World Report - December 7: Sunday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: December 7, 2025

Air Transat pilots issue 72-Hour strike notice.Former Liberal Minister Steven Guilbeault is delivering a scathing rebuke of his own government's climate policy after resigning from cabinet.For the first time since the devastating war in Gaza began the Christmas tree in Manger Square, Bethlehem, has been lit.The government of Benin says it is still in control of the country after a group of soldiers announced on state television that they had taken power.Uganda stops granting refugee status for Eritreans, Somalis and Ethiopians.Somali-Canadians condemn US president Donald Trump's tirade against Somali immigrants in the US.Financial crisis creates uncertain future for Canada's largest drone testing range.

This ascent isn't for everyone. You need grit to climb this high this often. You've got to be an underdog that always over-delivers. You've got to be 6,500 hospital staff, 1,000 doctors, all doing so much with so little. You've got to be Scarborough. Defined by our uphill battle and always striving towards new heights. And you can help us keep climbing.

Donate at lovescarbro.cairbo. This is a CBC podcast. This is World Report. Good morning, I'm John Northcott. As we head into the busy holiday travel season, air transat passengers are facing the prospect of major travel disruptions. The airline says it is working towards what it calls a gradual and orderly shutdown of its operations over the next three days.

The airline's pilots had issued a 70. hour strike notice this morning, they say a walkout could begin as early as midnight Pacific time this Wednesday, December 10th. The union, which represents 750 pilots, argues they are fighting for industry standard pay and benefits. It says it wants an end to months of unproductive bargaining. After his dramatic resignation from Cabinet, former liberal minister Stephen Gilbeau is speaking out and he's delivering a scathing rebuke of his own government's climate policy. In an interview, airing on Rosemary Barton live today, Gilbo says the new memorandum of understanding with Alberta linking pipelines

to climate action is a betrayal of Canada's environmental commitments. He warns the deal could dismantle key federal regulations including the oil and gas emissions cap and the clean electricity regulations. What is being proposed in this memorandum of understanding with Alberta would essentially dismantle pretty much, with one or two exception, all of the elements of the climate change plan that we had, that was working. But what is being proposed through this MOU would be the end of a climate plan in Canada. Gilbo, who remains a liberal MP, says his political split with the Prime Minister, centers entirely on this change in environmental policy. In India, at least 25 people are dead after a nightclub fire in Goa State.

Firefighters struggle to enter the burning building. It happened about midnight in the village of Arpora. It's a popular tourist site in the country's southwest. About a hundred people were dancing at the time. It's thought a gas cylinder in the kitchen exploded. Most of the victims are staff at the club, but police say tourists were also among those killed. Officials say the nightclub is on a narrow back street which made access for firefighters difficult. Global Affairs Canada says it is not aware of any Canadian citizens impacted by the fire. For the first time since the devastating war in Gaza began, the Christmas tree in manger square

Bethlehem has been lit. Thousands gathered near the Church of the Nativity to witness the annual lighting ceremony, a tradition that was paused following the October 7th attacks. The CVC's Tom Perry was there. Celebrating the season for the first time in years, a crowd packing Manger Square in Bethlehem

to watch as a towering Christmas tree standing near the Church of the Nativity is lit up. This celebration, the first since the outbreak of war in Gaza, after the attacks of October 7, 2023. Prior to that, the pandemic kept tourists and worshippers away. Jack Tabash, who has run a shop selling arts and crafts to visitors for more than 50 years, says these past few years have been hard. It was very difficult because there was no tourists coming to visit Bethlehem,

and we live on tourism here. Many people in Bethlehem rely on tourism, hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops. While the crowds for this year's tree lighting were big, it was mostly Palestinians from Bethlehem and other communities who came out. Bethlehem's mayor, Mahar Kanawati, is hoping foreign tourists and their money will soon start returning. Bethlehem is ready to receive tourists and pilgrims, and we are in great need that these people come and walk.

the Bible. Local people hopeful this night could be a sign of better days ahead, praying for prosperity and peace. Tom Harry, CBC News, Bethlehem. Benin's government says it has arrested 14 people in connection with a foiled coup attempt. This, after a group of armed soldiers appeared on state television announcing they'd taken over President Patrice Telen's government. Reporter Dominic Volitus is following the story.

