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#2671 [Permalink] Posted on 30th July 2013 04:31

 

Makkah, great areal view!
Ramadan 2013


46 photos - 20 Ramadan 1434 - 29 July 2013




























































































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#2672 [Permalink] Posted on 30th July 2013 05:40
 
Pilgrims face transport rip-off


Makkah youths on motorcycles earn extra cash by transporting Haj pilgrims from the outlying areas
of the city to the Grand Mosque. Dozens of motorcyclists are kept busy throughout the week.
Tuesday 30 July 2013

Ramadan is a time when many Muslims engage in holy deeds and visit Makkah to perform the Umrah pilgrimage. Others, however, take advantage of the holy month to make a quick buck.

Taxi drivers, for instance, increase their fares despite the government facilitating transport for pilgrims. Private vehicles are usually stopped from entering Makkah mid-month during Ramadan, but this year they’ve been stopped from the very beginning.

Buses transport pilgrims to the Grand Mosque from the Shumaisi car park, which is almost 20 km away. Taxis are also available for those who can afford them.

“Buses are available at SR5 per person, but these buses drop passengers far away from the Grand Mosque, which is a problem for the elderly and for people with health conditions. Many, however, cannot afford taking a cab since they charge SR150 knowing that there are no other cars available to take them,” said Tanzeem Hasan.

A taxi ride from Jeddah to Makkah costs SR60 to SR70 on normal days, but the price increases to SR100 during Ramadan and SR150 for larger cars. Arab News spoke to the head of a car service in Makkah about the discrepancy in fares.

“We charge what the ministry stipulates. Before Ramadan began, officials from the Transportation Ministry came and fixed a rate of SR150 for large taxis and SR100 for small cars transporting passengers from the Shumaisi car park to the Grand Mosque.

There is nothing we can do about that,” said Abdulaziz.
Even free wheelchairs provided by the government for children and the elderly are inaccessible.

“I stand for long periods of time requesting a wheelchair for my mother, but officials refuse and tell me to go to the electronic wheelchair office. I’ve been to the office twice but I’m told that electronic wheelchairs are prohibited from being used during “tawaf” (circumambulation of the holy house),” said Saima Naeem.

Arab News found that distributors give out wheelchairs selectively at a cost.
Pilgrims are not allowed inside the office and an Arab News reporter was sent away upon inquiry, later being approached by someone with a standard wheelchair from the same office demanding SR150 in rent.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459652
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#2673 [Permalink] Posted on 30th July 2013 05:45
 
67 fire incidents hit Makkah in 2 days

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Sixty-seven separate fires were extinguished in the past 48 hours in Makkah, said Civil Defense director Brig. Gen. Khalaf Al-Matrafi on Monday.

Civil Defense teams were able to put down the fire, which caused scores of injuries. Al-Matrafi said that nearly 190 medical cases were reported that includes Umrah pilgrims.

Al-Matrafi said: “There were emergency cases and first aid medical attention were operated on Umra pilgrims inside the Grand Mosque, and on the vicinities surrounding the Grand Mosque. Majority of the cases were treated at the Civil Defense Center.”

He said, “Cases, which required medical attention, were transferred to city hospitals and medical clinics for additional medical attention.”

Al-Matrafi said his department has carried more than 287 field trips in the city in order to monitor any safety irregularities in housing and accommodation service buildings.

“Civil defense teams were also been monitoring levels of air pollution and carbon emissions inside tunnels and places where the pilgrims are gathering,” he added.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459651
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#2674 [Permalink] Posted on 30th July 2013 21:00
 
The longest breakfast table
in the world at Masjid al Haram


''1 300 000 meals distributed during Ramadan''



سجل المسجد الحرام بمكة المكرمة أطول مائدة إفطار في العالم، امتدت على أرض المسجد وساحاته المحيطة بطول أربعة كيلو مترات، لتستوعب الجموع الكبيرة من المعتمرين وزوار بيت الله الحرام.

ووفقا لوكالة الأنباء السعودية الرسمية فإن هناك أكثر من 1302 متطوع ومتطوعة يعملون يوميًا طيلة شهر رمضان المبارك على خدمة أطول (سفرة إفطار) في العالم، والتي تحمل 100.000 كيلو جرام من التمر، 1.922.160 عبوة مع القهوة العربية.

ووصف الدكتور صالح بن محمد آل طالب نائب رئيس مجلس إدارة جمعية "هدية الحاج والمعتمر" الخيرية وإمام وخطيب المسجد الحرام هذه المائدة الرمضانية التي تقدم بشكل يومي في الحرم المكي الشريف، بغير المسبوقة لحجمها الكبير وأعداد الضيوف الذين يلتفون حولها.

