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TOKYO (AP) — The tsunami-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant began its third release of treated and diluted radioactive wastewater into the sea Thursday after Japanese officials said the two earlier releases ended smoothly. The plant operator discharged 7,800 tons of treated water in each of the first two batches and plans to release the same amount in the current batch through Nov. 20. The plant began the first wastewater release in August and will continue to do so for decades. About 1.34 million tons of radioactive wastewater is stored in about 1,000 tanks at the plant. China immediately banned all imports of Japanese seafood, badly hurting Japanese seafood producers and exporters.

Organizations: TOKYO, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, TEPCO, Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA Locations: Japan, South Korea, China, Asia, asia

☆ Japan’s rates tweak is careful and crafty: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Breakingviews category · November 3, 2023 · 6:06 AM UTC“A billion here, a billion there”, Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen reputedly said of the U.S. budget deficit in the mid-1960s, “and pretty soon, you’re talking big money". The senator would need to do some swift recalibrations were he confronted with today’s American public finances. Last month, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported that the federal budget deficit for the fiscal year ending September 30 had hit $1.7 trillion. Shortly afterwards, the International Monetary Fund forecast that the deficit will continue at the same level for at least the next five years. Meanwhile, government debt has tripled since the senator’s day to around 120% of GDP.

Persons: Everett Dirksen, you’re Organizations: Congressional, Office, International Monetary Fund Locations: Illinois

“After China's ban on Japanese seafood, we are seeing more customers buying not only Fukushima fish but also Japanese seafood in general to support the industry." Despite the wastewater discharges, auction prices at Fukushima fish markets have remained stable — or even occasionally higher than normal. While individual consumers favor ordering fish by mail and shopping at seafood markets, prefectural government cafeterias have started serving Fukushima seafood for lunch. In Kyoto, a group of world-renowned Japanese “Kaiseki” cuisine chefs, will develop menus that primarily use Fukushima fish starting early next year. “I wish I could sell more local fish,” Haga said.

Persons: Kazuto Harada, “, ”, “ I'm, it’s, Futoshi Kinoshita, Katsuya Goto, ” Goto, Yoshinori Tanaka, ” Tanaka, Haga, ” Haga Organizations: —, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Tokyo Electric Power Company, United States Embassy, TEPCO, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Japanese Culinary Academy Locations: IWAKI, Japan, Onahama, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tokyo, South Korea, Beijing, China, Kyoto, Toriyone, Asia, asia

TOKYO (AP) — Godzilla, the nightmarish radiation spewing monster born out of nuclear weapons, has stomped through many movies, including several Hollywood remakes. It was a mood that fit his supernatural “very Japanese” Godzilla, Yamazaki said at the Tokyo International Film Festival, where “Godzilla Minus One” is the closing film. That helped inspire the last Japanese Godzilla, the 2016 “Shin Godzilla,” directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi. Toho studios hadn’t made a Godzilla film since 2004. But what he really wants to make is a “Star Wars” film.

Persons: Takashi Yamazaki, Ishiro Honda, ”, Yamazaki, it’s, “, Kamiki, “ Gojira, Gareth Edwards ’, Shin, Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi, hadn’t, Juzo Itami, Oscar, Steven Spielberg’s “, George Lucas, ’ ”, ___ Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, Hollywood, Tokyo, Associated Press, Toho, “ Locations: Pacific, Japan, Ukraine, Tokyo

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota’s July-September profit jumped nearly threefold from a year ago as vehicle sales grew around the world and a cheap yen boosted the Japanese automaker’s overseas earnings. Toyota Motor Corp. reported Wednesday 1.28 trillion yen ($8.5 billion) in quarterly profit, up from 434 billion yen the previous year. Quarterly sales rose 24% to 11.43 trillion yen ($75.7 billion) from 9.22 trillion yen. Political Cartoons View All 1227 ImagesToyota is expecting its vehicle sales to grow in most major regions, officials said. A shortage of computer chips caused by the social restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic had previously slammed the supply chain and hurt Toyota sales.

