Your World Tonight - Palestinian statehood, Trump's hefty fees on work visas, Filipino nurses on screen, and more

Episode Date: September 20, 2025

Canada and a group of European allies are set to recognize an independent Palestinian state next week at the United Nations' General Assembly. As Israel pushes on with its military takeover of Gaza, Canadian officials say its the only way to salvage a two state solution. Also: This week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing hefty fees on H-1B work visas. The move is putting pressure on Silicon Valley - as Big Tech firms often rely on those workers. And: The Emmy winning television series 'The Pitt' has been praised for its realistic portrayal of an emergency room and its health care workers. But its also gaining attention for it portrayal of one under sung and underrepresented group of medical workers -- Filipino nurses. Plus: Sudan's agriculture crisis, The debate over banning bullfighting in Spain, Canada's first Animal Law program, and more.

Did you know that it was once illegal to shop on Sundays? That's true for when I was born. I remember this, and I'm not that old. I'm not, okay? Leave me alone. Anyway, I'm Phelan Johnson, and I host See You in Court, a new podcast about the cases that changed Canada and the ordinary people who drove that change. From the drugstore owner who defied the Lord's Day, to the migma man who defended his treaty right to fish, to the gay teacher who got fired and fought back. Find and follow, see you in court, wherever you get your. your podcasts. This is a CBC podcast. Hi, I'm Dave Seglins.

This is your world tonight. Civilians flee as Israel targets high-rises in Gaza in its advancing ground assault. Meanwhile, Canada and European allies prepare to formally recognize a Palestinian state. Also on the podcast, heavy security ahead of a most. memorial for far-right activist Charlie Kirk. We drove about eight and a half hours yesterday. We wanted to come and take part in what Charlie stood for. And in praise of unsung heroes who work on our hospitals and health care system.

I love finally that they've incorporated Filipinos in medical shows. It is reality. Like, it's just reality. Canada and a group of European allies are set to recognize an independent Palestinian state next week at the United Nations General Assembly. As Philip Lyshanock reports, Canadian officials say it's the only way to salvage a two-state solution as Israel pushes on with its military takeover of Gaza. Israel's army targets high-rise buildings in Gaza City, destroying more than 20 tower blocks over the past two weeks. As the ground assault continues, Israel considers these terror towers to be Hamas. strongholds. Bushra Khalidi is with the aid group, Oxfam.

High rises are the only shelters left in Gaza. I'm sheltering an enormous amount of civilians. Israeli aircraft have dropped leaflets warning residents of Gaza City to leave as a full-scale attack on Hamas is imminent. Khalidi says fleeing to the relative safety of the South is dangerous. It's not just about the high rises. It's the main artery of the Gaza Strip. And now they are cutting off that artery. In Mexico for trade talks, foreign affairs minister,

Anita Anand says the deteriorating situation in Gaza is why Canada intends to formally recognize the state of Palestine. Given what is happening in Gaza, recognition now is extremely important because the viability of a two-state solution is eroding. In a statement, Prime Minister Mark Carney said he'll be in New York City for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. He reiterated that the recognition of Palestine does not mean Canada and its international partners are abandoning Israel, but committing to a two-state solution. Onondon says recognition is a first step, but that the Palestinian Authority knows there are conditions before diplomatic relations will be normalized.

They are cognizant of the need for hostages to be returned, for Hamas to lay down its weapons, for Hamas to have no role in the future. governance of Palestine and for there to be democratic reforms. Israel condemned the move saying recognition of a Palestinian state is rewarding Hamas for the October 7th attacks. U.S. President Donald Trump also opposes recognition. Will we see an angry response from Netanyahu and no doubt also from Trump? Yes, absolutely. Steve Croshaw is a former director of Human Rights Watch. Western governments, both Canada, European governments and others, needs to find the will to stand up

to that Trump Netanyahu anger and say the facts are the facts and something needs to be done. Here at home, Jewish Canadian groups say they're watching closely. The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs says they're committed to a future where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security, but say conditions such as the release of the 48 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas and recognition of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state must also be met. Vultes-Shenox, CBC News, Toronto. In Washington, the Trump administration's latest immigration moves

are putting pressure on Silicon Valley. On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing hefty fees on H-1B visas, which are heavily used by big tech firms. Anise Hederi reports. And we're going to be able to keep people in our country that are going to be very productive people. And in many cases, these companies are going to pay a lot of money for that.

