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NHRC to appoint a team for on-the-spot enquiry into the Bihar hooch tragedy

OpIndia Staff
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NHRC to appoint a team for on-the-spot enquiry into the Bihar hooch tragedy

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Saturday said that it will depute its own team headed by one of its members for an on-the-spot enquiry in the wake of more deaths reported in other districts of Bihar in the hooch tragedy.

The Commission said it is concerned to know where and what kind of medical treatment is being provided to these victims. “Most of them are from poor families and probably cannot afford costly medical treatment in private hospitals therefore, it becomes extremely necessary on the part of the state government to provide them the best possible medical treatment wherever it is available,” the NHRC said in a statement.

The Commission would like to know about the relief and rehabilitation given by the State Government as well as the measures taken or proposed to be taken to dismantle clandestine hooch manufacturing hot spots across the state with a view to completely eradicate this social menace, intermittently happening in the State of Bihar.

This yet another suo moto proceeding in the matter follows after the Commission, taking suo motu cognizance of earlier media reports, carried on December 15, 2022, alleging several deaths in the Saran district hooch tragedy, had asked the Government of Bihar, through its Chief Secretary and Director General Police, to submit detailed reports within four weeks into the reported incident affecting several people and families.

The Commission has noted that in April 2016, the Government of Bihar banned the sale and consumption of liquor in the state, and therefore, such incidents indicated that it has not been able to stop the sale of illicit and spurious liquor.

The report from the State Government is expected to include the status of medical treatment to the affected as many have lost eyesight; compensation given to the victims or their families, if any; FIR; and the action against the public servants found negligent in the matter.

According to the media reports, carried today on December 17, 2022, five were reported dead in Siwan district and one in Begusarai district even as the death toll was rising in Saran district with 65 lives lost so far in the hooch tragedy that struck on December 14, 2022.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

5 arrested in Indore for dancing to a Shah Rukh Khan song while holding knives

ANI
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5 arrested in Indore for dancing to a Shah Rukh Khan song while holding knives

Police in Indore on Saturday arrested five persons who were apparently dancing while waving knives in their hands on Shah Rukh Khan’s song.

The incident came to light when the video was posted on a social media platform. The accused were seen celebrating someone’s birthday and dancing to the song ‘Bol Bole Bol Tujko Kya Chahiye’ from Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan’s film ‘Trimurti.’ 

The men held knives, about one and a half feet long, in their hands while dancing to the tunes of the song. After noticing the video on social media, the police swung into action.

The police registered a case against all five men under the Arms Act and arrested them. Two of the accused are minors, the police informed.

Station in-charge, Tejaji Nagar, Ramdeen Kanwa said, “On Friday, the police got a video in which five youths celebrating a birthday party were dancing with knives in their hands. Police have taken action against them under Section 25 of Arms Act. Two of them are minors.”

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

LJP chief Chirag Paswan attacks Nitish govt over hooch tragedy, says over 200 have died and govt concealed it by burning the bodies

ANI
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LJP chief Chirag Paswan attacks Nitish govt over hooch tragedy, says over 200 have died and govt concealed it by burning the bodies

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Saturday claimed that over 200 people died in the Chapra hooch tragedy and accused the state government of hiding the actual number of deaths by “burning the bodies” without any post-mortem.

“More than 200 people have died. Truth is being suppressed. The last rites were performed without a postmortem. They (the government) are threatening the victims’ families to jail them if they tell the truth,” Paswan said while talking to ANI. Paswan further said that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar supports the corrupt officials with his “silence”.

“CM is tight-lipped in this matter. His silence is support to corrupt officials,” Chirag added.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the tragedy rose to 65 on Friday.

Most deaths reportedly occurred over Wednesday and Thursday, evoking an uproar inside and outside the Bihar Assembly.

The Opposition, led by the BJP, took on the ruling JD(U)-RJD combined over the rising hooch deaths despite a ban on the sale and consumption of liquor in the state, which has been in effect since April 2016.

Amid severe criticism from the Opposition, led by the BJP, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said that no compensation will be given if a person dies after consuming spurious liquor.

“No compensation will be provided to people who die after consuming spurious liquor. We have been appealing to you not to drink. If you drink, you will die. Those who speak against prohibition will not bring any good to the people,” the Bihar CM said in the Assembly on Friday.