Persons: —, Hannah Schoenbaum, Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, Toyota Motor Corp, Toyota, U.S, Camry, Lexus, Tesla, Vehicles Locations: U.S, Europe, Japan, Asia, China, North Carolina, Greensboro, North America, Kentucky, Raleigh, N.C

☆ Charlie Munger praises Warren Buffett’s big bets on Japan on Acquired podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“It was awfully easy money,” Charlie Munger, Buffett’s longtime lieutenant and vice chair of Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA), said in an interview with the Acquired podcast released this week. The firms backed by Berkshire — Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui & Co., and Sumitomo — are known as “sogo shosha” or general trading companies in Japan. “These trading companies were really entrenched, old companies, and they had all these cheap copper mines and rubber plantations, and so you could borrow [easily],” Munger added. Buffett’s decision to invest in Japan has buoyed optimism about prospects in the world’s third largest economy. The legendary investor has previously cheered “the future of Japan,” casting more attention to the country from other foreign backers.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Warren, Charlie Munger, Buffett’s, Berkshire Hathaway, Berkshire —, Munger, Warren Buffett, ”, ” Munger, “, Wang Chuanfu, Omaha ”, China’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Japan’s Nikkei, Berkshire, Berkshire — Itochu, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui & Co, Sumitomo, BYD, Hyundai, Apple Locations: Hong Kong, Japan, Berkshire, United States, “, Munger, Asia, South, TSMC, Omaha, Taiwan, China

☆ Yield Curve Control Joins the Living Dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Jacky Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Bank of Japan has effectively ended its policy of capping 10-year government bond yields at 1%. Photo: ISSEI KATO/REUTERSJapan’s Halloween tweak to its monetary policy didn’t go as far as some yen bulls had hoped. But a stronger yen could still eventually spook global markets—especially if rising U.S. rates keep forcing the Bank of Japan ’s hand. The Bank of Japan effectively abandoned its policy of capping 10-year government bond yields at 1% on Tuesday, saying that level will now be a reference only. But the central bank also said it would conduct “nimble market operations” in response to developments in economic and financial conditions.

Persons: ISSEI KATO, didn’t Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Bank of Locations: Bank of Japan

☆ Japan’s Seven-Year Experiment in Extreme Interest-Rate Control Is Coming to an End
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Megumi Fujikawa | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Bank of Japan acknowledged that inflation in the country is more long-lasting than it had expected. Photo: richard a. brooks/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesTOKYO—The Bank of Japan edged closer to a new era in which it ends the unconventional monetary easing it has long pursued, although Gov. Kazuo Ueda wasn’t ready to declare the old era over yet. The central bank said Tuesday that its 1% cap on the 10-year government bond yield would now be considered a reference rather than a hard limit. It sharply raised its price forecast, saying the inflation rate would likely stay near 3% until early 2025.

Persons: richard, Kazuo Ueda wasn’t Organizations: Bank of Japan, Agence France, Getty, The Bank of Japan Locations: TOKYO

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were trading mixed Tuesday as investors looked ahead to a week that could see more swings in financial markets, including key reports on U.S. consumer confidence and the job market. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar rose to 150.16 Japanese yen from 149.04 yen. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 49.45 points, or 1.2%, to close at 4,166.82 on Monday. Because it’s the most valuable stock on Wall Street, it is also the most influential stock on the S&P 500. Big Tech soared much more than the rest of the market early this year, which helped to lift the S&P 500 but also meant big expectations for continued growth.

Persons: Australia's, Korea's Kospi, Brent, Stan Choe, Damian J, Troise Organizations: TOKYO, Nikkei, Bank, Bank of Japan, U.S . Federal Reserve, U.S, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Apple, Big Tech, Treasury, Fed, Workers, U.S ., CVS Health, Pfizer, Starbucks, Traders, Benchmark Locations: Hong, Shanghai, Japan’s, Israel, Iran

The people who work the levers of Japan’s economy are in a bind: The country’s low interest rates, which they have long used to goose growth, are now well out of step with other big economies. The yen is at a near-record low against the U.S. dollar, threatening to inflict prolonged inflation on Japan, which for years suffered the opposite problem. On Tuesday, the central bank, the Bank of Japan, tried to thread the needle, announcing a policy that aims to nudge bond yields higher. Decisions by the Bank of Japan, led by Governor Kazuo Ueda, reverberate around the world, especially in American markets. Interest rates in the United States are well above Japan’s — yields on 10-year U.S. Treasury notes briefly pushed above 5 percent in September, a level not seen since 2007.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda Organizations: U.S ., Bank of Japan, Treasury Locations: Japan, Tokyo, reverberate, United States

☆ Stock Market Today: Dow Rises 500 Points, Nasdaq Climbs 150 -- Live Updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Stocks finished Monday higher, with the indexes trying to end a difficult month on a positive note. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both fell into corrections last week, meaning a drop of 10% from a recent peak. The S&P 500, the Dow and the Nasdaq Composite were all up more than 1%. The blue-chip Dow, up more than 500 points, logged its first 1% gain since August. Treasury yields rose.

