A CBI special court in Chandigarh has granted default bail to suspended Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General Harcharan Singh Bhullar in a disproportionate assets case after the investigating agency failed to file a chargesheet within the stipulated legal timeframe. The court ruled that the Central Bureau of Investigation did not complete the procedural requirement within the period prescribed under law, entitling the accused to default bail. However, the court clarified that Bhullar will not be released from custody as he remains jailed in connection with other corruption related cases. Duri

Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro made his first appearance in a United States courtroom Monday, facing drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges that U.S. authorities say justified his arrest and transfer to New York. Maduro appeared briefly before a federal judge in Manhattan for an initial procedural hearing, a routine step that marks the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy legal battle. His defence team is widely expected to argue that he cannot be prosecuted in the U.S. because of immunity claims tied to his status as a former head of state. Earlier in the day, Mad

Burnaby RCMP are investigating a deadly two-vehicle collision that occurred early Monday morning near the city’s boundary with Coquitlam, leaving one driver dead. Police say officers were called to Austin Road around 5:20 a.m., where they found a serious crash involving two vehicles. One of the drivers was pronounced dead at the scene, while the second driver remained at the location and is cooperating with investigators. The cause of the collision has not been determined, and Mounties say the investigation is ongoing. No information has been released about the identities of those involved.

Surrey Police Service, working alongside the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit, is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing woman who has not been heard from for more than two weeks. Police say 33-year-old Joanna Barth was last seen around 7:30 a.m. on December 20 in the 9800 block of Foxglove Drive in Surrey. Investigators report there has been no contact with her since that time. Barth is described as an Indigenous woman standing approximately 5 foot 7 to 5 foot 8 inches tall, weighing between 120 and 130 pounds. Police note she often has dyed hair. Officers say they

Environment Canada is warning residents across parts of Metro Vancouver to prepare for heavy rain and snowfall at higher elevations as a strong weather system moves into the region starting Monday night. According to a special weather statement, some areas near the North Shore mountains could receive close to 70 millimetres of rain, while the City of Vancouver may see totals of up to 40 millimetres by Tuesday afternoon. The heaviest rainfall is expected along mountain slopes, where moisture from the frontal system is forecast to intensify. Forecasters say colder air will cause precipitation to

A man has been detained after damaging property at U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s residence in Ohio, according to the U.S. Secret Service. The agency said agents assigned to protect the home detained the suspect early Monday after windows were broken and additional damage was reported at the property in Cincinnati’s Walnut Hills neighbourhood. Two law enforcement officials said the man used a hammer to break a window and attempted to enter the house. Authorities confirmed the residence was unoccupied at the time of the incident. Vice President Vance and his family were not in Ohio and had

Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Paris on Monday to join talks with international partners supporting Ukraine, as diplomatic efforts continue to bring an end to Russia’s war nearly four years after the invasion began. The meeting brings together members of the so-called coalition of the willing, including Canada, France and several European nations, with a focus on advancing a negotiated peace plan while strengthening Ukraine’s position. In a statement released Friday, Carney said Canada’s priority remains reinforcing Ukraine’s defence and deterring future Russian aggression, as Kyiv s

Former federal cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland has been appointed as an economic adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, adding to her ongoing role in supporting Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russia’s invasion. Zelenskyy announced the appointment on social media, saying Ukraine must strengthen its internal resilience as the country works to sustain its economy during the nearly four-year war. Freeland has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine and has previously argued that the country has the potential to become a major economic force by pursuing opportunities l

Some of the Haitian migrants arrested by RCMP officers in southern Quebec on Christmas Day have been deported to the United States after their asylum claims were reviewed by federal authorities. The Canada Border Services Agency says all 19 individuals had their claims assessed, and those found to be inadmissible under Canadian law were returned to the U.S. The agency did not specify how many people were deported following the review. Federal officials point to the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States, which requires asylum seekers to make a refugee claim in the fi