Foreign
Canada cuts back on student job hours as UK weighs expansion
Canada has announced a remarkable policy change. The change limits Nigerians and other international students to 24 hours of off-campus work per week beginning this Fall Semester. The shift in policy replaces the temporary allowance of 40 hours that applied during the COVID-19 pandemic. IBRAHIM ADAM explores the impact of this policy on students’ finances, academics and career prospects, alongside the United Kingdom’s potential plans to adjust or remove its working hours limit.
The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau enunciated the temporary policy which allowed students, especially, international ones, to work up to 40 hours per week. It was a response to labour shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The policy was initially a relief measure to help international students manage the high cost of living and assist industries suffering from labour shortages.
The Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller stated that with the waning effects of the pandemic, the Canadian Government has reverted to a more restrictive work limit, emphasising the primary purpose of student visas.
“Students who come to Canada must be here to study. As such, allowing students to work up to 24 hours per week will ensure they focus primarily on their studies while having the option to work, if necessary,”
Miller stressed that the Canadian Government’s primary rationale for the new regulation is to maintain the integrity of the student programme.
“First and foremost, people coming to Canada as students must be here to study, not work. We will continue working to protect the integrity of our student programme,” he said.
Miller also noted that the decision aligns Canada with best practices observed in other countries.
“Canada needs to align with the best practices in other countries, else it would only attract those who intend to work and not study,” he said.
The government’s decision, he explained, is a perspective for a broader intent to ensure that Canada remains an attractive destination for genuine students rather than those seeking to exploit student visas for work opportunities.
Additionally, recent changes to Canada’s policies include increasing the cost-of-living threshold for study permit approval, aiming to financially prepare students for life in Canada and reduce dependence on work.
Furthermore, new regulations will affect foreign students enrolled in specific college programmes, with those beginning after May 15, ineligible for post-graduation work permits.
Financial implications
Critics have raised concerns that allowing full-time work for international students could undermine the purpose of a study permit, potentially transforming it into an unofficial work visa.
Conversely, many critics argue that the new policy does not consider the financial realities faced by international students.
The Director of Advocacy at the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), Mateusz Salmassi criticised the new rule, saying that reduced allowable work hours from 40 to 24 per week presents significant financial challenges for international students.
He pointed out that students will lose significant income due to the reduced work hours.
“On average, after this announcement, over 200,000 international students will lose at least $5,000 from their pocket annually,” Salmassi stated.
The student body said many of these students rely on part-time work to cover their living expenses, which are often higher in Canada compared to their home countries.
The CASA Director highlighted that the reduction will mean fewer international students from lower socio-economic backgrounds can afford education in Canada.
“The 24-hour limit will mean fewer international students from lower socio-economic backgrounds will have the ability to receive an education in Canada,” CASA stated.
Implications on academic performance
While financial concerns are paramount, the Canadian Government has justified the reduction by emphasising the need for students to focus on their studies.
The government said studies have indicated that students working more than 28 hours per week tend to show a decline in academic performance and a higher likelihood of dropping out.
“Research has shown that there is a considerable decline in academic performance for students working more than 28 hours per week and that working more than 24 hours per week increases the chances that a student will drop out of their programme,” Miller explained.
However, CASA has contested this claim, arguing that their research shows no significant negative impact on academic performance for students working additional hours.
Work experience and career prospects
Miller explained that while the new policy aims to ensure that students focus on their studies, it may inadvertently impact their ability to gain valuable work experience.
Part-time jobs often provide students with practical skills and networking opportunities crucial for their post-graduation careers.
“Working off campus helps international students gain work experience and offset some of their expenses,” Miller said.
The Associations said the limitation could affect students’ eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), especially for those enrolled in certain programmes under public-private partnerships, which are no longer eligible for the PGWP.
By limiting work hours, CASA argued that the students may miss out on opportunities to gain practical experience in their fields, which is crucial for their post-graduation employability.
The Association added that the reduced hours could mean fewer opportunities for students to engage in meaningful work experiences that align with their academic pursuits and career goals.
