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A month after the launch of the independent customs operations regime, economic activity is observed throughout Hainan Island.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

HAIKOU, January 18 (Xinhua) — A month after the launch of independent customs operations throughout the Hainan Free Trade Port (HFTP) in southern China, operations continue to be smooth and orderly. Initial successes have been achieved in improving logistics efficiency, passenger convenience, and economic integration, underscoring the country's commitment to high-level openness.

Hainan Heren Pearl Co., Ltd., a company that mainly imports pearls from abroad, has become a direct beneficiary of the Hainan PST policy.

According to the company's chairman, Zhang Shizhong, thanks to the added-processing policy, the company can sell its high-value products to mainland China duty-free, reducing the overall tax rate from approximately 52 percent to 26 percent and using the savings to invest in research and development.

“The PST has great prospects, and we can expect even more political dividends in the future,” said Zhang Shizhong.

One of the notable special customs measures is the provision of “freer first-line access,” which means freer trade between Hainan and areas outside China’s customs border, and “regulated second-line access,” which means maintaining standard customs control over the flow of goods from Hainan Island to the Chinese mainland.

According to data from Haikou Customs, from December 18, 2025 to January 17, 2026, its staff processed 750 million yuan (about 107 million US dollars) worth of zero-duty goods through “first-line” customs clearance, and about 85.9 million yuan worth of duty-exempt value-added goods destined for mainland China through “second-line” clearance.

In Wanning, the production lines of Chia Tai (Hainan) Xinglong Coffee Industry Development Co., Ltd. are operating at full capacity. The company imports green coffee beans from Colombia, processes them in Hainan, and then ships the finished product to mainland China, taking advantage of the 8% tariff reduction under the PTA policy.

"After the launch of independent customs operations throughout the island, Hainan will gradually become a value-added processing center and trading hub with global resource distribution capabilities," said the company's CEO, Ye Jian, adding that businesses will not only pass through Hainan but will also be able to take root here and create higher value.

Attracted by political incentives, more and more companies are choosing to do business in Hainan. According to the General Administration of Customs, a total of 5,132 new foreign trade enterprises were registered in Hainan over the past month, roughly equivalent to the total number of companies registered in the entire quarter of 2024.

According to official data, the total number of registered entities in the foreign trade market in Hainan has exceeded 100 thousand units.

Since the policy came into effect, Hainan's main ports have seen a surge in activity.

A few days after the launch of independent customs operations throughout Hainan Island, a flight from Prague with 115 passengers on board landed in the tourist city of Sanya, marking a breakthrough in the high-level opening up of the Hainan FTA's aviation sector.

The event marked the opening of China's first official passenger route operating under the Seventh Freedom of the Air, which allows foreign air carriers to operate flights between two foreign countries without having to stop in their own country.

The flight is operated by Kazakhstani airline Scat Airlines with one scheduled roundtrip flight per week.

At Yangpu Port, the largest cargo port in the Hainan Free Trade Zone, large-capacity vessels continuously moored, gantry cranes operating around the clock, and container ships moving smoothly have become a common sight.

"Yangpu will serve as the main logistics gateway for the Hainan Free Trade Zone," said Yang Xiaobin, Deputy Director of the Department of Transport, Ports, and Waterways of the Yangpu Economic Development Zone. "The port aims to create an intelligent and environmentally friendly international shipping hub and logistics center."

Yangpu Port's container throughput in 2025 reached 3.31 million standard containers (twenty-foot equivalent units, TEU), up more than 65 percent from the same period last year.

“It is particularly noteworthy that the launch of the independent customs operation regime across the entire territory of Hainan Island occurred during a period of increasing deglobalization and rising global uncertainty,” said Cui Weijie, deputy director of the China Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation (under the Ministry of Commerce).

