Your World Tonight - NATO summit, rent prices, Indian space mission, and more

Episode Date: June 25, 2025

Canada and its NATO allies are digging deeper to plump up their defense budgets – agreeing to spend five per cent of GDP. It's a major shift for Canada, which failed to meet previous NATO targets of two per cent.And: Statistics Canada has compiled its first report on what landlords are asking for their rental units. And it’s no surprise that rents have climbed – a lot – in some major cities. But the report also notes: some of those rates are now coming down.Plus: The Axiom-4 mission blasted off early this morning from Florida – carrying astronauts from the U.S., Poland, Hungary and India. It’s on its way to the International Space Station – a private spaceflight – with cooperation from NASA. We’ll hear from CBC's South Asia correspondent Salimah Shivji about how India is hoping the trip is a stepping stone on the path to reinvigorating its space program.Also: Covid vaccines, cougar sightings, Trump on the Middle East, and more.

So our podcast House Party was supposed to end right after the election, but we're really not done with the party yet. Yeah, there's way too much to talk about still with the new government and everything. That's right. House Party is now going until the end of June and I am excited to keep nerding out about politics with you guys. I'm Catherine Cullen. I'm Daniel Thibault. And I'm Jason Markossoff. And you can find House Party in the feed for the house, wherever you get your podcasts.

This is a CBC Podcast. The international rules-based system on which the Alliance is relied upon is under unprecedented pressure. The threats to our own sovereignty are becoming more acute. We can no longer rely on our geography to protect us. Prime Minister Mark Carney committing Canada to its largest increase in military spending since the Second World War, joining NATO countries in a pledge to boost defense budgets over the next decade, a historic investment ahead of an uncertain future.

Welcome to Your World Tonight. I'm Susan Barner. It is Wednesday, June 25th, coming up on 6 p.m. Eastern, also on the podcast. We hear it was obliteration. It was a virtual obliteration. Everything above is burned black. It was, I believe it was total obliteration. I believe they didn't have a chance to get anything out because we acted fast. A devastating blow or a minor setback. Donald Trump says U.S. bombers destroyed Iranian nuclear sites but the U.S. president is facing tough questions and contradicting claims about the

real impact of the American strikes. Some of it coming from American intelligence. Some of it coming from American intelligence. Canada and NATO allies have agreed to new and higher military spending targets. Five percent of their GDP is the new benchmark. It's a major shift for Canada. The country hasn't increased defence spending this much since the world was mobilizing for war. Marie Brewster has that story. For too long, one ally, the United States, carried too much of the burden of that commitment.

And that changes today. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on a plan for nations to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP from the current benchmark of 2%. And he dispelled any doubt that most Western allies have bent to the will of US President Donald Trump. President Trump, dear Donald, you made this change possible. Your leadership on this has already produced one trillion dollars in extra spending from European allies since 2016. And the decisions today will produce trillions more

for our common defense. The move to 5% of GDP, 3.5% for core military spending, and 1.5 for defense-related infrastructure will take place over the next 10 years. Not all allies are in favor. Spain continued to balk during the meeting. The decade-long timeline, a compromise for allies, including Canada, who are finding such a massive increase hard to swallow.

We must ensure that NATO remains strong, unified. In order to do so, we must invest in our strength. Prime Minister Mark Carney, who estimates hitting the target, will cost the Federal Treasury $150 billion a year, a little over $100 billion for core military and another $50 billion for defence-related infrastructure. Of that, about $45 billion in new spending will be needed. It's Carney's job now to convince the public such massive investments are necessary.

First and foremost, we are protecting Canadians. We are protecting Canadians against new threats. I wish we didn't have to, but we do have to, and it is our core responsibility as government. Carney has in the past suggested Canadians will have to make sacrifices for higher defense spending. He says he'll have more to say on that in the coming months. The country has not seen this kind of massive military spending increase

since the Second World War and the Korean War timeframe. Defense expert Dave Perry says Canadians are going to have to try and look past the optics that this is Trump's deal. I do think that this is finally taking off the table what has been an enduring, serious irritant with the United States government of multiple administrations. Had an American former State Department official complaining last night of, we asked nicely for years and nobody did anything until Trump stopped asking nicely.