Comparisons with international policies
The recent decision by the Canadian Government is in contradistinction to such policies in other popular study destinations, potentially making it less attractive to prospective international students.
For instance, Australia recently updated its regulations, allowing students to work 48 hours every two weeks.
In the United States, international students on F-1 visas are typically limited to 20 hours per week during the academic term but can work full-time during holidays and breaks, similar to the policy Canada has maintained for scheduled breaks.
Germany and Finland have more lenient regulations, where students can work up to 120 full or 240 half days per year, offering more flexibility.
France allows students to work up to 964 hours per year, roughly translating to about 18.5 hours per week on average.
Labour market considerations
The temporary policy change during the pandemic was partly a response to labour shortages.
Canada’s decision to reduce the maximum allowable work hours for international students from 40 to 24 per week could significantly impact the country’s labour market, particularly in retail, hospitality, and food services, which rely heavily on part-time labour.
According to Labour Market analysts, the adjustment could have long-term implications for business operations and labour dynamics within these sectors.
“The reduction in work hours will shrink the labour supply in these sectors, potentially leading to labour shortages and increased competition for available workers,” they say.
The analysts explained that this shift may compel employers to offer higher wages or better working conditions to attract domestic workers, thereby increasing operational costs.
They said the economic contributions of international students, who spend a considerable portion of their earnings within local economies, could see a downturn.
“Reduced working hours will limit students’ disposable income, resulting in lower consumer spending and affecting local businesses, particularly those in university towns,” they maintained.
According to them, employers may face increased recruitment and training costs due to higher turnover rates, particularly in sectors that depend on part-time workers.
“A re-evaluation of recruitment strategies, with a potential focus on attracting more domestic part-time workers or investing in automation and efficiency improvements,” experts say.
Diplomatic relations and student numbers
The Canadian Government’s decision to reduce the permissible work hours for international students holds significant implications for diplomatic relations and the number of international students choosing to study in Canada.
However, the decision has sparked various reactions domestically and internationally, as it affects financial planning and the overall student experience.
For many countries that send large numbers of students to Canada, such as India, China, and South Korea, this policy change could necessitate adjustments in educational agreements and diplomatic dialogues.
These nations might view the reduction in work hours as a potential drawback for their students, who often rely on work opportunities to fund their education and living expenses abroad. The Canadian government might need to engage in more intensive diplomatic efforts to reassure these countries about the continued benefits of studying in Canada despite the new work-hour limitations.
A recent report by a study abroad agency, Apply Board, highlights Nigerians as Canada’s fastest-growing international student population.
The report states that between 2017 and 2019, the Canadian Government processed more student visa applications from Nigeria than any other country except India and China, albeit with an approval rate of less than 20 per cent.
However, by 2023 approval rates for Nigerian students have “nearly doubled” to almost 40 per cent of over 43,000 study permit applications.
“Nigerian student mobility to Canada is increasing at a momentous rate. Nearly 18,000 Canadian study permits were issued to Nigerians in the first six months of 2023, more than for any other country except India,” the report reads.
It further notes that “Nigerians were Canada’s fastest-growing international student population from January to June 2023, with 44 per cent more study permits issued during that period than in the full year of 2022.”
The report also emphasised the rising approval rates for Nigerian students, stating: “Study permit approval rates for Nigerians continued to rise across the first six months of 2023, to just fewer than 40 per cent. That’s more than double what approval rates were in 2020.” This trend signifies a growing recognition and acceptance of Nigerian students within the Canadian education system.
While Ontario and British Columbia remain the top destinations for Nigerian students, the report reveals that students from Nigeria are less centralised in these provinces compared to students from other countries. “Ontario and British Columbia accounted for around 63 per cent of study permits issued to Nigerians in the first six months of 2023. This was well short of the nearly 84 per cent of students who chose those two provinces as a destination across all countries of origin,” the report further explained.
Potential policy changes in the UK
In contrast to Canada’s restrictive approach, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his government are considering increasing the work-hour limit for international students in the United Kingdom or possibly removing it entirely.
