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Oman – recent macroeconomic developments and mid-run outlookWith a nominal GDP estimated by International Monetary Fund (IMF)[1] at around USD 107bn in 2024 (around 0.1% of the world economy) Oman is in the middle of an unprecedented transformation process, in the context of the implementation of theContinue Reading
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Note from the Ambassador On the Occasion of 46th Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of IranHE Dr. Seyed Hossein Sadat Meidani delivers the speech on the Occasion of 46th Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of Iran at Rapsodia Hall, the Grand Hotel Bucharest, Romania, on 6 February 2024. بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم Note by H.E. Dr. SeyedContinue Reading
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The Geopolitical Implications of Trump’s Gaza Relocation Proposal: A Call for ActionPhoto: US President Donald Trump along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a joint press conference In Washington on February 04, 2025. Introduction: To Name is to Dominate In the annals of colonial history, the act of naming has been aContinue Reading
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Ruling Through Ranks: The Civil-Military Struggle in Rebuilding SyriaPhoto: Ahmad al-Sharaa, the commander-in-chief of the Military Operations Department Syria’s - reconstruction is unfolding within a broader struggle between militarization and civil governance, reflecting a deeper historical pattern in post-conflict states where security imperatives often override political institutionalization. As securityContinue Reading
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Recent macroeconomic developments and outlook for MENA – the perspective of the World BankIn mid-January 2025 the World Bank (2025, a)[1] released the first edition of this year of the macroeconomic report, Global Economic Prospects, entitled “Emerging and Developing Economies in the 21st Century”. This report includes the macroeconomic forecasts for 2025-2026 for theContinue Reading
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Recent macroeconomic developments and outlook for ChinaThe macroeconomic climate improved in China (the second largest economy in the world, with a nominal dimension of over USD 18tn in 2024) at the end of last year, an evolution supported by several factors, including the gradual acceleration ofContinue Reading
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Trump 2.0: Domestic revival & foreign ambitionsDonald Trump was sworn in for a second term on January 20, 2024. He returns to office with a sound mandate, a fresh team and complete control over the Senate and House of Representatives. In his inaugural address, President TrumpContinue Reading
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Strategic Partnerships in Action: The Political Economy of Turkey-Qatar Alliance in Syria’s ReconstructionPhoto: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met in Ankara in December 2024, https://www.aa.com.tr/ Introduction Turkey-Qatar relations remain exceptionally strong despite ongoing geopolitical challenges, significantly influencing the region’s political and economic dynamics. Both stateContinue Reading
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Market Power or Normative Influence? The EU's Role in the MENA RegionSource of photo: https://en.wikipedia.org/ The European Union’s unique nature as a global actor has sparked extensive debate about its international role and influence. Traditionally viewed as a "civilian power," as first conceptualized by François Duchêne in the 1970s, this perspective hasContinue Reading
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A Month After Assad: Critical Observations and Future DirectionsSource of photo: www.scmp.com After over five decades of authoritarian rule and thirteen harsh years of civil war, the Assad regime experienced a remarkably swift and unexpected collapse on December 8, 2024, occurring in less than two weeks. The Syrian civilContinue Reading
-
The President Donald Trump's Middle East PolicySource of photo: https://futureuae.com/ Donald Trump’s re-election triumph marks a turning point in the way American foreign policy is approached in the face of the intensifying and widening conflicts in the Middle East. By returning to the “America First” Doctrine, theContinue Reading
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The Legal Framework of Lebanon’s Presidential ElectionsSource of photo: Wikipedia, Lebanese President Joseph AOUN In the past five years, Lebanon has faced continuous crises and difficulties. A severe economic collapse in 2019 provoked tremendous financial repercussions. These repercussions manifested in; the deterioration of the Lebanese currency value,Continue Reading
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Gulf's energy future: a balance of fossil fuels and solar powerDespite being widely known as crude oil exporters, the Persian Gulf countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, aim to significantly strengthen their green energy sectors. Some of them even hope to eventually lead the globalContinue Reading
-
Silk Roads to Starry Skies: China's Role in Shaping Middle Eastern Space ProgramsAs part of their efforts to diversify away from an oil-based economy, Middle Eastern countries have increased their spending on space exploration and technology in recent years. When considering the international actors that are contributing to this trend, China comesContinue Reading
