The forest has plenty of things to do for children of all ages.

Found less than an hour’s drive away from Cambridge, High Lodge at Thetford Forest could be the ideal day out for any family. There are plenty of activities to get involved in, depending on what you are interested in, from a range of biking trails to a mini-golf course.

The adventure golf course features 18 forest-themed holes that wind around the trees. The mini-golf course is designed to be fun for all ages and features lots of obstacles, including bridges and a huge loop-de-loop.

You might also like to try out the Lookout Archery, where you can book an archery experience for all ages, ranging from beginners to more experienced archers. You can choose from have-a-go sessions to one-hour lessons and birthday parties.

High Lodge is known for its “free adventurous play facilities,” with several areas for children to explore. You can pick up a Gruffalo orienteering pack from the Information Point to practice map-reading skills or get involved in running around the play area that features a zipline and giant seesaw.

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There are also lots of inclusive activities, including the sand play area and pedal and play that feature sensory elements that children will enjoy. If you want to see even more of the forest, there are four walking trails to pick from, covering different areas.

There are shorter trails, such as the Pine Trail, which is only 1.5km long and is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies, or the Nature Trail that takes you a bit further into the forest. The Fir Trail is for those who want to spend longer outdoors, with options for a 5km, 10km or 12km walk and gives you the opportunity to see local wildlife.

If you prefer cycling, there are multiple biking trails for people of different abilities that let you see the forest. You can bring your own bike or hire one from the High Lodge.

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After spending a day in the forest, you might need somewhere to take a break, so you could pop into the High Lodge Café. The café offers breakfasts if you need something to fuel you before heading out on a walk, or light bites and lunches for those wanting to eat during the day.

The High Lodge can be found in Thetford Forest, which is a 53-minute drive away from Cambridge via the A11. There is a car park at the site, which costs £3.50 per hour.

John Healey resigned as defence secretary following continued disagreement between Downing Street, the Treasury and the Ministry of Defence over the defence investment plan. Healey said the plan falls “well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time”.

His departure on June 11 was followed by Al Carns’ resignation as armed forces minister. Carns said in a letter to Keir Starmer that the funding plan is “not built for the threat we face”.

The resignations come at a time of political turmoil for the prime minister, following the huge losses Labour faced in the local elections last month, the subsequent resignation of Wes Streeting as health secretary and the threat posed by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s potential arrival back in Westminster.

What is the defence investment plan?

The row is centred around funding for defence spending. Following the 2024 general election, Starmer commissioned a strategic defence review to set out a vision for UK defence over the next ten years and ensure the military is prepared for present and future threats. It was explicit in setting out the future mix of our armed forces, as well as the number of aircraft, ships and vehicles the military would need.

What it didn’t do, however, was provide insight into how it was to be funded. This is where the defence investment plan comes in. It is expected to explain how the new equipment and infrastructure detailed in the defence review will be paid for. The defence review was published a year ago, so we have been waiting to find out how this would be funded for some time.

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The strategic defence review means three new approaches for the UK

Healey said that he had “no other option” but to quit after the prime minister was “unable” and the Treasury was “unwilling” to commit to the resources that Healey believes are needed to be able to defend the UK effectively.

“I am being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our Forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe,” he wrote to the prime minister.

It has been reported that the Treasury was refusing to offer more than £13.5 billion in investment (a 0.08% budget increase) when Healey and the Ministry of Defence had asked for £18 billion.

Starmer responded to Healey’s letter saying that the funding in defence investment plan as it stands would “transform and modernise” the armed forces, while being “sustainable and fair”.

To give the Treasury some credit, the Ministry of Defence is known for poor spending decisions when it comes to procuring equipment. It has long been criticised for wasting taxpayers’ money. So their hesitancy may be justified at a time when the public finances are very tight and the cost of government borrowing has risen.

In order to pay for the full £18 billion package that Healey wanted, spending cuts in other departments would have been required. Indeed, a Treasury source’s reported response to the critiques in the resignation letter point to the need to cut the NHS and schools budgets to find the necessary money – something the Treasury and the prime minister are unwilling to do, given the promise to end austerity.

How bad is it for Starmer?

This critique from Healey is particularly damaging for Starmer. It implies that he lacks both the political capital and the authority to make such a decision. This further reinforces expectations that he may not remain in office for much longer, particularly if Burnham wins the Makersfield byelection later this month and challenges Starmer for the party leadership.

In light of this, Starmer had intended to demonstrate that he was getting on with the job. The defence investment plan was supposed to form part of that political fightback in the hope of retaining office. While Starmer has also been more widely praised for his work on the world stage, this row, and the failure to push the defence review and investment plan through, has undermined that perception.

