World Report - September 4: Thursday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: September 4, 2025

Trump administration takes tariffs fight to U.S. Supreme Court. Prime Minister Mark Carney and his cabinet prepare for fall budget. Canadian among the injured that killed 16 people in Lisbon funicular crash. Incumbent leaders Irfaan Ali and Andrew Holness win closely-watched elections in Guyana and Jamaica. Ukrainian security guarantees debated at Coalition of the Willing summit in France. Cult leader who calls herself the Queen of Canada now in police custody. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival starts today. 

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This is a CBC podcast. This is World Report. Good morning. I'm Arcia Young. The Trump administration is taking the fight over tariffs to the Supreme Court. It filed an appeal late last night asking the U.S. top court to reverse a lower court decision. It said most of President Donald Trump's tariffs were illegal. The CBC's Aaron Collins is in Washington this morning. And Aaron, what is the Trump administration arguing here?

Right. So just a quick reminder, this is all a reaction to a ruling that says Trump's sweeping tariffs are, well, illegal. Just to rewind a bit, the president justified imposing these sweeping tariffs using something called the International Economic Powers Act. It's a mouthful. The court said that was illegal and in theory that could be a very pricey problem for the U.S., which could be forced to pay back all of the cash, collect. so far. So what's happening now? And no real surprise here. Donald Trump is challenging that ruling in the Supreme Court saying that striking down his tariffs would be devastating to the U.S. economy. And he says it would actually be bad for his attempts to stop conflicts in Europe

in the Middle East, too. The tariffs are vital to the success of this country. When I say I ended seven wars, at least half of those wars were ended because of the power of tariffs. All right. So Trump arguing his tariffs are essential, not just to the U.S. economy, but to the country's foreign policy as well. Of course, the big question for Canadians is what does this mean for their trade dispute with the U.S.? And the answer there, it's not as much as you might hope. Most of Canada's exports to the U.S. are still covered under Kuzma. That's the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement, something north of 80% are still tariff-free.

And the areas of the Canadian economy that are really being hit hard are the steel and aluminum sectors which aren't covered here. And we're imposed using a different law. So no matter what happens with this challenge, those tariffs are going to stick around. Thanks so much, Aaron. You bet. The CBC's Aaron Collins in Washington. Canada's trade and security relationship with the United States is a key topic today in Toronto. Prime Minister Mark Carney is holding a planning session with his cabinet. And finance minister Francois Filippe Champin told reporters this morning it will be difficult to balance the budget. When you have your largest training partner turning its back,

when you have trading relationships which are evolving, we're in the middle of a trade war. Obviously, this is a moment where Canadians are saying, deal with the short term, reduce your spending, but at the same time, make sure that you invest in assets that will provide prosperity. Cabinet was going to hear from Kevin Roberts today. He is the head of a prominent conservative think tank

and one of the authors of Project 2025. The Prime Minister's Office now says Robert's office has indicated he can no longer take part in today's discussions. Officials in Portugal say a Canadian is among those injured in a Lisbon funicular crash. They are also clarifying 16 people have died, not 17, as they reported earlier. At least 20 others were injured when the streetcar derailed and crashed into a building yesterday. This woman lives in Lisbon and calls the incident a tragedy that is bad for the city's image. The yellow and white glorious streetcar is a popular tourist attraction.

Officials say people from Germany, Spain and Morocco were also among those hurt. The cause of the crash is still being investigated. We have two closely watched elections to tell you about this morning, one in South America, the other in the Caribbean. My World Report co-host John Northcott is following all of its. for us this morning. And John, let's begin with Guyana. Marcia, Guyana has been an independent country for almost 60 years, but it's the last few years that have proved so consequential in its history. One of the poorest countries in the region, about 10 years ago, huge crude

oil reserves were identified there. They were so big that Guyana now has the largest oil reserves per capita in the world. Growing Guyana's national revenues by almost five times. The task of managing that huge windfall for his people will fall to the a newly re-elected president of Guyana, Irfan Ali. He has the huge responsibility of making sure those oil resources benefit the 800,000 people who live in the country. Complicating the situation, Guyana's neighbor, the also oil-rich but volatile Venezuela,

