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BREAKING NEWS: SNEF President Resigns Amid Governance Lapse! 🚨 Dr. Robert Yap, a stalwart of Singapore's business community and president of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) for the past decade, has abruptly resigned following a "governance procedural lapse" discovered during a routine internal review. But here's the burning question: What are they hiding? 🤔 SNEF's statement is a masterclass in vagueness, leaving us all wondering: - What exactly was the governance lapse? - How deep does this rabbit hole go? - What are the real implications for SNEF's 3,300 member companies and their 800,000 employees? The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has been informed and is waiting for the review's outcome. But are they just as much in the dark as we are? And what about the financial implications? SNEF claims there are none thus far, but how confident can we be without transparency? This is not just about one man's resignation. It's about the integrity of our institutions and the trust we place in them. Should we be demanding more accountability and transparency from SNEF and similar organizations? 💬 What do you think is really going on here? Should there be a more rigorous public disclosure? How will this affect the future of SNEF and the businesses it represents? #LeadershipCrisis #Governance #Transparency #SNEF #BusinessIntegrity #Accountability

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𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫? Shared my thoughts on #wage increases and their broader impact on businesses and workers on CNA Singapore Tonight, following the news on #NWC's recommendations for wage increases for lower-wage workers. While wage growth is a positive step towards supporting lower-wage workers, companies must go beyond just pay raises. #Intangible benefits and diverse compensation packages can significantly enhance #employee support, driving long-term #engagement and boosting staff #morale. This focus shouldn't stop at those earning less than $2,500. Employers should consider how they can uplift all workers by offering inclusive benefits and opportunities that meet their needs at different stages of their careers and lives. We must avoid the cookie-cutter approach and not adopt a one size fits all mentality but instead, reimagine how work can be compensated. And beyond compensation and benefits, companies also need to #invest in their employees through #training and #skills development to address talent gaps, helping both the organisation and its people adapt to evolving demands. Value creation requires #employers and #employees to come together to co-create a cohesive environment for ideas and solutions to flow so that we can enhance #productivity in our workplaces. Perhaps, this is where value, both tangible and intangible, can be found! #CNAInterview #SingaporeTonight #NationalWageCouncil #WageGrowth #CompensationStrategy #TalentDevelopment #FutureOfWork #HRInsights #InclusiveWorkplace #LinkedInCommunity #SHRI Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) Ministry of Manpower U PME HR Community Kaye Zhao Dylan Chia Nur Emilyanna Mohd Suhaimi Able Cheong Faith Li Yihui Tan Shauna Avrilyn Goh Adriel Andreas Goh

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Here's something I shared at my latest nutrition workshop for #WellnessFestivalSingapore: The next time you buy a bar of chocolate, buy 5. 🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫 I know, it sounds nuts doesn't it? But trust me – if you feel 'out of control' around chocolate, this could help. Buy 5 bars of chocolate for your pantry. Each time you finish one, replace it so you always have 5 bars on hand. This method reminds you that chocolate is not off-limits. You don't have to restrict yourself. You can honour your craving, enjoy some chocolate, and move on without guilt. With this freedom, you're more likely to feel comfortable around chocolate (or your equivalent). There's less anxiety or guilt, you're less likely to 'overdo' it, and you feel more satisfied eating it. P.S. At first, you might go through quite a bit, but that's normal, especially if you've been restricting chocolate. Keen to try this method out? #mindfuleating #nutritionSG #allfoodsfit

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In today’s The Straits Times article “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐲: 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 ‘𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝’ 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬” Vikram Khanna observed that “The landscape of philanthropy in Singapore is going through a sea change, with new players, new incentives and innovative financing mechanisms.” We believe this momentum in philanthropy will continue and innovate by incorporating the principle of ‘𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝’ in the form of 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 to build a 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲. Most recently, Prof Lawrence Loh of NUS Business School Center of Sustainability and Governance wrote in the The Straits Times emphasizing adding "𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬" in ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) to take a more balanced approach. I have the privilege to be involved in a couple of family-owners led 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 from changing the lives of migrants workers to building inclusive economies that combine financial returns with social good. To quote one of the patriarchs, “𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉? “ It’s more fulfilling and brings long-term benefits, fostering self-sufficiency and empowerment. By investing in education, skills development, and sustainable practices, we enable communities to thrive independently and create lasting positive change. Vikram Khanna article: https://lnkd.in/gbvrGRid Prof 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐋oh article: :https://lnkd.in/g7ZD8-kS The 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐞 article: https://lnkd.in/gpdWKG72 Bernard Sabrier Poman Lo Chavalit Frederick Tsao Lawrence Loh En Lee Leap Philanthropy Dr. Kenneth Tan Bernard L. #innovation #philanthropy #impactinvesting