“This not only demonstrates China’s unwavering commitment to high-standard openness, but also brings greater certainty and positive impetus to the global economy and international trade cooperation,” Cui Weijie said. -0-

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China-Central Asia economic and trade cooperation achieved significant progress in 2025

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Beijing, January 18 (Xinhua) — In 2025, economic and trade cooperation between China and Central Asia achieved significant success, with trade volume reaching $106.3 billion, up 12 percent year-on-year, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced in a statement released on its website on Sunday.

According to the statement, trade turnover between China and Central Asia exceeded USD 100 billion for the first time in history and has shown positive dynamics for five consecutive years.

Last year, China became the largest trading partner of Central Asian countries for the first time. China's exports to Central Asia reached $71.2 billion, an 11 percent increase year-on-year, driven by significant growth in electromechanical and high-tech products. Imports from Central Asia totaled $35.1 billion, an increase of 14 percent year-on-year.

Cross-border e-commerce trade between China and Central Asia continued to grow rapidly, with construction of warehouse and logistics facilities continuing, and cross-border payment cooperation advancing rapidly.

High-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative continued to deepen and yield tangible results. Implementation of a number of major projects in areas such as connectivity, equipment manufacturing, clean minerals, and modern agriculture was accelerated, effectively facilitating the expansion of exports to Central Asia and supporting regional countries in industrial modernization and economic growth.

China's Ministry of Commerce said it will continue to optimize trade structures, develop new forms of business, and promote the creation of higher-level institutional mechanisms in the future. -0-

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Chinese researchers have proposed a new method for estimating the range of electric vehicles.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — A team of Chinese researchers has proposed a new data-driven framework for online estimation and analysis of the remaining driving range of electric vehicles in real time.

Despite the increasing number of eco-friendly vehicles on the road, range anxiety remains one of the main concerns faced by electric vehicle drivers. Accurately estimating remaining range can effectively address this issue.

However, in real-world driving conditions, the combined influence of factors such as driving style, ambient temperature, and battery deterioration makes it difficult to accurately estimate the remaining range.

To help drivers better understand the range of their electric vehicles, researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a method for calculating energy consumption and battery “health” based on real-world vehicle operating data, according to a research paper published in the journal Applied Energy.

By integrating multiple factors, including driving behavior, ambient temperature, and battery condition, they built a model of energy consumption per mile driven. Based on this model, they accurately estimated the remaining range.

This step-by-step approach can explain which factors influence range and to what extent.

The proposed framework was tested on passenger cars and buses in various cities across the country over a three-year period. Based on real-world operating data covering a total mileage of over 300,000 km, the testing results showed that the range prediction accuracy achieved an average relative error of less than 5.5 percent.

According to the researchers, by adjusting driving style, the range can be increased by more than 30 percent for cars and more than 10 percent for buses.

This framework is designed to support intelligent fleet management, energy-optimized operation, and residual value assessment of electric vehicles. The researchers plan to expand their research to colder regions and more challenging road conditions.

To address capacity degradation and energy fluctuations at low temperatures, they will expand the structure's versatility by incorporating additional environmental parameters such as road surface conditions and humidity.

In addition, according to the DICP, they will promote deep integration of their research with on-board battery management systems and cloud operating platforms to create a safer and more efficient transport system based on new energy sources. -0-

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Several people were rescued after an explosion at a factory in the northern Chinese city of Baotou.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

HOHHOT, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — Several people have been rescued after an explosion at a factory in the western city of Baotou in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local authorities said.

According to the city's emergency management agency, the explosion occurred around 3:00 PM on Sunday at the Baogang United Steel sheet rolling mill. The exact number of casualties remains unknown.

The explosion caused noticeable tremors in nearby areas. Rescue efforts are currently ongoing. -0-

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Xi Jinping congratulated Vietnam's leaders on the 76th anniversary of the establishment of Chinese-Vietnamese diplomatic relations.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday congratulated Vietnamese leaders on the 76th anniversary of the establishment of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties.

In his congratulatory message to General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV CC) To Lam and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, Xi Jinping recalled his state visit to Vietnam in April 2025.

