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  • Hafta 520: Rupee vs dollar, India’s economy woes, Delhi polls, media’s lack of accountability

    Hafta 520: Rupee vs dollar, India’s economy woes, Delhi polls, media’s lack of accountability

    · NL Hafta

    This week on Hafta, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Jayashree Arunachalam and Shardool Katyayan are joined by journalist Nidhi Razdan and economist and writer Vivek Kaul.

    The panel begins with the Delhi polls, and Abhinandan says the BJP’s USP is primarily centred around portraying Kejriwal as a horrible politician. Shardool points out that the BJP is “organisationally strong” but doesn’t have a face in Delhi. Nidhi talks about the AAP’s shortcomings and Kejriwal’s struggle to hold onto his image as an aam aadmi. She also says the Congress is entirely missing from the conversation.

    The conversation shifts to the current state of the media and the lack of accountability in newsrooms. Nidhi says, “Things that we thought were just shocking or immoral or unethical or unconstitutional – everything is being normalised. And part of the reason is because the media doesn’t ask difficult questions.”

    Vivek then unpacks the rupee falling against the dollar and its repercussions. He emphasises that this isn’t a crisis, saying, “The rupee will keep depreciating against the dollar for the simple fact that inflation in the US is usually lower than inflation in India.” He also explains the downfall of the Indian economy in the last few years. 

    Tune in!


    We have a page for subscribers to send letters to our shows. If you want to write to Hafta, click here. 

    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app. Contribute to our latest NL Sena here.


    Timecodes


    00:00:00 - Introductions


    00:00:20 - Announcements and appeals


    00:01:54- Special message


    00:03:28- Panel introduction


    00:04:38- Headlines


    00:10:58 - Delhi elections


    00:37:50- Current media landscape


    01:12:34 - Rupee crash


    01:55:44 - Recommendations


    Check out previous Hafta recommendations, references, songs and letters 


    Produced and recorded by Prashant Kumar and Priyali Dhingra.


    This episode is outside of the paywall, just for the week and just for you. Before it goes back behind the paywall, why not subscribe? Get brand-new episodes of all our podcasts every week, while also doing your bit to support independent media. Click here to subscribe.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Hafta 519: Meta and fact-checking, the role of journaling, social media as source of news

    Hafta 519: Meta and fact-checking, the role of journaling, social media as source of news

    · NL Hafta

    This week on Hafta, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Jayashree Arunachalam, and Manisha Pande are joined by author Amitava Kumar and academic Joyojeet Pal.


    The panel discusses Amitava’s new book The Green Book: An Observer’s Notebook, and Amitava explains the role that journaling plays in his life. 


    “Journaling is a means of self-discovery and a tool to document our times. Personal narratives can preserve truths and challenge erasures of history,” he says. He also says journaling helps counteract misinformation since it’s “about creating a record that endures beyond fleeting news cycles”. Manisha adds that reading her own journals from her childhood “makes me cringe at times, but they’re a reminder of how far I’ve come”.


    The conversation shifts to Meta’s decision to terminate its fact-checking partnerships. Joyojeet warns, “Abandoning fact-checking opens the floodgates for radicalised communities to define their own truths.”

    Jayashree says, “ A lot of this is about changing things that are associated with liberalism. And that’s exactly what that revised policy says. It says that you can now make allegations of mental illness or abnormality based on gender and sex. You’re allowed to compare people to faces and filth based on protected characteristics.”


    The panel also explores Elon Musk’s controversial claim that social media is the new media, how algorithms shape narratives, and a lot more. Tune in!


    We have a page for subscribers to send letters to our shows. If you want to write to Hafta, click here. 

    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app.


    Timecodes


    00:00:00 - Introductions


    00:00:44 - About Fight To Breath Campaign


    00:01:50- Panel introduction


    00:05:08- Headlines


    00:09:57 - The Green Book and journaling


    00:30:47- Announcements


    00:32:10- Meta’s fact-checking decision


    01:02:02 - Social media as news


    01:23:03- Special message


    01:25:50 - Subscriber letters


    01:40:51 - Recommendations


    Check out previous Hafta recommendations, references, songs and letters 


    Produced and recorded by Prashant Kumar and Priyali Dhingra.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  • Hafta 518: Bihar protests, Moradabad murder, Hindutva campaigns

    Hafta 518: Bihar protests, Moradabad murder, Hindutva campaigns

    · NL Hafta

    This week on Hafta, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Jayashree Arunachalam, Raman Kirpal and Shardool Katyayan are joined by The News Minute’s Pooja Prasanna.


