NBA betting scandal, Alberta teachers, World Series preps, and more

Summary

Podcast Summary: Your World Tonight (CBC)

Episode: NBA betting scandal, Alberta teachers, World Series preps, and more
Date: October 23, 2025
Hosts: Susan Bonner and Stephanie Skenderis

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Overview

This episode provides a fast-paced wrap-up of some of the day’s most significant national and international stories from a Canadian lens. The hosts deliver updates on an explosive NBA betting scandal involving players, coaches, and the mafia; Alberta’s teacher strike and looming government intervention; new federal crime legislation; cultural debates around young men and political outreach; global affairs including Israel and Ukraine; and how Diwali celebrations worsen India’s pollution. The episode closes with a World Series preview in Toronto, ongoing drought in Canada, and a quirky case of a UK woman fined for dumping coffee.

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Key Stories & Insights

1. NBA Betting Scandal Rocks League

[00:33]–[04:48]

• Breaking News: Federal authorities unveil charges against more than 30 individuals—a mix of current/former NBA personnel and mafia associates—in a major insider sports betting conspiracy.
  • “Used to being on court. Their next appearance could be in court.”—Susan Bonner [00:50]
• Notable figures implicated: Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland coach Chauncey Billups, ex-Raptor Jonte Porter.
  • Rozier allegedly “told co-conspirators he planned to underperform, in one case faking an injury to make sure their bets paid out.” — Jessica Tisch, NYPD Commissioner [03:36]
  • Mafia links: Billups also accused of helping rig high-stakes poker games run by organized crime.
• FBI and experts describe broader implications for the NBA and gambling’s growing role in pro sports.
  • “You look at the menu of bets you can make nowadays… props, same game parlays. So that creates more opportunity for manipulation.”—Rob Pizzola, sports betting CEO [04:06]
  • “If there is a way to make money and it requires ingenuity, you should not underestimate the five families.”—Mitchell Eppner, ex-prosecutor [04:30]
• League response: Rozier and Billups have been placed on leave; investigation ongoing.
  • “Any time you hear the head of the FBI mention the NBA and the American Mafia in the same sentence… you know it’s a pretty bad day for the league.”—Joe Varden, NBA journalist [02:48]

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2. Alberta Teachers’ Strike: Back-to-Work Legislation Imminent

[04:48]–[07:43]

• Situation: Province-wide teachers’ strike enters third week; tensions mount as negotiations stall.
• Government response: Premier Danielle Smith to introduce legislation forcing teachers back.
  • “We know this strike is causing harm to kids. We know it’s causing harm to teachers since there isn’t a strike fund. And we want to be able to end it.”—Protester [01:17, 05:58]
• Teachers and citizens express frustration at lack of government engagement or meaningful solutions.
  • “I don’t think they’re listening to Albertans. I think Albertans are being pretty clear…they want more funding.”—Interviewee [05:43]
• Amidst the unrest, Smith’s government prioritizes federal-provincial sovereignty instead of direct focus on education.
• Political analysis: Balancing local education demands with wider political posturing.
  • “They’re fighting for Alberta’s interests against Ottawa to sort of detract attention from the problems within the province.” —Lori Williams, political scientist [06:40]

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3. Federal Auto Tariffs & Industry Fallout

[07:46]–[08:46]

• The federal government will limit tariff-free vehicle imports from Stellantis and GM after both cut Canadian production.
• Context: Policy change follows exemptions from 25% tariffs, conditional on maintaining operations in Canada. Companies shifting jobs to the US triggers new restrictions.

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4. Diwali Firecrackers & Pollution Crisis in India

[08:46], [17:42]–[20:28]

• Problem: Diwali celebrations shower Indian cities (notably Mumbai and Delhi) with massive amounts of firecracker pollution.
  • “Blasts from firecrackers have rung out for days… In the capital, Delhi, the bursts have brought an intense layer of toxic smog.”—Salima Shivji [08:46]
• Delhi’s air quality index soars over 500, 10 times the WHO’s safety threshold.
  • “It’s like a kind of cruelty on humankind that they are not trying to manage the pollution.”—Uday Pratap Singh, visitor [18:36]
• Legal action: While firecracker sales were banned in 2020, rules were relaxed to allow ‘green crackers’ with time limits. Compliance is low; smog is trapped by winter weather.
  • “Lack of awareness, lack of education, lack of preparation. These are three important factors which makes this decision fail.”—Mukesh Kare, IIT-Delhi [19:41]
• Residents express hopelessness: “We can’t breathe.”—Bunti Kumar, street vendor [20:19]*
• Smog compounded by illegal stubble burning, vehicle, and industrial pollution.

