Your World Tonight - Spirit airlines shuts down, One year searching for two Nova Scotia children, Banksy's newest art piece, and more

Episode Date: May 2, 2026

After more than three decades in the skies, Spirit Airlines is shutting down. The low-cost carrier failed to secure a government bailout in the U.S. amid surging jet fuel costs. It's a blow for Canadians who rely on the bright yellow planes for affordable cross border travel. And the rising fuel prices could put pressure on other budget airlines.Also: It's been one year since anyone has seen Lilly and Jack Sullivan. The young siblings disappeared from their rural Nova Scotia home, setting off a series of extensive searches through dense woods. And this week, Lilly and Jack's loved ones returned to the forest, desperate to find them.And: In London, A large statue - erected under cover of darkness - is turning heads. It's the latest stunt from the elusive street artist Banksy. And the statue's satirical message has Londoners talking.Plus: Burmese refugees in Thailand, QR code scams in Toronto, and more

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What makes you say that? This. Until May 31st, get up to $125 on a prepaid card when you buy four eligible Yokohama tires. Details at point S.ca.ca. Good point. Point S, Tires, and Auto Service. This is a CBC podcast. And I was often able to get flights down to places like Florida for like 45 bucks round trip.

Now the future of travel is very uncertain. The days of budget travel seem to be coming to an end in the U.S. After years of struggle, Spirit Airlines ceases its operations, a victim of sky-high fuel prices. This is Your World Tonight. I'm Gina Louise Phillips. Also on the podcast, Mark Carney heads to Armenia. The Prime Minister and European allies plan to. talk trade and defense at a two-day summit.

And we're just devastated that there's still no answers after a year. Loved ones of Lily and Jack Sullivan hold out hope they'll be found. The young siblings were declared missing one year ago today. We know that high oil prices and the U.S. war with Iran have pushed up the price of flying. Now, a casualty. Spirit Airlines has shut down after more than three decades in the skies. The low-cost carrier failed to secure a government bailout in the U.S. amid surging jet fuel costs. It's a blow for Canadians who rely on the bright yellow planes for affordable cross-border travel.

But as Talia Sarve explains, the writing on the wall was already there for the company. And I went to the kiosk and I typed in my information and they're like, oh yeah, your flight has been canceled. For Danny Nunez, it was meant to be a day of celebration, flying from New York to Orlando for his master's graduation. Looking for an agent, they were like, there's no agent. There's no customer service. And no more flights.

Discount carrier, Spirit Airlines ceasing operations immediately Saturday morning. After the Florida-based company was denied a $500 million federal rescue package. President Trump had floated the idea as recently as Friday. If we could do it, we'd do it, but only if it's a good deal. Spirit marks the industry's first casualty linked to the war in Iran. The airline citing higher oil prices, which have nearly done. doubled jet fuel costs. Spirit was in dire straits long before the war with Iran. US Transport Secretary Sean Duffy responding to the news, highlighting the company was in its second

bankruptcy since COVID. Their model wasn't working. They couldn't get to fiscal health. The decision has put 17,000 people out of a job and triggered stress for those needing to get to theirs. It's definitely a devastating change. Maxwell Arnold lives in southwestern Ontario near Detroit. He has long relied on the ultra-lo. cost carrier for cross-border travel. Arnold says it was an affordable last-minute fare that allowed him to say goodbye to his granddad in Florida after a stroke. When you compare that to what it would have cost to fly on United or Delta or American, you know, I could absolutely see why somebody would have to forego a very, a very treasured sort of moment. Aviation expert John Graddock says this development

will now take a hit to Canadians' wallets. They were the ones that really carry the mantle of low-cost operations. In the meantime, Spirit states its processing refunds, while other airlines have stepped up to assist stranded passengers. Spirit is the first major U.S. airline in 25 years to collapse due to financial trouble. The Transport Secretary reveals it may not be the last. Spirit's not the only one who's having financial issues right now. There could be more. Graddick says Canadian carriers aren't spared from industry turbulence. Flair Airlines and Air Transet. Those two are probably at a higher risk of some of these explosive prices that we're seeing in jet fuel.

And for the bigger airlines, probably about 15 to 20 percent of our Canada's flights are going to be subject to cancellation or consolidation. Paying for companies and their passengers. Talia Sarv, CBC News, Toronto. As well as high oil prices, the U.S. war with Iran is leading to a widening rift between President Donald Trump and his NATO allies. The U.S. says it's withdrawing thousands of troops from Germany. The decision comes just days after the German chancellor suggested Washington was being outplayed by Iran. Trump says he'll review the latest peace deal offer from Tehran, but it's unlikely to be acceptable.

Chris Reyes has the latest from New York. Chris, tell us more about this U.S. troop reduction and its significance. Well, Gina, President Trump coming out today saying that he's actually pulling more. than 5,000 troops from Germany. That said, it's still not a significant number in terms of real impact on the ground, because before this reduction, there were about 35,000 U.S. service members in the country. He's sending a very symbolic message that the U.S. is not happy with Germany and willing to prioritize the war in Iran over having resources in Europe.