    The panel begins with protests in Bihar against a ‘paper leak’ in the Bihar Public Service Commission preliminary exam. Jayashree explains, “The normalisation process for exams has been rejected outright by the BPSC, but it’s a standard procedure in other competitive exams.” Shardool emphasises systemic delays and negligence, stating, “Students are aging out of eligibility because of these recurring delays – it’s a vicious cycle.”


    The conversation turned to the lynching of a Muslim man in Moradabad over allegations of cow slaughter. Shardool calls it an “economic issue as well as a social issue” since “most victims of lynchings are from the lower economic strata, unable to defend themselves legally or socially”. Jayashree criticises the media’s reportage of such incidents: “We don’t report these as murders; they are contextualised as actions driven by allegations – almost a justification.” 


    Abhinandan adds, “It’s telling that the prime minister and government are quick to comment on global issues but remain silent on hate crimes within the country.” Pooja highlights the impunity enjoyed by repeat offenders: “In Karnataka, a hate offender live-streamed attacks and continues to engage in hate speech, even while out on bail.”


    The panel closes with predictions for 2025. Raman predicts worsening economic conditions, saying, “Public sentiment is unlikely to favour large-scale protests despite growing discontent.” Abhinandan sums it up, “If we want systemic change, citizens need to harness collective power to push politicians to act. Protests alone won’t be enough.”


    This and a lot more. Tune in!


    We have a page for subscribers to send letters to our shows. If you want to write to Hafta, click here. 

    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app.


    Video timecodes


    00:00:00 - Introductions


    00:01:39 - Announcements


    00:06:36- Headlines


    00:18:54 - Bihar paper leak protests


    00:30:58- Moradabad Murder


    00:41:51 - Hindutva’s growing influence and economic motivations


    00:53:26 - Panel’s predictions for 2025


    01:10:11- Special Message


    01:12:46 - Subscriber letters


    01:32:24 - Recommendations


    Check out previous Hafta recommendations, references, songs and letters 


    Produced and recorded by Prashant Kumar and Priyali Dhingra.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Hafta 517: Media and judicial accountability, highs and lows of 2024, remembering Manmohan Singh

    Hafta 517: Media and judicial accountability, highs and lows of 2024, remembering Manmohan Singh

    · NL Hafta

    This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal were joined by former Supreme Court judge Justice Madan Lokur and political journalist Neerja Choudhury.


    Neerja describes Dr Manmohan Singh, who died this week, as a “gentleman politician and a unifying figure” who will be remembered for his “decency in politics” and landmark contributions such as the RTI Act, MGNREGA, and the Indo-US nuclear deal. Justice Lokur says, “He was a great man and a great loss for the country.” 


    Manisha reflects on the media’s role during Singh’s tenure, saying, “Back then, leaders were judged critically but fairly, without fear of retribution.”

    Abhinandan adds, “Manmohan Singh’s leadership taught us that decency is not a weakness but a strength in politics.”


    On the media and judicial accountability, Justice Lokur acknowledges the increased public scrutiny on courts. “There must be ways to check judges without undermining the institution,” he says, referencing the need for mechanisms beyond impeachment. Neerja criticises the sensationalism that’s come to define election coverage, saying the media’s role “is to hold power accountable, not amplify divisive rhetoric”.


    The panel also reflects on key events of 2024. Neerja cautions that the “challenge to Modi’s leadership might come from the extreme right within the BJP itself”. Manisha points out the troubling rhetoric in election speeches, adding, “The prime minister’s speeches targeting minorities were demoralising and crossed a line.”

    Raman highlights the year’s highs and lows, saying, “The coalition government formation was a relief for democracy, but the political language this year hit new lows.”


    This and a lot more. Tune in!


    We have a page for subscribers to send letters to our shows. If you want to write to Hafta, click here. 

    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app.


    Audio timecodes


    00:00:00 - Introductions


    00:02:49 - Headlines


    00:09:53 - NL Sena announcements


    00:11:18- Manmohan Singh’s legacy


    00:34:52 - Media, judiciary, and key events of 2024


    01:03:06 - Announcements


    01:11:46 - Subscriber letters


    01:19:14 - Recommendations


    Check out previous Hafta recommendations, references, songs and letters 


    Produced & recorded by Prashant & Priyali. 


