World Report - January 4: Sunday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: January 4, 2026

Sunday's top stories:Venezuela faces uncertain future following ousting and arrest of president Maduro by US forces.Donald Trump's action against Maduro generates condemnation and praise in US.A memorial service in Switzerland for the victims of that New Years Eve fire, as the identies of more of the victims becomes known.The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says rental supply is up and demand is down.A warning for those living in coastal areas of southern B-C -- they are at high risk of flooding today. Some medical schools in Canada adopting new approaches to the way they recruit and train doctors.

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This is a CBC podcast. This is World Report. Good morning. I'm Martina Fitzgerald. Osted Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro has spent his first night in U.S. captivity. Good night. Welcome to you here. Maduro greets guards as he's led into detention last night.

The CBC's Katie Nicholson is following developments from our Washington Bureau. Katie, tell us more about where Maduro is being held. Yeah, he's waking up today in the memorandum. Metropolitan Detention Center, that's in Brooklyn, New York. It's quite different accommodations than he's used to. It's a federal detention center with a long list of chronic problems, rats, violence, staffing issues. And multiple outlets are reporting he could appear in a Manhattan court as early as tomorrow.

And of course, that's on that four-count indictment, really alleges that he helped move drug money on diplomatic planes and helped traffickers by selling them diplomatic passports over the years. Altogether, these charges would add up to several decades of prison time, but so much depends on what evidence the DOJ has to make these charges stick. And then there's the question of who will represent Maduro in these proceedings. Top lawyers are reportedly angling right now for a chance to defend him in what is sure to be a very high-profile trial with big questions about whether even he has immunity. The DOJ clearly going to argue, no, he does not, because he is not recognized as the legitimate head of a foreign state. of Venezuela. Even before yesterday's extraction of Maduro, Katie,

polling was showing that most Americans were against this, any kind of military intervention. So how is this likely to play out domestically in the United States? Well, there are Venezuelan communities here last night in the U.S. that celebrated. A lot of Venezuelans have been hoping a long time for regime change, but there were also protests. There are concerns among Americans about what this means, particularly around the lack of clarity of what happens next in Venezuela. President Trump said yesterday the U.S. would run the country until there's a proper transition. And that in particular is drawing criticism from people many of whom supported Trump because he campaigned on less foreign involvement.

In particular, this is drawing sort of the ire of those in Congress who argue that this type of military action required congressional approval, which was not sought. And Democratic leadership also careful to tread a line, noting that Maduro was an oppressive. but they are insisting the president has to follow the Constitution. So you can expect much more pushback in the coming days from Congress, but also praise from Trump's stalwart defenders like Senator Tom Cotton, as they make their rounds, particularly today on the Sunday shows here in the U.S. Katie, thanks very much. You're welcome. The CBC's Katie Nicholson in Washington. The U.S. Secretary of State is defending the decision

not to seek congressional approval before attacking Venezuela. This morning, Marco Rubio told ABC, news that it was not an invasion, but rather the arrest of Nicholas Maduro. It wasn't necessary because this was not an invasion. We didn't occupy a country. This was an arrest operation. This was a law enforcement operation. He was arrested on the ground in Venezuela by FBI agents. Rubio says the FBI needed the military's help because the arrest was not happening on what he called friendly territory. For the latest on the state of affairs in Venezuela, we've reached a journalist Manuel Ruudah in Bogota. Manuel, Maduro has gone, is gone from Venezuela, but the government remains.

So just what is the current political situation? Yeah, it's a strange situation because the fact that Maduro has been imprisoned doesn't mean that the same regime is not around. Basically, Maduro's closest aides are now appear to be running the show. Yesterday evening, the vice president, was put in charge of the country by Venezuela's Supreme Court. And she appeared on television in the afternoon saying that they want Maduro back, that they're going to keep on fighting, that they're not going to be a U.S. colony.

