<p>An&nbsp;IMF&nbsp;delegation was in&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;Monday for talks on the island's&nbsp;worsening&nbsp;economic&nbsp;crisis, with the public suffering through months of food, fuel and medicine shortages.</p>

<p>A lack of foreign currency has left traders unable to pay for vital imports in what authorities concede is the South Asian nation's worst financial&nbsp;crisis&nbsp;since independence from Britain in 1948.</p>

<p>Long queues outside gas stations and rolling blackouts have become the norm, while record inflation has caused serious hardship among the island's 22 million people by repeatedly pushing up the cost of groceries, transport and pharmaceuticals.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-pm-deuba-to-visit-sri-lanka-for-bimstec-summit-461926">Nepal PM Deuba to visit Sri Lanka for BIMSTEC summit</a></strong></p>

<p>A senior staffer from the International Monetary Fund "will hold talks" with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, finance minister Basil Rajapaksa, a spokesman for the leader told&nbsp;AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sri&nbsp;Lanka's government is divided on seeking a bailout, but the international lender said it was "ready to&nbsp;discuss&nbsp;options if requested" in a Monday statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The&nbsp;IMF&nbsp;warned earlier this month that the country's $51 billion foreign debt was "unsustainable", and called for a currency devaluation and higher taxes to revive its almost bankrupt economy.</p>

<p>Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;last week allowed the rupee to float, a move that saw the currency nosedive 25 percent against the dollar and triggered a fresh wave of price increases.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lankas-central-bank-assures-countrys-currency-to-stabilize-soon-461651">Sri Lanka's central bank assures country's currency to stabilise soon</a></strong></p>

<p>Fuel costs have risen by nearly 80 percent since early February while food prices rose by a quarter according to January figures.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The coronavirus pandemic hammered the South Asian island's tourism sector -- a key foreign exchange earner.</p>

<p>Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;needs nearly $7 billion to service its foreign debt this year, but the country's external reserves at the end of January were just over $2 billion -- enough to finance one month of imports.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Sri Lanka's deepening economic crisis: Fuel prices touch record high</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sri-lankas-deepening-economic-crisis-fuel-prices-touch-record-high-461509/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>International ratings agencies have downgraded&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;over expectations it may not be able to repay its borrowings, though the government insists it will.</p>


An IMF delegation was in Sri Lanka Monday for talks on the island's worsening economic crisis, with the public suffering through months of food, fuel and medicine shortages.

An IMF delegation was in Sri Lanka Monday for talks on the island's worsening economic crisis, with the public suffering through months of food, fuel and medicine shortages. A lack of foreign currency has left traders unable to pay for vital imports in what authorities concede is the South Asian nation's worst financial crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. Long queues outside gas stations and rolling blackouts have become the norm, while record inflation has caused serious hardship among the island's 22 million people by repeatedly pushing up the cost of groceries, transport and pharmaceuticals. Also read | Nepal PM Deuba to visit Sri Lanka for BIMSTEC summit A senior staffer from the International Monetary Fund "will hold talks" with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, finance minister Basil Rajapaksa, a spokesman for the leader told AFP. Sri Lanka's government is divided on seeking a bailout, but the international lender said it was "ready to discuss options if requested" in a Monday statement. The IMF warned earlier this month that the country's $51 billion foreign debt was "unsustainable", and called for a currency devaluation and higher taxes to revive its almost bankrupt economy. Sri Lanka last week allowed the rupee to float, a move that saw the currency nosedive 25 percent against the dollar and triggered a fresh wave of price increases. Also read | Sri Lanka's central bank assures country's currency to stabilise soon Fuel costs have risen by nearly 80 percent since early February while food prices rose by a quarter according to January figures. The coronavirus pandemic hammered the South Asian island's tourism sector -- a key foreign exchange earner. Sri Lanka needs nearly $7 billion to service its foreign debt this year, but the country's external reserves at the end of January were just over $2 billion -- enough to finance one month of imports. Watch | Sri Lanka's deepening economic crisis: Fuel prices touch record high International ratings agencies have downgraded Sri Lanka over expectations it may not be able to repay its borrowings, though the government insists it will.

