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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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IKEA lowers prices in several countries to attract more customers

 

The price cuts, which will take effect from February 1, are part of IKEA’s strategy to boost sales volumes and market share in the wake of the pandemic, which disrupted global supply chains and increased shipping costs. IKEA said it aims to bring prices back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of next year.

Some of the products that will see lower prices are KALLAX storage cubes, BILLY bookcases, and MALM bed frames. IKEA is already selling more of these products in some countries, according to Tolga Oncu, Ingka Retail Manager at Ingka Group, the biggest owner of IKEA stores.

“When you lower the price you also need to see a volume increase,” Oncu said. “Every country is sitting and looking at where are the opportunities for us to, by lowering the prices, sell more pieces.”

IKEA is not the only retailer that is adjusting its prices in response to changing market conditions. Other companies, such as Walmart and Target, have also lowered or raised prices on certain items to cope with inflation and supply chain issues.

IKEA, which operates in 52 markets, said it has invested more than 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion) in price reductions across its markets from September to November. The company also said it is not expecting any major impact from the recent disruptions in the Red Sea, which have affected global freight movements.

IKEA is owned by a separate company, Inter IKEA, which manufactures all IKEA products. Ingka Group is the main global franchisee of IKEA. 

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