Xi Jinping noted that during the visit, he and the Vietnamese leadership reached an important consensus on accelerating the construction of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, which is of strategic significance, and jointly developed a plan for developing bilateral relations in the new era.

The Chinese head of state noted that he was pleased to see that over the past year, bilateral exchanges at all levels have become closer, and cooperation in areas such as political security, trade and investment, as well as cultural and educational exchanges, has yielded more tangible results.

The active events marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges have brought tangible benefits to the peoples of the two countries and given a powerful impetus to their efforts to modernize the country, he added.

Xi Jinping noted that this year marks the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, and the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam will soon take place, ushering in a new era of national development in Vietnam. He emphasized that both China and Vietnam are at crucial stages of their development and revival.

Working together to advance a socialist path suited to each country's national conditions, strengthening good-neighborliness and friendship, and deepening unity and cooperation are in the common interests of both sides and are of great significance for reviving the global socialist cause and promoting the development and progress of mankind, Xi Jinping noted.

He said he attaches great importance to the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries and is willing to work with Vietnamese leaders to take the construction of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future, which is of strategic significance, to new heights and depths, so as to bring greater benefits to the peoples of the two countries and make greater contributions to regional development.

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Five people have died in a road accident in northern China's Shanxi Province.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

TAIYUAN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — Five people were killed in a two-car collision near Zhanglan Township in Jiexiu City in north China's Shanxi Province around 4:00 a.m. Sunday, local authorities said.

One of the drivers, whose blood alcohol concentration was 159 mg per 100 ml, exceeding the legal limit, was detained. The cause of the accident is being investigated.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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January 17, 2026 1% off seasonal discounts and advantageous prepayment terms for Constellation cruises. Increase your benefit by paying in full or lock in the price with a 35% prepayment.

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Source: Infoflot Cruise Center – Infoflot Cruise Center –

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Dear friends,

From January 17 to February 19, 2026, your dream cruise on Russian rivers will be even closer. Don't miss the special offer from our general partner, Sozvezdie Cruise Line.

We offer 9 comfortable ships and 300 cruises from 13 cities.

Routes: Volga, Don, Kama, Oka, Ob, Belaya, Tom, Irtysh, Golden Ring, Tatarstan, Karelia, as well as cruises included in the "Golden Collection of Constellation Cruises".

This promotion applies in conjunction with other discounts and promotions specified in the flight, including the early booking discount and the “Children are free” promotion.

1% to seasonal discount:

Provided upon full payment of any cruise on the Sozvezdie motor ships within 3 days of booking.*

Current early booking benefit:

A 7% seasonal discount applies to 2026 cruises on the ships Rossiya, Big City Lights, The Little Prince, Moonlight Sonata, Swan Lake, Symphony of the North, N.A. Nekrasov, and Alexander Benois; an 8% seasonal discount applies to 2026 cruises on the ship Severnaya Skazka.

The prices for cruises on our website include the current seasonal discount, but do not include the additional 1% promotional discount.

Prepayment fixes the price with a seasonal discount:

To maintain the price with the current seasonal discount, simply make a 35% advance payment, with the remainder due no later than 30 days before the start of the cruise.*

The offer is valid for cruises on the ships "Moonlight Sonata", "Swan Lake", "The Little Prince", "City Lights" and "Russia".

The prices for cruises on our website include the current early booking benefit.

We also remind you that for cruises along the Ob, Irtysh, and Tom rivers on the Severnaya Skazka motor ship, you can prepay 35% to secure the cost, with the remainder due 60 days before the cruise.

*These offers do not apply to group orders.

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Tatyana Golikova: Artists pass on cultural codes from generation to generation

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Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

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First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, and Chairman of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia Vladimir Mashkov launched the celebration of the Union's 150th anniversary. The event took place at the Rossiya National Center. The date was chosen deliberately: on this day, Russia marks the first time Russia celebrates a new professional holiday—Artist's Day, dedicated to the birthday of the great reformer of Russian theater, Konstantin Stanislavsky.