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Hafta 516: ‘Scuffle’ in parliament, One Nation One Election bill, Ambedkar

    Hafta 516: ‘Scuffle’ in parliament, One Nation One Election bill, Ambedkar

    · NL Hafta

    This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pandey, and Jayashree Arunachalam were joined by parliamentary affairs expert and journalist Meghnad S.

     

    On the debate on the One Nation, One Election bill, Jayashree says that “the proposal reflects a strong anti-federalism stance.” She pointed out that while the bill may reduce costs, “it could strip states of their power”. Manisha says, “In terms of organising this it could be a mammoth task, especially with the inclusion of panchayat elections, making it an expensive exercise.” Abhinandan asks, “Is Modi the right leader to bring about such changes?”  


    The panel then discusses the row over scuffle in parliament between the opposition MPs and those in the governing parties. Meghnad says, “It's like a WWE match in Parliament.” Abhinandan questions its media coverage, “Do you feel any shame or guilt about the way you work? How do you face your children?” 


    This and a lot more. Tune in!


    We have a page for subscribers to send letters to our shows. If you want to write to Hafta, click here. 

    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app.


    Watch the full video here: 


    https://youtu.be/rayJQarf4Sk


    Audio timecodes

    00:00:00 - Introductions

    00:00:27 - Announcements

    00:08:20 - Headlines

    00:15:42 - NL Sena Announcement

    00:17:55- One Nation, One Election

    00:46:49 - Parliament: Scuffles, allegations, and theatrics

    01:10:37 - Subscriber’s letters

    01:50:08 - Recommendations


    Check out previous Hafta recommendations, references, songs and letters 


    Produced & recorded by Prashant & Priyali. 


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Hafta 515: Soros vs Adani, dowry law misuse, Bollywood-Modi moment

    Hafta 515: Soros vs Adani, dowry law misuse, Bollywood-Modi moment

    · NL Hafta

    This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, and Manisha Pandey were joined by journalist Faye D’Souza.


    On the BJP’s narrative against George Soros, Abhinandan says, “Adani money is good, Soros money bad? No sensible discussion has happened around it.” Faye says, “We are living in a post-truth world where ridiculous claims take root and attention spans have shrunk too much for nuanced conversations.”


    On the Congress’s response to allegations about links with Soros, Manisha says, “Their communication is stale. You can’t keep repeating the same thing without innovation.” She points out that news channels have been quoting dubious sources like “nancho.net” to accuse Sonia Gandhi of collusion with Soros.


    The panel then discusses the misuse of dowry laws and the tragic case of a techie’s suicide in Bengaluru. Anand says, “Lawyers often weaponise these cases, and the Supreme Court has already intervened to mandate preliminary investigations before arrests.” Faye emphasises the need for balanced discourse. On media coverage of the issue, Abhinandan says, “The TikTokisation of news has taken over.” 


    On the Kapoor family’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Manisha says, “The event was supposed to honour Raj Kapoor, but it ended up being all about praising Modi.”


    This and a lot more. Tune in!


    We have a page for subscribers to send letters to our shows. If you want to write to Hafta, click here. 

    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app.


    Watch the full video here: 


    https://youtu.be/BL8HPSF9NFs


    Audio timecodes

    00:00:00 - Introductions

    00:0:00 - Headlines

    00:18:00 - Adani vs Soros

    00:34:28- Special Message 

    00:35:27 - Dowry law misuse debate

    00:56:12 - Bollywood’s Modi moment

    01:06:43 - Subscriber letters and recommendations


    Check out previous Hafta recommendations, references, songs and letters 


    Produced & recorded by Prashant & Priyali. 


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Hafta 514: Return of George Soros, BJP’s Maharashtra play, Manipur crisis

    Hafta 514: Return of George Soros, BJP’s Maharashtra play, Manipur crisis

    · NL Hafta

    This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal and Jayashree Arunachalam are joined by author Chetan Bhagat, academic Sarthak Bagchi, and journalist Dhiren A Sadokpam to discuss the Maharashtra government formation, the increased violence in Manipur, and the ‘foreign hand’ allegations against OCCRP. 


    On BJP’s campaign in Maharashtra, Chetan says, “A little bit of humility has come to the BJP. The whole talk of building a larger than life image – the party feels that the voters don’t need it right now.” Sarthak explains how the BJP may absorb Shiv Sainiks in the state, saying the party “wants to establish hegemonic dominance”. 


