Global National: Jan. 5, 2023 | Growing Canadian concerns over testing, tracking new COVID variant

In tonight's top story: Canadian health authorities are expressing growing concern over Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, saying it is only a matter of time before cases are confirmed in every province. Mackenzie Gray looks at what experts think about Ottawa's approach to the so-called "Kraken' strain" of the coronavirus, and why China says new travel regulations imposed against their country are discriminatory.

Canadian pharmacies are experiencing a shortage of adult cold and flu medication, after dealing with a similar dearth of children's pain medicine for months prior. Touria Izri reports on the strain being put on patients and health professionals, and how the federal government could step in again to alleviate pressure on the health-care crisis.

Lawmakers have adjourned after a third day of a political stalemate at the U.S. House of Representatives, which has not taken this long to elect a speaker since before the American Civil War. Jackson Proskow explains why Republican Kevin McCarthy has been unable to acquire the votes he needs to be elected and why the drawn-out process could be problematic for Washington, D.C.

Plus, a historic funeral was held today at the Vatican, with thousands of people gathering for the ceremony of former Pope Benedict XVI. Redmond Shannon reports on Pope Francis presiding over his predecessor's burial and the future of the Roman Catholic Church.

And, a scathing report from Alberta on the death of a four-year-old Indigenous girl in 2014 has put the apprehension and treatment of Indigenous children in the child welfare program under the microscope. Heather Yourex-West explains the report's findings and the calls to fix a failing system.

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