Earlier, in the wake of the Hooch tragedy in Chhapra, the Station House Officer (SHO) Ritesh Mishra and Constable Vikesh Tiwari were suspended with immediate effect on the recommendation of Marhaura Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Yogendra Kumar.

The Chapra hooch deaths were one of the issues which forced one of three adjournments in the Upper House of the Parliament on Thursday.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

‘Purpose of my life on this earth has been fulfilled’: Woman beggar donates Rs 1 lakh collected over years to Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Phulbani

OpIndia Staff
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‘Purpose of my life on this earth has been fulfilled’: Woman beggar donates Rs 1 lakh collected over years to Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Phulbani

In a rare gesture, a 70-year-old beggar who sits outside a Jagannath Temple in Phulbani town in Odisha donated Rs 1 lakh she saved over the years to the management committee of the temple. She handed over the money to the president of the Temple Management Committee, Sunasir Mohapatra, and other members. 

According to reports, the woman, Tula Behera, a Phulbani native, gave the temple Rs 1 lakh on the occasion of Dhanu Sankranti on Friday. The temple administration committee felicitated her for the warm act. A video of the temple authorities honouring her is being widely shared on Twitter.

As per local media, the lady has been begging for aid on the streets of Phulbani, the headquarter of Kandhamal district, for years. Together with her physically handicapped husband Prafulla Behera, who passed away a few years ago, she initially went door to door begging.

After her husband’s death, Tula continued asking for alms by sitting in front of the Jagannath and Sai temples and other shrines in Phulbani town as no one was around to inquire about her whereabouts. She has also adopted a girl who she found abandoned on the streets of Kandhamal. The two of them are now supported by the alms given to them by pilgrims who visit the Jagannath temple in Phulbani and other temples in the town.

Tula, a devoted follower of Lord Jagannath, has been considering making a donation to the temple for a very long time. She has been deposing some of the money she earns from begging in a post office savings account. She recently made the decision to contribute her funds to the renovation of the Lord Jagannath temple in the town after the officials informed her that they had reached Rs 1 lakh in the account.

“I owe my existence and survival to Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe. I am on the last leg of my life. What will I do with the money, so I gave away all of it to the Almighty,” the woman said after making the donation.

“I was saving the money for years by begging for alms. I neither have any parents nor any children. Even I am at the last stage of my life. I do not need any money. In fact, if I could do any service for Lord Jagannath, I will feel the purpose of my life on this earth has been fulfilled,” the 70-year-old told OTV. “I have surrendered myself to Lord Jagannath for long. I do not want anything more. He has brought me this far, I am sure he will take care of me,” Behera added.

Initially the temple management was hesitant to accept the donation from such a poor person, but after she insisted, they agreed. A member of the Temple Management Committee said, “When she approached me, I was reluctant to take the money from her. But she insisted and the Committee finally accepted it from her on the auspicious day of Dhanu Sankranti.”

Meanwhile, Sunasir Mohanty, President of the temple management committee informed that “the money will be used for the development of the infrastructure of the temple. We have decided to provide prasad to Tula for lifetime as recognition of her contribution to the temple.” 

China trying to divert attention from problems back home by provoking India: Exiled Tibetan President Penpa Tsering

OpIndia Staff
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China trying to divert attention from problems back home by provoking India: Exiled Tibetan President Penpa Tsering

Following the clash between India and Chinese soldiers in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, exiled Tibetan President Penpa Tsering has said that China is trying to provoke India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to divert attention from problems back home.

China has seen a lot of public protests in recent months as people rose up against the draconian Covid lockdowns. Covid cases are also surging in the country as crematoriums have been overwhelmed with the number of dead bodies.

The Tibetan President-in-exile said, “China is feeling insecure, because in order to divert attention from the problems back home, China is now trying to provoke India.”

Commenting on Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks over the clash, the exiled Tibetan leader said that constructive criticism should be welcomed in a democracy but he doesn’t agree with such opposition for the sake of opposing. Rahul Gandhi had earlier courted controversy by claiming that Chinese troops are thrashing Indian soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh.

India-China clash in the Tawang sector

Clashes broke out between the Indian and Chinese troops on December 9 in the border area of the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh.

There have been reports of multiple injuries on both sides. There have been no reports of deaths. Chinese had come heavily prepared with around 300 soldiers but didn’t expect the Indian side also to be well prepared.

