Month: March 2024

Bangladesh MEA

We Have Asked All Indians To Evacuate Myanmar: MEA

By LokMarg

Amid the deteriorating security situation in the Rakhine state of Myanmar, the Ministry of External Affairs said that it has told all the Indians to evacuate and move away from there.

“We had issued an advisory for the Rakhine State, where the situation there is very delicate, the security situation has deteriorated. We told all Indian nationals to evacuate themselves and move away from there and we also told our nationals who are there or otherwise from anywhere else not to travel to that part,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a media briefing on Friday.

“The situation in Myanmar remains a cause of concern because of the deterioration in the security situation,” he said.

The MEA spokesperson said that there is a lot of fighting happening there, underscoring that the security situation is not conducive at all in Rakhine State.

Asserting that India wants peace and stability in Myanmar, Jaiswal asserted by saying, “There is a lot of fighting happening there, and the security situation is not conducive, but we call upon all sides.”

“We want peace and stability in the country, we want constructive dialogue in the country, and we want inclusive federal democracy to be established through dialogue and through constructive engagement…” he went on to say.

In February, India issued an advisory for Indian citizens, advising them not to travel to the Rakhine state of Myanmar amid a deteriorating security situation.

The Ministry of External Affairs cited the deteriorating security situation, disruption of means of telecommunications, including landlines, and severe scarcity of essential commodities in Rakhine State.

“In view of the deteriorating security situation, disruption of means of telecommunications, including landlines, and severe scarcity of essential commodities, all Indian citizens are advised not to travel to the Rakhine State of Myanmar,” the MEA advisory had stated.

It also advised the Indian citizens who are in Rakhine State to leave the state immediately.

Notably, a fresh uptick was noticed in incidents of violence in Myanmar recently. This came after three ethnic minority forces launched a coordinated offensive last October, capturing some towns and military posts. The experts called it the ‘biggest test’ for junta since taking power in 2021.

This also led to a huge influx of people from Myanmar into the state of Mizoram along the Indo-Myanmar border after the Myanmar army launched airstrikes in the bordering areas.

Myanmar marked the third anniversary of the military coup on February 1, where the military seized power in a coup three years ago. (ANI)

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ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024

ICC Mandates Use Of Stop-Clock In White-Ball Internationals

By LokMarg

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced that they have mandated the use of stop-clocks in between overs in limited-overs international matches, starting with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA.

“ICC Board also approved the playing conditions for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and announced the qualification process for the 2026 edition,” the council said in a statement on Friday.

The decisions were taken on Friday, following the ICC’s annual Board meetings. The stop-clock is set to become permanent in all ODIs and T20Is from June 2024, starting with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA.

Last year in December, ICC introduced a ‘stop clock’, on a trial basis, in full-member men’s ODI and T20I matches between December 2023 and April 2024 to speed up the pace of play in international cricket.

The results presented to the Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) showed that approximately 20 minutes had been saved per ODI match.

The feature will now be mandatory in all Full Member ODI and T20I matches beginning June 1, 2024. According to the stop clock rule, which was trialled in men’s white-ball cricket, the fielding side must begin a new over within 60 seconds of the previous over’s completion.

“An electronic clock, counting down from 60 to zero, will be displayed on the ground, with the onus on the third umpire to determine the start of the clock,” a statement from the ICC read.

The stop clock will restrict the amount of time taken between overs, meaning that the bowling team will need to be ready to bowl the first ball of their next over within 60 seconds of the previous over being completed. Failure to do so for the third time in an innings (following two warnings) will result in a five-run penalty being imposed against the fielding team.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, and the clock, if already started, can be cancelled in certain situations. These include:

“When a new batter comes to the wicket between overs. An official drinks interval has been called. The umpires have approved the onfield treatment of an injury to a batter or fielder. The time lost is for any circumstances beyond the control of the fielding side,” ICC said.

“The ICC Board and Committee meetings are the forum for us to discuss the long-term future of the international game and at this set of meetings, we spent a number of hours constructively considering the structure of the global cricket calendar. Whilst there are no easy answers, there is a commitment to exploring how context can be delivered and further options will be considered at upcoming meetings,” ICC Chair Greg Barclay said, according to the statement.

