World Report - January 9: Friday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: January 9, 2026

As anti-government protests escalate and an internet blackout falls over Iran, demonstrators call for revolution while the regime blames U.S. influence.Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urges FBI to include local officals in investigation of the shooting death of Renee Good.People take to the streets in outrage in Portland, Oregon, after border patrol agents shoot and injure 2 people. The U.S. seized its fifth Venezuelan oil tanker in weeks to enforce sanctions against illegal shipments.Venezuela is releasing some political prisoners in what government calls "gesture to consolidate peace." EUTELSAT, a broadband company owned by French and UK governments, pitching $250 million dollar contract to the Canadian Military.Children are especially at risk from this year's unusually severe flu season.

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This is a CBC podcast. This is World Report. Good morning, I'm John Northcott. We begin as Tehran severs all digital ties to the world. A total internet and telephone blackout across Iran is in effect as the country's supreme leader signals a massive crackdown on protests in the country. Ayatollah Khmeri is now accusing demonstration. of, quote, ruining their own streets to please U.S. President Donald Trump,

who has warned that he is locked and loaded to intervene if peaceful protesters are harmed. The death toll has reached at least 50, and state media report, several criminal investigation officers were killed by armed protesters in Tehran overnight. Crystal Gamansing has more. With buildings and cars set a light in the capital Tehran, anti-regime chance ring out. Actions, according to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Hamenei, of rioters wanting to please U.S. President Donald Trump.

After a 12th straight night of demonstrations across the country, Hamenei appeared on state television this morning, warning the Islamic Republic will not tolerate mercenaries for foreigners. The U.S. president has repeatedly threatened to intervene militarily if Iranian authorities kill protesters. The demonstrations began late December with frustrations over Iran's failing economy. Shop owners in Tehran's Grand Bazaar taking to the streets. Security forces quickly tried to quash the demonstrations,

but they've continued, growing in size and spreading to other cities. With internet access nearly shut down, reaching people in Tehran and getting a clear sense of the, those killed or injured is difficult. Human rights groups estimate 40 people have died. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said Thursday the regime has many problems. I'll let the president speak to what we're going to do in the future, but we certainly stand with anybody across the world, including the Iranian people who are advocating for their rights.

The son of Iran's late ruling Shah Reza Pahlavi is encouraging people to keep going to the streets. Posting to social media, the eyes of the world. world are upon you. He's living in exile in the U.S. Many protesters are calling on him to come home. Crystal Gamansing, CBC News, London. To the U.S. now, where Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry has a message for federal officials investigating the shooting of Rene Good. If you got nothing to hide from, then don't hide from it.

Include local experts in the process. Good was killed by ICE agents on West. The Trump administration says she tried to run them over, but Minnesota officials say video footage does not support that claim. Is it deeply concerning that this administration from the very get-go is drawing the conclusion that they may ultimately come to? Of course it is. Our ask is to include the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in this process because we, in Minneapolis, want a fair investigation. Fry says Minnesota's investigative agency has had. handled similar cases before and done so without bias.

Another shooting by federal immigration officials. Meanwhile, prompts renewed outrage at the Trump administration. Two people were shot and injured yesterday in Portland, Oregon, and as Steve Futterman reports, the incident sparked more overnight protests. It was a tense night in Portland. Hundreds of protesters gathered just hours after two people were shot. Unlike Minneapolis, where an ICE officer did the shooting, in Portland, it was Border Patrol agents. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the shooting followed a targeted stop.

Agents specifically stopped a vehicle they said belonged to a member of a Venezuelan gang. The person driving then allegedly tried to run over one of the agents, then sped away. Shots were fired. Both people inside were injured. Those protesting in Portland overnight were skeptical. this woman accusing federal law enforcement of freely shooting people. They have no problem shooting and killing American citizens. They have no problem shooting immigrants. Portland mayor Keith Wilson asked that all ICE activity immediately stop

until an investigation takes place. Our community deserves answers. Our community deserves accountability. The fact that the Portland shootings came just one day after the Minneapolis killing only seemed to increase the anger and tension. Oregon Governor Tina Kotech. We demand your cooperation because we need to investigate this incident efficiently. The one thing all officials have called for is calm.