The Defence Ministry issued a statement over the media reports on clashes between Indian, and Chinese forces along the Line of Actual Control in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh. “In certain areas along the LAC in the Tawang Sector in Arunachal Pradesh there are areas of differing perception, wherein both sides patrol the area up to their claim lines. This has been the trend since 2006, the statement said.

Over 4 crore health records digitised and linked with Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts under PM Modi’s flagship Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

OpIndia Staff
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Over 4 crore health records digitised and linked with Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts under PM Modi’s flagship Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

The National Health Authority (NHA) on Saturday informed that over 4 crore digital health records of citizens have been linked to the Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) of beneficiaries under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The scheme was launched on September 27 last year by PM Modi with the goal of creating a seamless online platform to enable interoperability within the digital health ecosystem.

Since its launch, over 4 crore health records of citizens have been digitized and linked with their Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) numbers under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The NHA further said that more than 29 crore citizens have generated their unique Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) so far.

“With their health records linked to their ABHA accounts digitally, citizens will be able to access and manage these records as per convenience. This enables citizens to create a comprehensive medical history across various healthcare providers thereby improving clinical decision-making. Further, the citizens can also share relevant health records with ABDM registered healthcare providers digitally,” read the statement issued by the Health Ministry.

Speaking about the milestone India has achieved in its digital health journey, RS Sharma, the CEO of NHA said, “As the implementing agency for ABDM, National Health Authority is working closely with different stakeholders to ensure that the benefits of digital health services can be availed by more citizens. We’re planning to launch an incentive scheme for health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, diagnostic labs etc. to further promote the digitization of health records. We’re also encouraging different health locker applications to integrate with ABDM so that citizens get more choices for storing and managing their digital records.”

“With continuous focus on digitization of health records, we aim to achieve paperless medical consultations and thereby more accuracy in each transaction between the patient and healthcare service provider,” Sharma added.

The press note further informed that this digital linking of individual health records with ABHA is being carried out extensively across different health facilities of the country with the support of State Governments. The leading contributors to ABHA-linked health records include the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) scheme under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, eHospital and Cowin among others.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday congratulated India for achieving another milestone in its digital health journey.

“Milestone Moment! Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission crosses the landmark of 4 crores digitally linked health records. PM @NarendraModi Ji’s Govt is committed to building a robust, inter-operable & inclusive digital health ecosystem for a healthy India,” the Health Minister tweeted.

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

On September 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the countrywide Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to create a seamless online platform to enable interoperability within the digital health ecosystem. Under the new mission, the government aims to provide a digital health ID to every citizen in the country where health records can be saved securely in digital format. With this mission, the government will be able to provide better health facilities to the remotest villages of the country.

Giving more information about the flagship scheme, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri Mansukh Mandaviya then said that as ABDM would store old medical records, the chances of losing them would be almost nil in the future.  He added that a host of facilities like Digital Consultation, the Consent of patients in letting medical practitioners access their records and others make this platform a remarkable milestone in health infrastructure in India.

The main aim of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is to develop the necessary backbone of the digital health infrastructure in India. It would bridge the existing gap among several stakeholders across the healthcare sector. Under the mission, digital health solutions of hospitals across the country are being connected with each other.

The Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts digitallylinks the citizens and patients with other stakeholders in the health sector, which includes hospitals and clinics, labs, pharmacies, wellness centres, insurance companies and TPAs, Health Tech companies, Doctors, NGOs working in the sector and other organisations, regulators, program managers, state governments and the central government.

How to become part of ABDM?

The first step for a citizen to become part of ABDM is by creating a health ID. It is a randomly generated 14-digit number that would be used to uniquely identify a person, authenticate the identity and connect health records to it.

OpIndia published a thorough analysis regarding India’s ambitious digital health ecosystem last year. You may learn more about creating a Health ID and the advantages of participating in ABDM here.

‘Enough food grain stock to fulfil welfare schemes’ requirements’: Centre informs Rajya Sabha

OpIndia Staff
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‘Enough food grain stock to fulfil welfare schemes’ requirements’: Centre informs Rajya Sabha

On Saturday, the Centre stated that it had enough food grain reserves to satisfy the criteria of the food security law and other social initiatives. The government is also maintaining a close watch on the cost of essential commodities.

“Government of India has sufficient food grain stocks under the central pool to meet the requirement of NFSA and its other welfare schemes as well as for additional allocation of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY),” the official statement issued on December 17 read.

