World Report - November 23: Sunday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: November 23, 2025

There is a glimmer of optimism coming out of the Ukraine peace talks in Geneva.Israel's military says it has killed a senior Hezbollah official, in an airstrike on Beirut.Protestors in Tel Aviv are demanding an independent inquiry into the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023.U.K.'s Prime Minister is renewing calls for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, to answer questions about the Jeffrey Epstein case.Dozens of school children taken hostage in Nigeria have escaped their captors.Experts say more students calling in sick due to mental health issues.Retailers across the country are gearing up for Black Friday, with many offering discounts well ahead of the official day. 50 years ago Sunday Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen began a nine week run at number one on the UK singles chart.

In 1983, Paladin Press published a book called Hitman. This book offers specific tips for the aspiring contract killer. Things like where to find employment, how much to charge, basically how to get away with murder, and also not feel bad about it. Ten years later, the book was linked to a triple killing. This week on Crime Story, can a book be an accomplice to murder? Find Crime Story wherever you get your podcasts. This is a CBC podcast.

This is World Report. Good morning, I'm John Northcott. There is a glimmer of optimism coming out of the Ukraine peace talks in Geneva. Both U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the head of the Ukrainian delegation say they have made good progress. Officials from Canada, the U.S., Europe, and Ukraine are holding meetings today to discuss Donald Trump's 28. peace plan. The plan has many leaders concerned as it would force Ukraine to surrender territory to Russia, and Kiev would have to limit its military might. Rubio calls at the most productive and meaningful meetings so far, but not everyone appears happy with the progress in Geneva.

Your President Donald Trump is calling Ukraine's leaders ungrateful. The CBC's Julia Chapman has the latest from London. There are mixed signals coming from the leaders of Ukraine and the US. In a tweet, Volodymyr Zelensky says his delegation tells him Ukrainian perspectives may be reflected in the peace proposals. But on truth social, Donald Trump is criticizing Ukraine and its European partners. He says Ukraine's leadership has expressed, quote, zero gratitude for U.S. efforts and Europe continues to buy oil from Russia. Talks in Geneva are still ongoing between Ukrainian and American negotiators. Ukrainian security. advisor Rusta Moumerov says he expects more progress as the day goes on, and he thanks the

U.S. for its work. Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is among countries giving feedback on the American proposals. He says he welcomes that they emphasize Ukraine's sovereignty. Earlier, the Prime Minister spoke to President Zelensky, who called it a useful conversation. Carney is expected to take part in a call in the coming days involving members of the Coalition of the Willing, a group of Ukraine's staunchist supporters. Julia Chapman, CBC News, London. Israel's military says it has killed a senior Hezbollah official. Israel says it targeted the militant group's chief of staff in an airstrike on Beirut today.

Hizbala, hours earlier, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country was, in his words, striking terrorism on all fronts. Israel says Hezbollah is trying to rebuild its military capability in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese government has denied those claims. Lebanon's health ministry says at least five people were killed in today's attack, more than two dozen, injured. Meanwhile in Tel Aviv, thousands of people marched last night, demanding an inquiry into the October 7th Hamas attacks. Netanyahu has announced plans for an investigation overseen by his government, but many Israelis see that as an attempt to avoid answering some difficult, questions. Tom Perry reports.

Wave after wave of protesters marched through Tel Aviv streets, filling a public square to overflowing, demanding an independent inquiry into the October 7th attack. We need answers and we also need to make right. Sharon Eschelle lost her daughter, Rony, in the attack. Rony was 19, an Israeli soldier.

She was killed along with more than a dozen members of her unit. She didn't spend any time on this planet. It was so quick. And we are doing everything that we can, in her honor. Eschelle wants a full independent inquiry into what went wrong on October 7th and the days and years leading up to the attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an investigation, but with a government committee overseeing the terms to Eschel, the prime minister is trying to protect himself. he is going to be the number one person that the committee will investigate. And he's doing all that he can to escape from it.