The tournament will kick off on June 1 and will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the US. (ANI)

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Navy Bangladeshi-flagged vessel off the coast of Somalia

Navy Thwarts Piracy Attack On Bangladesh-Flagged Vessel Off Sonalia Coast

By LokMarg

The Indian Navy swiftly responded to an attack by pirates on a Bangladeshi-flagged vessel off the coast of Somalia and deployed its assets to rescue crew members who were taken hostage.

The Bangladesh-flagged vessel MV Abdullah carrying coal was headed from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates when it came under attack by pirates.

“Indian Navy’s Mission deployed warship and an LRMP responded to a piracy attack on MV Abdullah, a Bangladeshi-flagged vessel, whilst enroute from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates,” the Indian Navy posted on X.

After receiving intimations, the Indian Navy immediately deployed a warship and the Long Range Maritime Patrol (LRMP). After locating the Bangladesh vessel, it tried to establish communication to ascertain the status of the ship’s crew members, but failed to recieve a response from the ship.

The mission-deployed warship on Maritime Security Operations, which had also been diverted, intercepted the hijacked MV Abdullah on Thursday morning.

The Indian Navy ascertained the safety of the crew on the vessel, who were all Bangladesh nationals held hostage by the armed pirates.

“Indian Navy warship continued to maintain in close vicinity of the MV till its arrival in the territorial waters of Somalia,” the statement added.

Earlier this month, the Indian Navy swiftly responded to a distress call from the Gulf of Aden where a merchant vessel caught fire after being hit by a missile, and rescued 21 crew members, including one Indian national.

The Indian Navy informed in a statement on Thursday that its naval warship, INS Kolkata, swiftly acted against Wednesday’s maritime incident and all the crew members were safely evacuated to Djibouti.

Last month, responding to the distress call from a fishing vessel, an Indian Naval ship mission that was deployed in the North Arabian Sea for maritime security operations, provided damage control assistance and undertook strengthening of the hull, rendering the boat safe for further transit.

The relentless and persistent efforts of the Indian Navy reaffirm its resolve towards the safety of all vessels and seafarers transiting in the region, the statement added. (ANI)

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President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Kapil Sibal Judge Population Ratio

SIT Should Be Constituted To Probe The Matter: Sibal

By LokMarg

A day after the Election Commission published the electoral bonds data shared by the State Bank of India, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday said that the court should constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Rajya Sabha MP asserted that the issue of electoral bonds would not be investigated by any probe agencies.

“ED and CBI are sleeping right now. If this thing happens against the Opposition they would have taken action. They have taken an overdose of sleeping pills. You must remember because I don’t, that someone (referring to PM Modi) said ‘na khaoga na khane dunga’. What happened to that? Someone (PM Modi) said that they would bring black money from the Swiss bank and transfer Rs 15 lakh each to people’s accounts, but it seems like they have transferred that money to their accounts. In my opinion, this will not be investigated by any probe agencies. Now the responsibility is on the Court to determine what will they do and what action they will take,” Sibal said.

He further said that the two major scams that have taken place in the country, are demonetization and another scam is of electoral bonds.

“Like the court done in the 2G case, where an SIT was made, in this case also an SIT should be constituted to probe the matter. We have to see how the law will see it now…It should also be found out who donated to the PM-CARES. It’s a matter of investigation which party got how many funds,” he added.

He further asserted that there are a lot of gaps in the investigation.

“There are a lot of gaps in investigation. It should also be investigated who all donated to the PM Cares fund. That’s too a big issue,” he added.

Meanwhile, data uploaded by the Election Commission of India on its website on Thursday showed that Future Gaming and Hotel Services, whose director is the lottery magnate Santiago Martin, is the top purchaser of electoral bonds having purchased bonds worth Rs 1368 crore. The data relates to a period from 2019-2024.

Megha Engineering Infrastructure Limited purchased bonds worth Rs 966 crores. As per the company website Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) is a major infrastructure company headquartered in Hyderabad, India. The company was established in 1989 and has made a name for itself in the manufacturing and engineering sectors.

Most prominent political parties have been beneficiaries of the scheme. They include the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Trinamool Congress, Telugu Desam Party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Shiv Sena, YSR Congress Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Aam Aadmi Party and Jana Sena Party.

Earlier on Thursday, the Election Commission uploaded the data on electoral bonds on its website as received from SBI with Future Gaming and Hotel Services and Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd among the top donors to political parties.

