World Report - Friday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: January 3, 2025

Former Liberal cabinet minister Marco Mendicino not seeking re-election. US House speaker Mike Johnson faces crucial re-election vote as support in doubt. The attempt to arrest South Korea's president is suspended after a dramatic standoff.

Every language is a note in the symphony of our heritage. Together they create a harmony that cannot be silenced. Discover your voice on the new APTN Languages TV channel. This is a CBC Podcast. This is World Report. Good morning, I'm John Northcott.

We begin this morning in Ottawa. Back from his holiday, the Prime Minister is expected to return to work today. On his Friday agenda, the signing of a book of condolence for Jimmy Carter at the U.S. Embassy and a virtual cabinet committee meeting on Canada-U.S. relations. But with questions looming over his leadership, it won't be business as usual. We've heard and seen demonstrators say things like, all the Zionists are racists, all the Zionists are terrorists, won't be business as usual. We've heard and seen demonstrators say things like, all the Zionists are racists, all the Zionists are terrorists, long live October 7th. That's Liberal MP Marco Mendicino last May speaking about anti-Semitism at the Justice Committee.

He is now the latest prominent Liberal MP to say he will not seek re-election. In a letter posted to his social media account, the former cabinet minister reiterates his objections to the direction of Ottawa's foreign policy, citing Canada's, quote, deteriorated relations with the state of Israel. Mendocino joins more than 30 Liberal MPs who have decided not to seek re-election. At least 30 people are dead after overnight Israeli strikes in Gaza, hospital staff say. It comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized a delegation to continue negotiations for a ceasefire deal. Anna Cunningham is following the story from the London Bureau.

Rescuers rushed the dead and injured to Nasser Hospital. Israeli airstrikes hit the Al-Mawassi area of Gaza, designated a humanitarian zone by the Israeli army west of Khan Yunus. Several children were among those buried Thursday. In central Gaza, an Israeli strike targeted Al-Bala. And in the south, an Israeli government spokesperson confirmed a strike there had targeted the head of the Hamas internal security force. In a New Year's Day message, Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, said they will step up strikes in Gaza if Hamas fail to release the hostages.

Across Jerusalem and Tel Aviv early Friday, sirens sounded. The Israeli army said the air force intercepted a missile launched from Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi militants. Over 15 months, indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US in Doha have faltered. Both Israel and Hamas accuse each other of putting in new and unacceptable conditions. Today, it's understood representatives from Israel's Mossad spy agency, the Israel Defense Force, and the country's internal security agency will again go to Doha to renew those talks. Anna Cunningham, CBC News, London. In Sudan, there are mass casualties being reported following the latest round of shelling in and around the capital of Khartoum.

The Rapid Support Forces has been launching violent attacks with heavy artillery in several areas across Khartoum state. Naba Moedine is a journalist in Sudan. Naba, what can you tell us about this most recent series of attacks? Naba, what can you tell us about this most recent series of attacks? Some attacks are still going on in the capital, Khartoum, and in other locations in Darfur. The RSF are allegedly targeting civilians and killing civilians in markets, in hospitals, in public transportations. There is at least 200 people were killed in December alone in the capital and also in Darfur. So the situation in Sudan is really dangerous and escalating after 21 months of continued fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF. But people are still hopeful that they can return home to the areas

that the Sudanese military regained control of it. So as you say, the Sudanese military has regained some control. Is this why we're hearing reports of refugees returning from Egypt in some cases? Exactly, yes. Sudanese refugees are returning from Egypt because they left with nothing, and they are desperate to go back home despite the fighting in many places in the capital and other estates. But the Sudanese military regained control of key locations and key cities. This is why the Sudanese people are preferring to take the dangerous routes and to take the dangerous trip because they left with nothing and they are preferring to come home with the hope

that the fighting will end at any time soon. Naba Moeddin is a journalist reporting from Port Sudan. Thank you, Naba. Thank you, John. And just breaking, U.S. President Joe Biden is rejecting a nearly $15 billion deal proposed by Nippon Steel in Japan to buy U.S. steel in Pittsburgh. Biden released a statement this morning saying the U.S. is less strong and secure without domestic steel production and steel workers. It all comes after a U.S. government committee failed to reach consensus on the potential national security risks of the deal. Still in the United States, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson faces a crucial vote today. Congress is picking its leader as a new session begins.