On January 1, 2023, about 159 lakh tonnes of wheat and 104 lakh tonnes of rice would be available, compared to the corresponding buffer requirements needs of 138 lakh tonnes of wheat and 76 lakh tonnes of rice on January 1. According to the statement, as of December 15, the central pool has about 180 lakh tonnes of wheat and 111 lakh tonnes of rice.

Buffer standards requirements have been established for several days throughout the year, such as April 1, July 1, October 1, and January 1, as stated by the ministry. “The stock position of wheat and rice under the central pool has always remained well above the buffer norms,” it asserted.

On October 1, 2022, about 227 lakh tonnes of wheat and 205 lakh tonnes of rice were available, compared to the corresponding buffer standards needs of 205 lakh tonnes of wheat and 103 lakh tonnes of rice.

“Though procurement of wheat during last season was on the lower side due to lesser production coupled with selling by farmers at prices higher than MSP in the open market consequent to the geopolitical situation, yet enough stock of wheat will still be available in a central pool to cater to the needs of the country till the time next wheat crop arrives,” the ministry noted.

Furthermore, allocations under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) have been changed in favor of rice in order to guarantee adequate wheat stock in the central pool.

The Center under the PMGKAY program offers free food grains of 5 kg per month to approximately 80 crore persons covered by the NFSA. According to the reports, the Union government has increased the MSP (minimum support price) of wheat harvest this year to Rs 2,125 per quintal, up from Rs 2,015 per quintal last year for the Rabi Marketing Season 2022-23.

Thus, with an increase in MSP of Rs 110/quintal and relatively favourable weather circumstances, it is projected that wheat output and procurement would remain normal over the next season.

The statement comes a day after the government in Rajya Sabha stated that the current wheat stocks in India had fallen below the mandatory threshold limit known as buffer norms for the first time in nearly a decade. Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar stated that the country’s total stocks of federally-held food grains (rice and wheat combined) as on December 1, stood at 30.5 million tonnes. “Of this, wheat reserves were at 19 million tonnes while rice stock stood at 11.5 million tonnes”, he said.

However, the government reaffirmed on Friday that it has enough food grains available in the central pool to fulfil the requirements of all welfare programs across the country while keeping costs under control.

8 more people die in Bihar due to the consumption of spurious liquor

OpIndia Staff
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8 more people die in Bihar due to the consumption of spurious liquor

On Saturday (December 17), officials shared the news that 8 more people have died in Bihar due to the consumption of spurious alcohol.

As per reports, 6 people died in the Bhagwanpur division of the Siwan district. While 5 people died on Friday (December 16), one of the victims died a day earlier on Thursday (December 15).

While speaking about the matter, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sanjay Kumar said that the 6 deaths in Siwan were being investigated by the local administration. He informed, “We are also carrying searches in the area to nab those who indulge in the sale and purchase of liquor.”

Reportedly, two other men died in the Teghra division of the Begusarai district of Bihar on Friday (December 16). According to Deputy SP Chandramohan Prasad, the victims died due to the consumption of ‘some poisonous chemical.’

He further added, “We have sent bodies for post-mortem examination. Investigations are on”. The development comes days after 50 people died after consuming hooch in the Saran district of the State.

Chhapra hooch tragedy: Bihar death toll from toxic liquor reaches 50

The death toll in Bihar’s Chhapra hooch tragedy has soared to 50, with 11 more people succumbing after consuming spurious liquor in the Saran district. 

Masrakh Station House Officer (SHO) Ritesh Mishra and Constable Vikesh Tiwari were suspended immediately after the Tuesday night tragedy on the recommendation of Marhaura Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Yogendra Kumar.

Most of the deaths occurred over Wednesday and Thursday, creating an uproar both at the state and national level as the sale and consumption of alcohol has been banned in Bihar by the Nitish Kumar government since April 2016. 

On Thursday, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar sparked outrage after he said “Jo Piyega Wo Marega’ in response to media questions regarding the hooch tragedy.

Karnataka: PFI cadres Shahbaaz and Wahid arrested for strewing nails on a road leading to the Hindu pilgrimage site Datta Peetha

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: PFI cadres Shahbaaz and Wahid arrested for strewing nails on a road leading to the Hindu pilgrimage site Datta Peetha

The Karnataka police said on Friday that two youths were arrested for allegedly strewing nails on the road leading to Datta Peetha, a sacred place for Hindus, during the recently held Datta Jayanti here with an aim to create trouble for pilgrims. The accused have been identified as Mohammad Shahbaaz and Wahid Hussain, both residents of Dubai Nagar in the district headquarters town of Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka.

