Your World Tonight – Episode Summary

Date: January 9, 2026
Host: Stephanie Skenderis (CBC)
Main Topics: Iranian protests, flu season in Canada, Minneapolis ICE shooting, Canada-China trade, women’s Olympic hockey team, latest in robot tech, Ruth Jones McVeigh’s legacy

Episode Overview

This edition of "Your World Tonight" with Stephanie Skenderis offers a wide-ranging evening news wrap, focusing on intensifying Iranian protests and blackouts, the impact on Canada’s Iranian diaspora, public health updates on the flu, a divisive police shooting in the US, challenges in Canada-China trade relations, the unveiling of the Canadian women’s Olympic hockey team, a look at humanoid robots from the Consumer Electronics Show, and finally, the legacy of folk festival founder Ruth Jones McVeigh.

Key Segments and Insights

1. Iranian Protests Escalate Amid Blackout

[00:50 – 08:10]

• Massive Unrest and Blackouts:
  Iranian authorities have cut phone and internet access as nationwide protests grow, rooted in a worsening currency crisis and inflation. Calls for regime change have reached new intensity, with Ayatollah Khamenei dismissing protesters as "mercenaries for foreigners."
• International Attention and US Threats:
  US President Donald Trump warns of intervention should violence escalate:

  "If they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved. We'll be hitting them very hard where it hurts." – President Trump ([03:21])

• Rising Death Toll:
  Amnesty International cites dozens killed, with fears of an even harsher crackdown.
• Protesters’ Resolve:

  "What is different this time is that people are no longer deterred by these horrific patterns of gunfire. Despite the deadly crackdown, we have seen the protests growing in size day after day." – Raha Bahraini, Amnesty International ([04:14])

• Canada's Iranian Community:
  With communications cut, Canadian Iranians are anxious and frustrated, recalling previous deadly blackouts (e.g., "Bloody November" 2019).

  "The last time that happened in Iran was...November 2019...within three days, the government after blackout killed at least 1500 people." – Ziba Meshkouri ([06:09])

• Calls for Canadian Action:

  "We should ensure that we're not a safe haven for those that engage in serious human rights abuses." – Kaveh Sharouz, McDonnell Laurier Institute ([07:42])

2. Global Updates: Syria, Ukraine

[08:10 – 09:17]

• Syria: A fragile ceasefire between Syrian government and Kurdish forces in Aleppo has failed; renewed fighting expected.
• Ukraine: Canada condemns Russia’s repeated use of hypersonic missiles, calling it an "escalation." Debris found near Lviv.

3. Health: Canada’s Flu Season

[09:46 – 12:32]

• Mixed National Picture:
  Recent Public Health Agency data shows flu positivity rates falling nationally (27% now vs. 33% last month), but with regional variability—BC, Alberta, and Quebec seeing widespread cases.
• Hospitals Facing Strain:

  "Our hospital is full... we're now feeling the impact of a lot of our admissions that resulted from influenza A." – Dr. Kevin Wasco, North York General ([10:16])

• More Intense Illness:

  "They had more symptoms, higher fevers, more intense coughing than what they had previously experienced in past years." – Dr. Laura Sang, Quebec ([11:23])

• Dominant Strain (Influenza A): Not causing more severe illness, but elderly still at high risk for hospitalization.
• Expert Insight:

  "We might see another rise as a result of people coming together during the holiday season." – Trevor Charles, wastewater researcher ([12:13])

4. US: Minneapolis ICE Shooting Sparks Outrage

[12:32 – 16:13]

• Incident Recap:
  Protests erupt in Minneapolis after an ICE agent fatally shoots Renee Nicole Goode. New bodycam footage intensifies public debate.
• Community Response:

  "Anytime you introduce a militarized force, it ups the tension. And I don't think what we need right now is more people in tactical gear with weapons." – Stacia Goodman, protester ([13:42])

• Investigation Demands:

  "If you've got nothing to hide from, then don't hide from it. Include local experts in the process." – Mayor Jacob Fry ([14:37]) "You need a fair third party review, a party to oversee and ensure that everything is looked at appropriately." – Christopher Darcy, police practices consultant ([15:32])

5. Canada-China Trade Tensions

[16:13 – 19:04]

• Prime Minister’s Planned Trip to China:
  Mark Carney aims to ease punitive tariffs on Canadian exports (canola, pork, seafood), imposed after Canada joined the US in restricting Chinese EVs.
• Industry Perspectives:

  "What we're looking for is to have the market reopened again." – Chris Davison, Canola Council of Canada ([16:34]) "In the last few years, the Chinese strategy has been to flood the world's Western markets with product made in China." – Flavio Volpe, Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association ([17:36]) "We can't back down, simple as that. They want to come and open a big manufacturing facility and employ uniform employees. Well, let's talk, but don't be shipping cars in not manufactured by Ontarians." – Premier Doug Ford ([18:02])

• Goal: Diversify Canadian trade and reduce reliance on US markets.