IMF in Sri Lanka to discuss worsening economic crisis

<p>As the United Kingdom battles a fuel shortage and people are stuck in long queues at the gas stations, a British man that goes by the username Gusdolphin on Tik Tok has found a rather unique solution to the country's furl shortage woes.</p>

<p>In a video that is going viral on video-sharing app Tik Tok, a man by the name of Gus Lee-Dolphin took it upon himself to make light of the situation that has worried everyone.</p>

<p>The video that is shot from the point of view of Gus, shows long queues outside a gas station. Trotting his horse,&nbsp;alongside those cars, Gus can be heard singing "Queuing for Petrol, I’m on a horse. I don't need petrol coz he runs on carrots".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-fuel-industry-denies-government-claims-crisis-is-easing-417216">UK fuel industry denies government claims crisis is easing</a></strong></p>

<p>This video has garnered more than five million views on TikTok and people are lapping up the trolling. On Instagram, people can be seen suggesting other forms of transportation that Gus can use in his next videos. One Instagram user has even suggested Roller skates.</p>

<p>Watch the viral video:</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CUcCiD6DgSx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Gus Lee-Dolphin (@gusleedolphin)</a></p>
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<p>It turns out that this isn't Gus's first time trolling the motorists waiting in lines for fuel. In an earlier video posted by Gus, he is riding a bicycle through a petrol station. Similar to his horse and petrol song, he can be heard singing, "Queuing for petrol, queuing for petrol, we don't need petrol coz I'm on a bike".</p>

<p>Watch the video:&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CUcCUPvDUFA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Gus Lee-Dolphin (@gusleedolphin)</a></p>
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<p>Queues continued to build at refuelling stations, especially in London and southern England.</p>

<p>Many British gas stations were still dry on Friday, after a chaotic week that saw panic buying, fights at the pumps and drivers hoarding&nbsp;fuel&nbsp;in water bottles after an acute shortage of truck drivers strained supply chains to breaking point.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/uks-fuel-crisis-hits-cristiano-ronaldo-manchester-united-stars-bentley-goes-petrol-hunting-see-pics-417147">UK's fuel crisis hits Cristiano Ronaldo! Manchester United star's Bentley goes petrol-hunting - see pics</a></strong></p>

<p>Shortages of workers in the wake of Brexit and the COVID pandemic have sown disarray through some sectors of the world's fifth-largest economy, disrupting deliveries of&nbsp;fuel&nbsp;and medicines and even raising fears of a mass cull of livestock.</p>

<p>British ministers have for days insisted the crisis is abating or even over, though retailers said more than 2,000 gas stations were dry and Reuters reporters across London and southern England said dozens of pumps were still closed.</p>

<p>Queues of often irate drivers snaked back from those gas stations that were still open in London.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fuel-crisis-is-stabilizing-assures-uk-pm-boris-johnson-416817/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), which represents 65 per cent of Britain's 8,380 forecourts, said members reported on Thursday that 27 per cent&nbsp;of pumps were dry, 21 per cent&nbsp;had just one&nbsp;fuel&nbsp;type in stock and 52 per cent&nbsp;had enough petrol and diesel.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


As the United Kingdom battles a fuel shortage and people are stuck in long queues at the gas stations, a British man that goes by the username Gusdolphin on Tik Tok has found a rather unique solution to the country's furl shortage woes.

As the United Kingdom battles a fuel shortage and people are stuck in long queues at the gas stations, a British man that goes by the username Gusdolphin on Tik Tok has found a rather unique solution to the country's furl shortage woes. In a video that is going viral on video-sharing app Tik Tok, a man by the name of Gus Lee-Dolphin took it upon himself to make light of the situation that has worried everyone. The video that is shot from the point of view of Gus, shows long queues outside a gas station. Trotting his horse, alongside those cars, Gus can be heard singing "Queuing for Petrol, I’m on a horse. I don't need petrol coz he runs on carrots". Also read | UK fuel industry denies government claims crisis is easing This video has garnered more than five million views on TikTok and people are lapping up the trolling. On Instagram, people can be seen suggesting other forms of transportation that Gus can use in his next videos. One Instagram user has even suggested Roller skates. Watch the viral video: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gus Lee-Dolphin (@gusleedolphin) × It turns out that this isn't Gus's first time trolling the motorists waiting in lines for fuel. In an earlier video posted by Gus, he is riding a bicycle through a petrol station. Similar to his horse and petrol song, he can be heard singing, "Queuing for petrol, queuing for petrol, we don't need petrol coz I'm on a bike". Watch the video: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gus Lee-Dolphin (@gusleedolphin) × Queues continued to build at refuelling stations, especially in London and southern England. Many British gas stations were still dry on Friday, after a chaotic week that saw panic buying, fights at the pumps and drivers hoarding fuel in water bottles after an acute shortage of truck drivers strained supply chains to breaking point. Also read | UK's fuel crisis hits Cristiano Ronaldo! Manchester United star's Bentley goes petrol-hunting - see pics Shortages of workers in the wake of Brexit and the COVID pandemic have sown disarray through some sectors of the world's fifth-largest economy, disrupting deliveries of fuel and medicines and even raising fears of a mass cull of livestock. British ministers have for days insisted the crisis is abating or even over, though retailers said more than 2,000 gas stations were dry and Reuters reporters across London and southern England said dozens of pumps were still closed. Queues of often irate drivers snaked back from those gas stations that were still open in London. The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), which represents 65 per cent of Britain's 8,380 forecourts, said members reported on Thursday that 27 per cent of pumps were dry, 21 per cent had just one fuel type in stock and 52 per cent had enough petrol and diesel. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: UK Fuel crisis, as people wait in queues, man rides horse into gas station, mocks those waiting to fill up on fuel