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Israel’s Security Dilemma: Analysing the Role of External Actors and the Potential Impact of a Trump PresidencyPresident Biden Meets with President Netanyahu. Credit: Getty Images In October 2023, the longstanding conflict between Israel and the Sunni Islamist group Hamas saw a dramatic escalation when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. Described asContinue Reading
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Why is a new deal between Trump and Iran not easy?Source of the photo: President Donald Trump, BBC Despite the fact that Joe Biden is still holding power in the United States and the country's presidential inauguration is approaching, Donald Trump has expressed his intention to engage in comprehensive negotiations withContinue Reading
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To what extent has the Islamic Development Bank fostered economic integration in the MENA region?The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, encompassing the Maghreb, Mashreq, and Gulf subregions, represents a profoundly complex geopolitical entity, characterized by its diversity in socio-economic structures and resource endowments. This heterogeneity, coupled with varying institutional frameworks such asContinue Reading
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Anticipating Trump's Next Move in the Middle East: A Potential Game-Changer for MENA Politics?With Donald Trump now elected as the next president and set to assume office shortly, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region again stands at a critical juncture. Trump's first presidency left a lasting impact on the region, characterizedContinue Reading
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The Fall of the Syrian Regime; historical interpretation, current developments, and future possibilitiesPhoto: A woman waves the flag of the Syrian rebels as people gather on Sunday in Umayyad Square, located in the Syrian capital of Damascus, to celebrate the fall of the government. (Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images) On December 8, 2024, theContinue Reading
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Alarming power struggle in SyriaPhoto: The new Syrian flag raised high in Damascus. The unceremonious ouster of President Bashar al-Assad entirely transformed the domestic political landscape in Syria and deepened the complexity of regional politics. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—leading group in the rebel coalition—announcedContinue Reading
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Syria Post-Assad: Benefiters, Un-benefiters and What’s NextThe Syrian tragedy once more captures the global spotlight. In addition to Bashar al-Assad's departure, the rebels have now successfully driven the Baathist regime out of Damascus after a protracted civil war and humanitarian crises. This situation will inject aContinue Reading
-
Assad’s fall and its consequences: a new era BeginsPhoto: The scenes of joy in Lebanon following the end of the Assad regime are justified and understandable (File/AFP) Thirteen years of unremitting conflict, and 50 years of authoritarian rule of the Assad family came to an unforeseen and abrupt endContinue Reading
-
Lebanon Ceasefire: Outcomes and ProspectsOn November 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement was put into effect between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israel, marking a complex beginning of a new post-conflict phase. Before delving into examining the ceasefire agreement, its outcomes, and possible prospects, it is importantContinue Reading
-
Kazakhstan’s Recent Achievements in Economics and Foreign PolicyKazakhstan is rapidly solidifying its position as a rising economic power and an influential diplomatic actor on the global stage. With strategic initiatives in multiple sectors, the country is leveraging its geographic location, abundant resources, and forward-looking policies to attractContinue Reading
-
G-20 Summit Brazil 2024During 18-19 November Brazil hosted the 2024 edition of the G-20 Summit, a Group formed in 1999 (in the context of the economic crises in Asia and Russia) by 19 countries and the European Union. African Union joined G-20 inContinue Reading
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Trump’s return: A Win for Netanyahu and Israel’s Far RightPhoto's source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en, President Donald Trump and Premier Benjamin Netanyahu Trump has previously proclaimed himself the “best thing that could ever happen to Israel” (Schechter), and in the wake of the recent U.S election, this claim reverberates with even greater intensity.Continue Reading
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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE MEPEI – CIHAN UNIVERSITY-DUHOKOn Nov. 20, 2024, between 6 and 9 PM (Bucharest time), MEPEI, in collaboration with the Consulting and Research Center at the Cihan University - Duhok, is organizing an International Conference on the Zoom platform, entitled "Global Economy and GeopoliticalContinue Reading
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The Economy of Indonesia – Positive Outlook in the Mid-RunWith a nominal GDP forecasted by the IMF experts to exceed USD 1.4tn in 2024, Indonesia is included in the Top 20 economies in the world. The economy of Indonesia presented a high level of resilience in the context of theContinue Reading
-
