Your World Tonight – September 27, 2025

CBC News | Hosted by Stephanie Skenderas & Susan Bonner
Episode Theme: A deep dive into the day’s big stories—Prime Minister Carney’s UK trip and Canada’s global ambitions, Canada Post strikes and the future of mail delivery, Russia’s positioning at the UN, Canada at the Women’s Rugby World Cup, climate change effects, and more.

1. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Trip to England: Purpose vs. Criticism

[00:40 – 04:49]

• Main Points:

  • Prime Minister Mark Carney visited London for trade and security talks—with no major deals announced.
  • The trip included cheering on Canada’s women’s rugby team in the World Cup final.
  • Carney emphasized that building international relationships takes ongoing work, not just headline agreements.

• Key Quotes:

  • “It’s not just you sign a nice agreement and then something happens. No, you actually have to do the work. You have to meet with the leaders to make sure the work’s being done.”
    —Mark Carney [00:40, 02:37]
  • “I’m more certain than ever that there are endless possibilities for Canada.”
    —Mark Carney [03:35]
  • "I think people are waiting to hear what is being offered to these new partners that will bring tangible benefits."
    —Stephanie Skenderas [03:19]

• Additional Insights:

  • Political scientist Anne Fitzgerald points out Carney has a limited window to show concrete results from these trips.
  • Discussions included economic opportunities and Canada’s continued support for Ukraine through the “Coalition of the Willing.”
  • On the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Carney reaffirmed support for a two-state solution, even after criticism from Israeli PM Netanyahu.
  • “There will never be a durable peace for Israel unless those rights of self determination are respected for the Palestinian people.”
    —Mark Carney [04:25]

2. Canada Post Strike: Labor Tensions and the Future of Mail

[04:50 – 07:45]

• Main Points:

  • 55,000 Canada Post workers strike after the federal government lifts restrictions on cost-cutting at Canada Post.
  • Potential changes: closure of post offices, elimination of door-to-door delivery, and a shift toward community mailboxes.
  • Canada Post is losing $10 million a day, with over $5 billion lost in the past decade—calling its current model unsustainable.

• Key Quotes:

  • “A company is not viable if it has cost $5 billion over the course of the last decade, if it’s losing $10 million a day.”
    —Mark Carney [05:25]
  • “The problem is Canadians as taxpayers paying more and more for a system they’re using less and less.”
    —John Hamilton, Canada Post spokesperson [06:39]
  • Wycliffe Odour (Canadian Union of Postal Workers):
    “The announcement would reduce services that the Canada Post provides to our public and that is not acceptable.” [07:23]
  • Union warns privatization is a real possibility if current plans continue.

3. Domestic Update: Nunavut Water Crisis & Alberta Search

[07:45 – 08:47]

• Pangurtung, Nunavut:
  • State of emergency after three days without water. Schools and offices closed; engineers en route; government sending bottled water and pumps.
• Alberta:
  • Search for missing six-year-old Darius McDougal continues, optimism remains high with more RCMP tactical support.

4. Global Hotspots: Russia at the UN, US Troops to Portland, India Stampede

[08:47 – 13:05]

a) Russia at the UN

[10:29 – 12:54]

• Main Points:

  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insists Russia has no plans for war with NATO or the EU but will respond “decisively” to any aggression.
  • Comes as NATO forces intercept Russian drones over Poland, and Estonia reports airspace violations.

• Key Quotes:

  • “Russia is being accused of almost planning to attack the North Atlantic alliance and the European Union countries. President Putin has repeatedly debunked these provocations.”
    —Sergei Lavrov [10:33]
  • “However, any aggression against my country will be met with a decisive response.”
    —Sergei Lavrov [10:56]
  • Analyst Christine Berzina:
    “Russia isn’t interested in backing down or showing NATO that it is weak.” [11:34]

b) US Domestic Turmoil

• President Donald Trump directs troops to Portland, Oregon, warning of “full force” response.

c) India Stampede

• 36 dead after a stampede at a Tamil Nadu rally for actor-turned-politician Vijay; cause unclear.

5. Gaza War Update: Ceasefire Prospects and a Daring Escape

[13:05 – 17:43]

• Ceasefire Negotiations:

  • Despite President Trump’s optimism, Hamas states no plan has been officially received.
  • Possible deal: hostage exchange and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

• Human Story:

  • Mohammed Abu Dhaka, a Gaza shop owner, escapes devastation via Egypt, China, Libya, and finally Italy—crossing the Mediterranean by jet ski, becoming a rare refugee to reach Europe by such means.
  • “When the Israelis destroyed his shop and home, Mohammed said, I cannot live here.” —Abradou Sulaiman Abu Dhaka (father) [17:43]

6. Climate Impact: Warming Asia and Social Inequality

[17:43 – 20:39]

• Hong Kong’s Heat Crisis:
  • Asia warming nearly twice as fast as the globe; heat waves hit the urban poor hardest.
  • Substandard housing can reach 40°C inside; residents ration air conditioning.
  • Professor Ben Horton (City University Hong Kong):
    “…if we’re going to adapt to a future that is warmer and is wetter, we need to make sure those adaptations are focused on those less fortunate than ourselves.” [20:00]

7. Hungarian Abbey’s Priceless Library Threatened by Climate and Beetles

[20:39 – 23:33]

• Main Points:
  • Hungary’s Penonhalma Abbey faces a beetle infestation, a climate-driven challenge endangering 100,000 ancient volumes.
  • Restoration is expensive (USD $1.7M), with the abbey relying heavily on donations.
  • Codices over 1,000 years old are being preserved with nitrogen chambers and new climate controls.
  • “Across Hungary’s history, wars and fires have devastated this library. After every disaster, we rebuilt the collection.” —Father Konrad Dieces [22:54]

8. Women’s Rugby World Cup: Canadian Achievements and England’s Triumph

[23:33 – 28:35]

• Main Points:

  • England beats Canada in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final (largest-ever crowd: 82,000).
  • Canada’s underdog journey included upsets over Australia and New Zealand.
  • Unique for fast, high-risk, high-reward playstyle; lauded as a new model to be emulated worldwide.
  • Team crowdfunded nearly $1 million for trip participation; lack of funding remains an issue.

• Key Quotes & Moments:

  • “They go at a frenetic pace. All the players can play all the different positions—so they kind of throw specialization out the window…high risk, high reward.”
    —Ed Kleiman [26:04]
  • Sophie De Goody, named World Player of the Year, highlighted for her versatility and resilience after severe injury and a sporting family legacy.
  • “She kicks, gets all the points for Canada on kicking converts and kicking penalties. And then she’s right in the thick of it offensively, right in the thick of it defensively… No one else is like her.”
    —Ed Kleiman [27:08]

9. Light Fare: Cornhole Tournament in PEI

[28:35 – 31:22]

• **First Canadian Cornhole (beanbag toss) tournament held in Charlottetown with a professional league backing and a quirky backstory.
• Growing from backyard pastime to yearly international events.
• “My doubles partner is my husband and we actually met through cornhole. Now we travel the world playing cornhole together. So our whole kind of story has revolved around cornhole.”
  —Tournament participant [30:40]

Listen for:

• Huge public service questions around Canada Post’s future.
• Insights into the pressure on Carney to deliver foreign policy results.
• Standout women’s sports achievements, especially Sophie De Goody’s story.
• Global climate change impacts, from urban Asia to Hungary’s archives.