws should be scrapped.

The UKIP leader said race discrimination laws in the workplace were no longer necessary and should be abolished.

His comments drew fire from David Cameron on Twitter who accused him of "attention seeking" and Ed Miliband who called Mr Farage's comments "dangerous".

Mr Farage immediately returned fire accusing Mr Cameron of not caring and Mr Miliband of believing only in bureaucrasy.

Speaking in an interview with the former equalities chief Trevor Phillips, Mr Farage said the worries over discrimination by employers would have been valid 40 years ago but not now.

Mr Farage, who described UKIP as "colour blind", said: "I think the situation that we now have, where an employer is not allowed to choose between a British-born person and somebody from Poland, is a ludicrous state of affairs.

"I would argue that the law does need changing, and that if an employer wishes to choose, or you can use the word 'discriminate' if you want to, but wishes to choose to employ a British-born person, they should be allowed to do so."

Mr Farage was described as "wrong and desperate for attention" by number 10 and was accused of "breathtaking ignorance" by Labour. Nick Clegg also said he disagreed with Mr Farage's comments.

David Cameron tweeted: "Nigel Farage is attention seeking. The laws protect people from racial discrimination. It's deeply concerning he doesn't understand that."

Mr Farage immediately hit back posting: ".@David_Cameron The people the law doesn't protect are British workers, black or white. Disturbing, though unsurprising, that u don't care."

Ed Miliband tweeted: "I think Nigel Farage's comments today are wrong, divisive and dangerous. The laws we have on equality represent our values as a country."

To which Mr Farage replied: ".@Ed_Miliband The laws don't represent these values, Ed. The British people do. We believe in Britain. You believe in bureaucracy."

During the Channel 4 interview Mr Farage also said people were more worried there were Muslims who wanted to form a "fifth column and kill us" and that there had not previously been a group who wanted to "change who we are".

He said: "So don't be surprised if there isn't a slight increase in people's worries and concerns.

"You know, when you've got British, when you've got people, born and bred in Cardiff, with British passports, going out to fight for Isis, don't be surprised if there isn't an uptick in concern."

He added: "There is an especial problem with some of the people who've come here and who are of the Muslim religion who don't want to become part of our culture.

"So there is no previous experience, in our history, of a migrant group that comes to Britain, that fundamentally wants to change who we are and what we are.

"That is, I think, above everything else, what people are really concerned about."

Shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said: "This is one of the most shocking things I have ever heard from a mainstream politician and demonstrates breathtaking ignorance.

"We have made huge progress on tackling racial inequality and discrimination in this country, partly because of Labour's strong anti-discrimination laws, but things are still far from perfect."

It comes as Gillian Duffy, who famously tackled Gordon Brown about the immigration issue during the 2010 election campaign, told Sky News she would be voting for Labour and not for UKIP.


18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Was Man Murdered For Exposing Paedophile Ring?

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 11 Maret 2015 | 18.25

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs & Education Editor

Police investigating Westminster-linked child abuse are examining whether a man was murdered because he was about to expose a paedophile ring operating within a London council.

Sky News has obtained details of an internal investigation documenting sexual assaults and abuse carried out by officers within Lambeth Council in the 1990s.

The unpublished report reveals claims from those within the council that Bulic Forsythe, a manager in the housing department whose murder sparked a nationwide appeal in 1993, may have discovered council property was being used to carry out abuse.

That abuse involved senior figures in Lambeth who were using council premises for the rape of women and children, according to the report's remarkable findings.

They used the basement of Lambeth's housing headquarters, the report says, because "sexual assault could be performed without fear of interruption by other staff".

A senior staff member is accused of watching material with "sadistic, bestial and paedophile themes" which "may have been home-produced by staff of people with whom they associated".

One female staff member was subject to a rape on council premises "of horrendous proportions", such that she was still suffering from serious injuries one month on.

She described being raped alongside children and animals by senior figures in the council.

Although the report, which was prompted by alleged breaches of the council's equal opportunities policy, recommends a criminal investigation, its findings were never formally investigated by the police at the time.

Instead, the perpetrators within the council were dismissed from their positions. The report has never before been made public.

