First Bangkok Bus Fare Hike in Years Coming 2019

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18 December 2018, 11:39

Update: The bus fare increases were delayed until April 22, the Land Transport Department said Friday.

Update Dec. 21: The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority on Thursday announced fares for buses without air-conditioning will be raised 2 baht, from 6.50 baht to 8.50 baht, starting Jan. 21. They will further increase to 10 baht around the end of 2019.

BANGKOK — Transport authorities have approved a hike in bus fares of at least 1 baht starting next month.

New fares for both public and privately operated buses will come into effect Jan. 21, according to Peraphon Thawornsupacharoen, director-general of the Land Transport Department.

Private buses without air-conditioning will go up to 10 baht from 9 baht, while those of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority could be raised to as much as 10 baht from 6.50 baht. Air-conditioned buses will collect fares between 12 baht and 24 baht, a small bump from the 11 baht to 23 baht.

The new NGV bus fares will also be raised to 15 baht and 25 baht from 11 baht and 23 baht under the condition they’re equipped with GPS trackers, security cameras and e-ticket machines, he said.

The decision came after private bus operators last month demanded fares be raised for the first time since February 2015. State-operated buses haven’t seen fare hikes since September 2011.

Peraphon said higher operating costs have forced about 18 percent of Bangkok buses to cease service. He added that transport authorities will propose further ways to relieve the burden on both operators and commuters, including fuel subsidies and increased credits for welfare card holders.

France: Alleged Gun Source Given Preliminary Extremism Charges

By

Associated Press

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18 December 2018, 11:13

Residents react Sunday during a gathering being held in a central square of the eastern French city of Strasbourg. Photo: Jean-Francois Badias / Associated Press

PARIS — A man suspected of supplying the gun that was used in the shooting attack that killed five people near a Christmas market in Strasbourg was handed preliminary extremism charges Monday, according to a judicial official close to the investigation.

The official, who could not be named with the case ongoing, said the individual appeared before a judge and was charged with criminal association with extremists, as well as possessing and supplying arms in connection with an extremist enterprise.

The man is suspected of furnishing the weapon that alleged gunman Cherif Chekatt used in the Dec. 11 attack, the judicial official said. He was remanded into custody. Chekatt, 29, died in a shootout with police in Strasbourg Thursday.

Two other people were arrested and detained Monday as part of the extremism investigation the Paris prosecutor’s office is conducting into the attack. They also were suspected of “playing a role in supplying the firearm,” said the official.

Their arrests bring the number of suspects in custody since the attack to three; Chekatt’s parents and two of his brothers were questioned by police last week and released.

The death toll from the attack increased to five Sunday night after a Polish man died of his wounds in a Strasbourg hospital. Barto Orent-Niedzielski, 36, lived in the city, where he worked at the European Parliament and as a journalist. The other casualties include a tourist from Thailand and an Italian journalist covering the European Parliament.

According to some reports, Orent-Niedzielski fought the shooter and stopped him from entering a crowded club, possibly preventing more deaths.

Polish President Andrzej Duda wrote early Monday on Twitter that “I knew him by sight. I am shocked. I had not realized that he was the one mortally wounded protecting other people. Honor to his memory. RIP.”

Two people were arrested and one appeared before a French judge Monday as part of an extremism-related investigation of the shooting attack that killed five people last week near a Christmas market in Strasbourg, the Paris prosecutor’s office said.

An official close to the investigation said the man who was in court is suspected of involvement in supplying the weapon that alleged gunman Cherif Chekatt used in the Dec. 11 attack. Chekatt, 29, died in a shootout with police in Strasbourg Thursday.

The two detained Monday also were suspected of “playing a role in supplying the firearm,” said the official, who could not be named with the case ongoing. Their arrests bring the number of suspects in custody since the attack to three; Chekatt’s parents and two of his brothers were questioned by police last week and released.

The death toll from the attack increased to five Sunday night after a Polish man died of his wounds in a Strasbourg hospital. Barto Orent-Niedzielski, 36, lived in the city, where he worked at the European Parliament and as a journalist. The other casualties include a tourist from Thailand and an Italian journalist covering the European Parliament.

According to some reports, Orent-Niedzielski fought the shooter and stopped him from entering a crowded club, possibly preventing more deaths.

Polish President Andrzej Duda wrote early Monday on Twitter that “I knew him by sight. I am shocked. I had not realized that he was the one mortally wounded protecting other people. Honor to his memory. RIP.”