وكشف أن مجموع الوجبات التي تقدم للمعتمرين والزوار في المسجد الحرام خلال شهر رمضان تصل إلى مليون وثلاثمائة ألف وجبة، وإجمالي أطوال الموائد بالمسجد الحرام طيلة الشهر الفضيل 129 كيلومترًا.

http://www.vetogate.com/485239#.Ufc6Kqz7DXI

Google translation:Tuesday 30 / July / 2013

Record of the Grand Mosque in Mecca longest breakfast table in the world, stretched on the ground of the mosque and the surrounding precincts four kilometers long, to accommodate the large crowds of pilgrims and visitors to the House of God.

According to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), there are more than 1302 volunteers and volunteer work daily throughout the holy month of Ramadan on a longer service (breakfast trip) in the world, carrying 100,000 kilograms of dates, 1,922,160 refill with Arabic coffee.

He described Dr. Saleh bin Mohammed Al-Talib, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors Association "gift Pilgrims" charity and the imam and preacher of the Grand Mosque Ramadan this table that offers a daily basis in the Haram al-Sharif, without unprecedented for its large size and the number of guests who gather around.

He revealed that the total number of meals served to pilgrims and visitors at the Grand Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan up to one million, three hundred thousand and a meal, and the total lengths of round-Haram Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan 129 kilometers.














 
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#2675 [Permalink] Posted on 30th July 2013 21:03
 
A continuation of the campaign "a package for each pilgrim"

Zamzam water distribution at Temporary Mataf

​استمراراً لحملة "عبوة لكل معتمر" التي أطلقها "السديس"
توزيع مياه زمزم في جسر المطاف لذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة



إبراهيم الحذيفي- سبق- مكة المكرمة: قال مدير إدارة سقيا زمزم بالمسجد الحرام المهندس ماهر بن منسي الزهراني: إن الرئيس العام لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي الدكتور عبدالرحمن السديس، أصدر توجيهاً بتوفير عبوات زمزم يومياً وقت الإفطار، وذلك بالتعاون في التوزيع مع مشروع "تعظيم البلد الحرام".

وأكد "الزهراني" أنه استمراراً لحملة "عبوة لكل معتمر" التي أطلقها "السديس"، توزع إدارة سقيا زمزم بالمسجد الحرام عبوات مياه زمزم سعة 330 مل إهداء من الرئاسة العامة لشؤون المسجد الحرام والمسجد النبوي للمعتمرين والطائفين في جسر المطاف الجديد لذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة الذي تم تشغيله ضمن المرحلة الأولى لمشروع الملك عبدالله لتوسعة المطاف.

وأوضح أن تلك الخطوة تأتي انطلاقاً من توجيهات ولاة الأمر -حفظهم الله- بتوفير أرقى الخدمات لزوار وقاصدي بيت الله الحرام.

http://sabq.org/KF9fde

Google translation: The Director of the Department watering Zamzam Holy Mosque engineer Maher Ben forgotten Zahrani: President General for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, Dr Abdul Rahman Sudais, issued a directive to provide packages Zamzam daily breakfast time, and in cooperation in distribution with the project "to maximize the Sacred country. "

He stressed, "Al-Zahrani" It's a continuation of the campaign of "an package each pilgrim" launched by "Sudais," distributed management watering Zamzam Holy Mosque packages Zamzam water capacity of 330 ml courtesy of the General Presidency for the Holy Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque at Temporary Mataf to pilgrims and new people with special needs who have been runs under the first phase of the project, King Abdullah to expand eventually.

He explained that this step comes from the guidance and rulers - God save them - to provide the best services to visitors and قاصدي the House of God.

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#2676 [Permalink] Posted on 30th July 2013 21:04
 
King Abdullah Project produces
48 million cans of Zamzam water


Tuesday 30 July 2013

The King Abdullah bin Abdualziz Zamzam Water Project has produced more than 48 million cans of Zamzam water since its inception, meeting growing demand for the holy water.

The project, which was implemented by the Ministry of Water and Electricity and overseen by the National Water Company, is one of the biggest projects for the provision and distribution of Zamzam water.

The SR700 million project was established under the direction of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah at his own expense.

He has ordered the use of the latest global techniques and methods to obtain Zamzam water from the well.

The water is drawn through stainless steel pumps and pipes. It goes through a filtering and purifying process without affecting its purity and taste.

The plant includes four production lines with a maximum production capacity of 200,000 cans a day. It contains a central warehouse that accommodates 1.5 million cans, in addition to another warehouse being built to accommodate 200,000 cans.