It also reveals that colleagues of Bulic Forsythe, whose family have long believed he was murdered to prevent him from blowing the whistle on events at Lambeth, also feared he had been killed as part of a cover up.

"The murder of Bulic Forsythe was seen by some witnesses as a possible outcome for anyone who strayed too far in their investigation or for those who asked too many questions," the report says.

"The panel heard evidence about Bulic Forsythe whilst he was working in social services visiting Hambrook House and speaking to a colleague and telling her that he was going to 'spill the beans'.

"Three days later he was killed," the report says.

Sky News showed the report to Kiddist Forsythe, 21, the daughter of Bulic Forsythe, who was born three months after his murder.

She said: "Some of the stuff that's in here, I honestly can't believe happened. I was very shocked.

"It's really clear the fear that operated in the council - it seems from the report my father felt that fear," she went on, adding he was scared that if he moved jobs "people in power could still get to him".

Sky News contacted a number of people who held senior positions in Lambeth at the time of the alleged incidents. All said the council had elements of dysfunctionality and was plagued by corruption and fear.

Dr Nigel Goldie, former assistant director of social services, said: "There were often rather strange things happening. Things going on behind the scenes that were never properly explained or known about.

"This was in the context of an organisation that displayed dysfunctional features."

There has been a renewed focus on events in Lambeth in the 1980s and 1990s amid growing evidence of a series of paedophile rings operating across England involving the abuse of children in care homes, in some cases allegedly by politicians and other senior figures.

The Metropolitan Police, which has been investigating events in Lambeth at the time under Operation Trinity, said it was considering the report as part of its investigation.

Detective Inspector Sean Crotty said: "This report provides the context to people who were abused in Lambeth.

"What we need is for people who were children at the time and who were abused to come forward."

Lambeth Council said it is supporting Operation Trinity and is working closely with specialist police investigators.

A spokesperson said: "Lambeth Council is determined to do all that we can to support this renewed push to tackle the issue, and ensure that offenders who had previously escaped justice are now held to account."


18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Reinstate Clarkson' Petition Tops 250,000

'Reinstate Clarkson' Petition Tops 250,000

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

An online petition calling for the BBC to reinstate Jeremy Clarkson has been signed by more than 250,000 people.

The Top Gear presenter was suspended and the show put on hold after he allegedly tried to hit one of the producers at the end of filming in Newcastle.

The producer involved in what the BBC called a "fracas", said to have been over a lack of catering, has been named by the Daily Mirror as Oisin Tymon, 36.

The paper quotes a source as saying Clarkson "snapped" when he discovered no food had been laid on.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Following a fracas with a BBC producer, Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended pending an investigation.

"No one else has been suspended. Top Gear will not be broadcast this Sunday. The BBC will be making no further comment at this time."

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  1. Gallery: Top Gear In Production In North Yorkshire

These photographs taken last week show the Top Gear team filming in the Yorkshire Dales near Hawes. Pictures: Thomas Beresford @ North Yorkshire Snow Updates www.facebook.com/NorthYorkshireWeatherUpdates

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'Reinstate Clarkson' Petition Tops 250,000

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

An online petition calling for the BBC to reinstate Jeremy Clarkson has been signed by more than 250,000 people.

The Top Gear presenter was suspended and the show put on hold after he allegedly tried to hit one of the producers at the end of filming in Newcastle.

The producer involved in what the BBC called a "fracas", said to have been over a lack of catering, has been named by the Daily Mirror as Oisin Tymon, 36.

The paper quotes a source as saying Clarkson "snapped" when he discovered no food had been laid on.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Following a fracas with a BBC producer, Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended pending an investigation.

"No one else has been suspended. Top Gear will not be broadcast this Sunday. The BBC will be making no further comment at this time."

1/17

  1. Gallery: Top Gear In Production In North Yorkshire

These photographs taken last week show the Top Gear team filming in the Yorkshire Dales near Hawes. Pictures: Thomas Beresford @ North Yorkshire Snow Updates www.facebook.com/NorthYorkshireWeatherUpdates

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18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More
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