Your World Tonight - Confusing tariff messaging, Israel admits fault over killed paramedics in Gaza, Ovechkin breaks the NHL goal scoring record, and more

Episode Date: April 6, 2025

As the White House justifies its economy-shaking moves on tariffs yesterday, Its sending some messaging that some say is contradictory and confusing. We'll also take a look at how the Canadian auto and lumber industries are dealing with tariffs.Also: Israel is admitting its soldiers made mistakes in the killing of 15 paramedics in southern Gaza two weeks ago. It comes as new cell phone video retrieved from one of the medics appears to contradict Israeli assertions that their vehicles had no lights or markings.And: History was made on the ice today - with Alexander Ovechkin breaking Wayne Gretzky's 31-year goal-scoring record. He scored his 895th career goal, becoming the top goal scorer in N-H-L history.Plus: Protests over French far-right politician Marine Le Pen, Conservatives target NDP seats in B.C., Inside Egypt's new capital, and more

Every language is a note in the symphony of our heritage. Together, they create a harmony that cannot be silenced. Discover your voice on the new APTN Languages TV channel. This is a CBC podcast. Hi, I'm Julie Anne Hazelwood. This is your World Tonight.

Listen, we've got 50 countries that are burning the phone lines into the White House up and probably the president's cell phone as well. A flurry of global pushback rings on as Donald Trump's administration staunchly defends its tariff regime. People around the world are racing for another tough week with markets plummeting, costs on the rise and livelihoods on the line. Also on the podcast, rallies on the streets of Paris after France's far-right leader is barred from running in the next presidential election. And the push

to turn orange to blue. I used to like to say that the Okanagan is the best part of Alberta. The Conservatives spend the weekend campaigning in B.C. Dismissing, downplaying, denying. As the White House justifies its economy-shaking moves on tariffs, its messaging, some say, is contradictory and confusing. Katie Simpson is in Washington with the latest. U.S. President Donald Trump spent his weekend golfing,

leaving it up to key members of his administration to defend the latest shot in his global trade war. Tariffs are a one-time price adjustment. Dismissing concern about increases to the cost of living, Treasury Secretary Scott Besson also downplayed the brutal week for Investors after more than six trillion dollars us in market value was wiped out Look we get these short-term market reactions from time to time the market consistently the underestimates Donald Trump Canada is exempt from the latest round of tariffs but it

is already dealing with tariffs related to border security, the auto sector and steel and aluminum. On Saturday the US broadened its targets imposing a new 10% across-the-board tax on goods from most countries while additional higher tariffs kick in Wednesday on countries that have a trade surplus with the US. They've been bad actors for a long time and it's not the kind of thing you can negotiate away in days or weeks. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also suggested there's no room for countries to negotiate a way out of this, at least not yet. There's no postponing. They are definitely going to stay in place for days and weeks. This contradicts what other members of the Trump administration are saying in this moment.

This president is the chief dealmaker. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rawlins bragging about the new leverage Trump has generated. Listen, we've got 50 countries that are burning the phone lines into the White House up and probably the president's cell phone as well. Trump has also bragged about leverage, which confuses the messaging out of the White House. On social media Saturday, he urged Americans to hang tough, adding it won't be easy to get through tariffs, but in the end, it will be historic. He also posted a video from a pro-Trump account that says he is purposely trying to crash the stock market as a way to force the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates.

He's not trying to take the market. He's trying to deliver for American workers. When asked, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett repeatedly denied that is what the president is doing. It's not a strategy for the markets to crash. It is not a strategy for the markets to crash. Investors are bracing for another volatile week as America's trading partners weigh their responses. Katie Simpson, CBC News, Washington. Here in Canada, the pain of Trump's latest tariffs is hitting home for auto workers,

some who are now out of work. At the same time, there is a new threat of rising U.S. duties on Canadian lumber. JP Tasker explains. So it's going to be devastating for our community and for the jobs here. The Canadian auto industry is reeling in the wake of new U.S. tariffs. The massive Stellantis plant in Windsor, Ontario closed for at least two weeks. There's some folks that are going to be struggling pretty quick.