This is not the first public dispute over the defence investment plan. Back in April, Lord Robertson (a Labour peer, former defence secretary, former Nato secretary general, and author of the strategic defence review) launched a scathing attack on the government for its failure to implement and properly fund the review.

À lire aussi :
The UK is alarmingly unprepared for the threats it faces – security expert explains why

Healey is widely seen as a Starmer loyalist, and his resignation has come as a shock to Labour MPs. Starmer’s authority has clearly been weakened over the past few months, and the resignations further undermine his position. While Starmer has maintained that he would contest any leadership challenge (under Labour rules he would be an automatic candidate) this week reduces his chances of securing victory in such a contest.

It also damages Starmer on the international stage. He is due to attend the G7 meeting in France next week, where he will meet Donald Trump for the first time since their falling out over the conflict with Iran. He is likely to face criticism from both the US president and potentially other G7 allies over the failure to secure a funded defence plan.

There is also an upcoming Nato summit in July, and there is a risk that the UK could lose its status as a leading ally within the alliance, as other European countries rearm and reach defence spending targets at a much faster pace.

The appointment of Dan Jarvis (previously the security minister and a former British Army officer) as defence secretary nearly nine hours after Healey’s resignation is a sound choice. The question now is whether the length of time taken to appoint him reflects the need for additional security checks for the role, or whether he was negotiating with Downing Street over the details of the spending package.

On the horizon, too, is the possibility of a leadership contest, a new prime minister, and a subsequent change of government. As a result, it is entirely plausible that Jarvis may hold the position for only a matter of months.

Donegal host Cork at MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey in Round 2A of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship on Saturday, June 13, with a 3pm throw-in — but the Gaelic Football clash will not be shown on live TV or GAA+.

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Donegal will face Cork this weekend in Round 2A of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

Donegal enter the match brimming with confidence following their impressive victory over Kerry in the opening round of the All-Ireland series.

Jim McGuinness’ side are amongst the favourites for Sam Maguire and are aware that a home victory would guarantee a quarter-final spot.

Cork will be considered underdogs, but they demonstrated in their round one triumph over Meath that they possess the attacking threat to trouble any opposition.

Here’s what you need to know about the fixture:, reports the Irish Mirror.

Where is the match being played?

MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey.

What time is throw-in?

The match is scheduled to kick off at 3pm on Saturday, June 13.

Can I watch the match on TV?

No. The fixture has not been selected for live TV coverage and will not be available on GAA+.

Betting odds.

Donegal – 1/7.

Draw – 12/1.

Cork – 11/2.

Samsung customers can get £150 off the Galaxy Watch8 Classic when combining two deals in the brand’s summer sale

Samsung has made one of its flagship smartwatches much cheaper as it launches two concurrent deals in a summer sale. The tech giant is giving away a total of £150 to shoppers when they pick up the latest Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic.

When ordering this latest gadget on June 23, customers can claim up to £100 cashback to spend in their Samsung Wallet. There’s also a way to knock £50 off the sale price with the code WJ26, reducing the Bluetooth model from £449 to £399, or effectively £299 after cashback.

The same code can be used with the standard Galaxy Watch8, which drops from £319 to £294. A cashback claim must be submitted to Samsung within 30 days of purchase, after which eligible customers will be able to add a prepaid card to their Samsung Wallet.

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The deal undercuts rival retailers like Amazon, where the Galaxy Watch8 Classic with Bluetooth and GPS costs £499. Elsewhere, Sky Mobile offers the Bluetooth model for £10 when spreading the cost with a monthly plan.

A caveat is that customers must sign up for 36 months to get this price. The Galaxy Watch8 Classic launched in July 2025 with an ultra-slim 8.6mm profile, said to be the ‘thinnest’ model yet.

Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic

£449

£299 after cashback

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Samsung customers can claim £100 cashback with the Galaxy Watch8 Classic when ordering by June 23, plus get £50 off with the code WJ26.

It boasts a Sapphire Crystal 1.34” Super AMOLED display alongside a rotating bezel designed to look like an ‘elegant’ analogue watch. It’s also touted as ‘the world’s first’ smartwatch equipped with Google’s Gemini AI assistant, which can provide support for daily routines, everyday tasks and workout regimes hands-free with voice control.

It also serves as a personal health coach thanks to the Samsung Health app, providing easy monitoring of steps, sleep to nutrition, blood pressure and more. The Watch8 Classic is ideal for runners of all abilities as it offers personal running training tailored to each individual, tracking records and routes while setting daily goals.