And they're very happy about it. U.S. President Donald Trump is about to make it a lot more expensive when companies use a specific type of work visa to hire a non-American employee. White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf. What this proclamation will do is raise the fee that companies pay to sponsor H-1B applicants to $100,000. This will ensure that the people they're bringing in are actually very highly skilled and that they're not replaceable by American workers. The H-1B visa isn't exclusive to the tech sector,

but it is heavily used by large tech companies like Amazon, Apple, or Microsoft. The idea is companies can use it to hire skilled workers. They say they cannot find in the USA. No more will these big tech companies or other big companies train foreign workers. The fees for that work visa could have been around $2,000, US, so no matter what, 100,000 is a huge jump. They need to prepare. Becky Fu Von Trapp is a Vermont-based immigration lawyer.

She called the cost shocking and says she believes it's far higher than the actual price of issuing a visa. That makes this proclamation legally valuable because a $100,000 fee far exists any reasonable cost that can be recovered and it looks punitive. She also thinks there will be another consequence. So for Canada, this is almost a gift because every time the U.S. closes a door on global tenant. Canada gains. And with this $100,000 H-1B fee, many of the engineers, researchers, and doctors who would have gone to Seneca, would now choose Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal instead. That's something tech recruiters like Vancouver's Ilyabrotsky say Canada should encourage. If we can bring in 10,000 people who are making

$100,000 each, that's a billion dollars of U.S. dollars coming from the U.S. economy. into the Canadian economy. However, there's also a possible exemption for companies at the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security. That's according to Canadian immigration lawyer, Andreas Pelliner. So what this seems to effectively create is a backdoor for large corporations that the U.S. government feels are in the national interest. And while he agrees the H-1B visa has been abused by companies

who hired fraudulently, the 100,000 fee seems extreme to him. Some of the brightest minds in the United States, who are leading companies, were H-1B workers. H-1B workers is the primary pathway to the U.S. Green Card. As for that, there's also a new pathway to the green card. Trump's gold card, and not like an American Express. More like Express American. Pay $1 million, get approved and fast for permanent residency in the United States. Any Siddari, CBC News, Washington.

Now to the American Southwest, tens of thousands of people are making a pilgrimage to Arizona. Just outside of Phoenix, a massive memorial service will be held Sunday for the slain right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk. Katie Simpson has more on the preparations tonight from Phoenix. A sense of quiet spreads across the crowd as people approach the growing memorial for Charlie Kirk. There are flowers, homemade signs, and messages written in chalk left outside the headquarters, of Turning Point USA, his political advocacy group. Visitors coming here straight from the airport, arriving with their luggage and travel gear in hand.

Americans going to great lengths to be a part of this moment. We drove about eight and a half hours yesterday. Tell me why. You know, we wanted to come and take part in what Charlie stood for and. Chris Strube and his wife, Ashley, both becoming emotional as they talked about Kirk's legacy, saying they were drawn to his movement because of their shared faith.

You said a lot of the things that so many of us wanted to say, and you had that platform and you used it so well. And we're so proud. We're so proud of you. Kirk was a leader in the MAGA movement, a debater who drew criticism for using inflammatory rhetoric and sparked controversy over the hard-right beliefs he pushed. In the wake of his assassination, the Trump administration is considering a crackdown on hate speech after social media posts celebrated or mocked Kirk's killing.

The government even going as far as pressuring broadcasters to remove late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel after he made statements that upset the Trump administration. In the same way, if I go on social media with my employer and say things that are not in line with their values, they have every rate to enforce our corporate values with me. Will Denton, a young father of three, who visited the memorial with his wife and kids does not have any issue with the government response

and neither did anyone else we spoke with i think that free speech is safe and well in our country i think that people are being held accountable now at this point volunteers here approach kirk supporters inviting them to watch a live stream of tomorrow's service at a local church rather than deal with the crowds in person so our service starts at 10 a.m. The stadium, where the event will take place has a capacity of more than 60,000, but local police say up to 100,000 people may try to attend. The high-profile guest list, including President Donald Trump, means security is on high alert,

law enforcement officials giving it the same level of attention as they do the Super Bowl. Katie Simpson, CBC News, Phoenix, Arizona. Still ahead, getting their pause on the law, Canada's largest universities launching a new program, one that teaches students how to navigate animal welfare laws and policies. That's coming up on your world tonight. 16 people have been arrested by RCMP in Quebec after attempting to illegally cross the border into Canada.

