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British General warns NATO is not prepared for war against Russia

Samuel Musarika
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British General warns NATO is not prepared for war against Russia

By EMMA CRABTREE (EXPRESS)

A BRITISH GENERAL has warned that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is not prepared for a war against Russia.

General Sir Richard Barrons gave his warning during a hearing of the UK parliamentary defence committee. The former head of the Joint Forces Command was asked on Tuesday to explain at what point NATO would have no choice but to fight Russia.

Members of the alliance have been providing aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict through providing weaponry, finance, and other key supplies, but have made a concerted effort to avoid direct action in the conflict. 

NATO was set up in the aftermath of the Second World War and its 30 members have all agreed to mutual defence in the event of an attack from a non-member country.

The formation of the alliance based on defence means that with the invasion of Ukraine, a non-member country, NATO has no place directly defending the nation without escalating the conflict.

General Barrons stated that the organisation “will have a call to make” in the event that Russian forces begin to succeed on a larger scale and target larger parts of Ukraine.

He added: “And that call would be easier if we had made any preparations at all to act in those circumstances at the speed required, and we have not.”

The General was asked what other scenarios in relation to the conflict in Ukraine would lead to NATO involvement.

He said: “The second aspect would be if whatever happens in Ukraine causes President Putin to escalate it for his own purposes into other parts of NATO.

“Then it’s a very much easier question because we will be dealing with a breach of Article 5 [NATO’s mutual defence pact].”

Mr Barrons continued: “My overall concern in answering that question is that the main reason we are keen to avoid a war between Russia and NATO is that NATO isn’t ready.

“And we should be ashamed of that.”

Sweden and Finland share borders with Russia and have expressed their interest in joining NATO, despite a warning from Putin of the dangers of escalation in the event of their membership.

President Putin labelled the alliance as “a tool geared towards confrontation” and noted that the membership of Sweden and Finland “will not bring stability to the European continent”.

During NATO’s summit in the summer, the General said that the priority should be “to reset the balance of power with Russia” in terms of military capability so Moscow “no longer thinks it can set the terms of debate with NATO”.

COVID-19 pushing Zimbabweans to quit smoking

Samuel Musarika
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COVID-19 pushing Zimbabweans to quit smoking

By John Cassim (Anadolu Agency)

HARARE, Zimbabwe

Rising awareness in Zimbabwe about COVID-19 complications has prompted smokers of tobacco and other substances to quit, health experts in the Southern African nation confirm.

“With the advent of COVID-19 and the health awareness that was broadcast, it became clearer that there are certain people who are at more risk of succumbing to COVID-19,” Dr. Anesu Chinoperekwei, a Harare-based psychiatrist, told Anadolu Agency on World Smoking Cessation Day on Feb. 9.

“Among those are people with chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and asthma,” said Chinoperekwei.

“Those who smoke are also at risk,” she said, noting that many smokers are worried about the future consequences of their habit in relation to the coronavirus.

Jacob Mushowe, 40, from Harare stopped smoking tobacco in August 2020 when he learned that smokers faced a 40-50% higher risk of developing severe symptoms or dying from the virus.

He started smoking at age 17 and had never come across any strong anti-smoking messages until the coronavirus was declared a pandemic.

“I lost an uncle during the first wave of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe in 2020. He used to drink and smoke a lot. I took some personal interest in understanding how risky it was to smoke in this COVID-19 era and decided to quit, though gradually,” he told Anadolu Agency.

Pearson Mudungwe, a 49-year-old Harare-based vendor, said that he too was in the process of quitting, though he lacks support during cravings.

“I was diagnosed with tuberculosis in February 2020, and that was the time when COVID-19 had just started ravaging most countries globally. Owing to TB and COVID-19, smoking placed me at greater risk of dying from the virus,” he said.

Support system for quitting

According to Chinoperekwei, when people smoke, they take in nicotine, a stimulant and drug that have effects on the brain and can cause euphoria and mood changes, as well as shifts in behavior, when a person is lacking it.