Trump’s Triumph & GeopoliticsDONALD Trump’s triumph in the 47th presidential election held on November 5, 2024, has kicked off an intensive debate among commentators about his Administration’s internal and external governance preferences. Indeed, there would be a few visible shifts at the domesticContinue Reading
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The Role of Jaish al-Adl/Jundallah in the post-9/11 WorldAt the beginning of 20th century, the United States (US) was emerging as a global superpower. The end of the Cold War determined changes in the security architecture of Central Asia and AfPak regions but certain patterns remained. It isContinue Reading
-
Oman – recent macroeconomic developments and mid-run outlookWith a nominal GDP estimated by International Monetary Fund (IMF)[1] at around USD 107bn in 2024 (around 0.1% of the world economy) Oman is in the middle of an unprecedented transformation process, in the context of the implementation of theContinue Reading
-
Note from the Ambassador On the Occasion of 46th Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of IranHE Dr. Seyed Hossein Sadat Meidani delivers the speech on the Occasion of 46th Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of Iran at Rapsodia Hall, the Grand Hotel Bucharest, Romania, on 6 February 2024. بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم Note by H.E. Dr. SeyedContinue Reading
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The Geopolitical Implications of Trump’s Gaza Relocation Proposal: A Call for ActionPhoto: US President Donald Trump along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a joint press conference In Washington on February 04, 2025. Introduction: To Name is to Dominate In the annals of colonial history, the act of naming has been aContinue Reading
-
Ruling Through Ranks: The Civil-Military Struggle in Rebuilding SyriaPhoto: Ahmad al-Sharaa, the commander-in-chief of the Military Operations Department Syria’s - reconstruction is unfolding within a broader struggle between militarization and civil governance, reflecting a deeper historical pattern in post-conflict states where security imperatives often override political institutionalization. As securityContinue Reading
-
Recent macroeconomic developments and outlook for MENA – the perspective of the World BankIn mid-January 2025 the World Bank (2025, a)[1] released the first edition of this year of the macroeconomic report, Global Economic Prospects, entitled “Emerging and Developing Economies in the 21st Century”. This report includes the macroeconomic forecasts for 2025-2026 for theContinue Reading
-
Recent macroeconomic developments and outlook for ChinaThe macroeconomic climate improved in China (the second largest economy in the world, with a nominal dimension of over USD 18tn in 2024) at the end of last year, an evolution supported by several factors, including the gradual acceleration ofContinue Reading
-
Trump 2.0: Domestic revival & foreign ambitionsDonald Trump was sworn in for a second term on January 20, 2024. He returns to office with a sound mandate, a fresh team and complete control over the Senate and House of Representatives. In his inaugural address, President TrumpContinue Reading
-
Strategic Partnerships in Action: The Political Economy of Turkey-Qatar Alliance in Syria’s ReconstructionPhoto: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met in Ankara in December 2024, https://www.aa.com.tr/ Introduction Turkey-Qatar relations remain exceptionally strong despite ongoing geopolitical challenges, significantly influencing the region’s political and economic dynamics. Both stateContinue Reading
-
Market Power or Normative Influence? The EU's Role in the MENA RegionSource of photo: https://en.wikipedia.org/ The European Union’s unique nature as a global actor has sparked extensive debate about its international role and influence. Traditionally viewed as a "civilian power," as first conceptualized by François Duchêne in the 1970s, this perspective hasContinue Reading
-
A Month After Assad: Critical Observations and Future DirectionsSource of photo: www.scmp.com After over five decades of authoritarian rule and thirteen harsh years of civil war, the Assad regime experienced a remarkably swift and unexpected collapse on December 8, 2024, occurring in less than two weeks. The Syrian civilContinue Reading
-
The President Donald Trump's Middle East PolicySource of photo: https://futureuae.com/ Donald Trump’s re-election triumph marks a turning point in the way American foreign policy is approached in the face of the intensifying and widening conflicts in the Middle East. By returning to the “America First” Doctrine, theContinue Reading
-
The Legal Framework of Lebanon’s Presidential ElectionsSource of photo: Wikipedia, Lebanese President Joseph AOUN In the past five years, Lebanon has faced continuous crises and difficulties. A severe economic collapse in 2019 provoked tremendous financial repercussions. These repercussions manifested in; the deterioration of the Lebanese currency value,Continue Reading
-
Gulf's energy future: a balance of fossil fuels and solar powerDespite being widely known as crude oil exporters, the Persian Gulf countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, aim to significantly strengthen their green energy sectors. Some of them even hope to eventually lead the globalContinue Reading
-
Silk Roads to Starry Skies: China's Role in Shaping Middle Eastern Space ProgramsAs part of their efforts to diversify away from an oil-based economy, Middle Eastern countries have increased their spending on space exploration and technology in recent years. When considering the international actors that are contributing to this trend, China comesContinue Reading