Also today, allies reaffirmed their continuing support for Ukraine, saying the country's path to NATO membership is unchanged. Unlike past years, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky wasn't in the room for the leaders meeting. Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada would have preferred allies hold a separate special meeting on Ukraine, adding he and other leaders brought up points on Ukraine's behalf about the next steps in that country's war with Russia. Marie Brewster, CBC News, The Hague. that country's war with Russia. Marie Brewster, CBC News, The Hague.

Zalensky had some face time with the U.S. president on the summit sidelines. They talked about supplying Ukraine with more defense equipment. And Donald Trump said he'll soon speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin about peace negotiations. It comes as Trump takes credit for a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. And while that conflict has quieted down, questions about the effectiveness of U.S. intervention are getting louder. Katie Simpson reports.

And now this incredible exercise of American strength has paved the way for peace. U.S. President Donald Trump taking a victory lap as the NATO summit came to a close, crediting American intervention in the Israeli-Iranian war as the pivotal breakthrough in reaching a ceasefire. Allies, including NATO Secretary General Mark Ruta, happily reinforced Trump's view. They've had a big fight, like two kids in a schoolyard,

you know, they fight like hell. And then daddy has to sometimes use strong language. You have to use strong language every once in a while you have to use a certain word. The tone is a welcome relief for Trump as questions intensify about his claims that U.S. airstrikes obliterated Iran's nuclear weapons program. According to multiple U.S. news outlets, a preliminary American intelligence report suggests the setback may be rather limited. The estimates that I'm seeing are anywhere between one or two months or a year. That's pretty consistent with what we see when we look at satellite images. Jeffrey Lewis is the director of the East Asia Non-Proliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute.

He says while American B-2 bombers struck Iran's three key nuclear sites, others remain intact. Iran could restart the program almost immediately. I mean there's a sense in which it hasn't stopped. I mean there are many many facilities that just simply were not struck. Trump is aggressively pushing back comparing his bombing campaign to the American efforts that ended the Second World War. If you look at Hiroshima, if you look at Nagasaki, you know, that ended a war too. This ended a war in a different way, but it was so devastating.

The White House even presented a statement from the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission to corroborate their claims. It says Iran's ability to develop a nuclear weapon has been set back by many years. But it could take some time before a full damage assessment is complete. The situation is dangerous given the rubble and blast debris, according to Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. So for that to confirm, for the whole situation to evaluate, we need to return. He also suggests Iran's highly enriched uranium mostly survived the attacks because it may

have been moved. All of this is expected to be discussed next week when American officials meet with their Iranian counterparts, likely to discuss a path forward. I don't care if I have an agreement or not. The only thing we'd be asking for is what we were asking for before about we want no nuclear. With a renewed focus on diplomacy, the U.S. president suggested there could also be a path toward ending the war in Gaza. Intermediaries in Qatar seem hopeful too, saying discussions involving all sides are underway.

Katie Simpson, CBC News, Washington. At least 16 people are dead and more than 400 injured during nationwide anti-government protests in Kenya today. Thousands took to the streets to mark the anniversary of last year's protests, which left dozens dead. Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds in the capital Nairobi. Public anger over the use of force by security agencies was reignited following the recent death of a blogger while in police custody. Demonstrators called for justice and said their march was a revolution for Kenyans. Today we are here to demand accountability, to demand transparency, to make sure that each and every public servant has a duty to protect and to follow the law and the constitution

of Kenya. More than 60 people were arrested during the protests. Coming up on the podcast, the cost of renting in urban Canada. COVID is calling for our attention again and experts say the vaccine is still your best safety bet. And blast off, India works to amp up its space program. We're getting a clearer picture of this country's rental market. For the first time, Statistics Canada has tracked what landlords are asking going back to 2019.