Zamzam water has become more accessible through easy-to-carry containers with a capacity of 10 liters.

Some 42 points were set up for the distribution of the water automatically, in addition to another 16 points for its manual distribution to meet the demands of visitors and pilgrims at peak times and seasons.

The project also pumps Zamzam water to the Two Holy Mosques. Last Ramadan more than 1,379,258 cubic meters was pumped to the Grand Mosque and 349,799 cubic meters to the Prophet’s Mosque.

Meanwhile, preparations are under way to raise daily production capacity by 50 percent, whereas operational, maintenance, and purification, pumping, and distribution capacity have been raised by 120 percent.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459653
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#2677 [Permalink] Posted on 30th July 2013 21:06
 
Temporary Mataf progress

Cooling spray fans installed on each column

July 2013





From Temporary Mataf

July 2013







 
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#2678 [Permalink] Posted on 31st July 2013 13:44
 
Unauthorized transport service
for Umrah pilgrims thrives in Ramadan

 
Wednesday 31 July 2013

For many unemployed Saudis, the holy month of Ramadan comes as a blessing thanks to Umrah pilgrimage traffic hitting its peak. They rake in cash ferrying pilgrims, albeit unauthorized, between Jeddah and Makkah using their private vehicles. In fact, many of them will be SR10,000 richer by the end of the month.

Most Umrah pilgrims gather at the Kilo 8 station in Jeddah where Saudi drivers are stationed. Each car can take between four to eight people per trip and pilgrims have no choice but to cough up SR50 for a one-way trip. Yet most of these drivers do not possess licenses to operate such trips.

Pilgrims complain that these cab drivers do not have sturdy cars that can transport them safely to Makkah or Jeddah. Moreover, they don’t go through maintenance checks before leaving on the trip, which can lead to breakdowns on the way.

Many families on Umrah are also apprehensive about dealing with Saudi drivers since they are independent drivers not affiliated with any transportation company.

“I have been transporting Umrah pilgrims between Makkah and Jeddah for the past three years, but my earnings are highest during Ramadan when the number of pilgrims increases dramatically. That is when most Saudi drivers increase their rates by 50 percent,” Ali Dawood, a Saudi driver, told Arab News.

The situation takes a turn for the worse for pilgrims when drivers demand double the regular price.

“I have been walking around the Holy Mosque for three hours after performing Umrah looking for a cab to take me to Jeddah, but they all demand at least SR100 for their service,” Khaled Saleh, an Eritrean Umrah visitor who lives in Jeddah, told Arab News.

The transportation sector is the most crucial during the Umrah and Haj seasons. Transport companies have requested the Ministry of Labor to issue them seasonal visas for bus drivers during the Umrah season, stating that there is a severe shortage of drivers during this period.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459742
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#2679 [Permalink] Posted on 31st July 2013 13:45
 
Over 900 female guides working
 
in Grand Mosque

31 July 2013 - 22 Ramadan 1434 H

MAKKAH — The Director of the Female Guides Affairs Unit in the Grand Mosque Sheikh Adel Al-Hamdan said the unit has a qualified female cadre to guide women visitors to the Grand Mosque on the etiquette one should observe in and outside the mosque.

They advise women visitors on some Shariah matters and the places allocated for them. They advise, guide and call the women to Allah with kind persuasion at several locations in the Grand Mosque. For example, there are female guides in the Holy Qur’an Section who monitor the Qur’an shelves where copies of the Qur’an are kept so as to keep them well arranged and clean in the women’s prayer areas. Female guides in the Gates Section politely advise women carrying bags to keep them in the lockers in the courtyards of the Grand Mosque. As to the female guides in the cleaning section, they supervise the cleaning of the women’s prayer areas and restrooms. The female guides in the courtyards section organize the women’s rows in the prayer areas allotted for women. They prevent women from blocking or praying in the passages.

 

Al-Hamdan said the plan is being carried out by over 900 fulltime and seasonal female guides. The Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques trains and qualifies them to deal kindly with women visitors and pilgrims. A program was carried out this year in the female students’ section in the community college and adult education in Umm Al-Qura University. They also received training courses in English language and computers.

The presidency provides a number of services to physically challenged individuals including allotting special entrances for worshipers using wheelchairs. These gates include King Abdulaziz, the new Ajyad, Hunain and Al-Safa gates apart from Al-Arqam and Al-Marwah escalators; and Al-Marwah, 74, 84 and 94 gates. Several other escalators and elevators are located at various points in the Grand Mosque.

Copies of the Holy Qur’an in Braille are also provided.