The arrested accused are said to be cadres of the banned Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI).

As per Times Now, another accused named Azam also surrendered before a court today in Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru district, where the alleged incident took place. Azam is also said to be a PFI worker.

The police said the accused had purchased nails in large quantities from local shops and on the day when the Shobha Yatra commenced on December 6, they threw the nails on the road for three kilometres from the Kaimara check-post to Datta Peetha. This, they said was done with the intention to create trouble for the Hindu devotees who visited the shrine during the festival held between December 6 and 8.

The act caused many vehicles’ tyres to go flat. Devotees who travelled long distances on foot to get to the shrine encountered obstacles as well, the police said, adding that fortunately no tragedy was reported considering devotees had arrived in thousands and there was also a continuous movement of vehicles.

The police formed a separate team to nab the miscreants. The police went to surrounding hardware stores and collected information on the purchase of large quantities of nails and zeroed in on the accused, it said.

A probe into the incident revealed that there were many more involved in the crime. The police have now launched a manhunt to arrest the remaining accused.

During preliminary interrogation, the duo revealed that they saw people celebrating the festival in a grand way by putting out posters and banners, Chikkamagaluru District Superintendent of Police Uma Prashanth said.

“Since people were celebrating Datta Jayanti in a grand manner, they (accused) thought this should not happen. They decided to strew nails which will puncture the tyres of vehicles and disrupt vehicular movement. They wanted vehicles to stop and the pilgrims to suffer,” she explained.

Meanwhile, members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), along with several police officers had cleared the road.

CT Ravi, the local MLA and national general secretary of the BJP, responded to the incident by criticising the radical mindset of the populace and praising the Hindu worshippers for making it to the shrine despite the challenges.

‘Nitish Kumar should make Tejashwi Yadav CM, JDU can’t win elections on Kumar’s face’: Prashant Kishor recommends a change of guard in Bihar

ANI
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‘Nitish Kumar should make Tejashwi Yadav CM, JDU can’t win elections on Kumar’s face’: Prashant Kishor recommends a change of guard in Bihar

Political strategist Prashant Kishor, who has been an open critic of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for some time now, said on Saturday that the Janata Dal (United) leader should not wait till 2025 and make his deputy in the state cabinet, Tejashwi Yadav, the chief minister of Bihar.

Kishor, who is leading his Jan Suraj Padyatra in Bihar, reached Sheohar on the 77th day of the march.

Speaking to media persons here, Kishor said, “Nitish has announced to contest elections under Tejashwi’s leadership. He has accepted the fact that the election cannot be won on his face or by his party JD(U). “

“There is no need to wait till 2025 to elect Tejashwi Yadav as CM. In their alliance, RJD has the biggest share. Nitish Kumar should make him CM. This will give Tejashwi a chance to work for three years and the public will have the opportunity to vote on the basis of his performance,” he added.

So far visiting two districts, Kishor said he found that more than 60 per cent of youth have migrated to other states for employment.

Kishor’s remarks came after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recently said that Tejashwi Yadav will lead the Mahagathbandhan in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

“I am saying this from the beginning…He (Tejashwi Yadav) will definitely do it. You understand it right?” said Kumar in front of the media, on giving Tejashwi Yadav leadership for the 2025 Assembly elections in Bihar.

Notably, Tejashwi Yadav is the younger son of Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) founding president Lalu Prasad.

Nitish Kumar had broken off ties with BJP in August this year and taken oath again as Bihar Chief Minister after rejoining hands with Rashtriya Janata Dal and other parties in the Mahagathbandhan.

Kishor said some people think that Nitish Kumar is working towards a big alliance against the BJP at the Centre but “this is not very credible”. He said of 17 years that Nitish Kumar has been chief minister, he has held the post with support of BJP for 14 years.

Both Nitish Kumar and Prashant Kishor have taken potshots at each other in the recent past.

Kishor, who had joined the JD-U and was a national vice president, had been expelled by the party in January 2020 for “acting against the party’s decisions”.

Kishor had earlier this month hit out at Nitish Kumar over his remarks that he was “working for the BJP” and said the Chief Minister had become “delusional”.

“He (Kumar) has been affected by his age and has turned delusional. He has been politically isolated as he is surrounded by people who he himself does not trust. And it is because of this nervousness he speaks rather than what he means,” Kishor had said.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

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