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5. Federal Crime Legislation, Bail Reform, and Sentencing

[09:20]–[12:24]

• Context: Liberals introduce a sweeping criminal code overhaul amid calls for action on violent crime.
• “A package of sweeping reforms… more than 80 targeted measures that will make bail laws stricter and sentencing tougher”—Justice Minister Sean Fraser [10:25]
• Reforms include:
  • Reverse onus on accused in serious crimes to justify bail.
  • End of house arrest for sexual assault convictions.
  • Consecutive, rather than concurrent, sentences for repeat/violent felonies.
• Tensions:
  • Conservative Pierre Poilievre demands even tougher measures: “If you are a rampant offender… you’re automatically staying behind bars.” [11:06]
  • Civil liberties groups warn of constitutional violations: “Government tables this bill… [that] completely ignores the existing problem, which is you have a whole bunch of presumed innocent people already in jail… that’s only going to be made worse.”—Lawrence Greenspan, defence lawyer [11:31]
• Victim impact: Michelle Best lost her daughter to an alleged repeat offender out on bail; wants police and courts to have “more power to protect people like her daughter.” [12:11]

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6. Conservative Youth Outreach: Focusing on Young Men

[12:24]–[15:21]

• Ontario MP Jamil Giovanni tours campuses to rally young men, claiming the demographic is in crisis and politically alienated.
  • “There’s this idea that campuses are these dens of wokeness, but the reality is university students can be really, really thoughtful.”—Jamil Giovanni [13:14]
• Cites youth overrepresentation in crime, homelessness, and drug abuse stats. Events mix debate, recruitment, and open Q&A.
• Students express frustration about lack of work and the impact of immigration on jobs.
  • “I think it’s a big disservice to the people of this country when you import labor.”—Stefano Piccioni, student [14:35]
  • “Young men are kind of falling behind.”—Student [14:48]
• Political analysts note risk/reward:
  • “I don’t think really strong political leadership… can happen without taking on some risk”—Ginny Roth, Conservative strategist [15:06]

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7. International Affairs: Israel, Ukraine, Russia Sanctions

[15:21]–[16:53]

• US Vice-President J.D. Vance in Israel; condemns Knesset’s preliminary West Bank annexation vote as “a very stupid political stunt.” [15:41]
  • Trump and the US threaten withdrawal of support if Israel proceeds.
• EU and US coordinate new sanctions targeting Russian oil in response to the Ukraine war.
  • Zelensky urges using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukrainian weapons:
    • “We need to use any kind of Russian money for Ukrainian production and increase it.”—Zelensky [16:31]

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8. Canadian Drought: Rural Wells Running Dry

[20:28]–[23:11]

• Drought persists across much of Canada, especially Atlantic provinces. Lack of rainfall leaves families, like Teagan Rollings in Nova Scotia, with little or no running water for months.
  • “We’ve never been out this long and I know we’re not the only ones.”—Teagan Rollings [20:44]
• Reliance on small community wells has spiked; infrastructure is inadequate and unprepared for cold weather shutdown.
• Expert call: National drought and flood prediction systems needed.
  • “It really has become a national disaster for Canada that snuck up on us.”—John Pomeroy, University of Saskatchewan [21:31]

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9. World Series Arrives in Toronto

[23:11]–[26:08]

• Toronto gears up to host the LA Dodgers for the city’s first World Series appearance in over three decades.
  • “There’s a lot of firsts for a lot of these guys… I'll put this group of 26 up against anybody.”—John Schneider, Blue Jays manager [24:04]
• City to host watch parties, boost police presence, and welcome thousands of visitors.
  • “Downtown Toronto is rarely described as quiet, but one could say this is the calm before the storm.”—Chien Desjardins [24:43]
  • “At the end of the day, we’re playing a kid’s game… the lights will be a little bit brighter, but… just keep having fun.”—Miles Straw, player [25:51]

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10. UK: Coffee Spill “Littering” Fine Triggers Debate

[26:25]–[27:42]