According to educations.com, the UK was ranked the “Top Destination in the World to Study Abroad” in 2023.
Currently, students on a Tier 4 visa are restricted to working 20 hours per week during term time, with extended hours allowed during holidays. However, this new proposal, which is still in its early stages, could see these limits lifted significantly, allowing students to work up to 30 hours or more each week.
“Students would have the opportunity to work longer hours, which could provide much-needed relief to both their finances and the labour market,” Sunak told the Daily Mail in a recent interview.
The Prime Minister emphasised that this measure is part of a broader strategy aimed at addressing the UK’s ongoing labour shortages.
“Companies are crying out for workers. By lifting the cap on international student working hours, we are looking at a range of ideas to remove barriers and encourage more students to work,” Sunak added.
According to the latest UK Labour Market Statistics, this proposed change comes at a critical time for the UK economy. The country is grappling with a labour shortage that has seen the unemployment rate hovering around 3.7 per cent, with 1.27 million people aged 16 and above currently unemployed.
The hospitality and retail industries, in particular, are facing acute staffing challenges, and increasing the availability of part-time workers could be a crucial step in addressing these gaps.
A second-year student at the University of Manchester, Priya Gupta said the prospect of increased work hours is a welcome one because any are struggling with the high cost of living, exacerbated by rising rent, food, and travel expenses.
Priya said the financial burden of exorbitant tuition fees has left many students in need of supplementary income.
“Being able to work more hours would significantly ease my financial pressure. It would allow me to cover my expenses more comfortably and focus better on my studies without constantly worrying about money,” Gupta said.
Source: The Nation
Counter-terrorism police are involved in an investigation into a mass stabbing on a train in eastern England, which left nine people suffering with life-threatening injuries.
A man with a large knife is believed to have been shot with a Taser by police after going on a bloody rampage on a high-speed train after it left Peterborough station in Cambridgeshire.
British Transport Police (BTP) said two people have been arrested over the stabbings, which happened on the 6:25 pm (1825 GMT) train service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday.
“Officers immediately attended Huntingdon station alongside paramedics.
“Armed police from Cambridgeshire Police boarded the train and arrested two people in connection to the incident, who have been taken to police custody.
“Ten people have been taken to hospital, with nine believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. One is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. There have been no fatalities.
“This has been declared a major incident and Counter Terrorism Policing are supporting our investigation whilst we work to establish the full circumstances and motivation for this incident.”
BTP Chief Superintendent Chris Casey said: “This is a shocking incident and first and foremost my thoughts are with those who have been injured this evening and their families.
“We’re conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further.
“At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.
“Our response is ongoing at the station and will be for some time. Cordons are in place and trains are not currently running through the area, and there are also some road closures.
“I thank the public for their patience and their cooperation this evening which has already greatly assisted our policing response. We will update you again as soon as we have more information.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as “deeply concerning” and urged people to follow police advice.
Witnesses have spoken of seeing a man with a large knife and passengers hiding in the toilets to escape the rampage, The Times newspaper reported.
One told the paper there was “blood everywhere” and people were getting “stamped” on by others as they tried to flee.
The witness said: “I heard some people shouting we love (you).”
The Sun newspaper said another witness described the attack as “like something from a film,” adding: “It was a terrible scene, really violent.”
The attack is understood to have started shortly after the LNER train left Peterborough station.
Nigerian Tribune
Burkina Faso’s Transitional Legislative Assembly on Tuesday approved the dissolution of the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission which has been in place for more than 20 years.
This formalises a bill adopted in July by the country’s military rulers, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré. The junta had described the commission as a “waste of money” and susceptible to what it said was “foreign influence”.
Under the new law, the Ministry of Territorial Administration will now be in charge of organising elections.
When it seized power in September 2022, the military promised to restore a civilian government within 21 months.
But in May last year, the junta extended the period of transition by five years and announced that Traoré would be allowed to contest the next presidential election.
