Universities Canada says enrolment by students from outside Canada has fallen below the cap the federal government set on international student visas this year. The immigration minister announced a cap in January as a way to quell the rapid increase in the number of international students, citing pressure on housing, health care and other services. The new policy limits the number of student visa applications the government would accept into processing, and it's expected that will result in a 35 per cent drop in the number of students in 2024 compared to last year. Universities Canada presiden

A strike is set to halt HandyDART transit services in Metro Vancouver next week, after the workers' union issued a strike notice. The Amalgamated Transit Union and the company contracted to provide HandyDART in the region both say they are preparing for the workers to go on strike next Tuesday. Transdev Canada says it has received the intention to strike from the union and is "disappointed" staff this week rejected its "last offer," which was made after nine months at the bargaining table. Union local president Joe McCann says workers are preparing picket lines and a potential rally. The compa

An earthquake early detection system has been activated in British Columbia to provide the public and infrastructure managers with up to 10 seconds of warning ahead of a potentially harmful tremor. Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says when a strong earthquake is detected, alerts will be transmitted automatically to British Columbians via cellphones, radio and televisions. He says the system, jointly announced by the federal and B.C. government, will also allow critical infrastructure to take immediate action, such as halting traffic from driving onto bridges or

Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has written a letter to Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhawan and demanded to stop people from outside the state from buying agricultural land and making votes. He said in the letter that an important bill should be brought in this regard in the session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha starting on September 2. Khaira said that there is a similar law in Himachal, Gujarat, Rajasthan and now Uttarakhand, according to which an outsider cannot buy agricultural land or become a voter in the state. He said that if this law is not implemented, then Punj

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal has suddenly appointed senior Akali leader Balwinder Singh Bhandur as the acting president of the party. This decision of the Akali Dal has come at a time when the party is facing continuous insurgency and on August 30, a decision may be taken by Mr. Akal Takht Sahib regarding Sukhbir Badal's explanation. It is also to be mentioned that Balwinder Singh Bhundar is considered to be one of the close leaders of Sukhbir Singh Badal. However, Balwinder Singh Bhundar has been appointed as the working president and Sukhbir Badal is the party president

A former correctional officer is facing nine charges including obstruction of justice as part of a criminal organization and accepting a bribe, after a smuggling investigation in British Columbia. Mounties say the arrest is the result of a collaboration between Chilliwack RCMP and the Correctional Service of Canada following the discovery of evidence consistent with a correctional officer smuggling drugs, weapons, and cellphones to inmates within an institution in the Fraser Valley. Police say search warrants were executed almost a year ago at several locations in Chilliwack resulting in the s

Simranjit Singh Mann, former Member of Parliament from Sangrur in Punjab, has come into the headlines for a comment on Kangana Ranaut. Recently, in an interview, Kangana Ranaut had commented on the incidents of rape during Kisan Andalon, on which Simranjit Singh Maan while talking to reporters at Karnal today said that Kangana Ranaut has a lot of experience of rape. He said that Kangana has the same experience as riding a bicycle. According to reports, the Haryana Women's Commission has taken notice of Maan's statement and has asked her to give an explanation within 5 days.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has written to the leader of the New Democrats, urging him to force an election this fall. Poilievre's letter to Jagmeet Singh says the NDP does not have a mandate from voters to keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in power for another year. He's urging Singh to vote non-confidence in the government when the House of Commons resumes in September. The NDP entered a supply and confidence deal with the Liberals in 2022, agreeing to keep the minority government in power until 2025 in exchange for movement on key priorities. Singh has highlighted social programs

The number of out-of-control wildfires continues to drop in British Columbia on the heels of a cold front bringing rain and fall-like temperatures to many areas. About 280 blazes remain active across the province with 15 per cent or just over 40 of those fires classified as burning out of control. That's down from more than 100 out-of-control fires last week. None of the current blazes are considered "wildfires of note," a designation issued when a fire is highly visible or poses a threat to people or infrastructure. B.C. government officials are set to provide an update on the wildfire and dr