Story: Samuel Petrequin

Missouri Poacher Ordered to Repeatedly Watch ‘Bambi’

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Associated Press

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18 December 2018, 11:00

SPRINGFIELD, Missouri — A Missouri poacher has been ordered to repeatedly watch the movie “Bambi” as part of his sentence for illegally killing hundreds of deer.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that David Berry Jr. was ordered to watch the Walt Disney movie at least once each month during his year-long jail sentence in what conservation agents are calling one of the largest deer poaching cases in state history.

Prosecutors say the deer were killed for their heads, with their bodies left to rot.

Berry was convicted in southwest Missouri’s Lawrence County of illegally taking wildlife. Three relatives and another man also were caught in connection to the poaching case. They’ve paid USD$51,000 in fines and court costs.

Berry also was sentenced to 120 days in jail in nearby Barton County for a firearms probation violation.

Silicon Valley East: Google Plans $1B Expansion in New York

By

Associated Press

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18 December 2018, 10:47

People walk by Google offices in 2017 in New York. Photo: Mark Lennihan / Associated Press

Silicon Valley is becoming Silicon Nation.

Google announced Monday it will spend more than USD$1 billion to build a new office complex in New York City that will allow the internet search giant to double the number of people it employs there.

It is the tech industry’s latest major expansion beyond the Seattle-San Francisco Bay corridor. It follows recent steps by Amazon and Apple to set up large operations well outside their home turf.

Tech companies are “coming to the realization that the Bay Area, which has traditionally been the major center of tech activity in the U.S., is getting expensive and crowded,” said Andrew Bartels, principal analyst at Forrester Research.

“A lot of vendors are coming to the realization that ‘We can probably find top talent elsewhere at a more affordable costs, and perhaps a better style of life for employees who may be struggling to make ends meet.'”

The Northeast is attractive because of its large concentration of highly educated young people. New York in particular also offers proximity to Wall Street and already has the second-biggest concentration of tech startups behind the Bay Area and a large base of tech employees, Bartels said. Facebook, based in Menlo Park, California, has over 2,000 employees in New York.

Google, based in Mountain View, California, will fashion a complex of almost 158,000sqm, more than 1.7 million square feet, along the Hudson River in the city’s West Village neighborhood, Ruth Porat, senior vice president and chief financial officer, said in a blog post.

Google opened its first office in New York nearly 20 years ago and now employs 7,000 people in the city. Its footprint is expanding rapidly. Google said earlier this year that it would buy the Chelsea Market building for $2.4 billion and planned to lease more space at Pier 57, both along the Hudson about a mile north of the newly announced complex.

Porat telegraphed Google’s plans to double down in New York a month ago during a technology conference.

“Not everybody – big surprise – wants to live in Silicon Valley, so we want to make sure we have the opportunity to build vibrant centers across the country,” she said.

The news follows Seattle-based Amazon’s announcement a month ago that it would set up new headquarters in New York’s Long Island City neighborhood and in Arlington, Virginia, creating upwards of 25,000 jobs in each location.

But it’s not just the East Coast that is benefiting from the expansion. Apple, based in Cupertino, California, said last week that it plans to build a $1 billion campus in Austin, Texas, that will create at least 5,000 jobs.

Even as it looks elsewhere, Google is still buying offices and drawing up plans to construct new campuses near its headquarters, as it tries to build upon its success in internet search, email, web browsers, digital mapping, online video and smartphone software to make money in other markets such as health care and internet-connected homes.

The company recently agreed to pay more than $100 million for a swath of land in downtown San Jose, California, for a big new campus that will include employee housing.

Microsoft likewise is overhauling its headquarters in Redmond, Washington, with an 18-building construction project that will make room for an additional 8,000 workers. It currently employs about 47,000 in the area.

But the competition for programmers is driving salaries higher, which in turn is catapulting the average prices of homes in many parts of the San Francisco Bay Area above $1 million. Many high-tech workers are choosing to live elsewhere, forcing major tech companies to look in new places for the employees they need.

Google hopes to move into the new campus by 2020. Porat said that the company’s most recent investments give it the ability to more than double the number of Google employees in New York over the next 10 years.

Tech companies see New York as a way to gain a new perspective, one that is different from that of Silicon Valley, which can be seen as an “out-of-touch echo chamber,” Bartels said.

“New Yorkers consider themselves to be more in tune with the reality of life in U.S. urban centers and believe this helps them innovate products and services that are more closely aligned with the needs of the average American,” he said.

Story: Mae Anderson

Winner of Asia’s Next Top Model Throw Celebration Party at Bangkok Marriott Hotel the Surawongse (Sponsored)

By

Khaosod English

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17 December 2018, 18:18

Asia’s Next Top Model has returned for its cycle 6 which was entirely filmed in Thailand throughout the cycle. As an official partner of the international renowned reality show, Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse has been featured as the set for many highlight episodes including the opening scene at Yào Rooftop Bar and the finale show at The Surawongse Ballroom. The hotel also presents “Wednesday Models Night” at its Yào Rooftop Bar where the special fashion drinks are offered along with a live broadcast from Fox Thailand channel throughout the 10 weeks of airing.