President-elect Donald Trump is backing Johnson's bid for re-election as Speaker, but his victory is far from certain. The CBC's Megan Fitzpatrick is in Washington. Megan, why is Johnson facing such an uphill battle? Well, he faces an uphill battle because Republicans have such a slim majority in the House. All the Democrats will vote against him, so he is counting on every single one of his colleagues to vote for him. And leading up to today, there are indications he does not have the full support of his party. There are a handful of members that aren't happy with his leadership.

In particular, they don't like the role he played in getting spending approved for aid to Ukraine. More recently, they don't like how he handled the budget bill negotiations to avoid a government shutdown. One congressman from Kentucky is adamant he will not vote for Johnson. Another from Tennessee has said he'll think and pray on his decision overnight last night. Johnson's been doing a lot of outreach to these detractors, holding meetings and trying to shore up support. And earlier this week, President-elect Donald Trump said he wanted Johnson to keep the job, but even Trump's endorsement may not be enough. And if some Republicans defy the wishes of their president, well, that will only add to the drama of this vote, which is set to take place around noon today.

You mentioned Donald Trump, Megan. What's at stake for the incoming president? Well, one of the reasons we're paying attention to what's happening today on Capitol Hill is because of what's due to happen there on Monday. And that's certifying the results of the November election that Trump won. If today's vote to elect a speaker goes multiple rounds and doesn't get done today, and it spills over to Monday, that could delay that certification process. That's not likely to make Trump very happy. More broadly, though, Trump is counting on Johnson to help him get items on his agenda checked off. Trump's made a lot of big promises on things like immigration and tax cuts, and he can't get those things done unless Congress is operating smoothly.

And Republicans are set to have the trifecta, so to speak, control of the White House, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. But if they're fighting with each other and not getting things done quickly, which is what Trump wants, it'll raise questions about his leadership and his influence over Congress. So he wants this second term of his to get off to a smooth and a fast start. So we'll see how this plays out today. It is shaping up to be a pretty tense day on Capitol Hill.

CBC's Megan Fitzpatrick in Washington. Thanks, Megan. You're welcome. Meanwhile, the U.S. Surgeon General is calling for alcoholic drinks to carry an updated health warning on the label. He says alcohol is a leading preventable cause of several types of cancer, including breast cancer. He wants that reflected on the bottles. But only Congress can mandate the new labels, and it's unclear whether the incoming administration will support the measures. And finally, after a dramatic standoff, South Korea's anti-corruption investigators are backing off an attempt to arrest Yoon Seok-yool.

Supporters of the embattled president formed a human barrier as authorities arrived at his residence. Yoon is facing charges of insurrection and abuse of power related to his failed martial law attempt in December. Yenna Lee has more. The standoff lasted five hours as dozens of investigators tried to arrest President Yoon Seok-kyul in his residence. Their attempt failed after about 200 presidential guards blocked their way. In the end, authorities abandoned the arrest bid, citing safety concerns. Yoon is defying authorities, having ignored three summonses for him to appear for questioning over his attempt to impose martial law last month. His lawyer argues the arrest warrant is invalid,

and Yoon has told his supporters he will fight until the end. Outside the residence, many of those supporters huddled together in freezing temperatures. I'm here to protect our country from this crisis, says a middle-aged man. The Republic of Korea is becoming a lawless world. As a citizen, I couldn't just ignore this situation. I had to come here, says another. Some held up posters in English saying, stop the steal. That's a reference to a conspiracy theory about parliament's vote to impeach Yoon. What happens next is unclear.

The current arrest warrant against him expires on January 6th, after which another could be issued. Yoon is South Korea's first sitting president to face arrest. Yen Ali for CBC News, Beijing. could be issued. Yoon is South Korea's first sitting president to face arrest. Yenna Lee for CBC News, Beijing. And that is the latest national and international news from World Report. Remember, for news anytime, go to our website, cbcnews.ca. This hour, one of the top stories. If you missed it last night on The National, what does Canada face in 2025? The At Issue panel answers your political questions. I'm John Northcott. This is CBC News.