    Moving on to the BJP’s ‘US propaganda’ allegations and primetime outrage against OCCRP, Abhinandan says, “I just find it fascinating that Indian media that is surviving on sarkari patronage is outraging about another media surviving on sarkari patronage.” 


    Dhiren then explains the spike in violence in Manipur and what it’s like to live in a state of war. “We need to understand the intersection between insurgency, ethnic violence, poppy cultivation, and national security,” he says. 


    This and a lot more. Tune in!


    We have a page for subscribers to send letters to our shows. If you want to write to Hafta, click here. 

    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app.


    Watch the full video here: 


    https://youtu.be/PIiK-K8fbQ0


    Audio timecodes

    00:00:00 - Introductions

    00:04:36 - Announcements

    00:15:00 - Headlines

    00:19:00 - OCCRP controversy

    00:32:41 - Maharashtra government formation

    01:20:00 - New wave of violence in Manipur?

    00:49:38 - Maharashtra election results

    01:57:30 - Letters

    02:06:30 - Recommendations


    Check out previous Hafta recommendations, references, songs and letters 


    Produced & recorded by Priyali Dhingra and Prashant Kumar, edited by Hassan Bilal. 



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Chota Hafta 513

    Chota Hafta 513

    · NL Hafta

    This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, and Anand Vardhan to discuss the violence in Sambhal and the Maharashtra-Jharkhand assembly election results.


    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Chota Hafta 512

    Chota Hafta 512

    · NL Hafta

    This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Jayashree Arunachalam, and Raman Kirpal are joined by environment and air pollution expert Sunil Dahiya.


    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Chota Hafta 511

    Chota Hafta 511

    · NL Hafta

    This week, Newslaundry’s Manisha Pande, Jayashree Arunachalam, Raman Kirpal, and Anand Vardhan are joined by Newslaundry reporter Prateek Goyal.


    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Chota Hafta 510

    Chota Hafta 510

    · NL Hafta

    This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri and Raman Kirpal are joined by Supreme Court advocate Shahrukh Alam and senior journalist Sreenivasan Jain. 


    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Chota Hafta 509

    Chota Hafta 509

    · NL Hafta

    This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, and Raman Kirpal are joined by Washington-based columnist Seema Sirohi.


    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Kante ki Takkar: A look inside Kamala Harris’s faltering campaign

    Kante ki Takkar: A look inside Kamala Harris’s faltering campaign

    · NL Hafta

    Donald Trump has threatened to scrap America’s Constitution, has denied the results of the last election, and has been charged with inciting a riot. His rival, Kamala Harris, is none of those things. 


    Yet, after a high-voltage entry into the US presidential race, Harris seems to be losing momentum and is deadlocked at the polls. This is despite the Harris campaign raising a staggering 1 billion dollars, more than half of what the Trump campaign has raised. 


    In the second episode of the three-part series Mandate 2024: US Edition, Sreenivasan Jain reports from a Harris rally in #GroundZero at Michigan – a key swing state – to understand the dynamics of why the US election has become a kante ki takkar.


    Jain speaks to Hispanic voters who are leaning Trump, despite Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, to Muslim Americans, angry with the US support to the war in Gaza. 


    As Ilhan Omar, a Muslim Democrat Congresswoman, tells Jain, the Gaza conflict could cost Harris the election.

    Watch our compelling ground report. 


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • ‘Democracy khatre main hai’: The Donald Trump Edition

    ‘Democracy khatre main hai’: The Donald Trump Edition

    · NL Hafta

    The US election – a high-stakes battle between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump – is being perceived as critical for the future of democracy in America.  


    The fear is that if Trump wins, he will undermine key tenets of American democracy, like using government agencies to settle scores with his rivals. Despite this, he remains a formidable contender. 


    In the first episode of the three-part mini-series Mandate 2024: US Edition Sreenivasan Jain reports from a Trump rally in Arizona – a crucial swing state – to understand what is driving Trump bhakti.


    Why do so many Americans buy into the cult of Trump, despite the red flags? Is it because he stokes fear of an immigrant invasion, of America’s white majority being overrun? Or is there more to it?


