Your World Tonight - Greenland under threat, Alberta healthcare under fire, ghost ships in the Caribbean, and more

Episode Date: January 19, 2026

Europe’s leaders make plans to confront Donald Trump this week over his Greenland annexation threats, while new information emerges shedding light on what may be sparking the U.S. President’s latest demands. Adding to the tension is the effect this could have on Canada as CBC News learns of a potential troop deployment to the Danish territory.Also: ‘Preventable deaths and near misses.’ The shocking assessment from Alberta’s top doctors about the state of care in some provincial hospitals.And: Shadow fleet ‘on steroids.’ The recent rise of so-called ghost ships, and why these oil-smuggling cargo vessels are such a threat in the Caribbean and beyond.Plus: GOP infighting over Greenland, Spain’s train crash aftermath, doctors' World Cup worries, and more.

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This is a CBC podcast. The president is looking at Greenland as a strategic asset for the United States. We are not going to outsource our hemispheric security to anyone else. Strategically located in a contested region, Greenland is the Arctic Prize. Donald Trump is after. Now the U.S. President admits one reason he's pushing so hard to take over the territory is because of another prize he was not able to win. Welcome to Your World Tonight.

I'm Susan Bonner. It is Monday, January 19th, just before 6 p.m. Eastern, also on the podcast. Mr. Trump has made more and more noises about what he thinks about our territorial integrity. And that's why Canada can't afford to be ambivalent about this. We're now on the menu. Canada's military has never shied away from international disputes. But this time, the tension is in our neighbor. Greenland, Arctic sovereignty, and Canada's next move with a geopolitical hot spot right next door.

And every single one of my colleagues in emergency medicine and internal medicine have been telling me they've never seen the system this bat. Frontline medicine in Alberta in need of urgent care. European leaders have called an emergency session this week as they scramble to figure out a response to Donald Trump's escalating pressure on Greenland. But while the White House has maintained it wants the Danish territory for security reasons, a message from Trump suggests it's also linked to his pursuit of the Nobel Peace Prize. Chris Brown begins our coverage from London. We are living in 2026. You can trade with people, but you don't trade people. Europe is in full emergency mode over Donald Trump's threats to take over Greenland.

Denmark's foreign minister, Lars Loke Erasmussen, was in London today. We are pragmatic, gold-blooded Scandinavian people with a warm heart. But it is not easy when we wake up every morning to use threats. We need Greenland. The U.S. President has said the United States needs title to the immense Arctic Island, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, to stop Russia or China from getting it. But a text conversation released by Norway's Prime Minister suggests Trump's obsession with Greenland isn't just about security.

In rejecting a call for de-escalation, Trump wrote, Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars plus, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace, although it will always be predominant. It's actually not Norway's government that hands out the prize, but Danish analyst Jakob Funk Kirkgaard says Trump appears driven by retribution. I think that the choice, particular choice of words,

certainly relates to the fact that. that he's sort of a hissy fit about not getting the price. Good afternoon, everyone. Trump's Treasury Secretary Scott Bassett dismissed that. Complete canard that the president will be doing this because of a Nobel Prize. Trump has vowed to hit eight European NATO nations who recently sent troops to Greenland with tariffs, starting next month and until he gets what he wants. He was asked by NBC News today if he would rule out using the U.S. military to take over the island.

and again gave an ambiguous no comment. German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz underscored that Europe will not be pushed around and has options for retaliation, with tariffs of its own or restrictions on U.S. businesses operating in the EU. Britain's Prime Minister Kier Starrmer also said no one can afford a trade war

as he too tried to talk Trump down. The right way to approach an issue of this seriousness is through calm discussion between allies. Kierkegaard, the analyst, says playing for time, is likely Europe's best short-term option. Denmark and Europe wants to run down the clock. Trump's threats have generated strong anti-U.S. Sentiments in Europe at this NBA game in London Sunday night,

a heckler's call-out to leave Greenland alone got a rousing ovation. Chris Brown, CBC News, London. Denmark is boosting its military presence in Greenland, sending what's described as a substantial contribution of combat soldiers. Canada also has a plan in place to deploy a small number of troops, but that decision has not yet been made. As Catherine Cullen reports, the government is still weighing its options.

I think our Prime Minister is walking a tightrope in what he does. As Canada's former top soldier, retired general Tom Lawson, is watching with concern as tensions over Greenland grow. CBC News has confirmed the Prime Minister is considering sending Canadian soldiers to Greenland as part of military exercises with NATO allies. Doing that would likely be enough for Canada to face the threat of new tariffs too. And Canada's Kuzma Free Trade Review with the United States looms large. Still, Lawson thinks Canada should get involved. in the military exercises. You don't really want to be in the clear view of a bully,

especially when there are big negotiations coming. But I think you do want to do what you have to do to stand up for your morals and integrity. Speaking Sunday in Qatar, the Prime Minister was asked how Canada can accept Trump's actions and what Canada will do. It's a serious situation and we're concerned. Carney responded.