It happened Friday night near San Bernard de la Col, just north of the province's border with New York State. RCMP say they're searching for two other people allegedly involved in the crossing who are on the run multiple drivers were questioned and then released due to lack of evidence police say their investigation into the incident is ongoing the Quebec government has struck Abbe Pierre from the order of Quebec

at least 45 people have accused the late French priest of sexual misconduct several of whom were minors at the time of the alleged abuse now the foundation he created Emaeus International detailed the allegations in a report released last year, and after a review, Premier Francois Le Goe stripped the priest of the honors. Pierre was originally appointed to the Order of Quebec in 1995 by Premier Jacques Perizot, Abbe Pierre, whose real name was Henri Gruet, died at 94 years old in 2007.

In Sudan, the ongoing civil war is worsening a crisis in agriculture. The dangerous conditions mean many farmers can't harvest. their crops safely, and the ones who can face many struggles traveling to markets. As freelance reporter Nabamohadim tells us, the agricultural collapse is leading to severe hunger. The demand and offer has changed because of the war. Faisal Ali has been a date farmer and trader in Sudan's northern state for 40 years. He's one of many farmers across Sudan struggling to get by since the start of the Civil War. I see less customers.

and there's also less production. The shape of deaths has also changed because of the heavy rains during all stages of production in recent years. I think this is why it's less exported. According to a new report by the 8-group care, the proportion of farmers in the Darfur and Kordofan regions cultivating small plots of lands has doubled in recent years. And over three-quarters of farmers lost their produce after harvest

due to the theft and poor storage options. But other parts of the country face a similar situation, and women farmers are disproportionately impacted. Even for farmers who manage a harvest, accessibility to markets has been devastated, with two-thirds of farmers reporting disruptions, with nearly one in five having no market access at all. Due to risky roads and the high costs of transport, farmer Siddique Ahmed says it's a real struggle. We privately imported the seeds and fertilizers, but our crops are now thirsty because of the power shortage following the attacks by the RSF. We lost our father-been crop and now wheat is under threat if the power shortage persists. This is a real crisis.

The collapse of agricultural activities is leading to the country seeing an escalating hunger crisis, especially as stable crops like wheat, have been badly affected. Our wheat production has been heavily impacted by the armed conflict, and another element is the lack of irrigated areas. We have 175 million acres, but we only utilize 10 million acres. We produced 360 million tons last year. Wheat production needs temperate climate, good fertilizers and seeds. All of these elements were impacted by the war. The war in Sudan in its third year, and with a collapsing agricultural.

share sector, millions more could suffer at the food crisis worsens. Naba Mahiddin for CBC News, Cartoon. This is your world tonight. I'm Dave Seglins. You can hear your world tonight wherever you are. Just subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast app or listen to us live on the CBC News app. Just tap on the local icon and press play. The University of New Brunswick has launched a nuclear reactor research lab. It's part of a long-term plan to expand the school's expertise in nuclear engineering. And the lab's director hopes it's the first step to help the province meet its future energy needs.

Neepentowari reports. The lab that we've built here didn't happen overnight. University of New Brunswick Engineering Professor William Cook says he hopes the new lab in the school's center for nuclear research will drive. drive the province's goals for nuclear expansion. If we look at energy in general, the need for electricity on grid is not going down. It's actually expected to double over the next few decades. And if we really want to expand that, nuclear power is looked at as the key base load generation capacity that we need to expand upon in order to make that happen. Nuclear expansion is part

of New Brunswick's nation building project pitch to the federal government. The goal, Premier Susan Holt says, is to be a part of Canada's energy superpower. The provincial and federal governments invested in two New Brunswick companies called Moltex and ARC Clean Energy to build small modular reactors by 2030. But due to challenges met by both companies, it is expected that timeline will not be met. The current workforce in the nuclear industry and in general is aging. Cook says UNB currently offers 8 to 10 nuclear engineering courses as part of a chemical or mechanical engineering degree. But he wants the university to develop a full nuclear engineering degree program

to help meet future workforce needs. We need new workers to come in to supplement those that are retiring. That doesn't happen overnight. New Brunswick and Ontario are the only provinces with nuclear reactors, but New Brunswick's sector has drawn criticism for its poor performance. The meltdown was massive. The hydrogen explosions, heart stopping. And events like the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, have led to general concern about the dangers of nuclear power and potential environmental contamination. The province's Green Party leader, David Kuhn, says New Brunswick, becoming a nuclear power leader, is unlikely.

It's ludicrous to suggest this is an area that we are going to be a leader in. That's just to make any sense whatsoever. Where we could become a leader is if we really focused on the transition to electrifying our energy needs and supplying that electricity from renewable sources. But Cook says nuclear power is necessary for Canada to transition away from fossil fuels. I think over the past decade though, most around the globe have realized that we cannot decarbonize our energy grid and have green energy production without a huge increase in the nuclear power capacity that we have both regionally, nationally and globally.