wearing full combat gear and brandishing weapons, the group of soldiers used national television to announce their attempted coup. In their address, they accused President Patrice Talon's government of failing to address worsening security threats in Benin's north. Earlier in the day, gunfire was reported near the president's residence in Camp Guazzo, prompting the French embassy in Benin to warn citizens to stay indoors. The US and Russian embassies later followed suit. But it appears the coup was short-lived,

with Benin's interior minister later announcing the country's armed forces had thwarted the takeover, which he claimed was orchestrated by a small group of soldiers. the coup attempt is the latest threat to democratic norms in West Africa, where the military has in recent years seized power in several countries neighboring Benin. It also comes as the country prepares for a presidential election that would mark an end of Talon's 16 years in power. Dominic Volaitis for CBC News, Bristol, England. Human rights groups are expressing concern about a decision by Uganda.

The East African country will no longer grant refugee status for people from Eritrea, Somalia, and Ethiopia. Uganda currently hosts the largest refugee population in Africa, but it's facing financial challenges, partly as a result of reduced international donor funding. Michael Belike is in Kampala. What more can you tell us about this change, Michael? Uganda says it cannot cope anymore. It already hosts close to 2 million refugees, and the money to support them has done. dropped sharply. The UN Refugee Agency says funding for food, health and shelter has fallen

by more than two thirds. So services are being cut. Because of that, the government says it cannot and has to prioritize people escaping active war. And it's blocking new asylum seekers from Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Human rights groups say the policy could leave vulnerable people stranded and push them into dangerous migration routes. So it's really about capacity and lack of money rather than the total change in Uganda's values. So, Michael, how much of this will damage Uganda's reputation as a country that welcomes refugees? Well, Uganda has long been seen as a model country for welcoming refugees and letting them work and move freely.

So a sudden ban like this definitely hurts the reputation. Rights groups say it goes against international principles because each case should be. judged individually. But many also recognize that Uganda is under huge pressure because the funding has collapsed, while richer countries have closed their borders and cut back support. So Uganda will face criticism for restricting access, but also some sympathy, because it's carrying a heavy burden with fewer resources. Michael Belike in Kampala. Thank you, Michael. Thank you. Somali Canadians are condemning Donald Trump's tirade against Somali immigrants in the U.S. They say insults the president uttered during a recent cabinet meeting are stoking fear.

And some who have family members in the U.S. are worried. Todi Applewath reports. It is extremely reckless and it's very dangerous. Abderazak Mohamed reacts to words uttered in the White House Tuesday. He lives in Ottawa and says xenophobic comments made by Trump are still echoing across the border and having an impact on Somalis in Canada. a population of more than 65,000 people, according to the 2021 census. What we're being hearing from the president is quite alarming for Somali families,

both in the U.S., in Canada, and around the world. During a cabinet meeting, Trump disparaged Somali immigrants, their country, and took set at those living in Minnesota, where an immigration enforcement operation is currently underway. Their country stinks, and we don't want them in our country. His insults have alarmed. many Somali Canadians, including Osli Medi, who lives in the nation's capital. Watching it from the outside here, I felt like I was kind of holding my breath.

Worsame J. Worsame has family in Minnesota and worries. People will be victimized, people who did not do anything wrong. People who were even born in the United States, but just being of Somali origin, will be arrested. Mohamed is hoping the public and Canadian officials take a stand. Those of us who are not on the ground, feeling this kind of hate being thrown at them, we need to speak up. reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, it said in a statement, what makes someone a target of ICE is not their race or ethnicity, but the fact that they are in the country illegally. Jodi Appawait, CBC News, Ottawa.

And that is the latest national and international news from World Report. Remember for news anytime. Go to our website, cbcnews.ca. And the top story this hour was our top story this hour. that potential shutdown of air transit due to the breakdown in labor negotiations, the company calling the unions strike call premature. All of that for you on cbcnews.ca. I'm John Northcott. This is CBC News. For more CBC podcasts, go to cBC.ca.