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Change is always painful. The key concerns of jobs moving away is valid. This is also the standard question I pose to students I torment: Why pay a starting salary of $5000 for a fresh grad with no experience when I can likely hire a team of experienced developers in Vietnam or Philippines? And why not just pay OpenAI $20 a month and run multiple bots :D The bigger picture in my view is that this accelerates jobs that maybe we may not want and create new jobs we are seeking (the age old moving up the value chain) The advantages that we have is the digital infrastructure that we have built up over the years. The data centers and the ridiculously fast broadband and 5G networks are a key moat in ensuring we still have decent jobs. The other advantage which I feel we are losing is the number of regional headquarters based in Singapore. This was supposed to provide us with a more global/ regional view, but I do feel locals have become more inward looking The digital skills will need to be refreshed as AI takes over those tasks (The outsourcing is now in the digital realm and no longer the cheaper neighbouring country). We will need to showcase the multi disciplinary skills we have and deep domain knowledge for the next economic wave to come https://lnkd.in/gkqVJ7nc

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Are we really saying that to break into the sustainability industry, you need to start by working for free? 😡 This advice, highlighted in a recent panel discussion reported by The Straits Times, underscores a troubling norm: **Volunteering** as a must-have resume booster. 👉 Let’s get real. Who can afford to work for free? This expectation excludes those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, perpetuating inequality and limiting diversity in an industry that desperately needs varied perspectives. While the panelists championed cross-sector collaboration and the integration of AI in sustainability, the practicality of these suggestions remains murky at best. And let’s not forget the elephant in the room - the event held at Uniqlo’s store. Are we commercializing sustainability to boost brand image? 🤔 Instead of promoting unpaid labor, let’s push for paid internships and entry-level jobs that provide real opportunities for everyone. The sustainability sector should be inclusive, not a playground for the privileged. Share your thoughts on how we can create a more equitable path into sustainability careers ... or is it all just a mirage? #Sustainability #CareerAdvice #Greenwashing

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Singapore's recent protections for platform workers - like CPF contributions and injury coverage - are being hailed as game-changers, but *is this enough to turn gig work into a viable lifelong career*? Let’s get real. The flexibility and quick cash are appealing, but we can't ignore the lack of career growth and the societal stigma that still surrounds these jobs. For someone in their 50s, platform work might offer stability, but for the younger generation with their diplomas, degrees and ambitions, staying in gig work could be a dead-end street. 🚧 Sure, CPF deductions make gig work earnings comparable to traditional jobs, but where’s the progression? Are we encouraging our best and brightest to waste their potential driving or delivering food just because it's flexible? And what about those opaque algorithms that control their livelihoods - should we accept that workers are at the mercy of non-transparent systems? Before we celebrate these changes, ask yourself: Is platform work the future, or are we creating a generation of workers stuck in neutral, with no room to grow? Is the gig economy a liberator, or just a shiny new trap? 🪤 🔥 Drop your thoughts below! Is gig work the ultimate freedom or a dangerous gamble for your career? #GigEconomy #PlatformWork #CareerTraps

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This latest survey reveals a staggering truth: Singapore's hiring sentiment has plummeted for the third straight quarter! With only 44% of employers planning to hire in Q3, we’re seeing a 4% drop in the net employment outlook. While global hiring holds steady at +22%, Singapore lags behind at +20%. 🔥 ** Booming: ** Transport, logistics, and automotive sectors are on fire with a +47% hiring outlook! Thanks to green initiatives and the EV revolution, these sectors are thriving. ❄️ ** Busting: ** Communications services are in deep trouble with a -33% outlook. The rapid adoption of AI and machine learning is reshaping roles, but at what cost? Where do you see your industry heading? Are we prepared for the seismic shifts in the job market? 🤔 #JobMarket #SingaporeEconomy #HiringTrends #FutureOfWork #AI #GreenInitiatives