Derek Gungle builds Chrysler and Dodge vehicles there, one of the 3,200 auto workers now off the job. He says Ottawa has to make the U.S. pay for hitting Canadian-made cars with a 25 percent levy. As Canadians, we've got to fight back on this. Like, this is a completely unjust thing for us. Forestry workers are also bracing for impact. B.C. and Ontario say Trump's Commerce Department is planning to more than double duties on

Canadian lumber, the latest move in a decades-long dispute. We're not going to stop until we get to zero. Vic Fidelity, Ontario's jobs minister, is headed to Washington to convince the Americans to end what he calls economic self-sabotage, arguing this lumber surcharge will make it a lot more expensive to build anything in the U.S. When your president says you don't need anything from Canada, he's just flat out wrong. On the campaign trail, Liberal leader Mark Carney

is warning Trump's tariffs could crater the world economy. There are some tough days ahead. We're not going to sugarcoat it. The stock market is in freefall. A U.S. recession is now likely, Carney says, and he adds there could be serious knock-on effects for Canada. The Americans are going to get weaker. We are going to stand by our workers.

We are standing by our companies. We are building new trade relationships. We are going to stay strong and get stronger. Conservative leader Pierre Pauliev says Canada needs to negotiate a new trade deal with Trump right away, something Carney also supports. We need a new Conservative government who will axe taxes, build homes, unleash our resources and bring home our jobs so we can stand up to the Americans from a place of strength for a change.

But Wilbur Ross, Trump's former Commerce Secretary, says the president is unlikely to radically change course. I think we're beyond the point of totally eliminating tariffs. I think he's gone in a very different direction. Trump is threatening even more tariffs on Canadian pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. Combined with existing tariffs on steel and aluminum and now lumber and autos, the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Free Trade Agreement has been left in tatters. JP Tasker, CBC News, Ottawa.

Just ahead, we'll have the latest from the campaign trail, including the conservative push to flip orange seats blue. And the Israeli military has changed its initial account of the killing of aid workers in Gaza in light of new video evidence. Plus, Alexander Ovechkin has officially surpassed Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's top goal scorer. Conservative leader Pierre Polyev began the third week of the federal election campaign with a promise to fund addictions care for 50,000 Canadians. And Polyev made that statement in an NDP stronghold. Our campaign coverage begins with Olivia Stefanovich.

Make no mistake, we will be shutting down drug dens. Conservative leader Pierre Polyiev attacking supervised consumption sites in the province that started prescribing drugs as medication to those addicted to opioids. A harm reduction strategy supported by the Liberal government. This is outrageous. We cannot go on like this. After the lost Liberal decade we can't give them a fourth term.

Poliev is promising to suspend the approval of new supervised consumption sites. He also vows to ban the facilities within 500 meters of schools, playgrounds, daycares, parks and seniors homes. An announcement he made in a riding held by NDP MP Peter Julian since 2004. I think his agenda is wrong-headed. Julian campaigned in the rain with supporters outside of the convention centre where Poliev gave his press conference. For more on the NDP's campaign, here's my colleague David Thurden in Halifax. That's elbows up, right?

The NDP was in a rainy Dartmouth, Nova Scotia today. Jugmeet Singh attended the sovereignty rally, elbows up, but in all the rain it was more like umbrellas up. Earlier, Singh was at a coffee shop, talking about his plans for national rent control. The NDP leader also mentioned as well the return of Ruth Ellen Broso. The Quebec candidate was in Las Vegas during the 2011 election and famously did not spend a single day in her riding during the campaign. The rookie MP got elected during the Orange Wave.

She rose to the ranks and won re-election before losing to the Bloc Québécois in 2019. With a lot of folks, there were detractors. People thought that she wasn't going to be a great MP and she turned out to be an incredible MP. Singh is also making an appearance on the popular Quebec TV show, Tout le Monde en Pau. David Thurton, CBC News, Halifax. I'm Carina Roman covering the Liberal campaign. This is the first time this election campaign that Liberal leader Mark Carney is setting

foot in British Columbia. Critics had certainly noted his absence from anywhere further west than Winnipeg so far. Carney is doing a meet and greet in Victoria this evening. Tomorrow, he is expected to sit down with the BC Premier. David Eby wants to talk softwood lumber and the move by the US to hike duties on softwood, something that could further threaten the already beleaguered forest industry. Eby has said he wants to see the same Team Canada approach on softwood that has been applied to the auto, steel and aluminum sectors in Ontario and Quebec. Although as an NDP Premier, Eby has urged support for the

federal NDP under Jagmeet Singh in this election. Many writings in BC are blue orange battles but polls show the Liberals making unexpected gains in that province. Carney needs to show BCers that he cares about the West as much as he does central Canada. That goal could be bolstered if this third week of the election becomes the first one that Carney doesn't need to suspend his campaign to head back to Ottawa and deal with another Donald Trump-related crisis. Karina Roman, CBC News, Ottawa. As Carney makes his first stop in BC, Pierre