• Woman in London is fined £150 ($280 CAD) for pouring leftover coffee (not the cup) down a street drain.
• She describes being “intimidated” by enforcement; local outrage at the “nanny state” response follows.
• Authorities later cancel the fine and promise a review of the rules.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On NBA/Mafia Scandal: “Any time you hear the head of the FBI mention the NBA and the American Mafia in the same sentence… you know it’s a pretty bad day for the league.” —Joe Varden [02:48]
• On Diwali Pollution: “It’s like a kind of cruelty on humankind that they are not trying to manage the pollution.” —Uday Pratap Singh [18:36]
• On Teacher Strike: “They’re fighting for Alberta’s interests against Ottawa to sort of detract attention from the problems within the province.” —Lori Williams [06:40]
• On Drought: “It really has become a national disaster for Canada that snuck up on us.” —John Pomeroy [21:31]
• On UK Coffee Fine: “It just seems so ridiculously heavy handed…I mean police state, appalling.” —London Resident [27:32]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• NBA Betting & Mafia Scandal: [00:33]–[04:48]
• Alberta Teacher Strike & Political Fallout: [04:48]–[07:43]
• Auto Industry Tariffs: [07:46]–[08:46]
• Diwali & Delhi Pollution: [08:46] (teaser), [17:42]–[20:28]
• Federal Crime & Bail Legislation: [09:20]–[12:24]
• Conservative Youth Outreach: [12:24]–[15:21]
• Israel, Ukraine, Russia Sanctions: [15:21]–[16:53]
• National Drought Crisis: [20:28]–[23:11]
• Toronto World Series Preparations: [23:11]–[26:08]
• UK Coffee Fine: [26:25]–[27:42]

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For more episodes, visit CBC.ca/podcasts.

Transcript

[Narrator/Host]

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[Reporter/Commentator]

This is a CBC.

[Narrator/Host]

Podcast these defendants perpetrated a scheme to defraud by betting on inside non public information about NBA athletes and teams they're.

[Susan Bonner]

Used to being on court. Their next appearance could be in court. NBA players a current head coach and hall of Famer facing serious allegations of fraud and corruption casting a shock over the league and the deepening ties between gambling and pro sports. Welcome to youo World Tonight. I'm Susan Bonner. It is Thursday, October 23, just before 6pm Eastern. Also on the podcast we know that.

[Interviewee/Protester]

This strike is causing harm to kids. We know it's causing harm to teachers since there isn't a strike fund and we want to be able to end it.

[Susan Bonner]

Back to work legislation in Alberta to get students back to school With a province wide teachers strike in its third week, negotiations stalled. Premier Daniel Smith says it's time for the labor dispute to end. The NBA season is just a few days old, but some basketball careers have already been sidelined, not for injury, but for integrity. A head coach and a former Toronto Raptor are among dozens of people swept up in a massive FBI probe. As Philip Lee Shannock explains, the case could have major consequences for the NBA and other leagues embracing the big money of sports betting across a wide sweeping.

[Narrator/Host]

Criminal enterprise that envelops both the NBA and La Casa Nostra.

[Expert/Analyst]

FBI Director Kash Patel says members of known Mafia families and some well known pro basketball figures among the more than 30 people arrested across 11 states, including Miami Heat guard Terry Rosier and Portland Trailblazers coach Chauncey Billups.

[Narrator/Host]

We're talking about tens of millions of.

[Reporter/Commentator]

Dollars in fraud and theft and robbery.

[Expert/Analyst]

One part of the indictment involves an alleged insider sports betting conspiracy that exploited confidential information about NBA athletes and teams.

[Susan Bonner]

Any time that you hear the head.

[Reporter/Commentator]

Of the FBI mention the NBA and.

[Susan Bonner]

The American Mafia in the same sentence.

[Narrator/Host]

You know it's going to be a.

[Reporter/Commentator]

Pretty bad day for the league.

[Expert/Analyst]

Joe Varden is senior NBA writer with the Athletic. He says some charges are connected to a case involving former Toront Raptor Jonte Porter, who was convicted of gambling charges involving two games in 2024. Porter the Thursday Barden says allegations against Porter of manipulating prop bets where people are wagering on a player's performance on online betting platforms are understandable because of.

[Reporter/Commentator]

Their financial situations and sort of their situations in life.

[Narrator/Host]

They might be more vulnerable to something like this. Someone at the level of Terry Rozier shouldn't be.

[Susan Bonner]

As the NBA season tips off, his.

