World Report - August 21: Thursday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: August 21, 2025

The Israeli military says it has begun first phase of the attack on Gaza City. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants specifics on security guarantees before any meeting with Russia president Vladimir Putin.German prosecutors say police have arrested a Ukrainian citizen suspected of damaging the Nord Stream underwater pipelines. Venezuela mobilizes its military, as US President Donald Trump's administration sends more warships to the southern Caribbean. Uganda agrees to take deported migrants from the United States, as long as they don't have criminal records. Ontario's education minister questions whether school board trustees should exist. Independent commission says federal judges in Canada deserve a raise, but Ottawa argues now is not the time. Erik and Lyle Menendez face California parole board today, but there is no guarantee they will be freed if parole is approved. 

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This is a CBC podcast. This is World Report. Good morning. I'm Marcia Young. Israel says it has begun the first phases of a military offensive in Gaza City and troops have established a foothold on the outskirts. Palestinians are being told to leave the city and seek safety farther south. Margaret Evans has the latest. Israeli strikes hitting Gaza.

in the early hours of the morning, drowning out international condemnation. As Israel says, it is proceeding with a promised ground offensive in Gaza City, the strip's largest urban center, or what's left of it. A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces says Israeli troops already control the city's outskirts and call-up notices have been issued to 60,000 reservists for an operation expected to begin in earnest in September. The UN Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez added his voice to those warning of catastrophic implications for Palestinian civilians. It is vital to reach immediately a ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages

and to avoid the massive deaths and destruction that a military operation against Gaza City would inevitably cause. The Israeli decision, which it says is aimed at rooting out what remains of Hamas and rescuing hostages, has dampened optimism that a 60-day ceasefire might be agreed. Hamas said it would accept the agreement Israel has yet to formally respond. In an interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday, Washington's pro-settler ambassador to Israel, Mike Hacobie, blamed failed ceasefire talks on countries like Kemp.

Canada that have recently indicated they plan to recognize a Palestinian state. Margaret Evans, CBC News, Jerusalem. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants details on security guarantees for his country, and he wants them within the next seven to ten days, and says he will not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin until he gets them. Zelensky's comments come hours after Russian air strikes overnight. Workers clean up glass and debris inside a residential building in the western city of Lviv. The local governor says at least one person was killed and several others injured.

Kiev was also a target of the overnight attacks. German prosecutors say police have arrested a Ukrainian citizen, suspected of damaging the Nord Stream pipelines. Those underwater pipelines bring Russian natural gas to Germany. And they were damaged by a series of explosions in 2020. after Russia invaded Ukraine. The suspect is believed to be one of the coordinators of that operation. He was arrested in Italy.

Ukraine has rejected suggestions it may have ordered the attack. Venezuela is mobilizing its military and banning the use of drones. The country is in a heightened state of military readiness. The United States is sending fleets of warships to the Southern Caribbean. Trump administration officials say they are there to intercept. drug shipments. But Venezuela's government fears this could be the start of a move to oust President Maduro. Manuel Rueira has more. Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro is pushing back against the deployment of U.S. warships to the Southern Caribbean. Earlier this week, he announced his government

will mobilize all of its reservists to prepare Venezuela for a possible U.S. attack. No empire is going to touch the sacred soil of Venezuela, he said. U.S. officials have said that three destroyers are on their way to international waters near Venezuela's coast. Another group of three ships carrying a land enforced with 4,000 Marines is expected to arrive in the area next week. The Trump administration has accused the Venezuelan leader of being a major drug trafficker. Earlier this week, press secretary Caroline Levitt said that the U.S. government wants Maduro to face justice. The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela. it is a narco-terror cartel.

He is a fugitive head of this cartel who has been indicted in the United States for trafficking drugs. Wilder Alejandro Sanchez, a military analyst in Washington, said an attack on Venezuela is unlikely. I don't think the US government wants to pick another fight. They're very busy with China and Russia.