Poliev has spent his weekend targeting a pair of rural seats in the province. One is a long-held New Democrat riding, now vulnerable because of the NDP's sudden slip in the polls. Marina von Stackelberg explains. Pen Tickton, who's ready for change? Conservative leader Pierre Poliev pumping up a packed warehouse in British PEN TICKTON! WHO'S READY FOR PLAY IN PANADA? Conservative leader Pierre Poliev pumping up a packed warehouse in British Columbia's Okanogan Valley. He's the first party leader this election to visit the BC interior. I used to like to say that the Okanogan is the best part of Alberta.

This part of BC does vote more like its Alberta neighbour. Most seats here are conservative, except for the riding of simulcamine South Okanagan West Kootenai. The NDP have held it for the last decade. But the conservatives have always come in a close second. After the lost liberal decade and with the help of the NDP, now has dropped. Cozen says the party's ties to the previous Liberal government have turned voters like him off the New Democrats. Over my lifetime, I have voted for NDP, I voted for Liberals, and I'm now a Conservative.

I haven't seen a reaction like that quite like that before. Richard Hobson has been going to conservative rallies for decades. He says Poliev's message of lowering taxes, decreasing government spending and speeding up resource development is resonating. He'd say something people turn around look at each other and go yeah it's about time that should happen. The Okanagan region of BC is one of the fastest growing in the country. It's known for its warm weather, agriculture, natural resources and tourism. So issues around housing and taxation are big ones. The seats are very important for the conservative.

Robert Hanlon teaches political science at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. He says this region tends to lean fiscally conservative. There's like-minded thinking around the resource-based economies of the interior as well as tourism. So there's a lot of concern in this upcoming election around the economy. Canada first, let's bring it home! Some of the people here to listen to Pauliev traveled from far away. Stephanie Reynolds drove her teenagers four hours here from the Lower Mainland. Her son Derek is voting in his first federal election.

They found all the problems that Canada needs to have fixed. A promise Pierre Pauliev hopes will help him sweep this part of the province. Marina von Stackelberg, CBC News, Kelowna, British Columbia. Israel is admitting its soldiers made mistakes in the killing of 15 paramedics in southern Gaza two weeks ago. Several emergency vehicles came under fire while responding to a call. A video from one of the medics appears to contradict Israeli assertions they had no lights or markings. Phil Pleszanak reports. The seven-minute video was found on the mobile phone of a medic. His body was in a mass grave along with other aid workers.

It shows that ambulances in the convoy were clearly marked and had their emergency lights on when Israeli forces opened fire on them near Rafa in southern Gaza on March 23. Eyewitness Munther Abed was a paramedic in one of the vehicles. He says the convoy responded to a call when it was fired on without warning. Suddenly there were gunshots on the car, there was heavy gunfire directed on us. I didn't hear a thing from my colleagues, not a sound except their final breaths, he says. Farnaz Fasihi of the New York Times obtained the video from a senior diplomat at the United Nations. She says it directly contradicts Israeli reports that the vehicles

did not slow down, had no markings, lights or emergency signals. They were wearing their uniforms and their cars were clearly marked with the red crescent, it said ambulance and they come under intense fire. Dr. Eunice Al-Khatib, president of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, says the medic who recorded the video can be heard praying before his death. His last words, forgive me mom, I just wanted to help people, I wanted to save lives. Israeli defense forces say some of the aid workers were linked to Hamas, but it hasn't provided evidence. Officials now say their initial account was mistaken and say the evidence will be thoroughly investigated.