[Expert/Analyst]

Career is already benched, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch says. While playing for the Charlotte Hornets, Rozier allegedly told co conspirators he planned to underperform in one case, faking an injury to make sure their bets paid out.

[Salima Shivji]

The proceeds were later delivered to his.

[Susan Bonner]

Home, where the group counted their cash.

[Expert/Analyst]

Rob Pizzola is a Toronto based professional sports better and CEO of Hammer Betting Time Network. He says now that it's mainstream, the scale and visibility of sports betting has exploded.

[Narrator/Host]

You look at the menu of bets that you can make nowadays, you have.

[Expert/Analyst]

Props, you have same game parlays. So that creates more opportunity for manipulation. But he says there's more regulation and scrutiny, as the FBI charges prove. In a separate indictment, it's also alleged Billups was involved in rigging high stakes poker games run by the mafia. Former New York prosecutor Mitchell Eppner says he's not surprised.

[Narrator/Host]

If there is a way to make money and it requires ingenuity, you should not underestimate the five families.

[Expert/Analyst]

In a statement, the NBA said Rozier and Billups have been immediately placed on leave while they await their day in court. Phillips Hannock, CBC News, Toronto.

[Susan Bonner]

Alberta's premier could be taking a gamble with her plan to end the province's two and a half week old teacher strike. The Danielle Smith government confirms it will table back legislation next week. The order part of a list of priorities Smith is outlining in today's throne speech. Erin Collins has more from Calgary.

[Narrator/Host]

A.

[Reporter/Commentator]

Convoy of school buses on its way from Calgary to Edmonton. Teachers heading to a rally outside the provincial legislature.

[Interviewee/Protester]

I'm here to support public education and support our students. We've got 27 buses going up to support public education.

[Reporter/Commentator]

On the legislature grounds. Growing frustration as the fall sitting begins with a teacher strike well into its third week. Negotiations stalled as teachers look for higher wages and relief in increasingly crowded and complex classrooms.

[Susan Bonner]

I don't think they're listening to Albertans.

[Local Resident/Interviewee]

I think Albertans are being pretty clear.

[Interviewee/Protester]

About how they feel and that they want more funding and they want to.

[Reporter/Commentator]

See some real solutions inside the legislature. Premier Danielle Smith says back to work legislation is coming Monday.

[Narrator/Host]

We know that this is, that this.

[Interviewee/Protester]

Strike is causing harm to kids. We know it's causing harm to teachers since there isn't a strike fund. And we want to be able to end it.

[Reporter/Commentator]

But questions remain about what will happen after teachers are forced back to work.

[Narrator/Host]

That's all the time we have for questions today. Thank you everybody, very much.

[Interviewee/Protester]

Are there any meetings scheduled this year?

[Narrator/Host]

Premier, when are schools going to open? Parents all want to know that the.

[Reporter/Commentator]

Speech from the throne only touches on education, focused instead on Alberta's sovereignty and the economy, a risk according to some political watchers.

[Susan Bonner]

Albertans support teachers. They support education. They want investment in education.

[Reporter/Commentator]

Lori Williams is a professor of political science at Mount Royal University.

[Susan Bonner]

They're fighting for Alberta's interests against Ottawa to sort of detract attention from the problems that are occurring within the province.

[Reporter/Commentator]

That federal focus apparent even as the voices demanding change in Alberta's education system get louder.

[Susan Bonner]

And Aaron, that focus on the federal government is on display in the very first bill tabled by the government today.

[Reporter/Commentator]

Yeah, that's right, Susan. Bill one for this sitting, the International Agreements Act. So it's essentially a bill that says the province will have to okay any international treaties signed by the federal government that informs infringe on provincial jurisdiction. So it's not clear where the push for this kind of legislation came from. Provincial officials struggled to come up with an example of the kind of agreement it would be used to counter. And this of course, coming as thousands of people were rallying outside the legislature as this teacher strike continues and nearly three quarters of a million kids remain out of school for a third week.

[Susan Bonner]

Aaron, thank you.

[Reporter/Commentator]

You bet.

[Susan Bonner]

The CBC's Erin Collins in Calgary, CBC News has learned the federal government is targeting two automakers that have cut production in Canada. Ottawa will limit the number of tariff free vehicles Stellantis and General Motors can bring into the country from the US in April, Ottawa exempted auto companies from its 25% retaliatory tariffs as long as they continued making vehicles in Canada, GM recently announced it would stop production of one of its made in Canada vehicles because of low sales. Stellantis is moving production from Canada to the U.S. because of tariff pressure. Coming right up, the liberal government's proposed changes to the criminal code for tougher bail and sentencing laws. And why one conservative MP thinks young men are in crisis and how he's trying to connect with them. Later, we'll have this story.