This was, you know, an effort by the vice president trying to give an impression, you know, these aides of Maduro that they're in charge now. How in charge are they will have to see in front? the following days. Yeah, there's so much to be sorted out and there's so much uncertainty. How does that leave people in Venezuela feeling? How are people responding on the streets? I mean, I think there's a bit of anxiety, a bit of just trepidation, people wondering what will happen next. So the main image we've been seeing now is a bit of panic shopping in case the situation gets really bad and shopping.

closed for some reason. You have to keep in mind also in Venezuela, it's dangerous to protest. It can get you landed in jail. So even if people might feel hopeful that Maduro has been gone and wanted to celebrate, that's not really possible in Venezuela right now. It would be a risky affair. Really appreciate this. Thank you so much, Manuel. Absolutely. That is reporter Manuel Rueda in Bogota. Venezuela is the topic this afternoon. on CBC's cross-country checkup, what is your reaction to the U.S. strike? What do you need to know?

Send your questions to cbc.ca.ca.com. Checkup airs on CBC Radio 1 and on CBC News Network, starting at 4 Eastern, that is, 1 o'clock Pacific. North Korea is serving notice it intends to ramp up its nuclear program. Its latest move is to fire at least two missiles into the sea of Japan, and it comes as its chief rival, South Korea, is reaching out to North Korea's main ally, China. The last time North Korea tested a ballistic missile was on November 7th.

According to Japan, Pionyang launched at least two missiles yesterday, each flying around 900 kilometers before falling into the Sea of Japan. The latest launches came as South Korean President Li J. Miong arrived in Beijing for a state visit to China, and just hours after the United States attacked Venezuela. Analysts believe the North's missile tests are a message to China to deter close ties with South Korea, while acting as a warning to Washington that Pyongyang is not Caracas, that it is ready and able to respond to any aggression.

Japan's defense ministry today condemned the launches and lodged a stern protest with North Korea. South Korea's presidential office has followed suit, describing the missile tests as provocative acts that violate UN Security Council resolutions. North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un has been flexing his military muscle of late. As well as overseeing missile tests, he's been visiting weapons factories and submarine bays,

a show of strength ahead of this year's nine. Party Congress of the Workers Party, which will set out North Korea's major policy goals. Dominic Volaitis for CBC News, Bristol, England. Was a hero's welcome today at the Sydney Cricket Ground Stadium in Australia? And some players could be seen wiping away tears as the heroes of the Bondi Beach attack walked onto the field. 15 people were shot to death during a Hanukkah festival last month. First responders, lifeguards, and others who rushed toward the gunfire were also honored ahead of today's match. The Institute for Canadian Citizenship says this country needs to do a better job retaining skilled workers.

It says within 25 years of arriving, one in five immigrants leave Canada, and skilled workers are far more likely to make that choice. Michelle Song explains. Macbub Akhtar sits in front of his computer every morning looking for jobs. ever since he arrived in Saskatchewan from Bangladesh almost three years ago. But he feels his economics credentials aren't being recognized. Now he's one of many highly skilled immigrants

considering leaving Canada. So I'm the same person, I think like three years back, waking up early in the morning, looking at my Bloomberg terminal or Reuters skin doing the market analysis. And now I wake up in the same computer skin to look for jobs like every day. According to a recent report by the Institute for Canadian

citizenship, one in five immigrants leave Canada within 25 years of landing. And highly skilled immigrants are more than twice as likely to leave. We still talk about immigration as though it's an act of charity. Daniel Bernhard is the CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. He says when these economic immigrants leave, ultimately all Canadians suffer. This is us waiting longer in the waiting room. This is us having a harder time finding a early childcare spot for our kids. This is us having a harder time building that high-speed rail line. The report says Canada is losing immigrants in critical occupations, like health care or engineering,

and it recommends Ottawa to develop a retention strategy, as these highly skilled immigrants are important for Canada's growth. Michelle Song, CBC News, Toronto. That is the latest national and international news from World Report. I'm Martina Fitzgerald. This is CBC News. For more CBC podcasts, go to cBC.ca.ca slash podcasts.