A minister in Pakistan's newly elected government faced criticism Wednesday following his plea to the nation to drink less tea to help save on imports amid a deepening economic crisis. Pakistan is among the world's top tea importers, a hugely popular drink among both the rich and the poor in this country of 220 million people. The government has to spend about $600 million dollars from the central bank's hard currency reserves for tea imports annually. A Pakistani is believed to drink at least three cups of tea a day on average, the nation's caffeinated drink of choice. Prime Minister Shahbaz

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal jointly flagged off Volvo bus services from Jalandhar in Punjab to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi on Wednesday. Mann describes it as a revolutionary step to curb the transport of the mafia. Seven Volvo buses will ply daily from Jalandhar bus stand to Delhi airport. Likewise, similar buses will also move from Amritsar, Pathankot, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Patiala and even from Chandigarh daily to the airport for facilitating the passengers. With the plying of these buses, the passenger

With the Opposition criticising the AAP-led Punjab government over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state following singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala's murder, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that the state has now got an honest government and that gangsters were born in the state under previous governments. "I ask the Opposition, has Mann Sahib brought gangsters with him? These gangsters were born under previous governments. No one can protect gangsters and anti-national elements," said Arvind Kejriwal backing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Ke

RCMP say a fatal stabbing last weekend in Prince George remains under investigation. The Mounties say officers found a man in his thirties suffering from life-threatening injuries after they received a call early Saturday morning that a person had been stabbed. They say the victim was taken to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Police say they believe it was a targeted stabbing and there is no increased risk to the public.

Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart says the unveiling of a proposed 2030 Olympic Games hosting concept that is rooted in reconciliation is a cause for celebration. Vancouver and Whistler have joined the Lilwat, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Nations in supporting the Indigenous-led, privately funded bid. It would reuse facilities built for the 2010 Winter Games while also creating a new partnership with Sun Peaks Ski Resort near Kamloops to host snowboard and freestyle skiing events. Stewart says in a statement that today's unveiling is a moment to recognize a new way of doing things where First Na

The union representing transit workers in the Sea-to-Sky region says a new contract has been ratified, effectively ending the longest transit strike in BC history. Unifor says workers have voted in favour of the agreement with PW Transit that includes a groundbreaking Cost of Living Adjustment that will kick in if the average monthly consumer price index in BC exceeds annual wage increases allowed in the deal. The union's western regional director Gavin McGarrigle says Unifor was also successful at closing a wage gap between transit workers in Vancouver and the Sea-to-Sky region. McGarrigle s

A Dutch police officer has described finding cash, a passport and a hard drive hidden inside a stereo in the home of the man accused of extorting British Columbia teenager Amanda Todd. Erik Verstraten told the B.C. Supreme Court trial for Aydin Coban that he found 10,000 euros in cash and a passport belonging to the man during the search of the home near the Dutch city of Tilburg, in January 2014. Coban has pleaded not guilty to charges of extortion, harassment, communication with a young person to commit a sexual offence and possessing child pornography. Verstraten told the jury trial he fou

The man who became the face of Abbotsford's recent flooding disaster, delivering calm, understandable, daily updates throughout the emergency, says he won't be seeking re-election. Mayor Henry Braun says in a social media post that after ``deep and detailed'' consideration he has decided to leave municipal politics. His last day as mayor is set for November 7th, three weeks after the October 15th municipal vote. Braun has served on council in the Fraser Valley city for 11 years, one term as a councillor and the last eight years as mayor.

The World Sikh Organization is calling for an investigation into a false tip that led to the wrongful arrest of two organizers of a Sikh rally near Parliament Hill. The organization's president says Canadian law enforcement should fully investigate and prosecute those involved. Tejinder Singh Sidhu says in a statement that the ``hoax bomb threat'' in connection to the Sikh rally on Saturday is ``deeply concerning.'' The two rally organizers say they were wrongfully arrested in connection with a bomb threat that prompted an evacuation of Parliament and the closure of surrounding streets.