Al-Hamdan mentioned that female visitors should wear the Hijab. They should not jostle with men at the Black Stone, Al-Multazim (main door of the Ka'ba) and Maqam (Station) Ibrahim. They should also pray in the areas earmkarked for women.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130731175418
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#2680 [Permalink] Posted on 31st July 2013 13:47
 
Haj Ministry to open new offices
 
with female staff


Construction of female units has begun
in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah


Wednesday 31 July 2013

The Ministry of Haj will set up female units and divisions in private buildings in four months, according to Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar.

Hajjar said Sunday that the ministry has begun the construction of female units in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah. The buildings will have two entrances and two exits.

He said that the female units will fall under a separate budget category.

When asked about the possibility of increasing Haj quotas for some countries, he said that the ministry never made any promises to any Haj business to allow more pilgrims in the following years.

“The established quota is 1,000 pilgrims for each million of the country’s inhabitants,” Hajjar said. “This decision was part of a resolution adopted during a meeting by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in 1980. This year we had to bring this number down by 20 percent. We reached this decision by working in cooperation with the various authorities concerned with the affairs of Haj and Umrah.”

“The delays in last year’s season were due to the existence of new development projects to serve the worshippers, which were completed in record time,” he said. “We will be utilizing new spaces that became available after some government agencies left the area because their work in not related to Haj. The new allocations would accommodate 104,000 pilgrims.”

As for the lawsuits filed against the ministry by various Haj and Umrah companies as a result of the ministry’s decision to disband boards of directors of a number of companies, he said that “these cases are being reviewed.”

“Whenever we take a decision to disband a company’s board of directors, we do that in order to protect the public interest,” he said. “We had to make decisions like these after we noticed certain violations, which at the end of the day are in the public interest.”

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459735
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#2681 [Permalink] Posted on 31st July 2013 13:49
 
Forces ready for 2nd stage
 
of Makkah security plan

31 July 2013 - 22 Ramadan 1434 H

MAKKAH — The special emergency forces in Makkah are ready for the second stage of the security plan, the leader of Makkah Special Forces declared.

Col. Mohamed Al-Osaimi explained that the second stage commencedMonday night, and lasts up until the Eid Al-Fitr prayers.

Al-Osaimi explained that the second stage will witness a marked increase in the number of security personnel, and will reach its peak on the night of the 27th of Ramadan.

The special emergency forces manage crowds, preserve safety, and provide protection for heads of state when they come to perform Umrah, Al-Osaimi stated.

Al-Osaimi added that the special emergency forces are present in the southern side of the Grand Mosque, reassuring visitors that all steps have been taken to ensure their safety.

Al-Osaimi expressed his pride in serving the Grand Mosque and his delight in the success of the first stage of the security plan.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130731175423
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#2682 [Permalink] Posted on 1st August 2013 19:14
 
Madinah heritage project launched
 
Thursday 1 August 2013

The Secretariat of Madinah launched the Madinah Heritage Neighborhood Project on Tuesday with the aim of preserving and showcasing the architecture and unique identity of the holy city.

The project, located at the King Fahd Central Garden, was launched on the directive of Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman. The function, which was attended by officials and businessmen, was held in the presence of the governor.

In his address, Khaled bin Abdul Qadir Taher, secretary of Madinah, said the objective of the project was to capture the traditional sociocultural identity of the city of the Prophet (peace be upon him) through the development of a neighborhood model that simulates what it was like in Madinah more than half a century ago.

The project also includes creating a three-dimensional simulation model for select urban fabric prototypes of the city.

King Fahd Central Garden was selected as the project site since it spans an area of more than 120,000 square meters and has enough space for expansion, he said, adding that the project was based on several aspects, including the basic routes (Al-Ainia Street), open spaces, different narrow lanes, orchards, gardens, ponds, waterways (including canals), wells and water pumps.

Taher said the project would form the nucleus of an integrated heritage system spread across various locations in Madinah with a variety of functions, which was planned and implemented through a strategic partnership between the Secretariat of Madinah and the private sector.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459840
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#2683 [Permalink] Posted on 1st August 2013 19:15
 
Details of Haj e-gates next month

Electronic gates will be erected at seven entry points
to Makkah to detect pilgrims without permits



1 August 2013 - 23 Ramadan 1434 H

MAKKAH — All details of the new technology that will be used next Haj to prevent pilgrims with no Haj licenses from entering the holy sites will be announced in September, according to Abdul Aziz Soroji, dean of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Haj and Umrah Research Institute at Umm Al-Qura University.

Minister of Haj Bandar Hajjar announced early this week that electronic gates will be erected at seven entry points to Makkah to detect pilgrims without permits and prevent them from entering the holy sites.

Hajjar said squatting outdoors was still the biggest challenge for the authorities in Haj.

