Skip to main content

Featured

Evacuation in the Snow: Fears of Conflict Drive Mass Exodus from Pakistan’s Tirah Valley

Residents from Tirah valley, who fled a remote mountainous region bordering Afghanistan, gather to get themself registered, in Bara, Khyber District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan A wave of displacement is sweeping through northwest Pakistan as thousands of families flee the Tirah Valley after mosque loudspeakers warned residents of possible upcoming military action. The sudden announcements triggered a rapid and chaotic departure, with many families leaving in the middle of harsh winter conditions. Residents describe a tense atmosphere in the valley, where fears of renewed conflict between security forces and militant groups have been simmering for months. Entire communities have packed their belongings onto trucks, donkeys, and makeshift carts, heading toward safer towns such as Bara and Peshawar. Government officials insist that no military operation has been ordered and attribute the movement of people to seasonal migration patterns. Locals strongly dispute this, sayi...

article

Canadian Service Sector Shrinks for Seventh Straight Month in December

 


According to S&P Global Canada services PMI data, the Canadian service sector shrank for the seventh consecutive month in December 2023, as elevated borrowing costs weighed on the housing market. The headline business activity index edged up to 44.6 in December from a near three-and-a-half-year low of 44.5 in November. However, it remained well below the 50 threshold that separates growth from contraction.

The Canadian service sector is a significant contributor to the country’s economy, and its contraction could have far-reaching implications. The sector includes industries such as finance, insurance, real estate, professional services, and retail trade. The contraction of the service sector could lead to a decline in employment opportunities and a decrease in consumer spending.


Comments