The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/09/30 at 13:00 EDT

Episode Date: September 30, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/09/30 at 13:00 EDT

The spirit of innovation is deeply ingrained in Canada, and Google is helping Canadians innovate in ways both big and small, from mapping accessible spaces so the disabled community can explore with confidence, to unlocking billions in domestic tourism revenue. Thousands of Canadian companies are innovating with Google AI. Innovation is Canada's story. Let's tell it together. Find out more at g.co slash Canadian Innovation. from cbc news the world this hour i'm stepney scanderas the head of the newly renamed u.s war department

is vowing to reshape the military it's tiring to look out at combat formations or really any formation and see fat troops one of many criticisms from pete heggseth in an address to hundreds of generals and officers the defense secretary denounced what he called toxic ideological garbage He railed against the military's policies around diversity and pledged to raise the standard of physical fitness. Simply put, if you do not meet the male-level physical standards for combat positions, cannot pass a PT test or don't want to shave and look professional, it's time for a new position or a new profession. Hexat says the policy would not prevent women from serving, but it would require them to pass the highest male standard. The defense secretary adds promotions in rank would be male.

merit-based with lethality, considered the most important factor. The U.S. government is speeding toward its first shutdown in six years. There's no sign congressional leaders are near the budget agreement needed to keep funds flowing. Here's Willie Lowry in Washington. Democrats led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries met with President Donald Trump in the White House for the first time since he took office. The Democrats are pushing for health care changes. fear that health care costs for Americans will go up because of a spending bill passed in July, Schumer said the president appeared to hear their concerns.

I think for the first time the president heard our objections and heard why we needed a bipartisan bill. Their bill has not one iota of democratic input. Essential services like hospital care, law enforcement, and air traffic control will continue, but a significant number of services will stop. Republicans who hold 53 seats in the Senate need 60 votes to pass a funding extension that would keep the government running through October. If they don't find them, the government shuts down when the clock strikes midnight. Willie Lowry, CBC News, Washington. President Donald Trump says Hamas has three or four days to respond to his Gaza peace proposal.

Trump announced the 20-point plan yesterday following a three-hour White House meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu. The proposal has the backing of the Israeli Prime Minister, and the country's UN ambassador, Danny Danon, issued this warning to Hamas. If they reject the plan, Israel will finish the job, either the either way or the hard way. A number of Arab and European nations, as well as Canada, are also endorsing the plan. A strong offshore earthquake has shaken the Central Philippines. The magnitude 6.9 earthquake happened off Bogos City in Cebu province. It sent people running into the street and prompted a local tsunami warning.

The full extent of the damage is not yet known. The area is still recovering from a storm that hit on Friday. That killed at least 27 people and forced tens of thousands out of their homes. In Nova Scotia, firefighters are battling an out-of-control wildfire in Annapolis Valley. The Lake George wildfire has burned roughly 300 hectares. Dozens of families have been told to leave their homes. Others are waiting for the order. Brett Ruskin has more from Halifax.

We're recommending everyone to pack a suitcase. David Corkham is mayor of Kings County. That community is suddenly facing evacuation orders and the looming threat of an out-of-control fire moving through the woods towards homes. Thankfully, we have lots of people, dedicated people, like I said, The Red Cross firefighters that are here doing everything that they can. Last night and again this morning, water bombers rumbled overhead

scooping up from nearby lakes to try to control the fire. It's a situation we've seen a lot of in Nova Scotia this year with a busy fire season, including the largest fire near Long Lake, which burned roughly 40 kilometers from this new one. That fire destroyed 20 homes. That's something that crews are hopeful won't happen again. here. Great Ruskin, CBC News, Halifax. And that's your world this hour. I'm Stephanie Scandaris.