Persons: Stocks, Bitcoin Organizations: Nasdaq, Treasury, Stocks, Dow, Microsoft, Amazon.com, ON Semiconductor, Nikkei Locations: U.S, Gaza

TOKYO (AP) — Trade and economy officials from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies strengthened their pledge Sunday to work together to ensure smooth supply chains for essentials like energy and food despite global uncertainties. Political Cartoons View All 1223 ImagesThe G-7 includes the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Britain. Trade is one sector where growing political tensions with China have been playing out, although China was not directly mentioned in the meetings. Yasutoshi Nishimura, the Japanese minister in charge of trade and the economy, said G-7 nations expressed support and understanding for Japan’s position, stressing the safety of Japanese food based on scientific evidence, including that from Fukushima. Nishimura also said the guest nations that took part in the G-7 meeting, including Australia and India, were potentially powerful allies in strengthening the supply chain in valuable materials.

Persons: Yoko Kamikawa, ”, “, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Nishimura, Kamikawa, Katherine Tai, ___ Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, —, European Union, World Trade Organization, ”, EU, U.S . Trade Locations: Osaka, Ukraine, Israel, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, Australia, Chile, India, Indonesia, Kenya, China, Hiroshima, Fukushima

☆ World’s best cities for street food and cocktails
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Get the latest news in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments. CNN —In our latest roundup of travel news: great cities for world-class cocktails, Japanese street food and Michelin-starred fine dining, plus father-son and grandmother-granddaughter aviation teams taking to the skies. Bars, street food and fine diningWhere do you go to find the world’s best bar? And for Asian street food, one Japanese city has more open-air food stalls than the rest of the country combined. See an emperor penguin hatchVideo Ad Feedback See emperor penguin hatch at SeaWorld in 'once in a decade' event 00:48 - Source: CNNThis emperor penguin chick is the first to hatch at SeaWorld San Diego in over 10 years.

Persons: it’s, speakeasy Paradiso, Japan’s, Hannah Heck, Cynthia Heck, Ruben Flowers, Ruben, Little Ruben, Gray, Tranquebar Organizations: CNN, Michelin, speakeasy, Southwest Airlines, Travel, Brussels Airport, Google, SeaWorld San, Staff, Comedy Locations: Barcelona, Fukuoka, Georgia’s, Atlanta, California, France, South Carolina, Brussels, Japan, Tokyo, SeaWorld, SeaWorld San Diego, Coromandel Coast, Danish, India, Redonda, Caribbean

☆ Japan Inc is only winner in nixed chip deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But this failed tie-up does have a winner of sorts: Japan Inc.That’s precious little consolation for the others involved. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsThe nixed deal also complicates Bain Capital’s exit strategy from Kioxia. Yet Western Digital was set to be the majority partner in the proposed deal. The Nikkei business daily also said that Kioxia and Western Digital were unable to agree on conditions with top Kioxia shareholder Bain Capital. The news sent Western Digital shares down 9%.

Persons: Elliot, Bain, Nobuo Hayasaka, –, Antony Currie, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Japan Inc, Western Digital, Elliot Investment Management, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Toshiba, SK Hynix, Western Digital’s, Development Bank of Japan, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, –, Western, South Korea's SK Hynix, U.S, Nikkei, Bain Capital, Thomson Locations: HYDERABAD, India, Japan, Tokyo

☆ Stock Market Today: Dow Slides 250 Points; Amazon and Intel Stocks Rally
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

JPMorgan shares fell after Chief Executive Jamie Dimon announced plans to make his first substantial sale of the bank’s shares since taking over nearly two decades ago. Exxon Mobil and Chevron shares fell. The Fed's preferred gauge showed core prices rose by 0.3% from the previous month. Oil prices rose. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose more than 2% and Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1.3%.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, Stocks, Brent Organizations: Nasdaq, JPMorgan, Dow, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Ford, United Auto Workers, Treasury, Nikkei Locations: America

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian shares advanced Friday after the latest tumble on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 fell to its lowest level in five months. But investors are more concerned about what will happen rather than what has passed, and worry that a solid economy could continue to push prices higher. That could push the Fed to keep rates high for a long time to curb inflation. Higher interest rates could mean eventual weakness for the economy and corporate profits. And high bond yields make investors less willing to pay high prices for stocks and other investments.