The future of Greenland, decisions about the future of Greenland, are for Greenland and Denmark to decide. Without once directly mentioning the United States, only affirming support for Greenland and Denmark. Security is first and foremost for them, but very much falls within the responsibilities of NATO. Former UN ambassador Bob Ray says Canada's response to this moment is especially important because Trump has questioned Canada's territorial integrity.

And that's why Canada can't afford to be ambivalent about this, because we're now on the menu, and that is something I think every Canadian needs to understand. A report by NBC News cites unnamed American sources to say that behind closed doors Donald Trump is fixated on Canada, allegedly increasingly unhappy about what he sees as Canada's inability to defend its borders against any encroachment from Russia or China.

Canada is working to increase its presence in the Arctic, and it's currently working with the Americans on security around Greenland. NORAD, the Joint Aerospace Security Command between Canada and the U.S., announced today that its aircraft would soon arrive in Greenland. The activity was planned long ago and has Denmark's blessing. Lawson points out, Canadian jets are involved. That's why this entire crisis is so unnecessary, everything that the United States needed to increase security

in the Arctic and in the north was already there. This week, both Carney and Trump are attending World Economic Forum meetings in Switzerland, where the Prime Minister may be able to make a case for more collaboration, rather than growing confrontation. Catherine Cullen, CBC News, Ottawa. There's also pushback against the U.S. president's plans coming from his own country and his own party. Mike Crawley has more from Washington on the Republican descent, and the political risk.

Republicans in the U.S. Congress have generally been quick to endorse nearly all of President Donald Trump's agenda. But right now, the GOP isn't exactly doing cartwheels overtaking control of Greenland. House Republican Michael McCall of Texas. If we want to put more military in there, we can. We don't have to invade it. If he wants to buy it, that's fine. But I don't see a willing seller right now.

Ohio Republican Mike Turner sits on the House Armed Surveillance. Services Committee. There certainly is no authority that the president has to use military force to seize territory from a NATO country. As for Trump's pressure tactics to force a deal to buy the Danish territory, Turner also has his doubts. I don't believe he has the ability to impose tariffs for the purposes of compelling other nations to sell the United States land for the purposes of us expanding. Republican Senator Rand Paul. On the war powers or on militarily invading Greenland, I've heard of no Republican support for that. As far as trying to buy it peacefully, you don't get purchasers to come around by berating them and telling them you'll take it anyway.

But as you move up the Republican chain to its leadership, there's less willingness to openly criticize Trump on Greenland. We'll see how it develops. While House Speaker Mike Johnson downplays the likelihood the president will order military action, he's not opposed to taking control of the Arctic Island by other members. means. Greenland has strategic importance to us because of its geography, its placement, but not just to the U.S., but to all freedom-loving people everywhere. We live in a dangerous time and a dangerous world, and the president's recognition of that is not something new. It's anything but clear that Trump has persuaded voters that controlling Greenland is important. In a country so often split down the middle on politics, several recent polls suggest strong opposition in the U.S. to buying it and overwhelming opposition.

to taking it by force. There are lots of Americans who see that this is spiraling out of control. Jeremy Kinsman is a former Canadian diplomat. Americans don't want this. The percentage of people who support his plan to annex Greenland is down in the teens. The question remains whether public opposition to Trump's push will persuade him to back down as the midterms approach. Elections that could see the Republicans lose control of Congress.

Congress. Mike Crawley, CBC News, Washington. Coming right up, Alberta doctors paging the province about a health care crisis and patients paying the price. And preparing for big FIFA crowds and big risks, how the beautiful game could get ugly in Canadian hospitals. Later, we'll have this story. They're known as ghost ships operating in the shadows of global shipping with experts concerned about a growing threat. The initial shadow fleet existed when U.S. and other countries put sanctions against Iran and Venezuela. But it just went on steroids when Russia invaded Ukraine. I'm Eli Glasner.

Coming up, we dive into the deceptive world of ghost ship tankers and the danger they present. That's ahead on your world tonight. They came for urgent care and died before they got it. The Alberta Medical Association says at least six preventable deaths have occurred this month as patients waited in crowded emergency rooms. Dozens of other cases are listed as near misses. And doctors say the system is simply overwhelmed. Erin Collins has more. This is just the tip of the iceberg. These are just some cases of some preventable deaths and near misses. Paul Parks says patients are falling through the cracks in Alberta's emergency rooms.

