World Report - March 30: Monday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: March 30, 2026

Air Canada says CEO Michael Rousseau will retire later this year, after being criticized for his lack of French in a condolence video for two pilots. US President Donald Trump is issuing new threats against Iran, vowing to target civilian infrastructure if a deal is not reached shortly.Finance minister François-Philippe Champagne to visit China this week on trade mission. A Winnipeg man takes West Jet to court, after finding out the reason for his cancelled flight was not what he was told. Canadian Medical Association Journal is asking doctors to look out for cognitive decline in heart patients.The Beaches win third consecutive Group of the Year award at last night's Junos, making history.

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wherever you get your podcasts. This is a CBC podcast. This is World Report. Good morning. I'm Angie Seth. Air Canada says its chief executive Michael Rousseau will retire later this year. Rousseau was criticized last week for his lack of French in a condolence message.

It followed the deadly crash at New York's LaGuardia Airport that killed two Air Canada Express pilots. Hello, bonjour. I'm Michael Rousseau, president and CEO of Air Canada. That bonjour and merci were the only French words he used in the four-minute video. Rousseau has faced scrutiny over his French language skills since his appointment as CEO in 2021. He's expected to continue in his role until September.

Meantime, Air Canada says its board will consider a number of criteria when assessing candidates to be its next CEO, including the ability to communicate in French. Well, after hours of boasting that talks with Iran are progressing, U.S. President Donald Trump is issuing new threats. This time, he's vowing to target civilian infrastructure if a deal is not reached shortly, and the Strait of Hermuz is not reopened. The CBC's Willie Larry joins us from Washington. He's following this story. So Willie, what is the latest? Angie, U.S. President Donald Trump once again reiterating that the U.S. military operations against Iran are progressing ahead of schedule, but also that negotiations with Tehran have been ratcheting up. Just this morning, he took to social media and issued yet another threat against Iran.

In the post, Trump says that the U.S. is in serious discussion with a new and more reasonable regime to end U.S. military operations in Iran. Iran, but he says if a deal is not reached shortly and the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately open for business, quote, we will conclude our lovely stay in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their electric generating plants, oil wells and Karg Island, and possibly all desalination plants, which we have purposefully not yet touched. End quote. It should be noted here, Angie, that destroying desalination plants, which are essential in the region to providing civilians with potable water, would almost certainly violate international law and be a war crime. Certainly quite a bit of a turn from what we heard earlier from Donald Trump.

But now what are we hearing from Iran? So in comments published by a major news agency in Iran, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry says that there have been no direct negotiations with the U.S. Meanwhile, Pakistan says it will hold talks between the two sides, the country's foreign minister, saying that those talks are expected in the coming days, but neither the U.S. nor Iran has confirmed that they will actually be taking part in talks in Pakistan. Willie, thank you for this. My pleasure.

The CBC's Willie Lowry for us in Washington. Well, Canada's finance minister and national revenue is heading to China. Rastva-Ferlip Champagne will be leaving later this week. His office says he will meet with government and business leaders, and they're expected to discuss new investments and partnerships as Canada tries to diversify its trade relations. It follows a trip by Prime Minister Mark Carney in January. Champagne's office says that visit Marteate Turning Point

and what it calls and quote, important bilateral relationship. Canada is looking to revitalize its trade partnerships with countries other than the United States, given the unpredictability of Donald Trump's ongoing trade war. while a Winnipeg man is taking WestJet to court, he says the airline canceled his flight and denied compensation, citing safety reasons,

but then he did a little more digging and found out there was much more to this story. Erica Johnson has this go-public investigation. This is the one that went to Colonna. Rocky Newfeld is pouring over flight records he obtained for his fight against WestJet. The Winnipeg Man was sitting on a plane in Edmonton headed to Fort McMurray

