Skip to main content

Featured

Tragedy Strikes at Turkish Ski Resort: 66 Dead, 51 Injured in Hotel Fire

A devastating fire engulfed the Grand Kartal Hotel at the popular Kartalkaya ski resort in northwestern Turkey early Tuesday morning, claiming at least 66 lives and injuring 51 others. The fire, which broke out around 3:30 a.m. local time in the hotel's restaurant section, spread rapidly, trapping guests on the upper floors. Guests, many of whom were families on holiday during the school semester break, faced harrowing conditions as they tried to escape the flames. Some resorted to jumping from windows in a desperate attempt to flee the blaze, while others used sheets and blankets to climb down from their rooms. The hotel's fire detection system reportedly failed to operate, adding to the chaos and confusion. Emergency services, including 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances, were dispatched to the scene, but the fire's intensity and the hotel's chalet-style wooden exterior hampered firefighting efforts. The Turkish government has launched an investigation into the incident...

Canada’s economy shrinks in Q3 amid export and consumer woes

 


Here is a short article based on the web page you are viewing:

Canada’s economy shrinks in Q3 amid export and spending woes

Canada’s economy contracted by 1.1 per cent on an annualized basis in the third quarter of 2023, according to Statistics Canada. This was a much weaker result than expected by analysts and the Bank of Canada, which had forecast a slight growth of 0.1 per cent and 0.8 per cent, respectively.

The main factors behind the economic decline were a drop in exports, a slump in business investment, and a stagnation in consumer spending. Exports fell by 5.1 per cent, reflecting lower shipments of energy products, motor vehicles, and aircraft. Business investment decreased by 10.1 per cent, as firms reduced their spending on machinery and equipment, intellectual property, and non-residential structures. Consumer spending was flat, as households saved more of their income amid rising interest rates.

The only bright spots in the third quarter were government spending, which increased by 7.3 per cent, boosted by a one-time GST/HST credit payment, and residential housing investment, which rose by 8.3 per cent, driven by a surge in new construction.

The Canadian economy also performed poorly compared with the U.S. economy, which grew by 5.2 per cent in the same period. Canada has been more sensitive to the impact of higher interest rates, which have been raised by the Bank of Canada to 5 per cent from 0.25 per cent since early 2022. The central bank has recently signalled that it may pause or reverse its tightening cycle, as inflation has eased and economic growth has faltered.

Some economists believe that the third quarter contraction was a temporary setback and that the economy will rebound in the fourth quarter and beyond. Statistics Canada estimated that GDP grew by 0.2 per cent in October, indicating a modest recovery. However, others warn that the economy may face more headwinds in the new year, such as the ongoing supply chain disruptions, the spread of the new COVID-19 variant, and the uncertainty over the federal fiscal policy.

Comments

Popular Posts