Israel's opposition parties are also demanding an independent inquiry and the question is before Israel's High Court of Justice. With protesters vowing, they too will keep up the pressure. Tom Perry, CBC News, Tel Aviv. UK Prime Minister Kier-Stimer, is renewing call. for a member of the royal family to answer questions about the Jeffrey Epstein case. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, has missed the deadline to appear in front of the U.S. Congress

to discuss his relationship with the convicted sex trafficker. When Starmor was asked about it at the G20 Summit, he said that anyone who has relevant information in relation to these kinds of cases should cooperate, but adds it's a decision for the former prince to make. Mountbatten Windsor is not legally obliged to talk to Congress. had a long friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, but has strenuously denied any wrongdoing. Dozens of schoolchildren taken hostage in Nigeria last week are now free after managing to escape their captors and return home.

School authorities in Abuja say 50 of the 303 students who were kidnapped by gunmen on Friday escaped captivity today and are now reunited with their families. But more than 250 other school children and a dozen teachers remain captive. No group has yet claimed responsibility for. the kidnappings. School districts across Canada are reporting more absences among students. That's according to a CBC News investigation. But as Tara Kerman reports, it's not always because of coughs and sniffles.

Got a special computer pouch, right? Yeah. And they have chargers and stuff at school, right? Yeah. 12-year-old William DiPasquale and his parents are packing his backpack for school. But these days, he's not in a hurry to go. Williams says other kids bully him in the schoolyard because he's small for his age and has a facial twitch. Sometimes they, like, just say, like, mean stuff.

Sometimes I'm, like, I don't care. Okay, yeah, you said it. But sometimes it, like, kind of, like, hurts. Williams' father, Norm DiPasquale, says getting him to school the next day is a challenge. You know, when these kind of incidents happen, I'm pretty well guaranteed there's going to be an absence the next day. Williams, not alone. CBC requested attendance data from 46 of the biggest school districts in Canada. We heard back from just over half.

Only some tracked illness, but all showed more absences at all age levels compared with five years ago. Experts agree there's no one reason. More parents working from home, technology that makes remote learning easier, or more kids staying at home with the sniffles could all be factors. But most agree deteriorating mental health. Things like anxiety are behind some of it. Natasha McBruity researches school attendance at the University of Ottawa. We know from the families we work with,

we know from the service providers that anxiety definitely is a contributor to attendance, chronic absenteeism and attendance issues. Deep Asquale says more staff in the schoolyard to keep an eye on things could help his son. But as for making that happen? A difficult ask, he says, with many schools struggling with tighter budgets. Tara Carmen, CBC News, Vancouver. Shoppers across Canada are gearing up for another Black Friday, and many retailers are already offering deep discounts,

even though the annual sale is still days away. Anis Hadari has more on how stores face increasing pressure to offer customers' deals ahead of the big day. We haven't been doing a lot of Black Friday in the past. Canadian home decor store Ve de Vééé only leaned in the Black Friday sales in recent years. Owner Fanny Valny Verniard-Belier says it's kept people coming into her three stores. And it seems like people were disappointed if we weren't doing anything. They were really expecting something because the larger companies are doing it.

And she's right. Canadian retailers, small and large, are offering Black Friday sales. They're also starting way before, said Friday, including at best by Canada, according to the store's central Canada leader, Joe Colucci. We started off on November 3rd, just to kind of get them in a little bit earlier. I think that's the tendency of our customers for sure to shop when the deals are out there. Santo Lagati is with the Retail Council of Canada. It's surveyed more than 2,500 Canadians.

84% of them ranked Black Friday as their top shopping day, which could be why more retailers are on board. Those that kind of advertise early or make their most important clients aware of it early are the ones that are going to get the biggest benefit. Holiday sales can make or break some retailers. But recent retail sales numbers in Canada have been relatively flat. So it's unclear right now if Canadians are motivated to spend on Black Friday, even if it's on, say, Tuesday.

And he's hit R.E. CBC News, Calgary. And finally. 50 years ago today, yes, half a century, this song and the mini-oper, call it what you will. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen began a new. nine-week run at number one on the UK singles chart going on to sell nearly 20 million copies around the world. The song, the brainchild of Queen's lead singer, the late great Freddie Mercury, ran almost six minutes, and the band was advised by record executives that it was too long

and would never be a hit. Scaramush, Scaramush, how wrong they were. The tune was a big hit, not once, But twice, this after was featured in Mike Myers' film Wayne's World, the scene where Wayne and Garth and some friends pile in the Mirthmobile. That is the latest national and international news. I'm John Northcott. This is CBC News.