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Greek Tanker Struck by Missile in Black Sea, Crew Emerges Unharmed

  A Greek‑flagged tanker sailing near the Russian port of Novorossiysk was struck by a missile but remained operational, and all 24 crew members were confirmed safe.   A Greek‑owned and Greek‑flagged tanker sustained material damage after being hit by a missile while sailing approximately 14 nautical miles off the Russian port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea. According to authorities, the vessel—operated by Maran Gas Maritime—was not carrying cargo at the time of the strike and continued to navigate safely following the incident.  All 24 crew members on board, including ten Greek nationals, thirteen Filipinos, and one Romanian, were reported to be in good health. The impact caused damage to the starboard side of the ship, but no assistance or towing was required. The tanker remained fully operational, and no environmental pollution was reported.  Greek officials have condemned the attack as dangerous and unacceptable, noting that the incident occurred amid height...

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New Ontario real estate rules give sellers more options

 

Ontario has introduced new rules for real estate transactions that aim to provide more clarity and choice for buyers and sellers. The rules, which took effect on Friday, include the following changes:

  • Open bidding option: Sellers can now choose to disclose the prices of submitted bids to potential buyers, instead of keeping them secret. This is supposed to make the bidding process more transparent and fair, but it is not mandatory. Some experts say open bidding could reduce overbidding and lower prices, while others say it could have the opposite effect or harm sellers’ interests.
  • Designated representation: Buyers and sellers can now choose a designated representative from the same brokerage, instead of being subject to multiple representation. This means that the agent can advocate more actively for their client, instead of acting as a facilitator with limited advice. This is supposed to avoid conflicts of interest and improve the quality of service.
  • Improved disclosures: Brokers and brokerages have to provide more information to their clients, such as their role, duties, and fees. They also have to give them an information guide from the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), the regulatory body that oversees the industry. RECO also has new enforcement tools to ensure compliance and protect consumers.
  • Amended code of ethics: Agents have to follow an updated code of ethics that reflects the new rules and promotes professionalism and ethical conduct.

The new rules are part of Phase 2 of the changes under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, which was passed in 2019. The federal government has also promised to end blind bidding as part of its home buyers’ bill of rights, but it is still consulting with stakeholders.

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