<p>In what could lead to the cancellation of cargo and passenger fights, the airport catering to the&nbsp;second largest metro area of&nbsp;Nevada state in the United States has been&nbsp;facing an acute shortage of&nbsp;jet fuel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It can result in&nbsp;potential restriction of&nbsp;the flow of tourists and essential goods into the northern part of the state.</p>

<p>In a statement late on Saturday, the political leaders of the state pledged to minimise disruption at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. They also said that they will&nbsp;ensure the aerial fight against Western wildfires isn't hampered.</p>

<p>The passengers have been advised to check with their airline for any delays in order to avoid any kind of inconvenience.</p>

<p>The airport, which is the nearest passenger terminal to Lake Tahoe, also serves Reno, a popular gambling destination.</p>

<p>Gov&nbsp;Steve Sisolak, Sens&nbsp;Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, and US Rep&nbsp;Mark Amodei&nbsp;wrote, "To be clear, further failure to secure adequate fuel supplies is unacceptable."</p>

<p>Across the West region in the US, airport officials have been voicing concerns about jet fuel shortages. They have also raised concern of its&nbsp;effect on what is shaping up to be a very busy wildfire season.</p>

<p>The demand for the jet fuel&nbsp;declined sharply and supply chains atrophied during the coronavirus pandemic. As the economy picks up, they are&nbsp;yet to bounce back in the West.</p>

<p>Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority spokeswoman Stacey Sunday, said the Reno airport's shortage is caused by a confluence of factors, including a scarcity of tanker truck drivers and high demand from passenger airlines and firefighting aircraft.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In what could lead to the cancellation of cargo and passenger fights, the airport catering to the second largest metro area of Nevada state in the United States has been facing an acute shortage of jet fuel.

In what could lead to the cancellation of cargo and passenger fights, the airport catering to the second largest metro area of Nevada state in the United States has been facing an acute shortage of jet fuel. It can result in potential restriction of the flow of tourists and essential goods into the northern part of the state. In a statement late on Saturday, the political leaders of the state pledged to minimise disruption at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. They also said that they will ensure the aerial fight against Western wildfires isn't hampered. The passengers have been advised to check with their airline for any delays in order to avoid any kind of inconvenience. The airport, which is the nearest passenger terminal to Lake Tahoe, also serves Reno, a popular gambling destination. Gov Steve Sisolak, Sens Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, and US Rep Mark Amodei wrote, "To be clear, further failure to secure adequate fuel supplies is unacceptable." Across the West region in the US, airport officials have been voicing concerns about jet fuel shortages. They have also raised concern of its effect on what is shaping up to be a very busy wildfire season. The demand for the jet fuel declined sharply and supply chains atrophied during the coronavirus pandemic. As the economy picks up, they are yet to bounce back in the West. Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority spokeswoman Stacey Sunday, said the Reno airport's shortage is caused by a confluence of factors, including a scarcity of tanker truck drivers and high demand from passenger airlines and firefighting aircraft. (With inputs from agencies)

