The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/09/26 at 09:00 EDT

Episode Date: September 26, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/09/26 at 09:00 EDT

Did you know that it was once illegal to shop on Sundays? That's true for when I was born. I remember this, and I'm not that old. I'm not, okay? Leave me alone. Anyway, I'm Phelan Johnson, and I host See You in Court, a new podcast about the cases that changed Canada and the ordinary people who drove that change. From the drugstore owner who defied the Lord's Day, to the migma man who defended his treaty right to fish, to the gay teacher who got fired and fought back. Find and follow, see you in court, wherever you get your. your podcasts. From CBC News, it's the world this hour. I'm Joe Cummings.

The latest update on the state of the Canadian economy is showing it grew slightly in the month of July. Statistics Canada says the gross domestic product moved up by 0.2%, which is the first growth we've seen in four months. Peter Armstrong reports. The question. coming into these numbers was whether we would be able to say that Canada had avoided a recession or at least the technical definition of one. And looking through these numbers, we can say Canada has likely avoided that. We can say Canada has probably dodged a recession for now. Remember, a recession is just two back-to-back quarters of negative growth. And we knew the economy contracted

in that second quarter in April, May, and June. So if that had continued in the third quarter, In July, August, and September, that would have met the definition. But July has come in quite positive. 0.2% growth is pretty solid. The preliminary report for August is flat. So it would take quite a contraction in September to push the economy to meet that technical definition. But it's important to say for most Canadians, there's not that big of a difference between a 0.1% contraction and 0.1% growth. And that's why many Canadians feel like this is a recession, even if,

It doesn't meet the technical definition of one. Peter Ernst. CBC News, interrupt. The sour Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is addressing the United Nations General Assembly. The speech comes as Israel faces growing international isolation over its war in Gaza. And foreign analysts are expecting Netanyahu to use the address to push back against those countries, including Canada, who have recently recognized a Palestinian state.

Canada Post workers are back on the picket lines this morning. The Union representing the country's 55,000, thousand postal employees says the strike action is in response to the reforms the federal government is putting forward for the Crown Corporation. Those reforms include, among other things, and end to all home delivery. Meanwhile, the strike means the mail is not moving, and this concerns Ryan Mitton with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. We know that small businesses are already facing consequences as a result of the ban on flyers. So for this to potentially stretch into the holiday season, a critical for time for small businesses looking to make the

ends meet pay their bills. And we've called for Canada Post to be temporarily deemed an essential service in order to protect the economy and protect small businesses. Canada Post says mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered during this strike, but delivery exemptions will be made for items such as government welfare checks. Former FBI director James Comey says he is eager to claim clear his name in court. Comey was indicted late yesterday on two charges, both connected to a bureau investigation into Donald Trump's first presidential campaign and its possible ties to Russia. Willie Lowry reports. James Comey, the former FBI director, he now faces one count of making a false statement and one count of obstruction of a congressional proceeding. Now, this all stems back

to an appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30th, 2020. During that hearing, Comey denied that he had ever authorized subordinates at the FBI to leak information to the press. The government alleges that's false. Comey, who led the FBI from 2013 to 2017, says he's innocent. My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I'm innocent. So let's have a trial. If convicted, Comey faces up to five years in prison. Willie Lowry, CBC News.

News, Washington. A British court has thrown out a terror-related charge against one of the members of the Irish rap group, NECAP. The charge is laid after the group allegedly displayed a Hezbollah flag during a London concert. Britain and Canada are among the countries that have designated Hezbollah a terror organization. And just this month, Neacap canceled an upcoming Canadian tour after a parliamentary secretary claimed the group would not be allowed into the country. And that is the world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Joe Cummings.