“Usually, smoking tobacco is used as a gateway to drinking alcohol or the use of other substances, although some just smoke tobacco alone. Mostly, it’s anxiety or depressive disorders which we deal with when one decides to quit smoking,” she added.

Health experts say cravings and anxiety leading to mood changes such as anger are very common when a person quits smoking. Hence, there is a need for support mechanisms at health facilities.

“I don’t know of any tobacco-targeted support system. But, we do have drug abuse facilities at both public and private health institutions,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Alex Gasasira, Zimbabwe’s country representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), urged countries to coordinate their activities.

“Countries should coordinate the activities of their health, trade, and finance ministries in order to ensure that they don’t undertake trade and investment obligations that unduly conflict with their health goals, including their capacity to effectively regulate tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food products,” he told Anadolu Agency.

As part of a smoking cessation campaign, Commit to Quit, the WHO is partnering with messaging apps Viber, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, and AI company Soul Machines to reach billions with free ads promoting quitting tobacco, he added .

Gasasira explained that Zimbabwe’s 2018 Public Health Act includes provisions to take action to increase public awareness about the risk conditions of non-communicable diseases and to promote action to minimize these risk factors.

Smoking during COVID-19 pandemic

Gasasira also warned that smoking is a risk factor not only for COVID-19 but non-communicable diseases, too.

“Smokers face a 40-50% higher risk of developing severe diseases and death from COVID-19,” he told Anadolu Agency.

“Tobacco kills up to half of its users, kills more than 8 million people each year and more than 7 million of these deaths are the results of direct tobacco use while around 1.2 million are the result of non-smokers being exposed to secondhand smoke,” the local WHO chief said.

Over 80% of the world’s 1.3 billion tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries, such as Zimbabwe.

The country has signed the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

The FCTC is a legally binding treaty that requires countries to implement evidence-based measures to reduce tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.

Meanwhile, some analysts say Zimbabwe is dragging its feet as it is one of Africa’s leading tobacco producers and pockets nearly a billion dollars annually through tobacco exports.

Poem: Everyone Who’s Suffering

Samuel Musarika
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Poem: Everyone Who’s Suffering

By David P Carroll

Our world has changed

Like never before and

We live in a scary

World today and

It’s so different than

Before there’s

No more hugs kissing and

Our happiness has all gone away

And like never before

This killer virus has taken our

Loved ones away

Families suffering

Like never before

The fear of the unknown

Has arrived but

May you be strong in life

And strengthen the weak

And encourage the fearful

And calm the horrible coronavirus storm

And pray for the suffering every day

As we practice social distancing

Every day to keep this horrible virus

At bay and I join the priests to pray for the suffering today Sheltered from the coronavirus storm Lord Jesus Christ stay in my heart every day And deliver us all from this evil in life And glory to the heavenly Father And God have mercy on the dying And I promise you all I’ll love and Pray for everyone who’s suffering From coronavirus every day.

COVID-19 restrictions slow down grain imports in Zimbabwe

Samuel Musarika
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COVID-19 restrictions slow down grain imports in Zimbabwe

HARARE, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) — The COVID-19-induced restrictions that have been imposed by countries around the world are constraining grain imports in Zimbabwe, the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe Chairman Tafadzwa Musarara said Tuesday.

Many countries around the globe have imposed various restrictions to curb the spread of the pandemic, some of which include national lockdowns, travel restrictions and border closures.

“Primarily, this is affecting our grain importation. For instance, the Botswana government’s tough restrictions have made it impossible to transit maize via Botswana. This has consequently resulted in congestion at Beitbridge and slowing down of grain imports,” Musarara was quoted as saying by the Herald newspaper.

He said a 6 pm to 6 am curfew in Zimbabwe had also slowed down the movement of grain deliveries countrywide.

Due to successive droughts in recent years, Zimbabwe has been forced to import maize and wheat to plug the deficit.

However, Musarara said with the imminent bumper maize crop expected this year, the country is anticipated to stop maize imports once harvesting starts around April.