The United Nations and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies wants an independent investigation. Nabal Farsak is with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. We need justice for the victims and we need to ensure that all of those who are responsible are held to account. Boarding a plane in Hungary, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn't mention the incident but he did accuse the International Criminal Court of trying to take away the ability of Israeli soldiers and commanders to defend Israel. He added that he was looking forward to his trip to Washington, D.C., where he will meet

with U.S. President Donald Trump. To discuss, of course, matters on the hostages and completing the victory in Gaza, he says. Netanyahu and Trump will meet at the White House Monday, where they will issue a joint statement in the Oval Office. Philipp Lee Chanok, CBC News, Toronto. A French far-right leader credited Martin Luther King Jr. as an inspiration to keep fighting at a rally in Paris. Thousands showed up in support of Marine Le Pen, who's convicted of embezzling public funds and is banned from running in the next presidential election. As freelance reporter Kyle Brown reports, her supporters are not the only ones

who turned up in the French capital by the thousands. It's not a decision of justice, it's a political decision. To jubilant supporters waving tri-coloured flags in the sunlight, national rally leader Marine Le Pen invokes Martin Luther King and the stand for civil rights. And she repeated claims that her sentence for embezzling public funds was a political decision, not a judicial one. She was preaching to the converted.

The decision that was made by the court, I think it's a decision that will go against the population of France. To make Marine Le Pen non-eligible for the 2027 election is a very bad decision for the world people because 13 million people will not have a person to vote for. Madame Vaillant, bonjour, enchanté. It was absolutely not a political decision. Alexander Vaillant is the General Secretary of a union representing judges and magistrates.

It's a judgment which has been made according to the law, and only the law. Yet within hours of the announcement of the verdict, Le Pen's allies denounced the supposed tyranny of judges. Justices have since been threatened, their pictures published online. Vaillant says virulent political rhetoric is fanning the flames of hostility. For many years now, we've got some political men and women who keep attacking judges and justice generally speaking. And because of that kind of public speech, we see in the society more and more attacks.

So we're talking about verbal attacks or physical attacks? We can have both sometimes. And that's why one of the judges is under police protection? Absolutely. Legal experts say the threat to judges' safety risks undermining the judicial system, a danger that has mobilized thousands to attend two other rallies today, one by the governing centrist Renaissance Party. In a subtle dig at Le Pen, Prime Minister François Bayrou says his party wants to work with those who respect the law, justice and human rights. and human rights. Just a few kilometers away, union leaders the Greens and the left-wing France Unbowed party warn of the threat posed by the far right.

Claire Lejeune is a France Unbowed MP. So it's very important for us today to be united to show that all civil society is ready to resist to this attack from the far right. Le Pen is appealing the decision. It's being fast-tracked and will be heard next year, in time for her to campaign for the 2027 presidential election, if her ban is overturned. Kyle Brown for CBC News, Paris. A new capital city is rising in the Egyptian desert.

The new administrative capital, as it's known, is being built to kick-start the economy and reduce congestion in Cairo. It's also mostly empty. Laurent Mercier-Roy visited the multi-billion dollar ghost town and brings us this report. As you see, we've faced the iconic tower, the tallest building in Africa, 300 meters. Every day, real estate developer Hadi Fathi inspects the construction site of his skyscraper in the heart of the new Egyptian capital. The first delivery will be on next year, 28 administrative floor.

After eight years of construction, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi inaugurated his new capital last spring in its brand new parliament building. Fifty thousand civil servants now work in the luxurious new government facilities. However, al-Sisi maintains that the city's primary goal is to reduce the overpopulation of the previous capital, Cairo. Twenty-two million people are packed in the greater Cairo area, where congestion is widespread and the infrastructure is aging. On the other hand, the new capital is said

to accommodate 6 million people, 70 kilometers from Cairo, in the middle of the desert. It features several giant structures, like dozens of identical mosques or 12-lane highways or even a 93,000-seat stadium for a future Olympic bid. But the high cost of the project is spreading pressure on the Egyptian economy, according to finance expert Hani Abulfo-Tou. The question is, is it really a necessity to have a new city while there are other priorities for the Egyptian people like the cost of living? In the last two years, the price has soared more than 150%. The price for a two-bedroom apartment in the new capital ranges from 200,000 to a million

Canadian dollars on average. Meanwhile, the average Egyptian lives on only $10 per day. Therefore, Egyptians like Ahmed, a taxi driver, aren't afraid to share some criticism over the new city. Our economic situation is getting worse and worse. So who do you think will live in this new capital? Certainly not the people like us. The Egyptian government claims that a thousand families have already moved in the new capital. But on the ground, things are really different.