The military leaders have reduced ties with Western countries, including former colonial power, France, and forged a closer strategic and economic partnership with Russia.
President Donald Trump has directed the United States military to resume nuclear weapons testing, ending a 33-year break.
The announcement came on Thursday on Truth Social, minutes before he met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea.
“Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately,” Trump posted. “Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.”
The move appears aimed at both Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia recently carried out a series of nuclear-related tests, though the Kremlin said none involved actual nuclear explosions. “Until now, we didn’t know that anyone was testing,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Russia would only test in response to another country doing so.
No nuclear power other than North Korea has conducted explosive testing in over 25 years. The U.S. last tested in 1992, Russia in 1990, and China in 1996.
China’s Foreign Ministry urged Washington to honor its long-standing moratorium on nuclear testing and maintain “global strategic balance and stability.”
According to Reuters, it remains unclear whether Trump’s order refers to underground explosive tests or missile flight tests.
Speaking later aboard Air Force One, Trump said testing was necessary to keep pace with rival powers. “With others doing testing, I think it’s appropriate that we do also,” he said, adding that test sites would be announced later.
He dismissed concerns about rising nuclear risks, saying U.S. weapons were “well locked up,” and repeated his call for global denuclearization. “We are actually talking to Russia about that, and China would be added to that if we do something,” he said.
The decision follows China’s rapid nuclear buildup, doubling its arsenal from 300 to about 600 warheads since 2020, and Russia’s recent tests of nuclear-capable weapons, including the Poseidon underwater drone and Burevestnik missile.
In the U.S., Trump’s announcement drew swift criticism. Representative Dina Titus of Nevada said she would introduce legislation to block the move. Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control Association called Trump’s decision “misinformed,” warning it could “trigger a chain reaction of nuclear testing by U.S. adversaries, and blow apart the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
According to Reuters, experts say resuming underground nuclear tests in Nevada would take at least three years to prepare.
(Reuters)
China will slap port fees on U.S.-owned, operated, built, or flagged vessels on Tuesday as a countermeasure to U.S. port fees on China-linked ships starting the same day, China’s transport ministry said on Friday.
The move came shortly before U.S. President Donald Trump said there is no reason to meet with China’s President Xi Jinping in two weeks in South Korea as planned, adding on social media that the U.S. is calculating a massive increase in tariffs on imports from China. Trump said China has been sending letters to countries saying it planned to impose export controls on rare earths production.
There are relatively few U.S.-built or U.S.-flagged vessels conducting international trade, but China will ensnare more ships by applying levies to companies with 25 percent or more of their shares or board seats held by U.S.-domiciled investment funds, analysts said.
‘Quite an impact’
U.S.-based shipping company Matson told customers on Friday it is subject to the new China port fees and has no plans to change its service schedule.
Also likely affected are CMA-CGM’s U.S.-based American President Lines and Israel-based Zim, which appears to have more than 25 percent of its shares owned by U.S. entities, Lars Jensen, CEO of consultancy Vespucci Maritime, said on LinkedIn.
The China fees also could apply to vessels owned by Poseidon’s Seaspan, said Jensen, an expert on container shipping.
“This could be quite an impact as it means that the more than 100 vessels owned by Seaspan, and chartered by a variety of major container lines, would now be subject to fees in China in addition to the fees in the U.S. for their Chinese-built vessels,” Jensen said. Also starting on Tuesday, ships built in China – or operated or owned by Chinese entities – will need to pay a fee at their first port of call in the United States.
Vessels owned or operated by a Chinese entity will face a flat fee of $50 per net tonnage per voyage to the U.S. China-owned carrier COSCO, including its OOCL fleet, is the most exposed with fees of around $2 billion in 2026, analysts said.
Maersk Line Limited, APL, Zim, Seaspan, and COSCO did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the fees.
China calls U.S. fees discriminatory
The U.S. fees on China-linked vessels, following a probe by the U.S. Trade Representative, are part of a broader U.S. effort to revive domestic shipbuilding and blunt China’s naval and commercial shipping power.
