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Eurovision’s Harmony Disrupted by Political Discord

  In a turn of events that has brought political tensions to the forefront of a traditionally unifying event, the Eurovision Song Contest has become the stage for significant protests. The inclusion of Israel’s contestant, Eden Golan, in the Eurovision finals has sparked widespread demonstrations in Malmo, Sweden, where the contest is being held. Despite the uproar, Golan advanced to the grand final, a victory overshadowed by the voices of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters who took to the streets to express their dissent. The protests have drawn attention from political figures as well. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described the protests as ‘outrageous’, aligning with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s condemnation of the events in Sweden. The demonstrations, which included prominent figures like Greta Thunberg, have been calling for a ceasefire and an end to the Israeli government’s military offensive in Gaza. The Eurovision Song Contest, known for its eclectic mix of music an

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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