Zimbabwe requires 1.8 million tonnes of maize for both human and livestock consumption annually and is this year expecting to harvest 2.8 million tonnes, up from 1.1 million tonnes produced last year.

Tips For Making Your Business Greener

Samuel Musarika
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Tips For Making Your Business Greener

Many businesses are looking to become greener this year, which is certainly a good idea when you consider experts’ advice and see stories in the news. In addition to playing a role in the battle on environmental impact, becoming a greener company can also help improve your reputation when consumers are becoming increasingly eco-aware and could even help reduce your operating costs. It is also challenging to make a business greener and hard to know where to start, so read on for a few tips which should come in useful and help you to make positive changes this year

Get Employees To Buy In

There is no point in making your business greener if you cannot get your staff on board. This is why you need to get them to buy into becoming greener, which you can do by demonstrating the importance of making positive changes, by showing them how they can do this in their day to day activities, and by setting goals and targets (and celebrating these when they are achieved).

Switch To Green Suppliers

It is not just your own business that you must consider when looking to become greener, as you must also look to your suppliers. Switching to green suppliers (and potentially local ones) can be a smart step that makes a big difference to your carbon footprint and helps you establish your company as one which is eco-aware.

Make Recycling Easy

Everyone knows that recycling is important, but it can also be tricky and time-consuming when handling large volumes of material. This is why you need to make recycling as easy as possible for your team, which you can do by providing recycling wire so that bundles can easily be created of recyclable material and then moved around and placed in a baler.

Switch To Energy-Efficient Equipment & Appliances

Most businesses rely heavily on equipment and appliances all of the working day, which is why energy bills can be so high. These items are essential for your daily operation, but you can become more sustainable by switching to energy-efficient equipment and appliances (including LED lightbulbs). In addition to reducing your energy usage, this will also help lower your costs, so it is a win-win situation.

Raise Awareness

In addition to making positive change within the company, businesses should also be doing all they can to pass on the message and encourage other people and businesses to take positive action. You can do this by advertising what changes you have made (a smart way to boost your reputation), raising awareness about the impact of climate damage, and getting involved in positive causes. Your business could also consider backing a charitable cause for climate change by encouraging donations and sponsored activities.

It is clear that now is the time for businesses to take action to tackle environmental damage. Hopefully, these tips will help your business start making positive changes to reduce your impact while simultaneously improving your brand reputation and possibly lowering your costs.

Classic tips for the novice option traders

Samuel Musarika
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Classic tips for the novice option traders

When people are lost in an unknown place, it will be very difficult for them to find out a way of getting out of it. Similarly, in the Forex field, if you a newcomer it will be hard to find ways to achieve success. So, a roadmap is necessary to avoid both dangers. New investors are required to maintain a roadmap that will help them to choose the right path. There are some tips which will help beginners to become profitable. Let’s find out more.

Money Management

Money management is a big issue in the trading field. Firstly, investors are required to decide how much risk they are willing to take. When they are aware of their risk tolerance level, it will be very easy for them to determine whether they will take a high risk or low risk. You should be prepared to face losses as this is an obvious thing in the market. To make profit, traders have to face some loss. Investors are also required to set the stop-loss and take profit to manage their risk properly.

Time Management

If you are thinking to spend one or two hours in the Forex field, you will not able to be a successful trader. It is necessary to continuously observe the market so that you can able to find better options. People also need to spend time on other activities. If they can spend time gathering knowledge, improving their skills, and practicing properly, he or she will be able to build a strong foundation. When people take trading seriously, they will be able to allocate their time properly in every task. Don’t forget to use the best options trading platform in Australia as it will ensure hassle free trade executions. Choose a great broker like Saxo from the start to avoid any technical problems.

Trade Less

In day trading and quick scalping, there is a higher chance of executing more trades. But, people should no trade more than three times at the initial stage. When people trade less, they will be able to think properly about the trades. So, this will also help then to get good outcomes by carrying out the process appropriately. Excessive trading is not good for mental health. This creates lots of pressure. When people are stressed, they will not be able to make decisions and do the necessary tasks properly. They also take wrong steps unconsciously.