Persons: Australia’s, Taiex, haven’t, Wall, Brent Organizations: Nikkei, Statistics, Big Tech, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Facebook, Treasury, Federal Reserve, New York Mercantile Exchange Locations: HONG KONG, Gaza, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, Israel, U.S

☆ Japan court rules it is ‘unconstitutional’ to require transgender sterilization in landmark case for LGBTQ community
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Francesca Annio | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Her case had been rejected by a family court and a higher court before arriving at the Supreme Court. On Monday, the court ruled in her favor, declaring that the provision requiring sterilization was “in violation” of the constitution. Therefore, the provision in question is not necessary and reasonable,” the court said in its ruling. The Supreme Court declined to rule on the other provision requiring transgender individuals to have genital organs “resembling” the opposite sex, saying it was constitutional. The organization also expressed “strong regret” over recent discriminatory incidents against transgender individuals, including widespread “anxiety and fear” over transgender individuals using their bathrooms of choice.

Persons: ”, Kazuyuki Minami, “, Minami, Ken Suzuki Organizations: Tokyo CNN —, NHK, Supreme, Chamber of Justice, Japan’s Meijin University, National Coalition for, Laws, LGBT Law Coalition Locations: Japan

Japan’s Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that requiring transgender people to undergo sterilization in order to legally change their gender identity is unconstitutional, a step forward for L.G.B.T.Q. rights in a nation that has been slow to recognize them. In practice, that means many transgender people will still be unable to make the legal change. The top court said it would send the case back to the High Court for further discussion of the transition surgery clause. “I’m very disappointed that my case still has to go on.”

Persons: ”, Kazuyuki Minami, “ I’m Organizations: High Court Locations: Japan’s

☆ KKR’s Chip Play Will Win Big in Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jacky Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Kokusai Electric’s technology and manufacturing center in Toyama, Japan. Photo: Soichiro Koriyama/Bloomberg NewsPrivate-equity giant KKR has scored a win in Japan, and with a chip price rebound probably around the corner, their timing looks impeccable. Semiconductor equipment maker Kokusai Electric will start trading Wednesday in Tokyo after raising around $720 million in an initial public offering last week. Kokusai is valued at $2.8 billion at its IPO price, potentially netting KKR a return of more than 60% in Japanese yen terms, excluding leverage. Kokusai unloaded its video and communications systems business after KKR’s takeover.

Persons: Soichiro Koriyama Organizations: Bloomberg, Private, KKR, Semiconductor, Kokusai, Dealogic, Hitachi — Locations: Toyama, Japan, Tokyo

It’s a message ringing clear at the Tokyo Mobility Show, which will run through Nov. 5 at Tokyo Big Sight hall and where battery-powered electric vehicles are the star at practically every booth. Toyota Motor Corp.’s lean angular Lexus concept, set to go on sale in 2026, is an electric vehicle running on lithium-ion batteries. That is partly because of Toyota’s past success in hybrids, exemplified in the Prius, which have a gasoline engine in addition to an electric motor. In China, a third of vehicles sold are EVs. Nissan, an early EV maker among the Japanese with its Leaf going on sale in 2010, is showcasing four EV concept cars.

Persons: —, ” Takero Kato, China's BYD, Kato, Tesla, EVs, Joe Biden, BYD, ” Kato, Joshua Cobb, ”, Cobb, Alfonoso Albaisa, ” Albaisa, De Souza, “, John de Souza, ___ Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, Toyota, Tokyo Mobility, Mazda Motor Corp, Honda Motor, Toyota Motor Corp, Journalists, General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co, Benz, Subaru, Lexus, International Energy Agency, BMI, SAIC, GM, EV, Nissan, “, Manufacturers, Mitsubishi Fuso, Daimler, Mitsubishi Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, China, San Francisco

☆ Fukuoka: The Japanese city that dominates street food
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Fukuoka, Japan’s sixth largest city by population, has more open-air food stalls than the rest of the country combined. These stalls are called yatais, and they’re an indelible part of what makes Fukuoka’s food scene so special. A vendor prepares local Hakata-style pork broth ramen at a Fukuoka yatai. Hemis/Alamy Stock Photo“Yatai is the best place to make friends,” says Nick Szasz, a Canadian-born longtime resident of Japan who runs the English-language website Fukuoka Now. Though the city has always been dotted with these food carts, Takashima’s administration set up a committee to regulate them and make sure they’d remain a vital part of the city.