“It is clearly discriminatory and severely damages the legitimate interests of China’s shipping industry, seriously disrupts the stability of the global supply chain, and seriously undermines the international economic and trade order,” the Chinese ministry said.
The USTR’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a separate statement released later on Friday, Beijing’s commerce ministry said the Chinese countermeasures were in “justified” self-defence aimed at safeguarding fairness in the global shipping and shipbuilding markets.
Over the past two decades, China has catapulted itself to the No. 1 position in the shipbuilding world, with its biggest shipyards handling both commercial and military projects.
Last year, Chinese shipyards built more than 1,000 commercial vessels, while the U.S. constructed fewer than 10, according to military and industry analysts.
The Chinese fees on U.S. vessels could hurt the U.S. less than the U.S. fees might harm the legion of Chinese ships.
The fees announced by China, like those put in place by the U.S., “add further complexity and cost to the global network that keeps goods moving and economies connected, and risk harming their exporters, producers, and consumers at a time when global trade is already under pressure,” said Joe Kramek, president and CEO of the World Shipping Association.
Rates rise over three years
For U.S.-linked vessels berthing at Chinese ports starting Tuesday, the rate will be 400 yuan ($56.13) per net metric ton, the Chinese transport ministry said.
That will increase to 640 yuan ($89.81) from April 17, 2026, and to 880 yuan ($123.52) from April 17, 2027.
For vessels calling at Chinese ports from April 17, 2028, the charge will be 1,120 yuan ($157.16) per net metric ton.
Tensions between China and the United States have deepened since September, with the two superpowers struggling to move beyond their trade tariff truce — a 90-day pause from August 11 that ends around November 9.
Retaliatory tariffs in the U.S.-China trade war this year have sharply curtailed Chinese imports of U.S. agriculture and energy products.
Korea Times
The White House lashed out at the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday (US time) after it awarded the peace prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and overlooked US President Donald Trump.
“The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace,” White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung said on X.
“President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives. He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will.”
Since returning to the White House for his second term in January, Trump had repeatedly insisted that he deserved the Nobel for his role in resolving numerous conflicts – a claim observers say is broadly exaggerated.
Trump restated his claim on the eve of the peace prize announcement, saying that his brokering of the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza this week was the eighth war he had ended.
But he added on Thursday: “Whatever they do is fine. I know this: I didn’t do it for that, I did it because I’ve saved a lot of lives.”
Nobel Prize experts in Oslo had insisted in the run-up to Friday’s announcement that Trump had no chance, noting that his ‘America First’ policies run counter to the ideals of the Peace Prize as laid out in Alfred Nobel’s 1895 will creating the award.
An Ebola outbreak that has plagued southern Congo in recent weeks is starting to be contained, the World Health Organization said Wednesday, with no new cases reported since the U.N. health agency’s last update on Oct. 1.
“As of Oct. 5, 2025, 10 days have passed without any newly reported cases, indicating potential control of transmission in the affected areas,” the agency said during a news conference.
The agency said a total of 64 cases, including 53 confirmed and 11 probable, have been reported in Congo’s Kasai Province as of Oct. 5. The WHO also reported 43 deaths, including 32 confirmed and 11 probable.
Congolese authorities announced an Ebola outbreak in Congo’s southern Kasai province on Sept. 4, the first in 18 years in the remote part of the country located more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the capital of Kinshasa.
Health authorities and organizations had recently sounded the alarm, warning they lack the funds and resources to mount an effective response to the crisis.
The WHO said improved logistics and field operations, including helicopter and ground deliveries of medical supplies and the decontamination of three health facilities, have helped contain the outbreak over the last week.
“This steady decline in transmission and improved case management reflect the impact of coordinated interventions led by the Ministry of Health with support from WHO and partners,” the agency said.
The WHO still advised caution, as almost 2,000 contacts — people who may have been exposed to the disease — are being monitored and a “single missed contact could reignite transmission chains, especially in areas with high population movement or limited community surveillance.”
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