Prior Knowledge  

People need to be informed about any changes in the market. To understand the changes, you have to acquire prior knowledge. When someone has already learn about the basics of the market, they will have time to learn new things and gather new information.

Consistency

Investors should try to maintain consistency. If you make large profits, but after that you sometimes face several losing streaks, it will be not possible for you to grow your account balance. But, when you are able to be consistent, your account balance will automatically increase.

Demo Account

A demo account is a very useful tool for investors. New investors will get the chance to backtest the strategy. There are various types of demo account that have no time limits. So, newcomers can use this without any restrictions. By using this, people will able to develop their skills. This will increase their confidence level and make them confidence about their strategy.

These six techniques will help new traders to do trading without making any major mistakes. As the Forex field is highly volatile and highly liquid, there are plenty of opportunities to make money. You need to be serious and take time to become prepared for the real market.

Applying for Visas and Work Permits

Samuel Musarika
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Applying for Visas and Work Permits

An official stamp in the passport that authorizes a person to travel to another country for work or study for a specific time period is known as a visa. It is, in fact, an authorizing document that gives the right to foreigners to enter or stay in the territory of the United Kingdom. It may be an official stamp that you receive in your passport or it may be a document given by the UK embassy or consulate.

All countries including the United Kingdom require a work permit visa for workers. Short-term and long-term work permit visas can be available to a person by the application. There are a lot of people who apply for UK visas due to many reasons. Most people apply for a visa to study, work, or to do any type of legal business. For tourism or for a short stay, most people apply for UK visas. The process of applying for a UK visa may differ. It depends on the type of visa that you are applying for.

This article tends to highlight the major procedure that should be undertaken to apply for UK visas and work permits. You will come to know about the major mistakes that should be avoided while applying for visas and work permits. Moreover, if you want to get reliable services of translation in visas and work permits, you must contact a well-known translation agency like Kings of Translation. So, do not wait any more, and let’s take a start now!

Why do you need to apply for visas and work permits?

There are various types of UK visas that depend on the type of work you do or the length of your stay in the UK. Every visa type has several procedures and requirements. So, before applying for visas and work permits, you need to know the difference between its types. You need to know what procedure must be followed if you want to apply for permanent or temporary residence permits as well as self-employment visas. If you are from Switzerland or from EU countries, there is no need to apply for a UK visa. But if you are not from the EU, Switzerland, or EEA, you have to apply for a UK visa if you want to spend six months or more in the UK. At first, a temporary visa will be given to you but you can become a permanent resident of the UK after this period ends.

To get a work visa, you need to have a valid passport or travel ID. Plus, the proof of English language proficiency with proof of your financial means is also necessary. Keep in mind that you cannot enter the country unless and until proper UK visa, as well as an entry clearance, has been issued to you.

Major mistakes you make when applying for visas and work permits

A UK visa has its own unique eligibility requirements. It requires supporting documents that you must have with you while applying for a visa. There are some major mistakes that you make when applying for visas and work permits. Most people apply too early or too late for the visa. Remember the timing of the application process depends on each category of visa. The total processing time for a UK visa may take up to three weeks so, it is better to apply for a visa at least three months before you intend to travel. In this way, the UK consulate will have enough time to process your visa. If you apply too late, you will find yourself running out of the time. And if you apply too early, it may lead to delays.

UK immigration law changes constantly. Hence, the application forms are also changing. Therefore, it is your responsibility to use the correct and up-to-date application form so there is no risk of making an invalid application.

Get reliable services of translation in visas and work permits from Kings of Translation

Do you want to make your visas and work permits translated? Did you just say yes? If you are based in the UK, Kings of Translation will be the best choice for you. At Kings of Translation, we truly understand the importance of accuracy and high-quality, that is why we are providing translation services of visas and work permits in a variety of languages.

Need the best translation services? We are the experts you need! Our team of experts is ready to help you. You may call us on 075 1798 6633 or send an email to us at info@kingsoftranslation.co.uk.