A full degree program at UNB would need to have the university's upper administration on board. Premier Susan Holt will be visiting Ottawa with a delegation in the coming week to discuss future possibilities for the province with the federal government. Dippin Tuwari, CBC News, St. John, New Brunswick. University of Toronto's Law School is launching an animal law program. It's the first of its kind in Canada. The program will offer students' courses. research opportunities, and fellowships.

As Kirtana Assessi Taron reports, it comes at a time when animal welfare and rights are top of mind. Inside the Toronto Humane Society, animals are getting ready to find their forever homes. And while the organization's bread and butter is pet adoptions, it's also about animal welfare. I think understanding knowing and then fighting to advance and championing movement and progression in animal law is super important.

CEO Phil Nichols, says he's happy to hear that University of Toronto's law school is launching an animal law program. Recognition of animals that have rights and recognition of animals that have value is really important to see that actually start to take shape within the field of law. I would say it does a bit feel like a long time coming. Law professor Angela Fernandez is the director of the new animal law program. The specialization will allow students to take courses, seminars, fellowships,

and pursue research into the subject. It's going to sort of tee up and put into place different resources for students who are interested, kind of telling them about it because it's a newer area of law. People might not have heard about or know very much about. While law schools across the country offer some variation of animal law courses, the program is a first for a Canadian law school. It's being launched at a time when incidents around animal welfare are top of mind, such as reports around deaths of marine mammals at marine land

and the use of dogs in a scientific study at a London-Ontario hospital. Hernandez says there's a shift in the way people think and talk about animals. I'm not sure five years ago people would be talking about it so much. I do think that there's something socially is shifting and then, you know, to the extent to which the law reflects that is really important. Yeah, the biggest challenge with animals with regards to the law at this point is they are regarded as property and there's no personhood. That's Phil DeMers, a former marine land trainer turned anti-captivity activist. DeMurz was in a long legal battle against marine land. when the park filed a lawsuit against him in 2013,

alleging he had trespassed and plotted to steal the park's 800-pound walrus smushy. DeMuris filed a counterclaim for defamation and abusive process before it was all resolved in 2022. And so with a new blood and a new energy sort of entering the space, yeah, it really opens the opportunity to see what becomes. You know, having gone through that 13 years now of litigation, is that, you know, hopefully it becomes a little bit easier for people in the future. While the program is still in its infancy,

Fernandez says she hopes interest will continue to grow, especially as people think about animal welfare more and more. Kyrgyritha there in CBC News, Toronto. Debate over animal welfare is forcing a rethink when it comes to bullfighting, a tradition that traces its roots to ancient Mesopotamia. But its days may be numbered. In Spain, the birthplace of modern bullfighting, politicians are talking about banning the practice,

calling it an intolerable form of animal cruelty, though defenders insist it's an important part of Spain's cultural heritage. Freelance reporter John Lass now from Madrid on that debate. As the Madador's enter Madrid's Las Venta Serena, the brass band strikes up a tune. Over the next two hours, these men will face down a succession of six terrifying black bulls, each weighing a minimum of half a ton.

First, Picador's on horseback will pierce the bowl with spears. Then, Banderilleros will stab it with darts. At last, the Matador, with his iconic cape, will dance with the weekend bowl to shouts of Oleg from thousands of spectators. It's a cordial of tors, at the final is a representation of the video. Pilar Martin read the bulls on display at Las Ventas today. She says the Corrida or Bullfight is a representation of the stages of life, a unique and ephemeral work of art. Death, she says, is a reality of life, but it's a social taboo.

Only the bullfight brings us face to face with it. Taboo is right. Despite the capacity crowd at Las Ventus, bullfighting today is less popular than ever. In 2009, one in ten Spaniards saw a bullfight each year. Now, it's less than 2%. David Fennell is a professor of tourism studies at Brock University. We're asking new questions about what's morally acceptable and unacceptable. And it becomes a little bit more of a social cost now than there was five or 10 or 15 or 20 years ago. That includes many in the birthplace of modern bullfighting. Fully three quarters of Spaniards now support a ban on the practice. And recently, more than 700,000,

signed a petition to remove bullfighting's protected status as cultural heritage, a prelude to enacting regional bans across the country. Bands already exist in Colombia and Mexico, where bullfights must now be bloodless affairs. But Pilar Martin says in Spain, a similar ban could have unintended effects. Bow ranches like hers currently protect one-fifth of Spain's remaining natural environment, where bulls are encouraged to roam free over large pastures, to keep them agile and dangerous. That's one reason that, despite growing opposition,

many aficionados are convinced that bullfighting will survive the test of time. Alexander Fiske Harrington is an English journalist who trained as a mandator. Fifteen years ago, I had the same exhibit. I look at trends. What I don't see is the trend of death here. While fewer people attend them, the number of bullfights in Spain has actually increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. The far-right party Vox, meanwhile, has made saving bullfights into a major wedge issue. Here's the thing. A government could fool by panning it.