According to the data, some of the donors include Finolex Cables Ltd, Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, Edelweiss Housing Finance Ltd, GHCL Ltd, Jindal Poly Films Limited, ITC Limited and Vedanta Limited, Grasim Industries Limited PR, Piramal Capital and Housing Finance Limited, Piramal Enterprises Ltd, Muthoot Finance Limited, Pegasus Properties Private Limited, Bajaj Finance Ltd, Bharti Airtel Limited, Apollo Tyres Limited and SpiceJet Limited.

JK Cement Ltd, DLF Commercial Developers Limited, Avon Cycles Ltd, Zydus Healthcare Limited, Cipla Limited, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Mankind Pharma Limited, Qwik Supply Chain Private Limited, Haldia Energy Limited, Essel Mining and Industry Limited, Western UP Power Transmission Company Limited. Keventer Food Parks Limited, Jindal Steel and Power Limited, BG Shirke Construction Technology Pvt Ltd, Rungta Sons Pvt Ltd and Torrent Power Limited are also among donors, according to the data.

The poll panel issued a press note providing the link on which the data provided by the SBI can be accessed.

The poll panel uploaded details of electoral bonds submitted by the State Bank of India in two parts. The first part includes the name of the purchaser of the electoral bond, date, and denomination. The second list has the date of encashment, name of the political party and denomination.

The Election Commission issued a press note and referred to the directions of the Supreme Court while putting out the electoral bond data.

“In compliance of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directions, contained in its order dated Feb 15 and March 11, 2024 (in the matter of WPC NO.880 of 2017), the State Bank of India (SBI) had provided the data pertaining to the electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 12, 2024,” the press note said.

The poll panel said that it has “consistently and categorically weighed in favour of disclosure and transparency”, a position reflected in the proceedings of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and noted in the order also.

An electoral bond was an instrument in the nature of a promissory note or bearer bond that can be purchased by any individual, company, firm or association of persons provided the person or body is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India. The bonds were issued specifically for the purpose of contributing of funds to political parties.

These bonds were issued/purchased for any value, in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1,00,000, Rs 10,00,000 and Rs 1,00,00,000 from the specified branches of the State Bank of India (SBI). (ANI)

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The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA)

SC To Hear On March 19 Pleas Seeking Stay On CAA Rules 2024

By LokMarg

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on March 19 the pleas seeking a stay on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) Rules, 2024, which opened implementation of CAA granting speedy citizenship to members of persecuted minority in Islamic countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra accepted the request of senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing on of the petitioners in the case.

Mentioning the matter for urgent hearing Sibal said, “CAA was passed in 2019. At that time there was no rules, so no stay was granted. Now they have notified the rules ahead of elections. If citizenship is granted, it will be impossible to reverse. So the interim application may be heard.”

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, none of petitioners has any locus to question the grant of citizenship.

The bench then said it will list all the applications seeking stay on Rules for hearing on Tuesday.

The apex court also said that the whole batch comprising 237 petitions will be listed along with the latest applications.

The Central government on March 11 notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 which effectively brought into force the controversial CAA of 2019.

A day after the Central government issued the Rules for the CAA, Kerala-based political party Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the implementation of Rules.

The Kerala-based political party demanded that the impugned statute and regulations be stayed, and that no coercive steps be taken against persons belonging to Muslim community who have been deprived of the benefit of this law.

Apart from IUML, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Leader of Opposition in the Assam Assembly, Debabrata Saika, and Congress MP from Assam, Abdul Khaleque, and others also filed applications seeking stay on Rules.

The IUML (petitioner), which was one of the first parties to challenge the CAA before the top court in 2019, filed application seeking stay on the Rules, saying, it creates a “highly truncated and fast-tracked process” for the grant of citizenships to non-Muslim migrants from the specified countries, thereby making operational a “manifestly arbitrary and discriminatory” regime solely on the ground of religious identity.

The plea stated that Rules are manifestly arbitrary and creates an unfair advantage in favour of a class of persons solely on the ground of their religious identity, which is impermissible under articles 14 and 15 of the Indian Constitution.

The plea said, “Since the CAA is discriminates on the basis of religion, it strikes at the root of secularism, which is the basic structure of the Constitution… India’s constitutional framework, read with obligations under the international law, mandates a framework of refugee protection that is non-discriminatory.”

Plea said Act and Rules would result in valuable rights being created and

citizenship being granted to persons belonging to only certain religions, thereby resulting in a “fait accompli situation”.