[Salima Shivji]

The blasts from firecrackers have rung out for days in Mumbai as India celebrates Diwali. In the capital, Delhi, the bursts have brought on an intense layer of toxic smog kickstarting the city's pollution season.

[Narrator/Host]

Various very toxic chemicals are there when they are burst.

[Salima Shivji]

I'm Salima Shivji and I'll have more on how Diwali's firecracker tradition is contributing to Delhi's already dire pollution problems. Coming up on youn World. Tonight.

[Susan Bonner]

The Carney government is revealing more details about its legislation aimed at getting tough on crime and making sure some offenders stay locked up. The move comes as the Liberals face pressure from the opposition and other groups to address a rise in violent crime. Marina von Stackelberg reports.

[Interviewee/Protester]

We miss her so terribly much. Yeah, we miss her.

[Michelle Best]

Michelle Best's daughter Kelly, was killed in January by an alleged impaired driver. He was out on bail when police say he stole a pickup truck and crashed into Kelly's vehicle on a southern Manitoba highway.

[Susan Bonner]

It has shattered our family.

[Michelle Best]

The man was charged, then let out again on bail. Within days, he broke his conditions. He's now back in jail awaiting trial.

[Interviewee/Protester]

This was a very dangerous person and we don't know.

[Narrator/Host]

He could have easily stolen another vehicle.

[Susan Bonner]

Been behind the wheel, and we don't know.

[Michelle Best]

Best will be in Ottawa next week when MPs begin to study new legislation tabled today aimed at getting tougher on crime. Justice Minister Sean Fraser.

[Narrator/Host]

This is a package of sweeping reforms that includes more than 80 targeted measures that will make bail laws stricter and sentencing tougher, in particular for violent and repeat offenders.

[Michelle Best]

Those changes would make it harder for someone charged with serious crimes to get bail. The onus would increasingly be on the accused to prove why they should be released from jail. Police and courts would also need to consider if the person was accused of random or unprovoked violence before letting them out.

[Narrator/Host]

We are going to change the criminal law to ensure that the bail system is not viewed as some get out of jail free card.

[Michelle Best]

Conservative leader Pierre Poliev says the reforms don't go far enough.

[Narrator/Host]

If you are a rampant offender and you're newly arrested, it should be presumed that you're automatically staying behind bars until either you are acquitted or your sentence is complete.

[Michelle Best]

But civil liberties groups say the legislation will violate the constitutional right to bail and disregard the basic principle that someone is innocent until proven guilty. Criminal defense lawyer Lawrence Greenspan.

[Narrator/Host]

While the government tables this bill, which panders to the people who understandably want some solution to crime, while it panders to those people, it completely ignores the existing problem, which is that you have a whole bunch of presumed innocent people already in jail to the extent that there's three or four of them in a cell. And that's only going to be made worse.

[Michelle Best]

The changes will also get tougher on convicted criminals. The bill ends house arrest for people found guilty of serious sexual assault. Repeat and violent offenders found guilty of crimes like break and enter or arson would have to serve consecutive sentences.

[Interviewee/Protester]

It's got to stop somewhere.

[Michelle Best]

Michelle Best says she doesn't want people locked up for life. She just wants police and courts to have more power to protect people like her daughter. Marina von Stackelberg, CBC News, Ottawa.

[Susan Bonner]

A conservative MP is launching a new campaign to engage with young men. Jamil Giovanni says the demographic is in trou. And much like the late American activist Charlie Kirk, Giovanni is visiting university campuses to reach young voters and start a national conversation. Kate McKenna has more.

[Interviewee/Protester]

Inside the classrooms of Canadian campuses, one conservative MP is trying to build a movement.

[Narrator/Host]

We had a busy week last week. You know, we visited four university campuses in southern Ontario.

[Interviewee/Protester]

Ontario MP Jamil Giovanni launched his Restore the North tour this month aimed at young men, a demographic he says is in crisis, overrepresented in crime, drug and homelessness statistics. His events are part rally, part recruitment drive and part debate.

[Narrator/Host]

You see, there's this idea that campuses are these dens of wokeness, but the reality is that university students can be really, really thoughtful.