The data confirms what many apartment hunters know firsthand. It's expensive in major cities. But as Sophia Harris reports, there have also been some recent dips. Rent prices are ridiculous. What do you mean by ridiculous? Astronomically high. A new StatsCan report confirms what many renters already know. Since 2019, average advertised rents in large cities have gone up. However, perhaps surprisingly, the biggest increases were in Quebec, including Montreal,

where average asking rents for two-bedroom apartments soared by almost 71 percent. No surprise to many Montrealers. I've been in this building nearby for two years now, and the raise every year is very expensive. The raise of like 7.5 percent. I think it takes off like 42 to 45 percent out of my salary. I'm an employed person. It is a big chunk of my salary. Despite the rise, rents remain the highest in Vancouver, where an average two-bedroom rents for more than three thousand dollars a month.

Toronto is next in line, averaging around twenty seven hundred dollars a month. However, it could be worse. StatsCan says rents in the two cities and Halifax and Calgary have declined over the past year by between 6 and 8 percent. We are seeing rent declines through a combination of increased rental supply. New rental stock has come onto the market over the last few years coupled with the decrease in population growth.

Economist Mike Moffitt attributes the population decline to recent federal government measures designed to reduce immigration levels and international student permits. So we're now actually seeing the population of non-permanent residents fall. For every four or five that are leaving, maybe only three are coming in. And that population is almost entirely renters. Renters definitely have more negotiating power right now. Matisse Yu is marketing manager of Live Rent,

a resource website for renters and landlords. She says due to increased supply and lower demand, many landlords in places like Toronto are offering special deals. There's so many rental incentives right now including you know one to two months of free rent or there's some housing providers giving you know $500 gift cards. Even so, some renters in downtown Toronto told CBC News they still see no relief. Do you feel like rent is going down? Uh no I wouldn't say for me.

Food is expensive too but still doable but rent is obviously always the most expensive. But struggling renters may find some relief soon. Experts say rent should continue to decline, at least for the short term. Sophia Harris, CBC News, Toronto. A new COVID variant is making the rounds this summer but there's also fresh data showing

vaccines can help prevent serious illness. Christine Birak has the details. I think it's because it doesn't work particularly well, if you want the truth. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith offering her rationale behind charging Albertans for COVID-19 vaccines. Doctors say it's a question Canadians are asking. How well do COVID vaccines really protect you? Now, some answers. This study reinforces that updated COVID-19 vaccines reduce severe disease. That's really

important. Dr. Donald Vinn is a medical microbiologist at McGill University. He's pointing to a new study published in JAMA Network Open. It found the latest COVID-19 vaccines offered significant protection for about two months. Those who got the shot lowered their risk of becoming critically ill by nearly 70 percent and cut their chances of hospitalization and emergency department visits roughly in half. Protection did wane over time, dropping to about 50% for critical illness, but remained effective for up to a year. If you sold me something that said, you know, you have a 50% chance of not having something

bad, I would take that in a heartbeat. It doesn't happen to you until it happens to you. And at that stage, it's too late. Matthew Miller is director of DeGroote Infectious Disease Research at McMaster University. The latest Canadian data show since August of last year, nearly 32,000 Canadians have been hospitalized with COVID-19 and over 2,000 deaths were reported, mostly in people over 65. Miller says the virus that causes COVID isn't going anywhere. It's going to continue to evolve the way that flu does

and try and sort of outwit and outrun our immune system. A new COVID variant has been surging in China, India and the U.S. Nicknamed Nimbus, symptoms can include a severe sore throat. The World Health Organization is tracking it. So far the severity appears similar to other variants. The virus is kind of slippery and it's changed a lot. Dr. Lanera Saxinger is an infectious disease expert at the University of Alberta. She disagrees with the Alberta Premier's comments, saying the COVID vaccine may not protect against initial infection,

but that doesn't mean they're not working well. What I think about is, you know, wearing a seatbelt doesn't prevent a crash, but it prevents you from dying by being ejected through the windshield. So I mean, there's all sorts of things that we say. Canada's Vaccine Advisory Panel says anyone six months and older can get a COVID-19 vaccine. It recommends those at higher risk, especially people over 65, should get it this fall. It could be the difference between a tough week at home and a trip to the emergency room. Christine Birak, CBC News, Toronto.