Other activities, including cycling, swimming, yoga, and rowing, can also be tracked. All this is available via Samsung’s redesigned One UI 8 Watch software with multi-info tiles, streamlined notifications and quick access to one’s favourite apps via the Now bar.

The Galaxy Watch8 Classic has been awarded an impressive 4.8-star rating from Samsung customers after more than 370 reviews, with buyers hailing it as ‘the perfect blend of functional and style’.

“It’s one of the best smartwatches I’ve owned,” one says. “The rotating bezel feels premium and makes navigation so smooth. The display is bright, sharp and easy to read even outdoors. Battery life is solid, lasting comfortably through the day. I like how seamlessly it connects with my phone, and the health features are quite useful.”

Another said: “It’s a very impressive device. I’ve used it during activities including running, cycling and swimming, and it performed faultlessly, giving useful and accurate information. The Samsung Health app is much better than I remember, and you can also sync with Strava. As a bonus, it’s comfortable to wear and looks good.”

However, despite their five-star review, the same Galaxy Watch8 buyer had one issue, adding: “Only gripe is battery life could be better.” Meanwhile, another glowing review says: “This is the perfect blend of functional and style, with the real look of an actual watch but the functionality of a smartwatch.

“I’m very satisfied with the wide range of features available. The strap is of a nice, high-quality [that] seems strongly made and comfortable to wear.”

Among the highlights this week are plans for an extended canopy roof, bus shelters at Dalton Park, various tree works at residential and institutional sites, and updates to previous permissions involving housing developments and educational premises.

Below is a summary of planning applications submitted to Durham County Council:

• 5 Loweswater Grove, West Auckland, Bishop Auckland DL14 9NA. Proposal to extend the existing canopy roof over the bay window at the front of the property. Ref. No: DM/26/01483/FPA
• St Johns College, 1 – 7 South Bailey, Durham DH1 3RJ. Various tree works are proposed within the college grounds. Ref. No: DM/26/01475/TCA
• Dalton Park, Murton, Seaham SR7 9HU. Application seeks to discharge Condition 3 relating to bus shelters pursuant to a previous planning consent. Ref. No: DM/26/01467/DRC
• Cemetery, St Pauls Church, Church Lane, Hunwick DL15 0JX. Section 211 notice for removal of the northern limb of a cherry tree and a 20% reduction and reshape of the canopy. Ref. No: DM/26/01471/TCA
• Fairview House, Barningham, Richmond DL11 7DW. Section 211 notice to reduce ash tree T1 to ground level. Ref. No: DM/26/01459/TCA
• Land To The South Of Cockhouse Lane, Ushaw Moor DH7 7PN. Discharge of conditions on biodiversity, habitat management, bird/bat boxes, and hedgehog gaps linked to an earlier consent. Ref. No: DM/26/01466/DRC
• Dalton Park, Murton, Seaham SR7 9HU. Non-material amendment to revise internal access road alignment and provide details of a replacement bus shelter near the current kerb line. Ref. No: DM/26/01463/NMA
• Lydford, 24 Crossgate Peth, Durham DH1 4PZ. Tree works include a 40% crown reduction of a cherry tree (T1). Ref. No: DM/26/01455/TCA
• Land To The South Of Cockhouse Lane, Ushaw Moor DH7 7PN. Non-material amendment to earlier permission: updates location of various dwellings and removes bay window on Plot 27’s eastern gable. Ref. No: DM/26/01436/NMA
• The Old Yeast House, The Bank, Barnard Castle DL12 8PQ. T1 copper beech to be reduced in overall size by 2-3 metres. Ref. No: DM/26/01444/TCA
• St Helen Auckland Community Primary School, Manor Road, St Helen Auckland, Bishop Auckland DL14 9EN. Discharge of Condition 3 regarding materials under two previous consents. Ref. No: DM/26/01437/DRC
• 23 Heath Road, Middlestone Moor, Spennymoor DL16 7DT. Retention of a detached gazebo within the rear garden of the property. Ref. No: DM/26/01441/FPA
• Beagle House, Satley, Bishop Auckland DL13 4HU. Proposal to fell two alder trees under a Section 211 notice. Ref. No: DM/26/01429/TCA
• 133 Harvey Avenue, Framwellgate Moor, Durham DH1 5ZB. Plans for a single-storey side extension, loft conversion with dormer windows, plus new brick boundary walls and driveway gates. Ref. No: DM/26/01432/FPA
• 91 Park Road North, Chester-le-Street DH3 3SB. Application for a single-storey side extension to the existing dwelling. Ref. No: DM/26/01413/FPA
• Site Of Former Easington Maintenance Depot To The Rear Of 31 To 37 Peter Lee Cottages, Wheatley Hill DH6 3RH. Non-material amendment to swap and hand selected plots, and change house types on some plots. Ref. No: DM/26/01405/NMA
• 8 Balmoral Grove, Bishop Auckland DL14 6LR. Replacement rear extension proposed as a single-storey addition to the home. Ref. No: DM/26/01383/FPA
• 2 Briarside, Blackhill, Consett DH8 0AS. Proposal for a first-floor extension above the current garage. Ref. No: DM/26/01342/FPA
• 1 Escomb Villas, Escomb Lane, Bishop Auckland DL14 7SP. Plans for a 6m x 6m garage with a 4 hip roof located at the front of the property on the existing driveway. Ref. No: DM/26/01315/FPA
• 25 Humberhill Drive, Lanchester, Durham DH7 0HH. External cladding changes, alterations to windows and doors, and raised rear platform proposed. Ref. No: DM/26/01174/FPA