The Makkah Emir’s office directed the institute to supervise the new technology that will be used by checkpoint officers at Makkah entrances, Soroji added.

The institute signed a cooperation agreement with Makkah Mayoralty to benefit from the Haj research and studies the mayoralty has conducted in the past.

Soroji said: “The practice of performing Haj without official permits has been a constant source of worry for pertinent authorities that work during this Haj. “We’re studying everything meticulously and scrutinizing all details to come up with the best results from the study we’ve been working on.”

He hopes that the study curbed this practice and allowed authorities to perform their services during Haj without having to worry about the influx of pilgrims with no Haj permits.

In addition to the above study, the institute is supervising the major projects including a crowd management system, the Ministry of Haj’s strategic plan and an urban observatory.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20130801175534
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#2684 [Permalink] Posted on 1st August 2013 19:20
 
Al Hajar Al Aswad
the black stone in the Ka’aba

__________________________

Black Stone guard feels passion
 
among pilgrims
 

First Sgt. Hamad Al-Sharif’s duty is to stand guard next to Al-Hajar Al-Aswad, the Black Stone in the Holy Ka’ba,
so as to coordinate thousands of pilgrims who want to touch the stone.

Thursday 1 August 2013

The guards of Al Hajar Al Aswad (the black stone in the Ka’aba) regulate the flow of tens of thousands of pilgrims circling the Ka’aba to enable Muslims to touch this most wanted corner.

Sgt. Hamad Al-Sharif, a guard at the Black Stone, who has been in this profession for 30 years, said he has no desire to leave the Ka’aba because he enjoys his job.

Al-Sharif appreciates pilgrims who strive to reach the Black Stone. He is well aware of their passion and feelings for this site. He monitors pilgrims’ behavior in competing to touch the Black Stone. “I see a lot of passion, which I attribute to the worshippers’ happiness and desire to reach the Black Stone after praying in the Grand Mosque,” Al-Sharif said. “Their tears flow when they kiss the Black Stone.”

He added: “I hope to earn God’s rewards and the prayer of a pilgrim whom I helped him to kiss or touch the Black Stone. My job is not restricted to organizing tens of thousands of pilgrims who want to come close to the Black Stone, my job is to help them to approach it and touch it.”

“The military honor of guarding the Black Stone was bestowed upon me 30 years ago,” he said. “I ascend the pedestal next to the Black Stone, hoping to get rewards from Allah, and the prayers of an elderly man or woman who was able to touch or kiss the Stone.”

Yahya bin Musaed Al-Zahrani, major general and commander of the Grand Mosque security forces, said the duties of the Black Stone security guards are to help organize worshippers who wish to kiss the Black Stone. They watch for anyone who repeats approaching the Stone to ease the congestion and human stampede in that corner.

“Security guards assigned to the Grand Mosque take turns in ascending to the pedestal of the Black Stone,” he said. “We teach them to carry out their duties with patience and benevolence.”

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459843

 

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#2685 [Permalink] Posted on 1st August 2013 19:21
 
Trend of sleeping in Grand Mosque increasing

Thursday 1 August 2013

The trend of people sleeping in the Grand Mosque has been increasing each year, despite religious scholars declaring such an occurrence as a violation of Shariah.

It is not merely visitors from other Islamic countries who take a nap in the Grand Mosque but local visitors too.

The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques has contacted authorities several times to find a solution to the problem.

Members of the Shoura Council have also made similar requests in the past.
Muhammad Matar, director of the Islamic Studies Center at Umm Al Qura University, said these mosques are for worship.

“They were never meant for sleep and relaxation or for eating and drinking,” he said.

“Allah said in the Qur’an ‘In houses (that) Allah has permitted to be raised up and His Name to be mentioned therein,’” he said.

“He also said ‘Purify My Home for the circumambulators, and the consecrators, and the ones often bowing down and prostrating themselves.’”
“This clearly means that mosques are meant for devotional activities,” he added. “When people tend to eat, drink or sleep, it can result in foul smells emanating from the area.”

Al Sahli said that God’s houses should be kept clean and not be subjected to such practices. “They are not places for food and drink,” he said.

“It’s okay to have a couple of dates if you are fasting and have come to pray and break your fast. But people go beyond that. There are legal rules that mandate that anything harmful to mosques should be prevented. Sleeping inside is harmful to mosques and the people praying there.”

The General Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques said it was keen on preventing such habits through awareness programs and with the help of the media.

Ahmad Al Mansuri, director of Public Relations at the Presidency, said: “We are working to address this problem through education and communication. We print leaflets which are informative in many languages and distribute them among worshippers for awareness.”

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459845
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