It started with a missing girl found in a forest with serious injuries. Then a cryptic warning from police for parents to keep their children indoors. A suspected animal attack has a small Ontario village on edge and still asking questions. Nicole Williams has our story. Police and wildlife officers searched the woods in Quaidville, Ontario, about two hours west of Ottawa. The forest here is dense, but inside is something they suspect behind a vicious attack. People are, you know, they're they're frightened. Local pastor Joseph Fiorentino was there Monday

when an eight year old girl went missing. She had been out with friends last seen at a grocery store. It prompted a community wide search. Ontario provincial police bringing in search dogs, finally tracking her down in the forest the beginning hours of Tuesday. When they pulled her out,

they discovered she was seriously hurt. OPP spokesperson, Bill Dixon. We're not releasing the specific details of the injuries. They were very traumatic in the initial stages. They did appear to be life threatening injuries. OPP also not saying what did this to the little girl, but they suspect she was the victim of an animal attack issuing a warning to those living nearby keep a close eye on small children or even have them stay inside could we being over be being overly cautious perhaps if it was a wild animal perhaps it's left the area but we don't know that john hodge lives nearby

it's alarming but it's understandable. Anything can happen, you know, if a young girl, a young boy goes walking and they don't know where they're going and mixed up their location and everything. Anything can happen. You never know. As for the little girl, she was brought to a nearby hospital where she was made stable enough to then be airlifted to the Children's Hospital in Ottawa. The families passed her with them there while she underwent surgery. I think it's important for people to know that the doctor did use the word miracle.

She did say that it was a miracle that she was alive. In the meantime, officials say an investigation continues into exactly what happened. There will be DNA testing to determine exactly if and what kind of animal may have attacked. The community relieved this little girl was found but far from having their minds put at ease. Nicole Williams, CBC News, Quaidville, Ontario. They were nowhere near as tragic as that situation, but people in British Columbia are reporting close encounters with wildlife. Cougar sightings are on the rise in the BC mountains, with the normally shy animals getting up close with hikers and tourists. Georgie Smyth reports. A group of five went down last night and were hunted for an hour of their trip.

By cougars. By cougars. Added adrenaline for another group of hikers staying in the same campground, they had their adventure in B.C.'s wilderness cut short by one of Canada's more elusive predators. And we're all being evacuated. The rangers came round this morning while we were having breakfast. This story is just one of a handful of unusual encounters reported this month between people and cougars, also known as mountain lions or pumas.

Hey, get out of here big guy. One now viral video shows a cougar staring down a man walking on a forested track. It's these kinds of interactions that have led to rolling closures of hiking and biking trails between Squamish and Whistler, including parts of the busy Whistler Blackcomb Resort. We've had multiple sightings. I believe the original reported sighting was from a guest riding a bike in the bike park in the creek side. Adam Mercer is the senior manager of patrol at Whistler Blackcomb Resort. He says they closed parts of their bike parks to protect visitors and give the

animals some space as conservation officers try to locate them. And them being elusive, it's just hard to keep track of. Where is it now? People that live in and around Whistler are used to seeing big predators like grizzlies and black bears, but cougars are less common. I think it also catches people off guard when there is a confirmed sighting of something as beautiful as a cougar. It's because cougars notoriously keep to themselves says Julie Thomas, a PhD student studying cougar ecology at the University of Northern British Columbia. They typically travel very quietly, they hide, that's how they hunt their prey, they remain hidden. So that's one of the reasons why it's very rare to see them. There are some theories as to why the cougars are being seen so much, including a wildfire

a few weeks ago, but Thomas says it probably has more to do with humans venturing into their environment rather than the other way around. They're young cougars, so they're subadult cougars that are trying to establish a new territory for themselves and they haven't quite figured out what's food and what's not. They're curious. The visitors like Ma Miller from Chicago, it's exactly the kind of animal experience people like him travel to Whistler for. Well I think it's nice that the cougars are active.