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Thank you Terence Nunis, CEO of Equinox GEMTZ Pte Ltd, for giving me the trust to be the EMCEE or Master or Ceremony for the Executive Leadership Seminar we just had. I am super new to emceeing and not an emcee by profession and do not intend to be one. Yet I am grateful for this trust. Lately I have been saying a lot of yesses mainly from curiosity because experience and being in action can sometimes beats learning. Experience teaches us areas to improve and to grow and being the Emcee for this event and two other events from a different organisation has been some of my yesses. I also said no to other matters. Being clear about your goals makes it easy to say yes or no to something. My goal is to practice public speaking and emceeing is one area of public speaking. I appreciate that on the part of the organiser, giving me this opportunity is very much in alignment with the messages from the panel segment mainly, diversity and Inclusivity as well as innovative leadership. #collidetoastmasters #executiveleadershipseminar #esgclimatechange #innovation #diversity

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Mountains, more mountains and a lightbulb. If you are wondering what I was leading you to, here's my logo for my company Strengths For LYF Pte Ltd. 🎉 🎉 🥳 💪 Why Strengths? I enrolled and was trained as a Gallup Certified CliftonStrengths Coach in 2021 as I wanted to learn how to be a better manager while still working in NUS. This came in useful in 2023 when I was able to contribute to building a strengths-based culture for the Office of Student Affairs with a staff of 100 people. (Thank you for the opportunity, Dean Ho Han Kiat!) I saw the power of learning what strengths could do for each individual and for the teams they belonged, I wanted to do more of it and for many more people - so I took the leap in Jan 2024, adding to my arts management, education and training experience, an eclectic mix of other tools such as coaching methods from Catalyst Coaching, Grief Recovery Method, God Talks, Emotional Culture Deck. These are science and evidence-based tools that draw from 'strengths' within a person to overcome challenges and find a path forward. These together with CliftonStrengths represent my interests in supporting people and teams to find unique creative solutions for pressing issues during unusual seasons of change and transitions. The logo carries in itself the fundamental philosophy on what the Strengths For LYF is founded on. 🏔️ Mountains represent vision or a higher perspective. Vision empowers people to do beyond what they think they can and holds organisations steady in volatile times. There is a need for a personal vision and a corporate vision and alignment between the two. ⛰️ There is not One Mountain to scale. We have different peaks of our own and so we don't have to judge ourselves by other people's peaks. While we can use others to benchmark ourselves, we must do so appreciating that we bring our unique skills to each venture and celebrate our own progress every step of the way. 🗻 The pathway up a mountain is sometimes not linear ascent but can be winding road. 💡 Light brings clarity and focus. In a world where we have multiple options and a diversity of inputs, it is easily to be confused and distracted. Clarity is a much sought after quality. 💡 The lightbulb signifies the 'aha' moments - the moments where we come to a discovery for ourselves - a sudden revelation or insight which can remove a block in our thinking and then push us further forward into better choices. What else do you see in the logo? So, Strengths For LYF (LYF is an acronym for Live Your Fullest) is a small learning and development training company based in Singapore but also doing work elsewhere in the Asia Pacific. We are small but we believe that a bigger vision than ourselves makes us look forward. You can check out our website on www.strengths4lyf.com or reach us via [email protected] for a chat.