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Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse in cooperation with Fox Networks Group Asia have hosted an exclusive party on the evening that the final episode was aired to honor the winner of Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 6, Ms. Dana Slosar at Praya Lounge on 22nd October 2018. Set in a convivial atmosphere, the party saw the huge turnout of well-wishers, fans and friends of the winner, including Pim Bubear, Rubini Sambanthan, Jachin Manere, and Jesslyn Lim. Mr. George Varughese, General Manager of Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse, attended the party to present a bouquet and offer his congratulations to the winner.

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Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse’s official partnership with Fox Networks Group Asia and Asia’s Next Top Model, has been a great success thanks to the warm reception from all concerned parties. For updates on other activities of Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse, call 02-088-5666 or visit www.bangkokmarriottsurawongse.com .

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Enjoy Festive Feast With Family-Friendly Activities at Bangkok Marriott Hotel the Surawongse (Sponsored)

By

Khaosod English

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17 December 2018, 18:14

The festive season is just around the corner and there is no better way to gather with friends and family for a Christmas and New Year feast at Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse. Come and join a jolly Christmas celebration at Praya Kitchen with a series of gastronomic delights and fun family activities, exclusively crafted for the special occasion.

Indulge in enjoyable recollection of the treasured childhood memories, the team of experienced chefs is please to present rare-to-find dishes in which the recipes are reinvented from chefs’ childhood memories. A variety of authentic Thai dishes, prepared with quality local ingredients, is sure to delight every palate during the festive season. The highlight includes Chicken Volcano and crab meat curry with betel leaves.

The festive lunch and dinner is offered throughout the week of festive joy, spanning from 20th December 2018 – 1st January 2019. The buffet starts from 12.00 hrs – 15.00 hrs while the buffet dinner is offered from 18.00 hrs – 10.30 hrs.

The festive buffet lunch is offered at THB 788++ on 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 and 31 December; at THB 1,388++ on 22 and 23 December; at THB 1,588++ on 30 December and at THB 888++ on 29 December.

For the festive buffet dinner, the price is THB 988++ for 20, 26 and 27 December; THB 1,888++ for 21, 22, 23 December; THB 1,588++ for 30 December and THB 1,388++ for 28, 29 and 30 December.

On Christmas Eve (24 December), start a Christmas spirit with buffet lunch which is available at THB 1,388++ or join the buffet dinner at THB 2,288++. Apart from a wide range of buffet items, the dinner will be even more special with fun activities including live music, Kids Corner as well as a visit from Santa Claus.

For Christmas Day (25 December), guests are invited to experience an authentic Thai flavors with buffet lunch as well as buffet dinner. The buffet lunch is offered at THB 1,588++ while the buffet dinner is offered at THB 1,888++.

Making the last evening of 2018 memorable with the New Year’s Eve (31 December) buffet dinner. Offering at THB 2,288++, the price include an exclusive access to Surawongse terrace for an epic countdown party with a coupon for one glass of sparkling wine.

It’s only natural to require some hearty breakfast to face the first day of the year. Enjoy Super Breakfast on New Year’s Day (1 Jauary) at THB 650++ with an extended hour from 06.00 hrs – 15.00 hrs. Buffet dinner is also offered at THB 1,888++.

The special discount is offered for both lunch and dinner at Praya Kitchen. The 50% discount is applied for children aged 6-12 years old and the full rate is applied for children aged over 12 years old while children aged under 6 years old are welcome for free of charge.

Come and join us for a memorable Christmas memory at Bangkok Marriott hotel The Surawongse with a delicately crafted selection of dining experience. For more information and reservation, please contact 02 088 5666 or visit http://bit.ly/2qn1LLt

Group Says It Will Ask Political Parties to Endorse Welfare State

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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17 December 2018, 17:49

Welfare card holders wait in line Dec. 9 to withdraw 500-baht holiday stipends in Yala province.

BANGKOK — A group of activists said Monday it will try to persuade political parties to turn Thailand into a welfare state.

Calling themselves “We Fair,” the group held a meeting to discuss their goal of introducing progressive income, land and inheritance tax and cutting the defense budget by 70 percent among others to ensure basic welfare for everyone.

The proposed welfare scheme would include 3,000 baht of monthly support for every child from birth to the age of 18, child care centers for all children from birth to the age of three and 3,000 baht of monthly support for undergraduate student among others.