They do not want U.S. President Donald Trump to once again target their city with the National Guard. Steve Futterman, CBC News, Phoenix. The United States has seized another Venezuelan oil tanker. The vessel named Olena was intercepted this morning. On the Caribbean, suspected of carrying oil in violation of U.S. sanctions. It marks the fifth tanker captured in recent weeks as Washington intensifies efforts to clamp down on sanctioned Venezuelan shipments. Officials say the operation targets ships attempting to evade sanctions and enforce international trade rules. Donald Trump, meanwhile, says he is canceling a second wave of attacks on Venezuela, saying,

it won't be needed. This, as Venezuela has begun releasing political prisoners. Still unclear how many detainees are being released, but human rights groups estimate 800 to 900 political prisoners remain. A European satellite company is pitching the Canadian military on a plan to provide secure satellite broadband as an alternative to providers like the Elon Musk owned Starling. U-TELSAT, largely owned by French and UK governments, says its system could give Canada full control over its northern communications.

The CBC's Murray Brewster has the details, on this $250 million proposal. The French president is actively engaged and trying to keep it as a floating agenda item with the Prime Minister. David Van Dyke of U-TELSAT Canada, who's peeling back the curtain on the high-level maneuvers of the last few months. U-TELSAT has a constellation of low-Earth orbiting satellites that provide broadband access and secure communications in places like the Arctic.

So what we can provide for Canada is what we call a sovereign capacity capability, where Canada would actually own all of our capacity in the Far North. The key here is sovereign capability. U-TELS. is offering to create specific dedicated secure links for the Canadian military, independent of U.S. providers, such as Elon Musk and Starlink. And we also give them the ability to not be under the control of a singular, individual who could decide to disconnect the service. That is an indirect reference to Musk's 22 decision to temporarily switch off Starlink's service to the Ukrainian military. According to Van Dyke,

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Prime Minister Mark Carney about joining a U-TELSat plan already in place with the French military. Whether Canada agrees remains to be seen. The federal government recently designated the former Crown Corporation Telesat as a strategic partner to develop Canadian military satellite communications. U-TELSAT says they've already got a system in place. Murray Brewster, CBC News, Ottawa. And finally, this year's flu season is unusually severe, with infection rates topping 27%. The highest in recent years, health officials say children are especially at risk. The CBC's Jennifer Lagrasso reports.

In the emergency room at North York General Hospital in Toronto, dozens of people are either waiting to be triaged or get admitted. We're now feeling the impact. Dr. Kevin Wasco is the hospital's chief of emergency medicine. A surge in flu cases the past few weeks have filled their wards, leaving some patients on beds in the hallways. This has been a particularly rough week at our hospital where we are at capacity. This blue season, he says, has been especially bad.

And that's been the case across many parts of Canada, with Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec flooded with cases last month. The latest data from Health Canada shows that in mid-December, 27.7% of tests were positive. That's the highest it's been in the last three seasons. For influenza type A, we're seeing a six-fold increase within the community. Braden Hendy is the Chief of Emergency Medicine at Eerie Shores Healthcare in southwestern Ontario. We've been seeing more severity regarding pediatric patients. New national numbers expected today will indicate whether the illness is easing up or still spreading and where.

Health officials say people should stay home if they're sick and seek emergency care if they have severe symptoms, like difficulty breathing or keeping food down and prolonged weakness. This year's flu is also hitting children especially hard, so experts say parents should monitor for high fevers. Jennifer Lagrasa, CBC News, Toronto. And that is the latest national and international news from World Report. I'm John Northcott. This is CBC News. For more CBC podcasts, go to cBC.caps.