[Interviewee/Protester]

CBC News was allowed to attend a campus event at the University of Toronto, Mississauga, but not record. About 50 people, mostly men, filled a class asking Giovanni and two other Conservative MPs questions, no matter how taboo. It was a similar format to another conservative credited with building a youth movement slain US activist Charlie Kirk.

[Narrator/Host]

So I'm not here to like insult your grandpa, right?

[Interviewee/Protester]

But before his assassination, Kirk's campus events drew thousands. And though his comments on race and religion attracted heavy criticism, he's credited with growing the maga movement, in part due to his push for free speech on campuses.

[Narrator/Host]

I think young men are kind of being abandoned in the education system. I think that we're being told that we shouldn't be welcome in certain spaces.

[Interviewee/Protester]

Brock University student Brady Burns traveled to attend Giovanni's event, telling the MP he feels students with right wing ideas aren't given a fair shake in universities. Giovanni was sympathetic.

[Narrator/Host]

I think it was a good response. It was. He got right down to kind of what I was asking.

[Interviewee/Protester]

20 year old Stefano Pisciani says he was motivated to go to his first ever political event because of concerns over his ability to get ahead.

[Narrator/Host]

I think it's a big disservice to the people of this country when you import labor.

[Interviewee/Protester]

Piccioni is calling for A crackdown on immigration, telling Giovanni he believes the volume of immigrants is making it harder for him to find a job.

[Narrator/Host]

I couldn't find part time work. I walk into importance. People who are, I could barely communicate with are saying, no, we're not hiring. Young men are kind of falling behind.

[Interviewee/Protester]

Conservative strategist Ginny Roth says it's possible there will be people turned off by a tour focusing on young men as opposed to other equity seeking groups.

[Susan Bonner]

I don't think really strong political leadership I don't think can happen without taking.

[Interviewee/Protester]

On some risk, she says. It's a risk worth taking, especially as polls show more young men are supporting the Conservative Party than they have in decades. Kate McKenna, CBC News, Ottawa.

[Susan Bonner]

Vice President J.D. vance. As the Israeli government's vote to apply its laws to the occupied west bank does not match US Policy, the vote was the first of four that would be needed to pass the law. Vance was in Israel to consult on the progress of the ceasefire. He says he's not happy about parliament's vote.

[Narrator/Host]

Amy what I would say to that is when I asked about it, somebody told me that it was a political stunt, that it had no practical significance. It was purely symbolic. I mean, look, if it was a political stunt, it was a very stupid political stunt and I personally take some insult to it. The west bank is not going to be annexed by Israel.

[Susan Bonner]

President Donald Trump has said Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if it annexed the West Bank. The European Union is following the US by imposing more sanctions on Russia. The goal is to cut off revenue and supplies fueling Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The US Imposed sanctions on the Russian oil industry yesterday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Kiev should be able to use Russia's frozen assets to make weapons domestically and buy European and US Weapons.

[Narrator/Host]

We need to use any kind of Russian money for Ukrainian production and increase it. It's cheaper and quicker. And we speak first of all about long range. It's about drones, it's about electronic warfare, systems of electronic warfare and it's about missiles.

[Susan Bonner]

Zelensky said the sanctions send a clear signal for Moscow to end the war. Russian officials have dismissed the sanctions as ineffective. Diwali is a time of celebration in India and around the world. But the way the Festival of lights is celebrated has a dark side. Air pollution in India's dense and polluted cities night after night of celebratory fireworks creates a smoky, toxic hangover that authorities just can't stop. South Asia correspondent Salima Shivji reports.

[Salima Shivji]

For days in Mumbai, it's been a constant barrage of loud blasts and flares. Thousands of firecrackers set off to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of light.

[Susan Bonner]

Obviously, it will create pollution.

[Salima Shivji]

Kirtana, sitting and enjoying the display, says it's a must this time of year.

[Susan Bonner]

Especially on Diwali day.

[Narrator/Host]

Without crackers, we cannot enjoy the Diwali.

[Salima Shivji]

But that has consequences. Mumbai's air quality is dismal, and it's much worse further north in Delhi, consistently one of the world's most polluted capital cities, where the valley season has already pushed the air Quality index, which measures fine particulate matter in the air that can clog lungs and cause a host of diseases, to more than 500. That's 10 times higher than what's deemed safe by the World Health Organization.

[Narrator/Host]

Our air is kind of heavier over here.