CAA, passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019 and got the President’s assent the following day, met with protests all across the country. The CAA came into effect on 10 January 2020.

The law fast-tracks the process of granting citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who fled religious persecution in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan and took refuge in India on or before December 31, 2014.

The 2019 Act amended the Citizenship Act, 1955, which makes illegal migrants eligible for citizenship if they (a) belong to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian communities, and (b) are from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan. It only applies to migrants who entered India on or before December 31, 2014. As per the amendment, certain areas in the Northeast are exempted from the provision. (ANI)

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Bhutan Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay

Modi Meets Bhutan Counterpart Tshering Tobgay

By LokMarg

Bhutan Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, who is on a visit to India, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence on Thursday, and the two leaders held productive discussions regarding the “unique and special” partnership between New Delhi and Thimphu.

PM Modi thanked PM Tobgay and the Bhutan King for inviting him to visit Bhutan next week.

“Glad to meet my friend and PM of Bhutan @tsheringtobgay on his first overseas visit in this term. Had productive discussions encompassing various aspects of our unique and special partnership. I convey heartfelt thanks to His Majesty the King of Bhutan and @PMBhutan for inviting me to visit Bhutan next week,” PM Modi posted on X.

Tobgay is on a five-day official visit to India. This is his first overseas visit after assuming office.

He was received at the airport by Union Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Ashwini Choubey on Thursday.

He is also expected to meet President Droupadi Murmu and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that his visit is a testament to the ties of friendship between the two countries.

The Bhutan PM is accompanied by the Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister, Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Industry, Commerce and Employment Minister, and senior officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan.

India and Bhutan enjoy exemplary ties of friendship and cooperation, based on trust, goodwill and mutual understanding at all levels.

The visit of the Prime Minister of Bhutan will provide an opportunity for the two sides to review the progress in their unique partnership and to discuss ways and means to expand the enduring ties of friendship and cooperation between both nations, the MEA earlier stated.

The tradition of regular political and official exchanges is an important hallmark of the special ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Modi visited Bhutan on his first overseas visit after winning the election in 2014. He undertook a State visit to Bhutan in August 2019, after assuming office for the second term.

The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck visited in September 2022 and met with PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar.

In April 2023, the King of Bhutan visited India. A Joint Statement titled “A Framework for Expanded India-Bhutan Partnership” was issued, which reaffirmed the strength of the unique ties while outlining concrete areas to advance the India-Bhutan partnership.

In November 2023, the King again visited India to hold discussions. The King of Bhutan also made his first official visit to the states of Assam and Maharashtra to expand ties of friendship and cooperation. (ANI)

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petrol and diesel lok Sabha

Petrol, Diesel Prices Reduced By Rs 2 Per Litre Ahead Of LS Polls

By LokMarg

In a relief to people ahead of the Lok Sabha polls expected to be held in April-May, the government has decided to cut the price of petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said in a post on X that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have informed that they have revised petrol and diesel prices across the country. New prices would be effective from March 15, 2024, 6 am.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said in a post on X that by reducing prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi “has again proved that the welfare and convenience of his family of crores of Indians has always been his aim”.

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said in its post that reduction in petrol and diesel prices will boost consumer spending “and reduce operating costs for over 58 lakh heavy goods vehicles running on diesel, 6 crore cars and 27 crore two-wheelers”.

It said reduced petrol and diesel prices will benefit the citizens through more disposable income, boost for tourism and travel industries and control over inflation.

The ministry said the decision will lead to increased consumer confidence and spending, reduced expenses for businesses dependent on transportation, enhanced profitability for logistics, manufacturing, and retail sectors and reduced outgo for farmers on tractor operations and pump sets. (ANI)

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Mamata Banerjee

Mamata Suffers Major Injury Admitted To Hospital

By LokMarg

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sustained injuries on her forehead on Thursday, according to the Trinamool Congress.

As per the party, its Chief sustained a ‘major injury’ on her forehead.

The All India Trinamool Congress shared photos of Banerjee on a hospital bed with a deep cut in the middle of her forehead and blood on her face.

“Our chairperson Mamata Banerjee sustained a major injury. Please keep her in your prayers,” the party said in a post on X.