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Honoured to share my story with Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报 newspaper about my journey from banker turned Somatic Trauma Informed Positive Psychology Coach, helping professionals to overcome their anxiety and self sabotage to live a life based on their terms. ✨ If you told me 10 years ago, I would be coaching senior leaders from large renowned organisations on their mental well-being and self-leadership, I would probably think that was a far fetched idea because:- ❌ Even though I looked confident on the outside, I was putting up a façade as I lacked confidence and struggled to speak up for myself at work and in my personal life. ❌ My inner critic were voices that kept saying that I was a fraud and not good enough, which was sabotaging my success on a personal and professional level. ❌ Many people had told me I would not make anything out of myself. With all the odds against me, I am paving my way to a life I designed for myself and making impact in 100s of people’s lives. 💫 This is what I have learnt about making your dreams come true. 🌟 🚀The secret sauce to success is self-mastery, learning to master your emotions by diving deep into understanding your behaviours, the way you respond and communicate to yourself and others. 🚀 The only race that you are on is with yourself. Sometimes you can be your own worst enemy. You are the only person living in your own body, so be gentle and kinder to yourself. You are your own best friend 🚀 Trust your intuition and what feels best to you 🚀 Challenges and adversity is guaranteed, It is an opportunity for you to grow. 🚀 Acknowledge the steps forwards as you move towards your goals For those of you that resonate to this story, know that even on the lowest days, anything is possible and that you have the potential to live a life you truly deserve and dream of ♥️ Full link in the comments 🙆🏻‍♀️

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Today kopi session with Patrick Chan an Award-Winning Entrepreneur and LinkedIn Top Entrepreneurship Voice 2024! Patrick is the CEO of Kitchen Haus Group, President of ACAPS, and a driving force behind many F&B ventures in Singapore. From his early days as an NTU-trained engineer and elite commando, to his impressive entrepreneurial journey with Kitchen Haus Group, Patrick's story is one of passion, resilience, and vision. Since 2011, Patrick has founded and invested in numerous companies like Le Rainbow Catering, Le Essen, Sugared Bakes, Frux Earth, CS Kitchen, Onya Express, All Things Mala, and more! His companies span across a wide spectrum—Halal Catering, Halal Food Manufacturing, High Tech Urban Farming, and Halal Retail Food Kiosks. We covered so much ground in our conversation, and here are a few key takeaways: **Empowering Leadership**: I asked Patrick how he manages to juggle so many businesses and leadership roles, as I often see him at almost every F&B event! His answer was simple yet profound: entrust leadership positions to your team. Empowering others is key to scaling any business. **Diversification is Crucial**: Patrick emphasized the importance of diversification, especially in the catering space. He shared that a single food poisoning case—whether it originates from your kitchen or not—could severely impact your reputation. Hence, spreading risk is vital for sustainability. **The Power of Self-Branding**: Patrick is a strong advocate for personal branding. With his active presence across media like CNA, The Straits Times, and more, he is constantly sharing his insights on the industry’s outlook and innovative pivots. **Giving Back to Society**: I truly admire how Patrick takes the time to mentor newcomers to the F&B industry, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience. His involvement as a speaker, panelist, and mentor at renowned institutions like NTU, SMU, and the Culinary Institute of America demonstrates his commitment to inspiring the next generation of leaders. Patrick believes in building an open and connected community where sharing ideas and dreams leads to mutual growth. His words resonate deeply—"Share openly, sincerely, and without barriers, and we all thrive together." Thank you, Patrick, for the inspiring conversation and for being a role model in the F&B industry! Looking forward to seeing how Kitchen Haus Group continues to grow and innovate! \#Leadership #Entrepreneurship #F&B #Mentorship #Diversification #GrowthMindset #Innovation

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100 trees to be replanted for every tree chopped! PMX said.. This is actually good to be put in practise, and ESG Malaysia should adopt it. Why? The road side of Jalan Lapang Terbang (road along T3 Subang Airport), both road side used to have steadily grown up trees, they were chopped, i guess this is to let the properties beside the road to have better visibility from the main road. We can see many road side trees were chopped for the same or similar reasons. Jalan Lapangan Terbang (T3) is the boarder line for MBPJ and MBSA. Should those companies benefitted to replant 100 trees for every road side tree chopped, where they enjoyed unblocked visibility from the main road? or the MB (City council) to take the responsibility? ESG should not a mere report writing. ESG should evaluate beyond reports submitted by Corporations. Else, it is a report, with green washing not verified. It was sorry episodes on the 2 tree fall incidences last week in KL. My opin is that for the DBKL needs to revisit the planting and upkeep standard of the road side trees. Most trees in KL are single branch and grown tall, if not very tall. The roots system are likely covered by concrete walkway. The trees will not in balance position when come the strong wind. Look at Singapore "bonsai"ly road side trees, which is shorter with crossly branches. Logically these trees can stand stronger wind. To engage professional arborist too is important. Just my 2 cents. What about you?