Even Vancouver locals like Mark Johnson find it thrilling. I appreciate that they're here. I think it adds to the place. In a statement to CBC News, the Conservation Office says it's still trying to locate the cougars but right now it seems they've disappeared again. Georgie Smyth, CBC News, Whistler. Relief and uncertainty as thousands of people from Flynn Flawn, Manitoba returned to their homes. They were forced out May 28th by a wildfire.

That fire is still burning out of control, but officials say it is safe to return. Mayor George Fontaine says the city avoided disaster, but the whole experience of evacuating is going to have long lasting effects. It's going to weigh on people's minds. I noticed I was reading the paper this morning and some people say, well, I'm going to keep a bag packed from now on, be ready for an emergency. I hope that we're in a safer situation after this than we were prior to the fire. Evacuees are being met with clean-up kits and promises of more compensation from the Red Cross.

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 podcasts. Just find the follow button and lock us in. It's a new front in Indian space exploration. An Indian astronaut is on board the Axiom 4 mission. It's an international flight with Poland, Hungary and the United States. And as the CBC South Asia correspondent Salima Shivji reports, the trip is part of India's effort to reinvigorate its space program.

A long anticipated launch after several delays. On board, a crew of four, including pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to go to space in 41 years. It took months of meticulous training to get to space in 41 years. Now take a breath and hold. It took months of meticulous training to get to this day. It's a monumental event for... For Shukla speaking from Houston ahead of the launch, the magnitude of the mission hit in flashes.

Little moments like when he first donned his suit. You know when I wore that space suit and I saw that Indian flag on my shoulder, when you think about this, how big this is. I understand that it's a huge responsibility for me to inspire an entire young flag on my shoulder. When you think about this, how big this is, I understand that it's a huge responsibility for me to inspire an entire young generation through my mission. Inspire and motivate. Those words are used often as India talks up its space accomplishments. Lift off normal P1 tracking.

Back in August 2023, the Chandrayaan-3 mission was a big success. India's rover landing by the Moon's south pole, a world first. Our journey has been remarkable. And the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi says there's more in store. India's space journey is not about racing others. It is about reaching higher together. The plan is to have India's own space station orbiting Earth to conduct scientific research in 10 years' time and an Indian astronaut walking on the moon by 2040.

Lofty goals that come with challenges, says Soma Gray Chowdhury, an astrophysicist at Delhi's Ashoka University. Even though India is one of five major space players, its share of the market is only 2%. But India is punching far above its weight for a fraction of the price of space programs in other countries. Two, one. It's more than inspiring for these kids launching their own mini rockets at a school in Mumbai. They're learning about how far into space their country wants to go and crafting their

own dreams while piecing together toy rockets. Ten-year-old Arav is taking great pains to make sure his rocket is perfect. That's precisely what the session's organizer, Rajesh Kangure, wants to hear. He runs a space outreach program called the Antariksh Society. When we talk to the students, we tell them there are only 10 astronauts who go into the space. There are 10,000 minds or hands working to make that thing happen. India has plenty of that. And a young generation motivated to see India's

colors fly high in space and beyond. Very nice! Mix, mix! Salima Shivji, CBC News, Mumbai. Finally tonight it is a recycling rethink from some Canadian psychologists. A proposal to up the ante when it comes to returning empties. Often when we're looking at such a small reward like ten cents, people don't really care about it too much. Jade Radke is a UBC PhD student and the lead author of the new study,

looking at the risk reward of recycling refunds. Programs vary across the country, but in most areas, returning beer cans, wine bottles or other refundable containers will get you between 10 and 25 cents. For the study, researchers set up recycling stations in food courts and festivals and gave people the option of the usual modest refund or instead no guaranteed money at all but the chance of winning cash prizes up to a thousand dollars. We have more excitement with those things, higher hope.

It's kind of just like playing the lottery. You kind of do it for fun a little bit as well. The study found people were willing to gamble with a majority taking a pass on the deposit for a chance at winning a larger amount. Even though the odds were slim, participants were more excited and more motivated to recycle. And researchers believe implementing a similar system in the real world could boost recycling rates and help divert more waste from landfills. Thanks for joining us. This has been Your World Tonight for Wednesday, June 25th. I'm Susan Bonner. Talk to you again.

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