“Please keep her in your prayers,” the TMC added.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

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An Inspiration to Athletes From Rural India

‘My Achievement Will Inspire Athletes From Rural India’

By LokMarg

Vikas Rana, a gold medalist in cross-country Skiing, narrates her journey from a sleepy village in Haryana to the world podium. In her own words:

In the serene corners of Sukhain Khurd village in the Uchana area of Jind, Haryana, where the daily rhythm was set by the cadence of agrarian life, I, Vikas Rana, dared to dream differently. At 31, the daughter of a tireless farmer, I recently etched my name in history by clinching India’s first gold medal in the cross-country skiing championship held in Germany on December 31.

The path from the lush fields of my village to the snow-draped slopes of international skiing was no cakewalk. My days were punctuated by grueling training sessions in Gulmarg, Kashmir, where the glistening snow and challenging terrains became the canvas of my journey. Each stride on those slopes was not just a step closer to victory but a testament to resilience, pushing boundaries on unfamiliar grounds. 

As I bask in the applause and recognition cascading from my homeland, I can’t help but credit my success to a force beyond mere physical prowess – my unwavering faith in Lord Shiva. A devout believer, I proudly adorned a ski band on my head inscribed with ‘Mahakaal.’ It wasn’t just fabric; it was a conduit to a divine energy that guided me through challenges, propelling me toward that coveted podium. 

ALSO READ: ‘From A Wheelchair To The World Podium’

I clinched the gold in the five-kilometer cross-country skiing event in Germany on December 31. It marked the first-ever medal in such a prestigious tournament. The journey demanded relentless effort and training in the frosty expanses of Gulmarg, Kashmir. The joy and gratitude I feel for the applause from my country are beyond words.

My journey speaks to the resilience of dreams amid financial constraints and modest beginnings. Born into a family where my father toiled the land and my mother dedicated herself to homemaking, I navigated challenges with unwavering support from my family, friends, coaches, and the facilities provided by the sports ministry.

Every ounce of my time was dedicated to practice. Winning a medal is the culmination of extensive preparation and years of planning. I am profoundly grateful to my country for providing me the platform to prove myself.

My story transcends personal triumph; it’s a chronicle of tenacity, determination, and the pursuit of passion against all odds. As I continue to move on the global stage, I hope my journey becomes a beacon for aspiring athletes from rural India, illustrating that with dedication and belief, one can conquer any obstacle and imprint an enduring legacy on the world stage. The odyssey from Sukhain Khurd to international skiing glory isn’t just mine; it’s a narrative of dismantling barriers and embracing the extraordinary.

As told to Deepti Sharma

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Sara

Sara Drops Video Of Her Rigorous Workout

By LokMarg

Sara Ali Khan is currently occupied with two of her projects ‘Murder Mubarak’ and ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’. Despite her busy schedule, she finds time for her physical fitness. She recently shared a video of her workout session motivating her fans to stay fit and healthy.

Taking to her Instagram handle, she posted a video of an intense gym workout. She is seen in the video effortlessly performing strenuous workouts with grace. Spreading around positive energy and happiness, she captioned the post interestingly.

She wrote, “Pehle stomach burn..Ab abs ka turn..You gotta work so you can earn..The sarso ka saag for which you yearn”

Many of her fans dropped heart emojis on her post.

One fan wrote, “killed it today”

Another mentioned, “Dedication”

Meanwhile, on the work front, Sara will be next seen in ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’, which is a fictional tale set against the backdrop of 1942’s Quit India Movement.

The movie is inspired by real events and chronicles a pivotal chapter from India’s quest for Independence. The film pays tribute to both– the celebrated as well as the unsung heroes and encapsulates the bravery, patriotism, sacrifice, and persistence exhibited by the youth of India during the freedom movement, as per a statement from the film’s PR team.

Directed by Kannan Iyer, ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’ is written by Iyer, along with Darab Farooqui. The film features Sara Ali Khan in the lead along with Sachin Khedekar, Abhay Verma, Sparsh Shrivastav, Alexx O’Neil, and Anand Tiwari in pivotal roles and a special guest appearance by Emraan Hashmi.

The film will be streaming on an OTT platform from March 21.

She will also be seen in the murder mystery ‘Murder Mubarak’, also starring Pankaj Tripathi and Karisma Kapoor. Makers recently unveiled the official trailer of the film.

‘Murder Mubarak’ is based on Anuja Chauhan’s novel ‘Club You To Death’. The murder mystery has been directed by Homi Adajania and it has been produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films. (ANI)

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