Jehovah’s Witnesses – a glance at what’s beneath the surface

Samuel Musarika
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JEHOVAH’S Witnesses may be well known for offering a Watchtower magazine and a warm smile when they knocked on your door on a pre-COVID Saturday morning, but there are darker secrets running in the core of the religion.

There is an average of 47,980 active Jehovah’s Witnesses in Zimbabwe and around 8.5 million worldwide, each with the same task – to preach the ‘good news of God’s kingdom’. In fact, the subject features in their global campaign to distribute an edition of their magazine called “What is God’s Kingdom?” this month (November).

On the surface, the message appears to offer readers comfort and hope for a world free of pain and suffering. But what do followers of the religion actually believe?

Since they formed in the late 1800s, Jehovah’s Witnesses have claimed that humanity has been living in the last days and have falsely predicted the end of the world many times. For them, the end of the world means Armageddon and the destruction of everyone who is not a faithful member of their religion – that includes men, woman and children. Those who survive will live forever in an earthly paradise built on the graves of the billions killed for their disbelief, while 144,000 members will rule from heaven with Jesus. This heavenly rulership is how they describe ‘God’s kingdom’.

Their preaching work is one way they recruit into their religion. They also produce magazines, articles and videos to share their beliefs. In fact, across Africa, Oceania and South America, the religion has been giving the JW Box to congregations with limited or no internet access, which allows them to read the religious propaganda it produces.

But for converts, there is a lot to give up. They will expect you to limit contact with non-believing family and friends. You can’t read anything negative about the religion. You can’t talk to ex-members. You can’t celebrate holidays. You can’t study the Bible using anything other than their own materials. You are expected to dress a certain way. You certainly can’t openly question or criticise their teachings. You will be expected to preach. You have to marry in the faith. You can’t use tobacco. Witchcraft, including n’ganga, is forbidden by Jehovah’s Witnesses. And you can’t have a blood transfusion, even if it will save your life.

Cultural traditions will have to be dropped if they conflict with their teachings. For example, the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ 1985 Yearbook described how tribal marriages in Zimbabwe were not accepted and those who had refused to register their marriage with the civil authorities were kicked out of the faith. Pg 135 of the book reads: “All those married since January 1951 and whose marriages had not been legalised were given six months to have them registered. If, by the end of that time, the couples had done nothing and there were no extenuating circumstances, then the only course was to disfellowship them.”

And their firm stance of neutrality can be deadly. Along with no voting, political and military involvement is out the question. The doctrinal principle of neutrality led to the torture and death of thousands of Malawian Witnesses during the 1970s and 1980s as they were not to hold a political card in the one-party state.

In many countries about the world, Jehovah’s Witnesses are being investigated by authorities for their failings when it comes to child sexual abuse. In 2015, the Australian Royal Commission found a “serious failure” to protect children when it was revealed they failed to report over 1,000 abusers in their congregations. In America, many court cases have found the religion negligent in their handling of abuse. In the Netherlands, police have raided its Kingdom Halls for databases of abuse following a report calling child sexual abuse a “serious problem” within the “closed community”. In the UK, the Independent Investigation into Child Sexual Abuse continues to dig into its mishandling of child victims and their abusers. And yet, despite failing to protect countless children, the religion offers no apology and no decent policy changes to prevent such abuse.

But if a Jehovah’s Witness wants to leave the religion for this or any reason, they can’t – not without losing all their friends and family to shunning.

So if you know a Jehovah’s Witness or come into contact with them during their preaching work, please be kind. They have been born or recruited into a religion with promises of love, promises of being reunited with dead loved ones, promises of no more pain and no more suffering. But with all these empty promises comes heavy indoctrination and heavy control. Rather than harsh words and persecution, they deserve sympathy and understanding. They may not be God’s people, but they are only human.

This is an opinion piece submitted by our reader. We welcome contributions about any subject. Send in your contributions to story@thezimbabwedaily.com

3 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Manufacturing Process

Samuel Musarika
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3 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Manufacturing Process

Is your manufacturing process working to the best of its abilities? Have you really optimized the process so that you’re not wasting time and money using a process that is outdated and slow?