First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko, Tatyana Golikova, and Chairman of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia Vladimir Mashkov launched the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Union of Theatre Workers.

January 17, 2026

First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko, Tatyana Golikova, and Chairman of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia Vladimir Mashkov launched the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Union of Theatre Workers.

January 17, 2026

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First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko, Tatyana Golikova, and Chairman of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia Vladimir Mashkov launched the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Union of Theatre Workers.

Sergei Kiriyenko noted that during the special military operation, Russian artists and actors performed over 25,000 concerts and performances on the front lines and in hospitals for soldiers. He added that over 2,000 artists and cultural figures participated in these events, risking their lives. He emphasized that such activities constitute true service.

"The Union of Theatre Workers is much more than a mutual aid society for actors. It is a vital organization supporting, carefully preserving, and developing the traditions of Russian theatre and Russian culture. When I speak of Russian theatre and Russian culture, which are a vital asset to world culture, I am not speaking about nationality. The traditions of Russian theatre and Russian culture have been, are being, and are being developed by actors, directors, and cultural figures of various nationalities and faiths. Their work is a major contribution to global culture. And one of the traditions of Russian culture and Russian theatre has always been to be with its people. This was the case during the Great Patriotic War, as our President stated, and it continues today. The mission of culture is, of course, the education of the younger generation. "The Union of Theatre Workers and the Russian theatre foster a love for the native language, an understanding and respect for the classic works of Russian culture, the ability to empathize, the ability to distinguish good from evil, and nurture the soul," noted Sergei Kiriyenko.

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova stated that the start of the Union of Theatre Workers' 150th anniversary celebrations is being supported by extensive federal support, including funding, infrastructure restoration, and events across the country.

"For the first time in Russian history, we are celebrating Artist's Day – we congratulate our large artistic family, represented by theater and film professionals, playwrights, musicians, variety performers, and circus artists. The list is long. But most importantly, you are doing one great thing – passing on our cultural traditions, our cultural code, from generation to generation. For this, I want to sincerely thank you and express my sincere gratitude. As of today, all regions have adopted their resolutions to support and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Union of Theatre Workers. In 2026, the holiday will be celebrated from Vladivostok to Kaliningrad, from Murmansk to Sevastopol, and will encompass our entire large Russian community with cultural events, as well as our friends who enjoy visiting our country," said Tatyana Golikova.

She noted that the Government allocated approximately one billion rubles for events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Union of Theatre Workers.

Actors' houses play a special role in the theatrical community. Eleven actor's houses will be restored over the next three years.

The Deputy Prime Minister also added that, as part of the federal project "Family Values and Cultural Infrastructure," 113 theaters will be modernized by 2030, and 30 theaters will receive annual financial support for the acquisition of new equipment.

Artist's Day is a new professional holiday established by the Government in 2025 at the suggestion of People's Artist of Russia and Chairman of the Union of Theatre Workers Vladimir Mashkov.

"We are grateful that our idea to establish this holiday—the idea of the Union of Theatre Workers—was supported by both the Presidential Administration and the Russian Government. This is a tremendous gift for us. Our outstanding writer and playwright, Denis Fonvizin, once aptly defined the difference between an actor and a performer. He said: an actor is a talented performer, while an artist is a creator, an artist, a creator. Therefore, this day unites artists of all genres: theater, film, circus, opera, ballet, variety, and visual arts—everyone who reaches out to an audience. Stanislavsky's system, his goals and objectives, have influenced all of world culture. No true artist would ignore his work, because, as I believe, he discovered the limits of success. This sincere service, absolute faith, incredible hard work—and all this for the sake of reaching out to the audience and giving them an unforgettable experience," Vladimir Mashkov emphasized.