Fuel shortage triggers flight delays at Nevada airport in US

<p>President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-finds-new-oil-field-with-53-billion-barrels-of-crude-hassan-rouhani-261158">Hassan Rouhani</a> warned Sunday that riot-hit Iran could not allow "insecurity" after two days of unrest killed two people and saw&nbsp;authorities arrest dozens and restrict internet access.</p>

<p>"Protesting is the people's right, but protesting is different from rioting. We should not allow insecurity in the society," he said.</p>

<p>Rouhani defended the controversial petrol price hike that triggered the protests,&nbsp;a project which the government says will finance social welfare spending amid a sharp economic downturn.</p>

<p>The unrest erupted on Friday, hours after it was announced the price of petrol would rise to 15,000 rials per litre (12 US cents) from 10,000 for the first 60 litres, and to 30,000 rials for any extra fuel bought after that each month.</p>

<p>It is a rise many consumers can ill afford, given that Iran's economy has been battered since May last year when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from a 2015 nuclear agreement and reimposed crippling sanctions.</p>

<p>The rial has plummeted, inflation is running at more than 40 per cent and the International Monetary Fund expects <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-to-resume-enrichment-at-underground-plant-hassan-rouhani-260070">Iran's economy</a> to contract by 9.5 per cent this year and stagnate in 2020.</p>

<p>The petrol plan is expected to generate 300 trillion rials ($2.55 billion) per annum, from which the government says about 60 million needy would receive payments.</p>

<p>"For this... we should either increase taxes on the people, export more oil... or reduce subsidies and return the revenues to the people in need," said Rouhani.</p>

<p><strong>'Centres of wickedness'</strong></p>

<p>Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "some lost their lives" in the violence and blamed "hooligans".</p>

<p>"All the centres of the world's wickedness against us have cheered" the street protests, he said.</p>

<p>The latest death was a policeman shot in a clash with "rioters" in the western city of Kermanshah.</p>

<p>Several people were also wounded and dozens arrested in the demonstrations that saw motorists block highways and others torch public property.</p>

<p>Washington condemned the use of "lethal force" against demonstrators, as well as "severe&nbsp;communications restrictions".</p>

<p>"The United States supports the Iranian people in their peaceful protests against the regime&nbsp;that is supposed to lead them," White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A 24-hour internet blackout in Iran appeared to have stemmed the flow of images shared on social media, with only officials' accounts and local news agencies still active.</p>

<p>Semi-official news agency ISNA said the protests had "mostly subsided" by Sunday evening, a report that could not be verified due to the online outage and limited news from agencies.</p>

<p>The petrol pricing plan was agreed by the High Council of Economic Coordination made up of the president, parliament speaker and judiciary chief.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-president-rules-out-negotiations-with-us-at-unga-252069">Khamenei</a> said that "I am not an expert and there are different opinions but I had said that if the heads of the three branches make a decision I will support it.</p>

<p>"Some people would definitely get upset over this decision... but damaging and setting fire (to property) is not something (normal) people would do. It is hooligans."</p>

<p>Following his speech, parliament cancelled a motion to reverse the price hike, semi-official news agency ISNA reported.</p>

<p>A lawmaker resigned Sunday to protest the decision which circumvented parliament, saying the presence of MPs was now "meaningless".</p>

<p><strong>Internet blocked</strong></p>

<p>Access to the internet was restricted a day after the demonstrations broke out.</p>

<p>Netblocks, an internet monitoring website, tweeted Saturday that "Iran is now in the midst of a near-total national internet shutdown".</p>

<p>It came after a decision by the Supreme National Security Council, according to ISNA.</p>

<p>"Upon the decision of the Security Council of Iran and communicated to internet operators, access to internet has been limited as of last night and for 24 hours," it said, quoting an informed source at the information and communications technology ministry.</p>

<p>Some of the worst violence seen so far was in the central city of Sirjan, where acting governor Mohammad Mahmoudabadi said a civilian was killed and fuel stations were among the public property attacked and damaged.</p>

<p>In Kermanshah, a policeman died Sunday, a day after a "confrontation with a number of rioters and thugs," the provincial police chief told IRNA.</p>

<p>In Tehran on Saturday, protesters were seen burning tyres on a street and shouting slogans.</p>

<p>Similar scenes were witnessed in the cities of Shiraz, Isfahan and Bushehr, where security forces fired tear gas and water cannon at demonstrators.</p>

<p>Forty "disruptors" were arrested in the central city of Yazd after clashing with police, the province's public prosecutor told ISNA on Sunday. Most were not locals, he added.</p>

<p>Police said security forces would "not hesitate to confront those disrupting peace and security and will identify the ringleaders and field forces and confront them".</p>

<p>The intelligence ministry said those behind the unrest "have been identified" and that measures would be taken against them, according to ISNA.</p>


President Hassan Rouhani warned Sunday that riot-hit Iran could not allow "insecurity" after two days of unrest killed two people and saw authorities arrest dozens and restrict internet access.