Jaetsada Taesamak, a member of the group, said Thai society does not need patronizing cards such as those given to people on low income by the current military regime.

“We don’t want to be patronized… Welfare is a basic right,” Jaetsada said.

Other aspects of the proposal include 180 days of maternity leave for both parents, a 3,000-baht monthly pension for elderly people and a 3,000-baht monthly stipend for people with disabilities.

The group said it plans to petition political parties from Tuesday and will wait for their responses before updating the public.

Democrat Party, Chart Pattana party, Bhumjai Thai party, Commoner party and Future Forward party are among those that will be approached.

First Since 2013, Rare Turtle Lays Eggs on Thai Beach: Expert (Video)

By

JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI

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17 December 2018, 16:50

A still image from a video posted online Monday shows a leatherback sea turtle on a Phang Nga beach. Image: Thon Thamrongnawasawat / Facebook

PHANG NGA — A prominent marine life expert on Monday said a rare sea turtle had laid almost 100 eggs on a Thai beach for the first time in five years.

In an online post, Kasetsart University’s professor Thon Thamrongnawasawat posted footage and pictures of the leatherback sea turtle, considered the largest of all living turtles, crawling back to the sea today from a beach in Phang Nga province after laying eggs overnight.

He wrote that the turtle laid at least 93 eggs, the first time since 2013. The species is still waiting to be registered among Thailand’s protected animals, he said, adding that numbers worldwide are rapidly decreasing.

“It was a long wait for Thai sea lovers, that one day they will come back to our beaches to lay eggs,” the post read, “And the wait is finally over.”

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources said it has instructed staff and experts to closely monitor the eggs. It said the turtle was about 125 centimeters long.

Thon said two leatherback sea turtles were found dead in Thailand over the past five years. He said many died from eating plastic waste, especially plastic bags mistaken as jellyfish, the turtle’s natural prey.

โพสต์โดย Thon Thamrongnawasawat เมื่อ วันอาทิตย์ที่ 16 ธันวาคม 2018

เพื่อนธรณ์ครับ ในที่สุด ฝันที่รอคอยก็เป็นจริง คลิปและภาพนี้เป็นหลักฐานที่ดียิ่งว่า #เต่ามะเฟือง…

โพสต์โดย Thon Thamrongnawasawat เมื่อ วันอาทิตย์ที่ 16 ธันวาคม 2018

King Taksin Palace Open to Public For 2 Weeks

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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17 December 2018, 16:27

A photo of Fort Wichaiprasit, which locates inside the ground of the Old Palace.

BANGKOK — The palace that served as the center of power for King Taksin’s brief reign is open to the public for free through Dec. 28.

The facility, which Bangkokians call “the Old Palace,” contains a museum illustrating the history of the Thonburi Kingdom that lasted from 1767 to 1782, when the capital city was located on the western side of what is now Bangkok.

The palace opened to the public Saturday. It usually does so once yearly on Dec. 28 – the day King Taksin proclaimed his kingdom – but this year the navy extended the time to nearly two weeks.

Inside the palace, which now doubles as the headquarters of the Royal Navy, visitors will find artifact related to the Thonburi era, including centuries-old muskets and old maps of Bangkok.

Foreign visitors must be accompanied by a Thai national, according to an official stationed at the palace, citing navy regulations.

Another highlight is the white-stoned Wichai Prasit Fort, a French-designed fortress built during the Ayutthaya era to guard the entrance of Chao Phraya River.

The Kingdom of Thonburi came to an end in 1782, when a nobleman from Ratchaburi seized power, executed King Taksin and crowned himself as King Ramathibodi – or Rama I – of the Chakri dynasty. The capital city was moved to the eastern bank, and a new seat of government relocated to what is now the Grand Palace.

The Old Palace opens 9am through 3:30pm daily until Dec. 28. It’s next door to Wat Arun, accessible via ferry from Tha Tien pier.

Rejoice the New Year at Park Hyatt (Sponsored)

By

Khaosod English

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17 December 2018, 16:14

BANGKOK — Embrace the final moments of 2018 and welcome the new year with memorable dining experiences at Embassy Room and Penthouse Bar + Grill, including the most high-flying countdown party in town.

Book through EVENT POP before November 30th to receive 10% discount.