In today’s modern world, time is money, and boosting the efficiency of your business operations can save a lot of time, and therefore, a lot of money.

Being more efficient in your process has a knock-on effect down the line, from happier employees to happier customers, and being more optimized makes trade partners easier to work with as they will know your business is reliable and easy to work with.

How To Improve Your Process

Improving your process can be as difficult or as easy as you need to make it. It’s best to start small, identify easy wins, or small areas that can be improved quickly and cheaply, before moving onto the bigger processes that will take longer to implement.

Here are three things to look into when you’re trying to improve your manufacturing process, some of these are easily implementable, and some will require considerable investment. Like many things, the higher the investment, the higher the reward.

Identify the Bottlenecks

Manufacturing requires the smooth operation of every part, and, with that in mind, it’s important to identify the bottlenecks or places where the process is slowing down and could be improved.

For example, you may require your team to lift heavy parts by hand to a mezzanine in your factory, this could cause significant delays, and it might even be dangerous for your employees. Investing in a safe and reliable conveyor belt system from fluentconveyors.com would allow you to get the parts up to the mezzanine with ease and not endanger employees at the same time, thus improving your process two-fold by keeping the parts moving and reducing injuries and resulting sick days.

Use Data Analysis

Data is the key to an improved process, wherever it happens to be. The more data you can get about your entire process, the better, and by employing a qualified data analyzer, you’ll improve your understanding of the data and quickly identify any issues.

For example, you may find that one of your trucks is always breaking down, and it’s slowing your entire business down. Using this information, you can build a financial case for buying a new truck or at least giving it an overhaul to reduce breakdowns.

Create A Great Team

Great teams are not just born overnight. They don’t happen without significant help to get there. You may think that you can put adults into a room, and they will all get on and work well together, but this just isn’t the case for most companies.

When you are considering hiring a new member of the team, think about how they will fit into the current team, their attitude to work, their personality. All of these things can make a big difference to the team dynamic you have created. It’s well known that a happy team works better and more efficiently.

Youth empowerment, participation & inclusiveness is the way to go!

Samuel Musarika
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Youth empowerment, participation & inclusiveness is the way to go!

The Youth Decide Zimbabwe is greatly concerned about inconducive growing poverty in the new millennium, lack of opportunities, limited academic freedoms, unemployment, drug abuse, exorbitant health care, human rights abuse and shrinking civic space has epitomized modern-day Zimbabwe; with young people absorbing the brunt of economic collapse.

We are so worried about interminable upward diffusion by authorities concerning youth empowerment and participation in all societal agendas. As a youth-led organization, we are pleading for remarkable steps for institutional establishment that translate to the practical empowerment of young people who now constitutes above 62% of the total population. The National Constitution, Section 20 which is within the Africa Union Youth Framework; provides for the effective participation of youth in political, social, economic, and cultural affairs of the country.

As an organisation, our vision is to  create a conducive space wherein young people maximize their potentials in development that affect their lives through enhancing their capabilities and enabling them to affirm control over their circumstances, that will spill over to national development.

As the Youth Decide Zimbabwe, we advocate for advancement of civil society growth, economic expansion, and innovation throughout the county by strengthening the participation of youth, promoting human rights, facilitating access to justice, and ensuring inclusion of youth in all communities through different formal roots.

We are calling for donations and funding from individuals and institutions wishers to see Youth Decide Zimbabwe sailing and initiating projects and do programs as per outlined list of activities. We also inviting all youth to join the organisation so that we can work together on course to witness and celebrate the transformation than will lead to national development.

As the Youth Decide Zimbabwe, we are working tirelessly on COVID-19 awareness task through educating, informing, and interpreting. We also call upon the citizens of Zimbabwe, and institutions to ensure that the conditions and provisions set by WHO and government during this lockdown period are noteworthy. Let us fight to win, lets change our behaviour for the foreseeable future!

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