World Report - January 11: Sunday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: January 11, 2026

As anti-government protests in Tehran escalate with symbolic acts of defiance like pot-banging, the Iranian parliament is threatening to strike U.S. and Israeli bases if Washington intervenes militarily. Kurdish fighters have completed their withdrawal from Aleppo under an internationally mediated deal, ending a decade of control and a week of deadly clashes with Syrian government forces.  Myanmar is holding the second phase of a controversial three-part election widely condemned as a sham designed to formalize the military’s power five years after its 2021 coup.China’s gold capital, Zhaoyuan, is pivoting to "gold culture" tourism to diversify its economy as record-high prices drive away traditional buyers.  Hollywood’s best gather tonight as the 83rd Golden Globes honour top movies and TV. Grateful Dead co-founder and rock legend Bob Weir has died at 78 following a battle with cancer, ending a six-decade career that defined the San Francisco sound.

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This is a CBC podcast. This is World Report. Good morning. I'm John Northcott. Thousands of protesters in Tehran bang pots and cheer in another night of anti-government demonstrations. Millions across Iran are defying the crackdown. According to activists, the death toll has risen to more than 500 people and more than 10,000 have been detained. The U.S. closely monitoring the situation, according to the Wall Street, Journal. President Trump is scheduled to be briefed on Tuesday on possible responses, including

military action, cyber strikes, new sanctions, and support for anti-government sources online. Speaker of Iran's parliament, warning that if foreign strikes occur, Israel and American bases in the region would be targeted. For more on this, let's bring in the CBC, Sasser Petrusik in Jerusalem. Sasha, Israel watching these developments in Iran very closely. What's at stake for them? Well, John, Israel is formally on high alert today. The rising tensions in the region, in anticipation of a possible U.S. attack on Iran and what that could mean to, really, to everybody. There have been talks between the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday, touching on Iran contingency,

as well as other issues. And all of this has really been triggered by statements and posts by U.S. President Donald Trump on social media yesterday, saying that Iran is looking for freedom, saying that he was in support of the protesters there, and that the U.S. stands ready to help, hinting that that help may be military. So, Sasha, how are Israel and the U.S. responding to Iran's threats? Well, since Iran has promised to retaliate against both of these countries, the U.S. and Israel and their various bases in the region, with Iran calling these legitimate targets, if there is some kind of a U.S. action, both are preparing for the worst in many cases. We don't have many details about what that would mean on the ground, though the U.S. media has been reporting that their diplomatic posts as well as military bases. in the region have asked for a little more time to get ready. But in Israel, of course, that would mean

using the air defense system, which has been used a lot over the past two years, and especially six months ago when Israel and Iran started trading missiles and the U.S. launch attacks against Iran. There's speculation here that Iran is not that keen to actually start these attacks again because it is so vulnerable, but because, of course, we never know what will happen in the Middle East. Everybody is preparing for the worst. The CBC, Sasha Petrasek in Jerusalem. Thank you, Sasha. My pleasure, John. The last Kurdish-led fighters have left the Syrian city of Aleppo after days of deadly clashes with Syrian government forces.

The Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic forces said an internationally mediated agreement allowed their safe departure. The move comes amid political deadlock over the integration. of Kurdish forces into Syria's new army. Dominic Valaitis has the latest. Under police escort, in a convoy of coaches and ambulances, the last fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic forces left Aleppo this morning. Their departure from the city's Ashrafia and Sheikh Maksud neighborhoods comes after an internationally mediated ceasefire was struck between. the SDF and Syrian government.

The latest clashes in Aleppo erupted last week, after talks to integrate the Kurds into Syria's new government ended in stalemate. Although a ceasefire was announced at the time, Kurdish forces refused to leave their stronghold of Sheikh Maksud. More than 20 people were killed and hundreds more injured in the ensuing violence, while tens of thousands were forced to flee the affected areas. But Kurdish-led SDF forces are now leaving Aleppo, pockets of which they've held since Syria's civil war began in 2011. For many, their destination will be a Kurdish semi-autonomous zone in northeastern Syria.

Dominic Volices for CBC News, Bristol, England. Voting has resumed in Myanmar's three-phase election, widely criticized as a sham by International observers. Adam Bemma reports from Chang Mai, Thailand on what this second round of polling looks like and who is being left out of the process. Voters in Myanmar's largest city headed to the polls today. The second round of elections held under the military five years after its coup. At a polling station in Yangon, one voter described the scene. I was the only person at the election station. I remembered how we had to wait in long queues. during the 2020 election.

This time, it was very odd. Sixteen seats are being contested in Yangon, including the one held for years by Aung San Suu Kyi. Her election marked the start of Myanmar's brief transition to democracy. Her party, the National League for Democracy, went on to win back-to-back landslide victories. Results overturned by the military takeover in 2021, led by senior general Minangheng.

Suu Kyi has been detained ever. since. The military accused her party of voter fraud, claims widely rejected, and later dissolved the NLD. This time, Minong-Lang is promising a free and fair vote without her. Preliminary results from the first phase show the military-backed USDP winning 109 of 127 seats. With the NLD barred from participating, analysts say the USDP is all but certain to form the next government. Today's vote covers 100 of Myanmar's 330, ships, including former NLD strongholds in Yangon. A final round of voting is scheduled for January 25th.

Adam Bemma, CBC News, Chiang Mai, Thailand. China's gold capital is hoping for a makeover. For centuries, Jai Yuan has been a hub for gold mining. Well, now the city is trying something new, turning its golden past into a tourist attraction. Yan Cummins and Brumby reports from Jiuen. Crouched over by the water's edge, Qing Zon Ming sifted through sediment with his pan.

He's looking for any glint that catches his eye. This in my hand is the gold ore I just panned out with my child in this river. The quantity isn't much, but it's very fun. With more than a thousand gold veins stretched across the mountains, Zhao Yuan is home to some of China's major mining companies. But all the glitters isn't necessarily gold. Despite gold prices surging to record levels, workers at Zhao Yuan's gold more like Xie Guangxia,

say they haven't seen the benefits. Instead, high prices have driven away customers. Current gold prices are too high. People want to invest, but it's too expensive. To encourage former industrial sites to rely less on resource extraction, authorities have urged cities to diversify their economies. For former tour guide Wang Wen Zheng, one option could be more experiential tourism. Jayaan itself now has a gold museum, opened inside an old mine. Gold resources are limited after all, so now we're also building some gold cultural tourism industries.

This is also part of Zhaoian's entire long-term planning for gold's future development. Authorities know that just because there's gold underground doesn't mean the streets are paved with it. Yang Kams and Brimbi for CBC News, Zhao Yer. The best of the best in movies and television are being honored tonight in Los Angeles. You know, I love movies, but now I have this fear, but my job is to ruin them. The job is a meat grinder.

Canadians, Seth Rogen and Catherine O'Hareep, nominated for their roles in the Apple TV series The Studio. Rogan also created the satirical comedy, which is up for Best Television Series, Musical, or Comedy. Other top contenders include Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another and Ryan Cougler's Sinners. The 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards are taking place tonight in Beverly Hills, hosted by comedian Nikki Glazer.

And finally, a music legend is being mourned around the world. Guitarist and singer Bob Weir, co-founder of The Grateful Dead, has died at the age of 78. His career spanned more than 60 years, helping to shape the sound of 1960s, San Francisco, with songs that blended rock, folk, and bluegrass. A statement on his official Instagram account says we're courageously battled cancer and other health issues before passing away. And that is the latest national and international news from World Report. I'm John Northcott. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with us here at CBC News.

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