-
Israel’s Security Dilemma: Analysing the Role of External Actors and the Potential Impact of a Trump PresidencyPresident Biden Meets with President Netanyahu. Credit: Getty Images In October 2023, the longstanding conflict between Israel and the Sunni Islamist group Hamas saw a dramatic escalation when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. Described asContinue Reading
-
Why is a new deal between Trump and Iran not easy?Source of the photo: President Donald Trump, BBC Despite the fact that Joe Biden is still holding power in the United States and the country's presidential inauguration is approaching, Donald Trump has expressed his intention to engage in comprehensive negotiations withContinue Reading
-
To what extent has the Islamic Development Bank fostered economic integration in the MENA region?The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, encompassing the Maghreb, Mashreq, and Gulf subregions, represents a profoundly complex geopolitical entity, characterized by its diversity in socio-economic structures and resource endowments. This heterogeneity, coupled with varying institutional frameworks such asContinue Reading
-
Anticipating Trump's Next Move in the Middle East: A Potential Game-Changer for MENA Politics?With Donald Trump now elected as the next president and set to assume office shortly, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region again stands at a critical juncture. Trump's first presidency left a lasting impact on the region, characterizedContinue Reading
-
The Fall of the Syrian Regime; historical interpretation, current developments, and future possibilitiesPhoto: A woman waves the flag of the Syrian rebels as people gather on Sunday in Umayyad Square, located in the Syrian capital of Damascus, to celebrate the fall of the government. (Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images) On December 8, 2024, theContinue Reading
-
Alarming power struggle in SyriaPhoto: The new Syrian flag raised high in Damascus. The unceremonious ouster of President Bashar al-Assad entirely transformed the domestic political landscape in Syria and deepened the complexity of regional politics. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—leading group in the rebel coalition—announcedContinue Reading
-
Syria Post-Assad: Benefiters, Un-benefiters and What’s NextThe Syrian tragedy once more captures the global spotlight. In addition to Bashar al-Assad's departure, the rebels have now successfully driven the Baathist regime out of Damascus after a protracted civil war and humanitarian crises. This situation will inject aContinue Reading
-
Assad’s fall and its consequences: a new era BeginsPhoto: The scenes of joy in Lebanon following the end of the Assad regime are justified and understandable (File/AFP) Thirteen years of unremitting conflict, and 50 years of authoritarian rule of the Assad family came to an unforeseen and abrupt endContinue Reading
-
Lebanon Ceasefire: Outcomes and ProspectsOn November 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement was put into effect between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israel, marking a complex beginning of a new post-conflict phase. Before delving into examining the ceasefire agreement, its outcomes, and possible prospects, it is importantContinue Reading
-
Kazakhstan’s Recent Achievements in Economics and Foreign PolicyKazakhstan is rapidly solidifying its position as a rising economic power and an influential diplomatic actor on the global stage. With strategic initiatives in multiple sectors, the country is leveraging its geographic location, abundant resources, and forward-looking policies to attractContinue Reading
-
G-20 Summit Brazil 2024During 18-19 November Brazil hosted the 2024 edition of the G-20 Summit, a Group formed in 1999 (in the context of the economic crises in Asia and Russia) by 19 countries and the European Union. African Union joined G-20 inContinue Reading
-
Trump’s return: A Win for Netanyahu and Israel’s Far RightPhoto's source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en, President Donald Trump and Premier Benjamin Netanyahu Trump has previously proclaimed himself the “best thing that could ever happen to Israel” (Schechter), and in the wake of the recent U.S election, this claim reverberates with even greater intensity.Continue Reading
-
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE MEPEI – CIHAN UNIVERSITY-DUHOKOn Nov. 20, 2024, between 6 and 9 PM (Bucharest time), MEPEI, in collaboration with the Consulting and Research Center at the Cihan University - Duhok, is organizing an International Conference on the Zoom platform, entitled "Global Economy and GeopoliticalContinue Reading
-
The Economy of Indonesia – Positive Outlook in the Mid-RunWith a nominal GDP forecasted by the IMF experts to exceed USD 1.4tn in 2024, Indonesia is included in the Top 20 economies in the world. The economy of Indonesia presented a high level of resilience in the context of theContinue Reading
-
Trump’s Triumph & GeopoliticsDONALD Trump’s triumph in the 47th presidential election held on November 5, 2024, has kicked off an intensive debate among commentators about his Administration’s internal and external governance preferences. Indeed, there would be a few visible shifts at the domesticContinue Reading
-
The Role of Jaish al-Adl/Jundallah in the post-9/11 WorldAt the beginning of 20th century, the United States (US) was emerging as a global superpower. The end of the Cold War determined changes in the security architecture of Central Asia and AfPak regions but certain patterns remained. It isContinue Reading