    Watch our compelling ground report for answers.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Israeli raids, settler attacks, demolitions: In Ep 3, how West Bank is turning into Gaza 2.0

    Israeli raids, settler attacks, demolitions: In Ep 3, how West Bank is turning into Gaza 2.0

    · NL Hafta

    After last year’s October 7 attack, the Israeli army has justified its brutal offensive in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas. But the aftermath of October 7 witnessed an escalation of violence in the West Bank, the Palestinian territory not controlled by Hamas.


    In the final episode of our three-part mini-series Gaza: One Year Later, Sreenivasan Jain investigates fears that the West Bank is emerging as the new Gaza.


    Jain reports from Qusra, a village in Nablus, in the West Bank, which witnessed the biggest number of Palestinians being killed by Israeli settlers in a 48 hour period in the aftermath of October 7th, even as Israeli forces looked on. 


    As an activist from Qusra told Jain, â€œThe soldiers are always with the settlers”. 


    Jain speaks to a member of Regavim, an Israeli settler group that is trying to speed up the demolition of Palestinian structures in the West Bank. 


    As Israel’s aggression ramps up, it is triggering an upsurge of armed Palestinian resistance. 


    Jain meets fighters of the newly formed Jenin Brigade, who say they are willing to die for their cause. 


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Gaza, One Year Later, Ep 2: ‘Cheerleading’ torture and Israel’s crisis of conscience

    Gaza, One Year Later, Ep 2: ‘Cheerleading’ torture and Israel’s crisis of conscience

    · NL Hafta

    On October 7th last year, Israel experienced a traumatic attack by Hamas: over a 1,000 killed, 250 taken hostage. The world mourned with Israel. But a year later, Israel’s devastating response has raised questions within Israeli society itself, whether the country is at risk of losing its moral compass. 


    In the second episode of our three-part mini-series Gaza: One Year Later, Sreenivasan Jain examines Israel’s crisis of conscience through its treatment of Palestinian prisoners after the Hamas attack. 


    Thousands of them have been jailed without specific charges, and tortured brutally.  


    Speaking to Jain, Palestinian activist Nidal Haj Mohammad recounts being blindfolded while in jail, his hands tied, and being beaten up with sticks all over his body. Another activist, Noor Halawa, says that dogs were set on him.  


    Far from sparking outrage, the torture of Palestinians has been cheered by political leaders and the Israeli media, a new dark chapter in Israel’s history. 

    But not all Israelis support the actions of the state. 


    Jain speaks to Gideon Levy, who says, “If not now, when?...When we are shooting, that's the time to raise your voice
How can you keep silent?”

    Watch.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Gaza, One Year Later, Ep 1: The myth of Israel’s ‘moral war’

    Gaza, One Year Later, Ep 1: The myth of Israel’s ‘moral war’

    · NL Hafta

    The Gaza war that erupted last year after the October 7 attack by Hamas – which left over 1,000 dead and 250 hostage – has left a trail of carnage in its wake.  


    Israel has killed more than 40,000 Gazans. Large swathes of Gaza have been reduced to rubble. And the shortages of food and water amid Israeli army restrictions are so severe that the UN has said that Israel may be using starvation as a weapon of war.


    But the Israeli government and its army have claimed that they are fighting a moral war. 


    In this episode of our three-part mini-series Gaza: One Year Later, Sreenivasan Jain reports from ground zero to put Israel’s claim to test. Jain speaks to Palestinian journalists – the only source of information for the outside world – who challenge Israel’s claims. 


    Avi Dichter, a Netanyahu cabinet minister and former Shin Bet chief, asserts that there is “no fair play” and the war “could go on for years” while ordinary Israelis have their own doubts about why Prime Minister Netanyahu – beset by corruption charges – is prolonging the violence. 


    Watch.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Chota Hafta 508

    Chota Hafta 508

    · NL Hafta

    This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, and Jayashree Arunachalam are joined by The Hindu’s international affairs editor Stanly Johny and journalist and defence expert Colonel Ajai Shukla.


    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Chota Hafta 507

    Chota Hafta 507

    · NL Hafta

    This week, Newslaundry’s Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Jayashree Arunachalam, and Anand Vardhan are joined by financial crimes and corporate governance lawyer Sherbir Panag.


    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Chota Hafta 506

    Chota Hafta 506

    · NL Hafta

    This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, and Jayashree Arunachal are joined by senior journalist Sreenivasan Jain and Lokniti-CSDS co-director Sanjay Kumar.


    Check out the Newslaundry store and flaunt your love for independent media. 


    Download the Newslaundry app.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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