[Salima Shivji]

Uday Pratap Singh is a software engineer visiting Delhi from Gujarat. Like a kind of a cruelty on.

[Local Resident/Interviewee]

Humankind that they are not trying to manage the pollution.

[Salima Shivji]

It's an issue the government has tried to tackle. The sale of firecrackers in the capital region during Diwali was banned in 2020 because of the dangerous toxins they emit. But this year, the Supreme Court allowed the regional government to relax that ban. The court ruled that green crackers, which are meant to be more environmentally friendly, were fine if lit during a certain time window. A balance, the ruling said, between tradition and the environment. But once Diwali celebrations began, the time restrictions were widely ignored. And nobody knows how many traditional firecrackers full of toxic heavy metals and other pollutants are being used. One former government official lashed out on social media, saying India's Supreme Court has prioritized the right to burn crackers over the right to live and breathe the green cracker.

[Narrator/Host]

I don't say that emission is zero. No, but it is reduced.

[Salima Shivji]

Mukesh Kare with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi says the court order should have been coupled with a campaign to explain the move to the public.

[Narrator/Host]

Lack of awareness, lack of education, lack of preparation. These are three important factors which makes this decision fail.

[Salima Shivji]

It's also far from the only factor contributing to Delhi's pollution problems. Come winter, the city is beset by a perfect storm of vehicle emissions. Dust and smoke from stubble burning fires in neighboring states where farmers illegally set their fields alight to clear them. All of that toxic smog is then trapped over the capital by cooler air and low winds. And for many, like street vendor Bunti Kumar, there's no hope. Delhi's air will get better. Every year it's the same, he says. It doesn't matter what rules are in place. We can't breathe. Salima Shivji, CBC News, Mumbai.

[Susan Bonner]

Summer may be behind us, but much of the country is still struggling through drought. For many Canadians, wells have run dry and they are scrambling for new ways to get water. As Selena Alders reports, with winter closing in, it will get even harder.

[Interviewee/Protester]

We've never been out this long and I know you know we're not the only ones.

[Local Resident/Interviewee]

Teagan Rollings and her family haven't had running water at their home in Muscodobit Harbor, Nova Scotia, in nearly three months. She checked checks the levels in her dug well nearly every day, only to be met with disappointment.

[Interviewee/Protester]

We're just below 5 inches.

[Local Resident/Interviewee]

The well on her property, which can hold up to 5ft of water, holds only a mere 5 inches. That's because, according to the Canadian Drought Monitor, Atlantic Canada and parts of nearly every province have been met with extreme drought conditions. John Pomeroy is a professor with the University of South Saskatchewan and director of the Global Water Futures Observatories.

[Narrator/Host]

It really has become a national disaster for Canada that snuck up on us.

[Reporter/Commentator]

He says.

[Local Resident/Interviewee]

Canada needs to implement a national drought and flood prediction system. This will allow local governments to ensure they have the proper infrastructure in place. In the meantime, Rolling's family has been relying on a nearby community well as their main water supply.

[Interviewee/Protester]

I don't know what we would have done without it, I really don't.

[Local Resident/Interviewee]

But this solar powered well was only meant to be a small community project, a backup water source for residents in case of emergencies or short term power outages. Instead, it's become a lifeline for many, having pumped almost 30,000 gallons of water since it opened back in August. Karen Bradley is one of the people behind the community well, which draws from an underground reservoir.

[Salima Shivji]

It has superseded all of its expectations, all of our expectations for it over the last three months and it's been pretty amazing.

[Local Resident/Interviewee]

But it's not equipped to run during the colder months and will soon have to shut down. This leaves residents like Rollings worried for what the winter will hold.

[Interviewee/Protester]

Our big concern is that we won't get the amount of rainfall that we will need to bring our well back to any kind of normal before the ground freezes.

[Local Resident/Interviewee]

Experts say it will take a significant amount of rain to recharge the water table, and the next few weeks will be critical. Selena Alders, CBC News, Muscadobit Harbor, Nova Scotia.

[Susan Bonner]

This is your WORLD tonight from CBC News. If you want to make sure you stay up to date and never miss one of our episodes. Follow us on Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your podcasts, just find the follow button and lock us in One of the biggest spectacles in North American sport has arrived in Toronto. The city is gearing up for the World Series. Game one between the Blue Jays and the LA Dodgers is tomorrow night. Thousands of visitors are expected and from managing traffic to pop up parties, city officials say they're ready to go. Chien Desjardins has that story.