when he says a WestJet employee told everyone, they had to get off. The aircraft was needed for another route. But shortly after, WestJet sent Newfeld an email claiming a different reason for cancellation. They said it was mechanical issues. Under federal rules, airlines don't have to pay passengers when they cancel a flight for maintenance that's safety-related. So WestJet denied Newfeld's compensation claim. He took the airline to small claims. In its defense, WestJet submitted a maintenance record showing Newfeld's plane did indeed need repair. But flight records show WestJet swapped in that broken plane eight minutes before canceling Newfeld's flight, then used the original plane for a different route. Newfeld says in confidential

settlement talks, a WestJet lawyer admitted to the last minute plane switcher route. It was just wrong. Air passenger rights advocate Gabor Luchatch says he strongly opposes people breaking a confidentiality agreement, but also says Newfeld's case is clear proof Westwood. Westjet pulled a fast one. When you tell a consumer, this aircraft broke down, but in fact the aircraft actually was elsewhere. That's fraud. WestJet declined to answer any questions about this case

or another similar case, where the company swapped planes last minute, then claimed unplanned maintenance required for safety and denied compensation again. Erica Johnson, CBC News, Vancouver. Well, your heart health may be taking a toll on your brain health. That's at the core of new guidelines for Canadian doctors, published this morning in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Researchers are recommending better protection for both major organs in an effort to reduce the risk of dementia. CBC's Jennifer Lagrasa has more. I went from normal and healthy to not being able to move any of my left side, not being able to speak. At 38 years old, Patrice Lindsay had a stroke caused by a blood clot in her brain, something she was at higher risk for

because of a hole in her heart she was born with. That really started getting me thinking about the connection between the heart and the brain. Now at 62, she's used her lived experience to help draft new health recommendations, which aimed to lower the risk of dementia in people with heart conditions. I think many people aren't aware that if they have heart disease, they are potentially at risk for having a stroke or cognitive impairment. Jodi Edwards is director of the University of Ottawa's Brain and Heart Nexus Research Program. She hopes 11 new recommendations she co-opened.

authored will increase doctors' awareness. They range from checking for dementia in patients with an irregular heart rhythm to encouraging vaccinations in older adults, like flu and shingles, which could lower their risk of dementia. It will help providers identify things earlier and initiate treatment earlier. This is a good step forward. Geriatric doctor Samir Sinha says more could have been included under these recommendations. I would also be more inclusive about mentioning the importance of and treating diabetes, for example. But Zinha says the greater the awareness, the sooner they can get started on prevention.

Jennifer Lagrasa, CBC News, Windsor, Ontario. Well, the 26 Juneau Awards was full of history-making moments for both veterans and newcomers to the Canadian music scene. Matagabrasilasi has all the highlights. The Juno's big show started with a bang, a surprise performance from Rush with new drummer Anna Kanao. There were milestone moments for many winners. The beaches winning group of the year three years in a row, the first all-female band to do it.

There's no better feeling than coming home. Thank you so much, Canada. We love you. Cameron Whitcomb, on his Juno debut, took home two wins, including Breakthrough Artist. I will not squander this opportunity. I love you guys and thank you so much. And when it comes to the legends, Joni Mitchell got the a Lifetime Achievement Award. She spoke about how an aneurysm she suffered some years ago

changed her life for the better, and she thanked the crowd for their support. I really appreciate it. I'm so glad to be back in Canada. Nellie Furtado, who's getting inducted in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, was also honored. You know, growing up and feeling like I saw people I could relate with on TV, listening to it, because Canada's always cared about our.

Canada's always cared about culture. I'm a product of that. From legends in the industry to newbies having a breakout year, there's been a lot to celebrate at the Juno's. Makta Geberra Salasa, CBC News, Hamilton. And that's the waste of your time, but who know? Chances I'll step at a line, but who know? And that's the wonderful sound of R&B star, Daniel Caesar.

he took home International Achievement Award and contemporary R&B recording of the year for Song of Spergy. The album features a song with his father, a gospel singer who goes by the name Serbsbergi. And that's your latest national and international news from World Report. I'm Angie Seth. This is CBC News. For more CBC podcasts, go to cBC.ca.ca.