Silk Roads to Starry Skies: China’s Role in Shaping Middle Eastern Space Programs
- on 16th January 2025
Analysis, Areas, Banking, Economy & Business, Carousel Home, Energy Security, GCC / Arabian Peninsula, GCC Affairs, Global Affairs, In Focus, Themes, Visions & Strategies

Kazakhstan’s Recent Achievements in Economics and Foreign Policy
- on 06th December 2024
Afghanistan / Pakistan, Analysis, Areas, Banking, Economy & Business, Carousel Home, Energy Security, GCC / Arabian Peninsula, Global Affairs, Iran, Levant, Themes, Turkey, Visions & Strategies

Annual International Conference (Hybrid Format): The 10th Forum “Integration and Interdependency of the Middle East Region in the Light of Political, Security, and Economic Transformations”
- on 21st September 2024
Afghanistan / Pakistan, Analysis, Areas, Banking, Economy & Business, Carousel Home, Energy Security, Events, Fighting Terrorism & Extremism, GCC / Arabian Peninsula, GCC Affairs, Global Affairs, Iran, Iranian Nuclear Deal, Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process, Kurdish Problem, Levant, North Africa, North Africa, Past Events, Syrian Crisis, Themes, Turkey, Visions & Strategies, Yemen Dosier

Coordinates of the unlikely Bangladesh alignment with the West in 2024
- on 07th August 2024
Afghanistan / Pakistan, Analysis, Areas, Carousel Home, Global Affairs, In Focus, Themes, Visions & Strategies

Diplomatic Efforts in Course to Containing Flurrying Tensions in the Middle East
- on 06th August 2024
Analysis, Areas, Carousel Home, Fighting Terrorism & Extremism, GCC / Arabian Peninsula, GCC Affairs, Global Affairs, In Focus, Iran, Iranian Nuclear Deal, Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process, Levant, Syrian Crisis, Themes, Turkey, Visions & Strategies

Palestinian factions’ Beijing Declaration: a geopolitical shift?
- on 05th August 2024
Analysis, Areas, Carousel Home, Global Affairs, In Focus, Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process, Levant, Themes, Visions & Strategies

MEPEI Talks: the Election of New President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
- on 01st August 2024
Analysis, Areas, Carousel Home, Global Affairs, In Focus, Iran, Iranian Nuclear Deal, Themes, Visions & Strategies

Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2024
- on 29th July 2024
Analysis, Areas, Banking, Economy & Business, Carousel Home, Energy Security, GCC / Arabian Peninsula, Global Affairs, In Focus, Iran, Themes, Visions & Strategies

Round Table “Kazakhstan: on the Way of Progressive Reforms. A New Chapter in Romania-Kazakhstan Cooperation”
- on 08th May 2024
Analysis, Areas, Carousel Home, Events, Global Affairs, Past Events, Themes, Visions & Strategies

What is Behind the Clashes Between Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Army?
- on 01st May 2023
Analysis, Areas, Carousel Home, Fighting Terrorism & Extremism, Global Affairs, North Africa, North Africa, Themes, Visions & Strategies

China’s Deepening Ties with the Middle East Multilateralism and China’s Global Development Initiative
- on 01st April 2023
Analysis, Areas, Carousel Home, GCC / Arabian Peninsula, GCC Affairs, Global Affairs, In Focus, Iran, North Africa, North Africa, Themes, Turkey, Visions & Strategies

Joint meeting of MEPEI and Iranian institute IPIS
- on 13th December 2022
Areas, Carousel Home, Events, Global Affairs, Iran, Past Events
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U.S. Leadership Has an Image Problem. Should We Care?
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