That means the brass band at Las Ventus might get to play on a little longer. But with opposition particularly strong among young Spaniards, the future of bull fighting is looking a lot more like the Bulls. For CBC News, I'm John Last in Madrid, Spain. Well, when the television medical drama, The Pit took home the top award at last week's Emmys, its showrunner, R. Scott Gemmold, dedicated the trophy to a particular group of people. I want to dedicate this on behalf of everyone to, All the health care workers, the frontline first responders,

respect them, protect them, trust them. Thank you. The pit has been praised for its realistic portrayal of an emergency room and its health care workers and for its portrayal of one undersung group of medical workers, Filipino nurses. Christine Pagelion has that story for us tonight. Oh, they're always threatening to shut us down,

but they never do. What, nino, no, no, no, I don't know if I'm not dittywa to me. That's Tagalogu here in the opening scene of the pit. Filipino nurses, Princess and Perla flank Dr. Robbie, played by Noah Wiley, right from the start. Toronto nurse Charlie Flores love seeing the chismes or gossip in Tagalog. I love, finally, that they've incorporated Filipinos in medical shows. It is reality.

Like, it's just reality. To anybody who's going on shift tonight or coming off shift tonight, thank you for being in that job. This is for you. And it's an Emmy-winning reality, one that includes at long last the appearance and inclusion of Filipinos in health care. The pit offers a compelling look at this sector where in Canada, a third of immigrants from the Philippines work as nurses or support staff. Give me four units of O-negative down there, stat, drop an NG tube, and get Dr. Benton in here. There's no place for a pediatrician.

Despite their strong presence in health care, Filipinos have been overlooked in popular medical dramas like ER and Gray's Anatomy. but that's changing. We are seen. They can see us now. They recognize us, which should have been a long time. I guess it's a long time coming. Yellowknife nurse Jennifer Begonovich

was so proud to see the representation in another TV show, St. Dennis Medical. They are together a lot. Because of the Filipino mafia. What? The Filipino mafia? Clips from the show went viral thanks to a storyline

featuring a clique of nurses who gossip and strut who are known as the Filipino Mafia. And that's what Toronto nurse Mariel Gasko calls her group chat. She said she relied on senior Filipino nurses when she first started. Having kind of that sense of community, like, really helped me grow into my profession. The actors on these shows understand the responsibility that comes with these roles. Amy Lynn Abelera, who plays Perla on The Pit, feels honored.

What a gift for my daughter to be able to see a nurse on screen and be like, oh, that's like Lola. my mom's a nurse. I'm like, yes, it is like Lola. Kristen Villanueva, who plays Princess, hopes these characters spark change. This is not a one-all. This is not special anymore. This is just what it is. It's a representation. It's an exact mirror of what is realized. Filipinos are finally getting some recognition on screen, but they're still missing in leadership roles and are rarely featured as main characters. Winnipeg nurse, Rona Miller, wants mainstream shows to highlight the backstories of Filipino health care workers.

She wants the community to see themselves as more than just one-dimensional characters. We can be more than what we are, and it might encourage younger generation, you know what, I'm not just going to be a nurse, I'm going to be higher up, and I can probably dream big. Christine Pagulayan, CBC News, Toronto. I like bugs, and I'll tell you why they're alive, and so am I bugs. Arkansas singer-songwriter Jesse Wells. Thanks a lot, y'all. Y'all be kind to one another.

He's a newer voice joining a lineup today of legendary performers, farmers, and activists in concert in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Today marks the 40th anniversary of Farm Aid. That's Winona Judd this afternoon at the annual fundraising super concert, founded in 1985 by musicians Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Cougar Mellon Camp. Farm Aid has become an annual music and food festival dedicated to supporting family farmers and local food movements. It's raised $85 million over the years. Today's lineup includes those founding musicians alongside Dave Matthews, Bob Dylan, Steve Earl. Tonight, Canada's own Neil Young takes the stage.

We know where the music's play. Let's go out and feel the night. And we'll leave you with one of his classics, Harvest Moon, on your world tonight. I'm Dave Seglins. Thanks for listening. Because I'm still in love with you, I want to see you dance again.

Because I'm still in love with you on this part is smooth.