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I love collaborations with customers. In this case, Dr Vivien Ng challenged us to this batik tiffin order. If you search online for batik tiffin, it's always slightly costly and I was about to tell Vivien that we will not be able to fulfil her order. However, customers as our community always have a way to share their ideas to us and we are always open to experimenting them to make sure that PichaEats as a brand and its cause is widespread to more people. After a few discussions and tweaks, we managed to work out a product that would satisfy the people at Ernst & Young. What's most amazing is how we could take this idea, incorporate into our product line and open up more opportunities to people who would work on the product in the long term. This is one of the few successful cases that happened and definitely looking out for more in the future. P/S : Do note that we don't necessarily execute all the ideas but those that we know we have the capacity and operational ability to fulfil.

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Happy to serve #Parents from the perspective of #personality in this session. #parentinghacks #lifecoaching #lifecoach #relationships #relationshiphacks #happyparenting

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Recently we started on a project for an overseas client looking to launch their concept in SG. They have a list of hero items that would be absolutely cash cows for the business in their home country and were keen to have it implemented here in SG. After the profile orientation, I had to be honest with them on adaptating some of the hero items to local expectations. It is also part of our job as a consultant to say the things that they do not like to hear. These include challenges faced in ingredients sourcing, production volumes, service execution and diners' experiences. Thankfully they have an open mind which makes it a lot easier and increases their business sustainablity factors. Singaporean diners crave constantly for new openings and concepts. This is constantly supported by the number of closures and new openings per month according to ACRA records. They do not have loyalty to most restaurants except for the few affordable ones that they regularly patronise. We are supporting this client on their menu implementation and recipes adaption based on the feedback they have gotten before we came onboard. We help them to fine tune taste expectations based on collected data through sensory trials and to reach consistency through science based technical markers. We are also providing insights and analysis on consumer behaviours of the different social classes which will help them on their decision making process for market positioning and targeted audience. These are just some our expertise among our multi disciplinary consultancy work. Hi! I am 👨‍🍳 Eric Low! *A unique hybrid chef with Culinary Artistry and Food Science in my DNA. *My work revolves around Culinary, Heritage, Education and Feed (CHEF) #restaurant #consultancy #chef #culinaryartistry #foodscience #projectmanagement #curate #insights #newproductlaunch #consumerbehaviour #roadtomarket #recipes #menuengineering #development #sensoryanalysis

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The Singapore Business Federation AfA Business Competitiveness Report was recently released and it highlights pivotal steps to strengthen Singapore’s manpower landscape. (Worth reading chapter three - Manpower). Do you think some of these strategies will address the skill gaps and build enough Singapore workforce resilience? Call outs: 1. Maximizing Local Talent: Singapore aims to boost productivity and retain its competitive edge with initiatives like the Skills Future Enterprise Credit (SFEC) 2. Balanced Access to Foreign Talent: To support critical roles Singapore will streamline foreign manpower policies while focusing on local talent development. 3. Tapping Untapped Labor Pools: SG will include seniors, caregivers, and persons with disabilities, Biggest call out for me is promoting flexible work (tech firms don't seem aligned here) and will it actually happen. Find the report in the comments section. #singapore #workforce #employment #talent #hiring

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They have MAJOR entitlement problem. Not the customers...but the established ice cream brands in Singapore, I and my mom walked into a popular ice cream spot that rhymes with 'eyes', when I asked for a sample, got a stern no. On another weekend, went to other popular spot, Again, the same story. Got a NO. Like bros, how are you even running an ice cream shop? Upon digging through their reviews, found consistent glitches. 🍍 No free samples. 🍍 No welcome greetings or suggestions. 🍍 For not even a natural ice cream!!! Yet they call themselves premium. The best experience at those shop is just indifference. Not warmth. Our fight is not just against the pre-mix laden junk sold as ice creams but also degradation in basic consumer service. We are building a culture centered around kindness. So, even on crazy busy queues days, we don't frown at you. And yes, we have unlimited samples. PS: Some of the sad reviews of competitors are below. #bekind #shubhamspeaks #kindkones

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