During the event, 23 cultural figures were presented with state awards. The Order "For Merit in Culture and Art" was awarded to: Viktor Verzhbitsky, artist of the State Theater of Nations; Alexander Korshunov, chief director of the Moscow Drama Theater "Sfera"; Olga Naumenko, artist of the N.V. Gogol Moscow Drama Theater; Valery Polyansky, artistic director and principal conductor of the State Academic Symphony Capella of Russia; Boris Frumkin, artistic director of the Oleg Lundstrem State Jazz Chamber Orchestra; and Viktor Rakov, artist of the Mark Zakharov Lenkom Theater.

The medal "For Work in Culture and Art" was awarded to Ekaterina Agadzhanyan, a teacher at the F.I. Shalyapin Children's Music School; Nikolai Osminov, an artist at the Naum Orlov Chelyabinsk State Academic Drama Theater; Kirill Rybkin, deputy director of the Russian State Academic Theater; and Alexei Mazur, artist-accompanist of the flute group at the Moscow State Academic Symphony Orchestra.

The honorary title of "People's Artist of the Russian Federation" was awarded to: Maxim Averin, actor of the Moscow State Theatre "Lenkom Mark Zakharov", Alexander Oleshko, actor of the State Academic Theatre named after Yevgeny Vakhtangov, and Anna Mikhalkova, artist and advisor to the general director for youth and cultural policy at the Russian Cultural Foundation.

The honorary title of "Honored Artist of the Russian Federation" was awarded to: Artem Dyrul, artist of the State Symphony Orchestra "New Russia", Alexander Zhigalkin, managing director of the Central House of Actors named after A.A. Yablochkina, Dmitry Zenichev, artist of the Maly Theater of Russia, Anastasia Stashkevich, ballet dancer of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia, and Paul Suss, artist of the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia named after E.F. Svetlanov.

Professor Zoya Dzyublo of the VGIK named after S.A. Gerasimov received the honorary title of "Honored Artist of the Russian Federation".

The President of Russia expressed gratitude to Karina Andolenko, an actress at the Moscow Provincial Drama Theatre, and Lilia Smbulyan and Svetlana Fedorova, concertmasters of the Vivaldi Orchestra chamber orchestra.

On February 26, 2024, the President of Russia signed Decree No. 140 "On the Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia." In 2026, the country's oldest public organization will celebrate its anniversary. At the direction of the President, the Government has approved a plan of celebratory events to be held throughout the country throughout the year. Approximately 2,000 events of various formats are planned.

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M. Doumbouya sworn in as President of Guinea

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Conakry, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — Mamadi Doumbouya was officially sworn in as Guinea's president on Saturday for a seven-year term in accordance with the country's new constitution.

M. Doumbouya's inauguration took place after his election as president. He received 86.72% of the vote.

After taking the oath of office, M. Doumbouya thanked the people of Guinea for their trust in him, noting that his mandate would be primarily dedicated to women and youth.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to respecting the Constitution, laws and regulations of Guinea, as well as judicial decisions. –0–

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Kazakhstan has developed the largest AI model for recognizing Turkic languages.

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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Astana, January 18 (Xinhua) — Kazakhstan has developed its first large-scale automatic speech recognition (ASR) model for Turkic languages, making it the largest such development in Central Asia. This was reported on Sunday by the Kazinform news agency, citing the country's Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.

The new AI model is designed with the linguistic characteristics of the Turkic language group in mind and is not an adaptation of English-language solutions, which distinguishes it from technologies previously used in the region. The project was implemented with the support of the Astana Hub and the relevant ministry, using Microsoft's GPU infrastructure.

The model is reportedly trained in Kazakh, Turkish, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Azerbaijani, and Tatar languages, and is also capable of correctly recognizing mixed Turkic-Russian speech, which is widely used in everyday communications, business environments, and in the provision of public services.

The developers note that the new ASR model is robust to noise, accents, and language switching within a single utterance, and demonstrates high accuracy across a variety of applications, from financial services and telecommunications to logistics and e-government.

According to the agency, the implementation of this technology will reduce costs in customer support systems and ensure 24/7 availability of voice services in national languages. –0–

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