EMBASSY ROOM Monday, December 31st, 2018

Ring out the old and in with the new over Embassy Room’s distinctive 4- or 6-course set dinner. Indulge in the likes Hokkaido scallop carpaccio| sea urchin/Bloody Mary; Turbot/winter black truffle risotto/beurre blanc; 250 days dry-aged beef/pomme puree/tomato salsa/smoked paprika; and Italian meringue/peach and raspberry/white chocolate & champagne sorbet, on your way to cap it all at countdown on the roof. 6:00p.m. – 8:30 p.m. / 9:00p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

THB 3,300++ per person 4-course dinner THB 4,500++ per person 4-course dinner with wine pairing THB 4,500++ per person 6-course dinner THB 6,500++ per person 6-course dinner with wine pairing

PENTHOUSE GRILL Monday, December 31st, 2018

Embrace the spirit of the grand transition over Chef de Cuisine Andrew Dickie and team’s 5-course set dinner or 7-courses Chef’s Table surprise menu for up to 8 diners. 6:00p.m. – 8:30 p.m. / 9:30p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

THB 7,500++++ per person 5-course dinner THB 10,000++ per person 5-course dinner with wine pairing THB 20,000++ per person 7-course dinner at the Chef’s Table (minimum spend THB 50,000++)

COUNTDOWN CELEBRATION

Greet the New Year with a bang above it all at Penthouse Bars. Surrender to a magical evening of exciting activities sky high throughout the Penthouse bars from 9:00p.m. – 1:00a.m.

ROOFTOP

Party with unlimited premium Champagne and party drinks to DJ Mr. Jim’s Reggae, Dancehall, Old School, Hip Hop, Soul, Funk and Disco, as enchanting MC Unda presides.

THB 10,000++ per person. Additional THB 10,000++ for an exclusive table

COCKTAIL BAR & WHISKY ROOM

Party on down all night with live music and DJ. Enjoy unlimited premium Champagne and party drinks.

THB 7,500++ per person. Additional THB 5,000++ for an exclusive table. Table service at Whisky Room only.

MEZZANINE

Party hearty into 2019 with an all-in package served to table at THB 10,000++ per person.

LIVING ROOM (level 9)

Dine on a la carte menus or settle for a free-flow Champagne package with live music from 9:00p.m.-midnight. 6:00p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

THE BAR (level 10)

Explore specially crafted celebratory beverages all evening. Reserve one of the outdoor terrace tables early at [email protected]. 3:30p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

NEW YEAR’S DAY January 1st, 2019

The Living Room offers a recovery delight from a full night of celebrations over chef’s signature Hangover Afternoon Tea accompanied with soothing live music for a truly swinging start to the New Year.

THB 999 per person with coffee/tea and soft drinks THB 1,998 per person with free-flow Bloody Mary, coffee/tea and soft drinks THB 999 per person for free-flow Bloody Mary

2:00p.m. – 5:00 a.m. For reservations at Penthouse Bar + Grill, call +66 2 011 7480 or email [email protected]

For reservations at the Embassy Room, Living Room and The Bar, call +66 2 011 7430 or email [email protected]

*All prices are subject to 7% government tax and 10% service charge

About Park Hyatt

Park Hyatt hotels provide discerning, affluent business and leisure guests with elegant and luxurious accommodations. Guests of Park Hyatt hotels receive highly attentive personalized service in an intimate environment. Located in several of the world’s premier destinations, each Park Hyatt hotel is custom designed to combine sophistication with a distinctive regional character. Park Hyatt hotels feature well-appointed guestrooms, meeting and special event spaces for groups, critically acclaimed art, food and beverage programs, and signature restaurants featuring award-winning chefs. There are currently 41 Park Hyatt hotels in the following locations: Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Beaver Creek, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Busan, Canberra, Changbaishan, Carlsbad, Chennai, Chicago, Dubai, Goa, Guangzhou, Hamburg, Hangzhou, Hyderabad, Istanbul, Jeddah, Maldives, Mallorca, Melbourne, Mendoza, Milan, Moscow, New York, Ningbo, Paris, Saigon, Sanya, Seoul, Shanghai, Siem Reap, St. Kitts, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto (under renovation), Vienna, Washington, D.C., Zanzibar, Zurich. For more information, please visit parkhyatt.com. Follow @ParkHyatt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and tag photos with #LuxuryIsPersonal.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 14 premier brands. As of June 30, 2018, the Company’s portfolio included more than 750 properties in more than 55 countries across six continents. The Company’s purpose to care for people so they can be their best informs its business decisions and growth strategy and is intended to attract and retain top colleagues, build relationships with guests and create value for shareholders. The Company’s subsidiaries develop, own, operate, manage, franchise, license or provide services to hotels, resorts, branded residences, vacation ownership properties, and fitness and spa locations, including under the Park Hyatt®, Miraval®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Andaz®, Hyatt Centric®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Ziva™, Hyatt Zilara™, Hyatt Residence Club® and exhale® brand names. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

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