For more notices affecting YOUR area, visit our Public Notice Portal – Public Notices from The Northern Echo (publicnoticeportal.uk).

• Ground Floor West Wing, Spectrum 5, Spectrum Business Park, Seaham SR7 7TT. Construction of new extract chimneys, external plant area, gantry framework, and relocation of refuse storage at the research and development building. Ref. No: DM/26/01108/FPA
• The United Reform Church, Low Chare, Chester-le-Street DH3 3QF. Removal of render and repointing to expose and repair original stonework using lime mortar on several elevations. Ref. No: DM/26/01026/LB
• The United Reform Church, Low Chare, Chester-le-Street DH3 3QF. Removal of render and repointing works for stonework using lime mortar, as listed in the accompanying application. Ref. No: DM/26/01025/FPA

VAR intervened during USA vs Paraguay in a historic moment after a recent FIFA rule change

The 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered a landmark refereeing moment during the United States‘ opening group stage clash against Paraguay on Friday night. The Video Assistant Referee, or VAR, stepped in to transfer a yellow card from an American defender to the Paraguayan forward who had dived to win it – the first occasion the sport’s mistaken identity protocol has been used to penalise simulation in this manner.

The incident took place in the 53rd minute at SoFi Stadium, with the United States already cruising at 3-0 and the match all-but-over. Paraguay captain Miguel Almiron tumbled after minimal contact from United States defender Tim Ream, and referee Danny Makkelie swiftly brandished a yellow card for the Charlotte FC defender.

However, VAR intervened and Makkelie was summoned to the pitchside monitor, where he studied the replays. The footage showed Almiron had not been fouled, had taken three full strides after losing possession before throwing himself to the ground theatrically.

There had been no meaningful contact whatsoever. The referee returned from the screen, rescinded the booking against Ream, and showing the yellow card to Almiron for diving.

The intervention served to highlight one of the most significant rule changes FIFA had introduced ahead of this tournament. For the first time at a major competition, VAR has been granted enhanced authority over specific corner-kick decisions, erroneous second yellow cards and, crucially, instances of mistaken identity.

Match officials can now rectify a broader range of clear and obvious errors than was previously permitted, including scenarios where the wrong player is handed a disciplinary sanction.

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The incident provided a fleeting talking point in a match that had otherwise been utterly dominated by the United States.

The hosts made a dream start to their World Cup journey, racing into a 3-0 lead by the interval in front of a thunderous SoFi Stadium crowd in what seemed like the most impressive 45 minutes in recent USMNT history.

The breakthrough arrived in the seventh minute, Christian Pulisic surging forward and picking out Weston McKennie, whose delivery was bundled into his own net by the luckless Damian Bobadilla.

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Folarin Balogun then stole the spotlight, first seeing a goal correctly chalked off for offside before netting twice, a composed finish from a Pulisic assist and then a magnificent weak-foot strike into the top corner in stoppage time.

Pulisic was the catalyst throughout, his assist drawing him level with Clint Dempsey for fourth place in USMNT history with 21 career assists. Paraguay pulled one back in the 73rd minute through a slick team move, Julio Enciso threading a sublime pass to his teammate, who coolly slotted past Matt Freese to reduce the deficit to 3-1.

Gio Reyna then capped off the victory in stoppage time with a stunning outside-of-the-foot finish, helping the side launch their World Cup campaign with a winning start.

Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’

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Sky is knocking 20% off its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.

The RAF’s acrobatic Red Arrows planes are set to put on a major display today to mark King Charles III’s Trooping the Colour.

The display will accompany a parade that will go through central London to mark the King’s ‘second birthday’ with other members of the royal family expected to be taking part in the celebrations.