And the medicine hat ER doc says some are paying with their lives. Parks, the president-elect of the section of emergency medicine with the Alberta Medical Association says it's why he penned a letter to the province detailing dozens of fatal and near-fatal incidents from just the past two weeks. Every single one of my colleagues in emergency medicine and internal medicine have been telling me they've never seen the system this bad. Parks, who says he didn't leak the letter, says he hasn't heard back from the province. The letter comes after 44-year-old Prashant Sri Kumar died on December 22nd in an Edmonton ER after waiting eight hours with chest pains. And all too common occurrence, according to Parks,

who along with other doctors, have called for the government to declare a state of emergency for hospitals across the province. Mr. Sri Kumar is very public. That was tragic. But many, many of these cases are happening where there are no family members of people to make it public and make people aware of it. Late last week, Matt Jones, Alberta's Minister of Hospitals and Surgical Services announced the launch of a fatality inquiry into Sri Kumar's death. A detailed, independent, and public review of how the specific case was managed

also needs to be undertaken. We owe that to his family and to all Albertans. The ER crunch comes as the province is restructuring its health care system, breaking up Alberta Health Services, a single province-wide organization, into four separate entities covering acute care, primary care, assisted living, and recovery. Dr. Fraser Mackay is an ER doctor in St. John, New Brunswick, and a board member of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. He says the situation in Alberta's crowded emergency rooms sounds familiar. What they're describing is somewhat consistent with what we see across the country to varying degrees. Certainly, I do get the impression that the problem seems

maybe at its worst in Alberta. Alberta launched a program last week to have new doctors help triage patients in the province's busiest emergency departments. In a statement, a spokesperson for acute care, Alberta said the government was unable to comment on the cases cited in the letter, but added they take patient outcomes seriously.

Aaron Collins, CBC News, Calgary. As you've just heard, crowded emergency rooms are not just, in Alberta problem. Across the country, many ERs are at capacity, and that has some health officials looking ahead to the summer when Toronto and Vancouver will host World Cup soccer matches. Jennifer Lagrasa explains the health concerns being flagged and what's being done to prepare. Get ready for the greatest FIFA World Cup ever. Hundreds of thousands of people are gearing up to visit Toronto and Vancouver to watch the games

starting in June. But mixed in with the excitement is worry. I would be concerned going forward about having a surge and need for hospital resources at this point in time. Catherine Varner is an emergency doctor in Toronto. In a Canadian Medical Association Journal editorial published today, she's sounding the alarm. Varner says all of those extra visitors on top of an already stretched health care system could spell trouble. It would be very intimidating to work. emergency departments with only one bed available, which is what we do every day at times. Research finds that large-scale events can take a toll on ERs, either because of more alcohol

and substance use, increased heart attacks, or the spread of infectious diseases. Getting people all together in a stadium or in a bar or in any setting, if one person has the measles, everyone will be exposed within 30 minutes. Dr. Brian Conway is the medical director of Vancouver's infectious disease. Center. New measles strains were introduced to the city during the 2010 Olympics. It led to an outbreak three months following the event. Conway is concerned that with visitors coming from all over the world, it could happen again. And there are lower vaccination rates in many other countries, and there will be representation from these very countries during FIFA.

Public Health Ontario is also warning of other health risks, including COVID-19 and food and waterborne illnesses like hepatitis A. Experts also worry extreme heat and wildfire smoke could send people to the hospital. The Taylor Swift concert, we had plans in place. Dr. Andrew Beckett is a trauma surgeon in Toronto. He's part of a group that's preparing resources in case of a crisis during the World Cup. We're looking at ways of being able to surge capacity within the hospitals by shutting down some elective surgeries if needed.

Dr. Mark Lassition is a lead for Vancouver's FIFA plan. He's confident the city will manage. Although the health care system operates at pretty much capacity, it does have a lot of mechanisms to get extra capacity. But Toronto's Varner says it's not just about managing. Unfortunately, what happens when we surge is that patient care and outcomes worsen. She says it's also about making sure patients get the high quality care they need. Jennifer Lagrassa, CBC News, Toronto.

In southern Spain, at least 40 people are dead and others clinging to life after a high-speed train crash last night. The incident has rattled the country and baffled investigators struggling to figure out what went wrong. Breyer Stewart reports. Throughout the night, rescue crews worked to reach victims trapped in mangled rail cars while other passengers escape from the wreckage on their own, including by going out, broken wind. Spain's deadliest train accident in more than a decade happened on a remote stretch of track in a hilly, all-of-growing region, more than 300 kilometers south of Madrid. The impact was like a sudden blow. The lights went out, said passenger Montse Ruiz.