President Hassan Rouhani warned Sunday that riot-hit Iran could not allow "insecurity" after two days of unrest killed two people and saw authorities arrest dozens and restrict internet access. "Protesting is the people's right, but protesting is different from rioting. We should not allow insecurity in the society," he said. Rouhani defended the controversial petrol price hike that triggered the protests, a project which the government says will finance social welfare spending amid a sharp economic downturn. The unrest erupted on Friday, hours after it was announced the price of petrol would rise to 15,000 rials per litre (12 US cents) from 10,000 for the first 60 litres, and to 30,000 rials for any extra fuel bought after that each month. It is a rise many consumers can ill afford, given that Iran's economy has been battered since May last year when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from a 2015 nuclear agreement and reimposed crippling sanctions. The rial has plummeted, inflation is running at more than 40 per cent and the International Monetary Fund expects Iran's economy to contract by 9.5 per cent this year and stagnate in 2020. The petrol plan is expected to generate 300 trillion rials ($2.55 billion) per annum, from which the government says about 60 million needy would receive payments. "For this... we should either increase taxes on the people, export more oil... or reduce subsidies and return the revenues to the people in need," said Rouhani. 'Centres of wickedness' Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "some lost their lives" in the violence and blamed "hooligans". "All the centres of the world's wickedness against us have cheered" the street protests, he said. The latest death was a policeman shot in a clash with "rioters" in the western city of Kermanshah. Several people were also wounded and dozens arrested in the demonstrations that saw motorists block highways and others torch public property. Washington condemned the use of "lethal force" against demonstrators, as well as "severe communications restrictions". "The United States supports the Iranian people in their peaceful protests against the regime that is supposed to lead them," White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement. A 24-hour internet blackout in Iran appeared to have stemmed the flow of images shared on social media, with only officials' accounts and local news agencies still active. Semi-official news agency ISNA said the protests had "mostly subsided" by Sunday evening, a report that could not be verified due to the online outage and limited news from agencies. The petrol pricing plan was agreed by the High Council of Economic Coordination made up of the president, parliament speaker and judiciary chief. Khamenei said that "I am not an expert and there are different opinions but I had said that if the heads of the three branches make a decision I will support it. "Some people would definitely get upset over this decision... but damaging and setting fire (to property) is not something (normal) people would do. It is hooligans." Following his speech, parliament cancelled a motion to reverse the price hike, semi-official news agency ISNA reported. A lawmaker resigned Sunday to protest the decision which circumvented parliament, saying the presence of MPs was now "meaningless". Internet blocked Access to the internet was restricted a day after the demonstrations broke out. Netblocks, an internet monitoring website, tweeted Saturday that "Iran is now in the midst of a near-total national internet shutdown". It came after a decision by the Supreme National Security Council, according to ISNA. "Upon the decision of the Security Council of Iran and communicated to internet operators, access to internet has been limited as of last night and for 24 hours," it said, quoting an informed source at the information and communications technology ministry. Some of the worst violence seen so far was in the central city of Sirjan, where acting governor Mohammad Mahmoudabadi said a civilian was killed and fuel stations were among the public property attacked and damaged. In Kermanshah, a policeman died Sunday, a day after a "confrontation with a number of rioters and thugs," the provincial police chief told IRNA. In Tehran on Saturday, protesters were seen burning tyres on a street and shouting slogans. Similar scenes were witnessed in the cities of Shiraz, Isfahan and Bushehr, where security forces fired tear gas and water cannon at demonstrators. Forty "disruptors" were arrested in the central city of Yazd after clashing with police, the province's public prosecutor told ISNA on Sunday. Most were not locals, he added. Police said security forces would "not hesitate to confront those disrupting peace and security and will identify the ringleaders and field forces and confront them". The intelligence ministry said those behind the unrest "have been identified" and that measures would be taken against them, according to ISNA.

Iran cannot allow 'insecurity' in the face of protests: Rouhani

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