In each of the city's designated residential zones, streets were empty during our visit, and almost none of the apartments seemed inhabited. As Egypt is trying to attract foreign investment, during our visit, and almost none of the apartments seemed inhabited. As Egypt is trying to attract foreign investment, the Chinese government became the main contractor in the central business district. Meanwhile, at Egypt's largest real estate exhibition, the new capital developers like Imad Oshaka are on the hunt for foreign buyers.

Our main clientele is overseas because they already live outside of Egypt. They already have these facilities and amenities in every gated community in Europe and in the States and Gulf area. That's why we are targeting those people. As Egypt's population continues to grow, so too does the need for new places to live. But whether the new capital is an oasis or a

mirage in the middle of the desert is yet to be known. Laurent Mercieroy for CBC News, Egypt's new capital. History was made on the ice today. Alexander Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's 31-year goal-scoring record. He scored his 895th career goal, becoming the top scorer in NHL history. Sam Sampson joins us from Edmonton. Sam Sam set the stage for us. How big of a deal is this? Ovechkin did something today others thought would never actually happen. He now holds the record for most goals in NHL history. As you mentioned, the magic number 895. Now he buried the latest in today's game against the New York Islanders on a power play in the second period. And even though this was an away game for the Washington Capitals, that crowd

erupted. Everyone was really celebrating Ovechkin in that moment. Now the league actually paused the game for like a mid-period ceremony there to mark the fact that this record has been broken. Here's part of what Ovechkin had to say. Like I always say all the time, it's a team sport without my boys, the whole organization, the fans, the trainers, coaches. I would never stand there and obviously I would never pass a great one. So fellas, thank you very much.

I love you so much. Big, big cheers there. Now one analyst I spoke with called the goal poetic because Ovechkin scored it from a section in front of the net that people call OV's office since he often makes the shot from there. He's also known for his power play goals. So it was really just like classic Ovechkin. The other thing to consider here is that the 39 year old player also broke his leg during a game back in November and was able to come back and reach this record. Canadian data scientist and hockey analyst,

Megan Chaika calls him legendary. At one point, people thought that Wayne Gretzky's records were all unbreakable, especially goal scoring. Because to score that many goals, you have to have so many consecutive seasons. Ovechkin's actually the first player to have three 40-goal seasons over the age of 35. So the march he's been on lately

is not only incredible, it's unheard of. And Ovechkin just year over year seems to have this spountain of youth that he can still score. That is pretty incredible that he came back from a broken leg and now has broken this record. How about Wayne Gretzky? What does this mean for Gretzky's legacy? Well, Cheika says he is still considered the great one here. Let's not get carried away. I mean, records like Gretzky's points total, still pretty far away for current players. And Gretzky was actually there at Friday's game when Ovechkin tied his record and today in New York when he surpassed it following the chase like Gordie Howe did when Gretzky broke his record 31 years ago. So

during the mid-game ceremony, Gretzky congratulated Ovechkin saying records are made to be broken, but he's not sure who can get more goals than this. Alright, Sam, thank you very much. You're welcome. The CBC's Sam Sampson reporting from Edmonton. And finally. If you're a White Lotus fan, you know this song. Even if you're not, reaction to the TV show's theme, the second season in particular, hit a fever pitch.

The distinct, catchy, haunting style stuck. The composer is Chilean-Canadian musician Cristobal Tapia de Vier. He's won three Emmys for his work on the HBO series. A social satire of sorts sorts set at a luxury resort. And he produces all the music from his home in Quebec's Laurentians. I just really love working in the woods. Here you get a big amount of fascinating range of birds.

So I kind of experiment recording all kinds of sounds. It does influence me a lot. His eclectic flair comes through in the latest season's theme. The finale of season three airs tonight. But here's the thing, the theme doesn't have that same hook, those ooh-lulus.

There was backlash at first. Endless what? Reaction videos on social media. Tapia Devere reached out to production. He asked them to release his longer version of the theme that included the popular melody. That didn't happen though. He chalked it up to the show's creator, Mike White, shutting down the idea. And that was a breaking point for the composer.

He quit. He told White just before the finale he won't be joining season 4. Ultimately, Tapia de Vera stands by his work, but he released a longer version on his own that harkens back to the popular early sound. His parting gift as he checks out of the White Lotus. This has been Your World Tonight for Sunday, April 6, 2025. I'm Julianne cbc.ca slash podcasts.