6. National Women’s Olympic Hockey Team Named

[20:40 – 23:20]

• 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics Roster Announced:
  Hockey Canada unveils a team with veteran stars like Natalie Spooner, Marie-Philip Poulin, and Blair Turnbull.

  "When I reflect on the last quad...I am filled with nothing but excitement and confidence about what our team is capable of." – Blair Turnbull ([21:34])

• Underdog Status:
  Despite defending Olympic gold, Canada is seen as an underdog, having lost four recent games to the US.

  "I personally love being an underdog. I love having to fight and having to battle and compete as an underdog." – Blair Turnbull ([22:05])

• Changing Landscape:
  Creation of the PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) gives players more competitive games but less time together as a national team.

  "It's completely different and obviously it's much similar to what the men's group will go through." – Coach Troy Ryan ([22:41])

• Olympic Venue Concerns: Hockey arena in Milan still unfinished, being test-run via domestic championships.

7. Consumer Electronics Show: Rise of Humanoid Robots

[23:20 – 25:51]

• Robots Go Mainstream?
  CES 2026 featured many “humanoid” robots—factory helpers, coffee servers, even blackjack dealers.
• Industry Hype vs. Reality:

  "It's an exciting time. It's part of the fourth Industrial Revolution that's playing on." – Dan Ives, Wedbush Securities ([24:10]) "There's still a lot of work to do. There is so much that we still do not understand." – Prof. Marie Charbonneau, University of Calgary ([24:48])

• Home Use Still Distant:
  Robots are expensive ($50,000–$150,000), slow (30 sec to fold one towel), and not ready for unpredictable home environments.

  "It has to do it better than we can do it now...relatively inexpensively, and...it can't be a hassle to use right now." – Tech analyst Carmi Levy ([25:27])

8. Ruth Jones McVeigh: Folk Festival Founder’s Legacy

[26:07 – 28:17]

• Obituary:
  Ruth Jones McVeigh, founder of the Mariposa Folk Festival, dies at 99.

  "A lot of the stuff that's happening politically and sociologically in the world will be translated into folk music, because that's what it is." – Ruth Jones McVeigh ([27:30])

• Impact:
  Mariposa Folk Festival became a key stage for Canadian artists like Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, and Leonard Cohen. McVeigh helped steer the festival through tough times, keeping its focus on music, workshops, and community.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• US President Trump:

  "We will get involved. We'll be hitting them very hard where it hurts..." ([03:21])

• Raha Bahraini, Amnesty:

  "...people are no longer deterred by these horrific patterns of gunfire..." ([04:14])

• Ziba Meshkouri, Iranian-Canadian:

  "...within three days, the government after blackout killed at least 1500 people." ([06:09])

• Blair Turnbull, Team Canada Hockey:

  "I personally love being an underdog..." ([22:05])

• Tech Analyst Carmi Levy:

  "It has to do it better than we can do it now...relatively inexpensively, and...it can't be a hassle to use right now." ([25:27])

• Ruth Jones McVeigh (on folk music):

  "A lot of the stuff that's happening politically and sociologically...will be translated into folk music, because that's what it is." ([27:30])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Iranian Protests: 00:50–08:10
• Syria/Ukraine Updates: 08:10–09:17
• Flu Season Report: 09:46–12:32
• Minneapolis ICE Shooting: 12:32–16:13
• Canada-China Trade Tensions: 16:13–19:04
• Women’s Olympic Hockey Team: 20:40–23:20
• CES Humanoid Robots: 23:20–25:51
• Ruth Jones McVeigh Tribute: 26:07–28:17

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a calm, authoritative news style, focused on real people’s voices and expertise, while still delivering concise, accessible reporting on the day’s top stories.