Those heading out to watch the proceedings and hoping to catch a glimpse of the incredible feat are lucky, as the planes will fly directly over central London this weekend.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Trooping the Colour celebration times and route of the flypast.

What time is the Red Arrows flypast and where are they flying?

The flypast will conclude the Trooping the Colour parade happening across London at 1pm, when the King and the Royal Family make an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the display as it flies over the iconic landmark.

Before it reaches London, however, the Red Arrows will fly over over parts of the UK, starting by taking off from RAF Waddington at around 11am before flying over the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts.

Around midday, the Red Arrow jets will turn over Colchester, Reading, and Chelmsford as they head through London for the main display at 1pm.

Following the display, the jets will then turn towards Windsor and Slough before continuing to Northampton and then Colsterworth.

How can I watch the Trooping the Colour flypast?

Trooping the Colour will be broadcast live on BBC in the UK today. It will include the parade, which starts at 10.30am and ends at 12.25pm at Buckingham Palace, as well as the flypast.

The flypast, and the parade, can also be watched from The Mall and surrounding areas, according to The King’s Birthday Parade.

For those who are close to the Red Arrows’ route, you should be able to see them whizz past by stepping outside of your home.

What aircraft will be taking part?

The list of aircraft taking part in the flypast has not yet been released, but it will likely be similar to the planes that participated in last year’s event.

The 2025 flypast consisted of 29 aircraft, including four Chinooks, a BBMF Lancaster, two Texans, an A400M Atlas, six Typhoons, two Juno helicopters, a C-17 Globemaster, and two F-35B Lightnings, as well as the Red Arrows.

The dazzling display comes as the Red Arrows kick off their summer schedule of displays. At the end of May, the jets kicked-off display season by making an appearance at the English Riviera Airshow in Torbay.

The daredevil group have confirmed additional displays for the remainder of the summer, including appearances at the RAF Cosford Airshow tomorrow and then several flights across the United States in July before returning to the UK in August and adventuring to mainland Europe.

More recently, the Red Arrows announced a major tweak for the display team as the number of aircraft were reduced from nine Hawk T1 jets to seven as the ageing fleet undergo maintenance.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Manchester City have their next manager lined up and their top transfer target in their sights. But neither are yet in the building.

Enzo Maresca has yet to be confirmed as the next Blues boss while City have seen two bids for England international Elliot Anderson knocked back by Nottingham Forest.

There remains a belief that a deal for the 23-year-old can be struck but with England kicking off their World Cup campaign on Wednesday, it is unlikely to be confirmed until after the tournament even if Forest and City can agree a fee in the meantime.

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Talks are likely to continue between the clubs but the World Cup schedule, with England potentially playing eight games in five weeks, plus the travel and a desire of Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel to try to keep club transfer matters out of the camp immediately before and after matches means wrapping up a switch in the coming weeks will prove nigh on impossible.

It means even if City are able to strike a deal with Forest for the midfielder, they will face a wait before the move can be confirmed with the Blues initially hoping a transfer could have been concluded before the World Cup.

With the Anderson situation now set to rumble on, City will be keen to announce the appointment of Maresca. The hope is that confirmation comes sooner rather than later with there not expected to be any late hiccups, but the process has taken far longer than expected and hoped as talks between the Blues and his former club Chelsea over a deal continue.

Talks are advanced and City hope to conclude the process as quickly as possible ahead of what could be a busy summer with a number of potential transfers – both in and out – along with a World Cup and summer tour of Asia.

The Blues have already had to exercise a degree of patience this summer and will be hoping good things come to those who wait.

Donald Trump has shared a video of the execution of ‘bloodthirsty’ terrorist leader Nino Guerrero, whose full name is Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the longtime leader of Tren de Aragua

The “infamous leader” of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua street gang has been killed in a “swift and lethal kinetic” US military strike according to Donald Trump.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump wrote: “At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to ‌successfully execute Nino Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty Terrorist Organizations on Planet.”

He added: “Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drug lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong.”

Trump shared a dramatic video appearing to show a shot from above of a small building with a green roof exploding. While Trump did not say when the strike took place, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X that it occurred earlier in the week on a Tren de Aragua compound in Venezuela.

Venezuelan authorities have not yet commented on the operation.

It comes as the US Central Command said it had brought down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones which it said were attempting to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which has been a contentious point in the peace talks.

Iranian Foreign ‌Minister Abbas Araqchi said changes were still possible to a peace deal between his country and the US that would see an end to the conflict, after both side signalled and agreement was near.

He added that the tentative agreement showed his country had emerged stronger from the conflict. “Iran is the winner of the war with the US,” he said on state television.

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