I was sitting in the last seats of the carriage, and I was thrown around. Just before 8 p.m. Sunday evening, three carriages on a train traveling from the coastal city of Maléclay. to Madrid derailed towards the opposite track. Within 20 seconds, a train heading in the other direction crashed into it. Its front two rail cars then fell down a three and a half meter embankment. One woman who would only give her first name Anna was bandaged up and wrapped in a blanket as she explained that she was pulled out of the train by other passengers. Some people were fine and others were really bad, she said.

we had them in front of us and you could see them dying and you could do nothing. This is Spain's deadliest rail disaster since 2013 when another train derailed killing 80 people. Back then, the accident happened on a curve and the train was speeding. In this case, officials said the trains were going under the speed limit and traveling on a straight section of track that had been renovated last May. Yeah, it's an unusual derailment because derailments don't often happen on straight track. Paul Allen is a professor of railway technology and engineering at the University of

Huddersfield in England. I think the statistics will bear out rail is one of the safest forms of travel. They're very rare events. So it is very surprising, especially, you know, in a Western European country where the rail systems are very well developed. Spain has Europe's largest network of high-speed rail lines. Last year, the Union representing Spanish train drivers warned regulators, Spain's rail infrastructure was deteriorating because of increased traffic. While the investigation into what caused the crash continues, police are asking relatives of those missing to provide a DNA sample in order to help identify the dead.

Breyer Stewart, CBC News, London. This is Your World Tonight from CBC News. If you want to make sure you stay up to date and never miss one of our episodes, follow us on Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your podcast. just find the follow button and lock us in. The cargo is valuable and highly coveted, and some of the vessels transporting it are deceptive and hard to track. Roughly two weeks since the capture of Venezuela's president,

the incident is shining more light on so-called ghost tankers and the American effort to chase down the ships and seize their oil. Eli Glasner reports. It's the sixth tanker to be seized. The U.S. seized another oil. oil tanker. You can see the seizure of the... With Nicholas Maduro removed from power, a relative calm has resumed in Venezuela, at least on land. Out in the Caribbean Sea, it's a different story with the U.S. Navy ships busy chasing

and seizing sanctioned vessels, part of a growing group known as the Ghost Fleet. Salmer Cogliano is a naval historian and former merchant Marine. The initial shadow fleet existed when U.S. and other countries put sanctions against Iran in Venezuela. But it just went on steroids when Russia invaded Ukraine. According to the S&P Financial Intelligence Firm, as many as one in five oil tankers worldwide are ghost fleet ships. Many escape detection by flying fake flags, and some of those ghost ships are just never brought into port. Michelle Bachman works for the Marine Intelligence firm Winward, where they're tracking 1,400 suspected ghost fleet tankers.

Although ships are supposed to broadcast their location via the automatic identification system, she says they have their tricks. Some ships have two AISs on board, so they may switch one off and switch another or alternate. You've got zombie ships where they actually take on the identity of a dead ship that was scrapped and can take and start broadcasting a fake number. It can even be as simple as changing a ship's name and appearance. A technique maritime lawyer Ian Rauby, says was inspired in part by Hollywood.

So this is a technique we've seen a lot more frequently used by criminals since the release of Nicholas Cage's movie The Lord of War. You over the side, we'll change you the name. Many of the sanctioned Ghost Fleet vessels sail under Russian flags, and Raleby worries about the potential for escalation. There are all kinds of things that could go wrong. And when you then add in foreign military escorts, you end up with a potentially volatile picture

that could bring two states into or more into armed conflict with each other. But other maritime observers like Michelle Bachman say it's about time countries confronted the growing threat. The U.S. is doing the international maritime community a favor by removing these vessels from trade because of their highly dangerous condition. They're an accident waiting to happen. Experts agree as long as the ghost fleet continues

The potential for danger and high drama at sea remains. Eli Glassner, CBC News, Toronto. Finally tonight, with daily practices, home games and road trips, the busy life of a professional hockey player doesn't leave a lot of time for learning new languages. But the Montreal Victoire's Amanda Boulier is taking her best shot. You will have 25 minutes in French with me? Ah, yes. Oh, my God.

No, kidding. We're going to speak English. Thank goodness. Born and raised in Connecticut, Boulier came to Montreal as a feisty, quick-footed defender. Her puck movement and skating, excellent. Her French, come see, come so. My last name doesn't help. New.

I come off as most people, when they see my last name, start speaking a lot of French at me. With Boulier now in her second season with the Victoire, she's trying to make her French as dependable as her back checking. For Anglophone Victoire players, the ruffe players, the rubeau. Real test is the on-ice television interview, lights, camera, and a big-time TV audience. It's like an overtime breakaway for your French conjugation skills. And yesterday, during pre-game warm-ups, it was Boulier's turn at the microphone. It's my premier interview in French. But it's important for the parties in the victoire that I tried.

A plan of the match is to play very much physique and very much rapidly. A icebreaker for a veteran hockey player making her rookie debut in French. Thank you for joining us. This has been your world tonight for Monday, January 19th. I'm Susan Bonner. Talk to you again. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca.ca.