Persons: Yatais, oden, ”, Nick Szasz, Szasz, it’s, Sōichirō Takashima, –, Fukuoka’s, Kensuke Kubota –, London’s Zuma, Japan –, Yatai Keiji, yatais Organizations: CNN, Fukuoka Locations: Japan’s, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Hakata, Canadian, Japan, Kyushu, AsiaDreamPhoto

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday he is preparing to take bold economic measures, including an income tax cut for households hit by inflation and tax breaks for companies to promote investment, in what's seen as a move to lift his dwindling public support. “I'm determined to take unprecedentedly bold measures,” Kishida said, pledging an intensive effort to achieve stronger supply capability in about three years. “The results clearly show that many voters are dissatisfied by the government's delayed economic measures to tackle rising prices," said Jun Azumi, a senior CDPJ lawmaker. “Now is the time for me to focus on that, and I'm not thinking about anything else,” Kishida said, denying that his tax cut proposal was related to elections. The tax cuts would be part of a new economic stimulus package he plans to announce by the end of the month.

Persons: —, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, “ I'm, ” Kishida, “, ”, Azumi Organizations: TOKYO, Liberal Democratic Party, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan Locations: what's, Nagasaki, Sunday's, Kochi, Tokushima, Ukraine, Israel, China

☆ Ilia Malinin breaks 300-point barrier with personal best score to retain Skate America title
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Figure skating phenomenon Ilia Malinin defended his title at Skate America on Saturday with a personal-best score of 310.47 points in the season-opening Grand Prix. Performing his free skate to the title music of the hit TV show “Succession,” Malinin landed four quad jumps. Malinin competes in the men's free program at Texas Events Center. Chris Jones/USA Today Sports/ReutersHis score was better than his previous best overall score of 288.44, achieved at the World Championships this year where he won bronze. “I wasn’t expecting to skate this well, especially with the pressure that I was facing.

Persons: Ilia Malinin, ” Malinin, Malinin, Chris Jones, Kevin Aymoz, Japan’s Shun Sato Organizations: CNN, Skate America, Credit Union of Texas, Texas Events, USA, Sports Locations: Allen , Texas

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The South Korean, U.S. and Japanese militaries conducted their first-ever trilateral aerial exercise on Sunday in response to evolving North Korean nuclear threats, South Korea’s air force said. The drill involved a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber from the United States and fighter jets from South Korea and Japan, the statement said. South Korea and Japan are both key U.S. allies in Asia, which together host about 80,000 American troops. The North slammed the Camp David agreement, accusing the U.S., South Korean and Japanese leaders of plotting nuclear war provocations on the Korean Peninsula. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called Yoon, Biden and Kishida “the gang bosses” of the three countries.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Yoon, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, David, Kim Jong, Biden, Kishida, ” Organizations: U.S, Japanese, Camp David Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, U.S, United States, Japan, Asia, North Korea, Korean

Tokyo CNN —China has formally arrested a Japanese man who was detained in March, according to officials from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Japanese Embassy in Beijing. The arrest of the Japanese national, who was reportedly an employee of a Tokyo-based pharmaceutical firm, could further rattle foreign businesses in China, which have reported feeling more unsettled this year amid a crackdown on international consulting firms on national security grounds. According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, the man was an employee of drugmaker Astellas Pharma and was detained in March by Chinese security authorities in Beijing on suspicion of violating the country’s criminal law and anti-espionage law. In May, state security authorities said they had raided several offices of Capvision, an advisory network. The issue has been cited as headache for foreign businesses, some of which were already having trouble convincing workers to relocate to China.

Persons: Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan’s MOFA, Mao Ning, “, ”, Weeks, Bain, — CNN’s Michelle Toh, Sophie Jeong, Mengchen Zhang Organizations: Tokyo CNN, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy, NHK, drugmaker, Pharma, CNN, Foreign Ministry, Ministry of State Security, Mintz Group, American Chamber of Commerce, China’s Commerce Ministry, State Administration of Foreign Exchange Locations: China, Tokyo, Beijing, MOFA, Shanghai, Hong Kong

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