just before the vote, in fact, a boat carrying elections, officials, and ballots was shot at from territory rich in resources that is claimed by both countries. And to the north, another incumbent claims victory. in Jamaica, Andrew Holness has won a third term. Tell us more. Marcia, the Jamaican Prime Minister won in what was a tight race. The issues the country faces are long-standing crime and the economy,

but Andrew Holness promised to double the minimum wage and to introduce income tax reforms. He also ran on his record. He pointed to, in particular, his war on crime with killings down in some areas by as much as 70%. But some of his tactics, such as imposing states of emergency, have been criticized as heavy-handed, with advocates calling for a balance between security and civil rights. Marcia, two parts of the world whose leaders have fresh mandates and some long-standing challenges.

Thank you, John. Thank you. My World Report co-host John Rothkot with me in studio. Ukraine's allies say they are making progress in achieving security guarantees for Kiev. Members of the Coalition of the Willing have been meeting in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron says there are no limitations to the defense of Ukraine. including deploying foreign troops there. We have today 26 countries ready to deploy troops in Ukraine

to reassure the people of Ukraine and guarantee peace from the day after this war ends. Earlier today, the Kremlin warned it will not accept foreign troops in Ukraine under any circumstances. A cult leader who calls herself the Queen of Canada is now, in police custody. Romano Didolo and her followers were living in a former school in a small Saskatchewan village. The RCMP raided that building yesterday and arrested 16 adults. Jeffrey Tram has the details. Leave the phone down. You're under arrest. All right. Romano Didalo's arrest was captured by her phone in a live stream. Dietalo was one of 16 adults taken by Saskatchewan RCMP after they

received the report of a firearm. A search warrant was executed. at a former school in the village of Richmond, located 365 kilometers west of Regina. Inspector Ashley St. Germain is with the RCMP. We have located and seized four replica handguns, one inside the building, and three inside vehicles. The news comes as a relief for Richmount resident Vanessa Johnson. This is the best day of my life right now, like literally. It's so great that we have finally gotten some movement. Diedelow and her followers have been in Saskatchewan for two years.

Her group stems from a larger QAnon movement. Christine Sartesky is an expert on cults at Chatham University. The idea of QAnon has evolved over the years, but it's essentially people who believe that there is a group of secret people who are running the government. Sartesky says followers of the Saskatchewan cult believe Diedelow is the ultimate authority. She is effectively the supreme ruler of all the land. RCMP won't confirm if the 15 others,

taken into custody with Didolo are followers. They say the investigation is in its early stages. Jeffrey Tram, CBC News, Regina. The biggest film festival in Canada is celebrating a special anniversary. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival starts today. There will be glitz, glam. But as Eli Glasner reports, some are asking whether TIF is prominent enough to keep drawing world premieres.

Dwayne the Rock Johnson wipes tears away at a 15-minute standing ovation, the film, the smashing machine, the location, the world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Matt Bellany is the host of the Hollywood podcast, The Town. The reality is most of the big movies are choosing to debut at Venice and Tell Your Ride. And then, if they can, they will go to Toronto. But TIF with public screenings and the People's Choice Award is still special. It's not just European aristocrats and the media. So the first time these movies will premiere for a real audience is in Toronto.

From American beauty to American fiction, Big Buzz in Toronto can spell Oscar glory. But just how public is this People's Festival? Film critic Rachel Ho. It's unfortunate, I think, that the prices are getting as high as they are. the secondary market is getting a little bit out of control as well. Resales through Ticketmaster can climb into the hundreds, and yet after the strikes in losing a major sponsor, Ho sees a comeback for Tiff.

Kind of a redemption year for them, and I think it's perfect that it's on the 50 year. Well, you think what you want about me. I'm not changing. I like me. Which opens with John Candy, I like me, a documentary about the beloved Canadian actor produced by Canadian star Ryan Reynolds.

Eli Glaster, CBC News, Toronto. And that is the latest national and international news from World Report. I'm Marcia Young.