But he says that the U.S. is trying to intimidate Venezuela and show that country's president that he can no longer support drug trafficking. Maduro has long denied any links to drug cartels. Manuel Rueda for CBC News, Bogota. As the Trump administration works to limit migration and seal the U.S. southern border, it is getting ready to deport people to Uganda. Both countries have just agreed to a deal where Uganda will accept deportees from the U.S.

as long as they do not have criminal records and are not unaccompanied minors. Uganda also says it would prefer to accept deportees of African nationalities. Ontario's education minister is questioning whether school board trustees should even exist. Paul Calandra says cutting them out would be part of a back-to-basics plan. It would centralize more decisions at Ontario's legislature. As Colin Butler tells us, critics say it could strip away community accountability and hand more power to the government. It is up for review.

Education Minister Paul Calandra is floating a big idea, wiping out school board trustees. If it looks like we can deliver the product better, provide better outcomes for students, better resources for teachers, and give parents certainty, and if that means eliminating trustees, then I'm going to do it. The straight line from Queens Park to the classroom comes after years of bad headlines. Trustees caught in spending scandals and boards so dysfunctional the province has had to take them over. They are capitalizing on current crises. Beth Mai as a school board trustee in London, Ontario, its board was taken over four. four months ago by the province. She says without trustees, parents lost their voice, communities lost their link, and accountability

has gone missing. And any decisions that are being made, with the exception of the budget, are being made behind closed doors. Professor Sachin Maharaja studies leadership and education at the University of Ottawa. He says, My, is right. He points to Nova Scotia, where elected boards were scrapped in 2018. The result was less democracy, not more efficiency. Schools just become less responsive to parents and community members.

For now, it's just talk, but talk has a way of becoming law, and the lesson is clear. Once trustees are gone, they likely don't come back. Colin Butler, CBC News, London, Ontario. An independent commission says federal judges in Canada deserve a $28,000 raise minimum. If it is approved, judges on each province's superior. Court will make about $425,000 a year. And the Chief Justice at the Supreme Court will make $546,000 a year. The judges argued higher salaries are necessary to attract highly qualified lawyers. Trevor Farrow is Dean of Osgood Hall Law School in Toronto. Judicial compensation

should not be a political game. It should not be part of the political trading back and forth. It's an issue that needs to be independent of that. The federal government says it is still studying the report, but it has raised concerns and increased salary would be insensitive to taxpayers in this era of budget deficits and fiscal restraint. There are 1,200 judges who sit on Canada's various federal courts. Eric and Lyle Menendez will take turns in front of a California parole board starting today. The brothers were convicted in the 1989 murder of their parents. But even if the parole board approves, there's no guarantee they'll be freed.

Steve Futterman is following the case from San Diego. The frantic 911 call in August 1989 is still chilling to hear. Who is the person that was shot? My mom and dad. Eventually, Eric and Lylemendez admitted killing their parents. They were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without parole. But earlier this year, a judge resentenced them. of 50 years to life. Under California law, they are now eligible for parole. One of those expected

to appear before the board is their first cousin, Anna Maria Baralt. She supports their release. We will not stop fighting for Eric and Lyle, for justice and for the truth. While claims of sexual abuse may come up, Loyola Law School Professor Lori Levinson says it will likely not be the key factor. What the parole board has to decide is whether they are suitable, safe for release. will also hear from the L.A. County District Attorney's Office, the current DA Nathan Hawkman, opposes their release. The Menendez brothers engage in a deliberate, premeditated killing of their parents. The most emotional testimony will come from the brothers themselves. Today's hearing will be for Eric Menendez. Tomorrow will be for Lyle Menendez. A decision by the parole board is expected at the end of each day,

but even if the board recommends release, it can still be vetoed by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Steve Futterman for CBC News, San Diego. That is the latest national and international news from World Report. I'm Marcia Young. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca.com.