[Narrator/Host]

It is going to be a pretty electric atmosphere here tomorrow.

[Chien Desjardins]

Just one day before the Blue Jays perform on baseball's biggest stage, manager John Schneider says it'll be a battle between the two best teams left standing.

[Narrator/Host]

There's a lot of firsts for a lot of these guys, myself included, staff included. I'll say it till the day I die. I'll put this group of 26 up against anybody. And they're looking forward to taking on what is on paper the best team in baseball. And I don't think they'd have it any other way.

[Expert/Analyst]

Blue Jays win it. The Blue Jays are World Series champions.

[Chien Desjardins]

Toronto famously won back to back World series titles in 1992 and 93. Some speculated half a million people flooded the streets after those wins. But it's been more than 30 years since then, and Toronto spokesperson Eric Holmes says the city is ready.

[Narrator/Host]

We are no stranger to big events, big concerts, big shows.

[Chien Desjardins]

Downtown Toronto is rarely described as quiet, but one could say this is the calm before the storm. Toronto is planning on thousands and thousands of visitors watch parties scattered all over, a massive one expected in Nathan Phillips Square.

[Expert/Analyst]

We've got to be ready to manage.

[Narrator/Host]

That, manage those number of people. You know there are lots of ways to get in and around the city. Pick a way that's maybe not driving. Plan your route, plan ahead and get on down here.

[Chien Desjardins]

The Toronto Police Service didn't delve into its exact plans, but says it is increasing police presence both inside and outside the stadium, reminding people to expect road closures, allow extra time, stay aware and of course, taking to social media, joining in on the Jays craze themselves.

[Narrator/Host]

MVP alive. Don't drop the ball.

[Chien Desjardins]

Excitement at the Rodgers center is building too. Crews are putting the finishing touches on the field. Prime Minister Mark Carney stopped by for practice.

[Narrator/Host]

We're gonna fight hard and that's why we're gonna win at six.

[Chien Desjardins]

But despite the spectacle, player Miles Straw says he's just ready to play ball.

[Narrator/Host]

At the end of the day, we're playing a kid's game. We're playing the game we played all year long, so nothing's changed. It's gonna be a little bit louder, a little bit more. You know, the lights will be a little bit brighter, but other than that, go out there and just keep having fun.

[Susan Bonner]

That's it.

[Chien Desjardins]

If this is the energy when the Jays simply clench a World Series spot, stealing the title could be otherworldly. Of course, the team now facing one of their biggest challenges, defending champions Los Angeles Dodgers. Shien Desjardins, CBC News, Toronto.

[Susan Bonner]

We end tonight on the streets of London with a UK woman fined for tossing her coffee on the street. Not the cup, what was inside it. And I thought it would be ideal to get rid of the leftover coffee.

[Local Resident/Interviewee]

Before I bought onto Bush.

[Susan Bonner]

Yes, Silier thought she was doing the right thing. Worried about spilling the last bit of her coffee on the bus, she dumped it down a sewer drain. Then she was stopped by three enforcement officers. It was quite intimidating. In fact, after what happened, I felt quite shaky.

[Local Resident/Interviewee]

It was a bit too much.

[Susan Bonner]

The officers told her she had just broken the law. Section 33 of the British Environmental Protection act makes it an offense to dispose of wastewater that could pollute land or water, including putting liquids into street drains. Yesilyrd was told she should have poured the coffee into a trash bin and was fined 150 pounds or about $280. Cue the outrage. Liquid in a bin would be better.

[Reporter/Commentator]

Than pouring it onto the street.

[Susan Bonner]

It just seems so ridiculously heavy handed.

[Local Resident/Interviewee]

I mean police state appalling.

[Reporter/Commentator]

They displayed no common sense towards this woman who is otherwise a perfectly law abiding citizen.

[Susan Bonner]

For commentators in the media and online, the incident was proof Britain was going mad. A nanny state with rules that don't make any sense. It didn't take long for authorities to react. While the local council said the fine was justified and the officers did act appropriately, it agreed to cancel the fine and said it's reviewing the rules around the disposal of liquids on city streets. Thank you for joining us. This has been youn World Tonight for Thursday, October 23rd. I'm Susan Bonner. Talk to you again.

[Narrator/Host]

For more CBC podcasts, go to CBC CA podcasts.