A Pentagon spokesperson said that this decision came after a review of the U.S. military's footprint in the region and the needs of current operations. In response, a NATO spokesperson, Alison Hart, posted on exit, NATO is working with the U.S. to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany. So that implies that the dialogue is still open between the two countries. She goes on to say that this move by the U.S. underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defense and take on a greater share of the U.S. of the responsibility for their shared security.

Thank you so much, Chris. That's Chris Reyes in New York. Prime Minister Mark Carney is on route to Armenia to attend a summit of the European political community. While there, he'll meet with several EU leaders. He's only the second sitting Prime Minister to visit the former Soviet country. And as Evan Dyer reports, the location of the summit sends a message. Yerevan, Armenia is a city surrounded by mountains in a small country surrounded by

threats. Just 50 kilometers to the south is Iran and 20 kilometers to the west, Armenia's ancient enemy, Turkey, to the east, Azerbaijan, which recently defeated Armenia in a war and still holds both Armenian territory and prisoners. Armenia is in a really strategic location in the South Caucasus. Christopher Waters of the University of Windsor is an expert on the country. Just think about its neighbors, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan. It's in a difficult neighborhood, but a strategically very important neighborhood. Armenia is increasingly looking to the West, looking to Canada and its allies,

looking to Europe to get away, frankly, from the Russian sphere of influence. As a former Soviet Republic, Vladimir Putin regards Armenia as part of what he calls Ruskimir, Russian world. But Armenia's prime minister, who's due to meet Mark Carney Sunday, is keen to draw closer to Europe. This year he faces an election against a Kremlin-friendly opposition, That's a recipe that in the past brought civil strife and eventually a Russian invasion to Ukraine. And even before that, in 2008, when Armenia's neighbor Georgia was seeking NATO membership.

So United States, Britain, Canada all said, yeah, let's start talking about it. But Rob Hubert of the University of Calgary says the West wasn't united in its support for Georgia. The French and Germans were very strong in their opposition. And Putin, of course, made his move in that sort of uncertainty. The Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008 really marked the beginning of a new cold war between Russia and the West. It's the kind of threat that's very much on the minds of Armenia's government and of the European powers. But the trip isn't only about Armenia. The European political community is where the European Union meets with non-members,

like the UK, Norway, Switzerland and Ukraine, as well as Armenia and its neighbors in the Caucasus, absent the United States. So for Mark Carney, this is an opportunity to really. renew his push for closer integration with Europe, both in terms of trade and in cooperation on defense and rearmament. He's expected to meet privately with the leaders of Armenia, Spain, Italy, Poland, and the President of the European Parliament, the goal to draw Canada closer to Europe, as well as send a message to Moscow that Europe and Canada intend to support the independence of former Soviet republics. Evan Dyer's CBC News, Ottawa.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he's deeply concerned over the leak of a voters list in Alberta. In a written statement, Carney says he expects both elections Alberta and the RCMP to assess how the leak happened and pursue action against whoever is responsible, adding, quote, we must be constantly vigilant to protect the rights of Canadians and the integrity of our democratic processes. Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Nargis Mohamedi has been rushed to hospital after a sharp decline in her health while in prison. The activist foundation says she lost consciousness twice after suffering what they described as a serious cardiac crisis.

Mohamedi's family says her transfer to hospital comes after months of medical neglect and warn it may have come too late. The Nobel Prize Committee is also calling for Mohamedi to be transferred to Tehran for better care, but previous requests have been refused by Iranian authorities. The 54-year-old has spent more than a decade in and out of prison in Iran since her first arrest in 1998. Still ahead, a home away from home. Thailand's second largest city opens its arms to refugees from Myanmar,

providing safe sanctuary and a place to rebuild their community. Now those migrants are responding in kind. You'll hear how they're reshaping the character and economy of Chiang Mai. That's coming up later on Your World Tonight. It's been one year since anyone has seen Lily and Jack Sullivan. The young siblings disappeared from their rural Nova Scotia home, setting off a series of extensive searches through dense woods. And this week, Lily and Jack's loved ones returned to the forest, desperate to find them. Selina Alders reports.

Dozens of searchers scour the woods, combing through thick brush and trees. They're hoping to find any sign of Lily and Jack Sullivan. I can't really put it in words how hard this. has been on myself and my family. Among the searchers is the children's maternal grandmother, Cindy Murray. We're just devastated, that there's still no answers after a year. The Sullivan children were first reported missing by their mother one year ago. Lily, then six, and Jack, then four, disappeared from their home in Lansdown, Nova Scotia. It's a rural community about 150 kilometers outside of Halifax. Since then, there have been few clues pointing to what might have happened.

A piece of Lily's blanket found hanging from a tree and a cluster of bootprints near the family home are the only pieces of evidence in this case. Still, RCMP continue to investigate and follow up on all tips. We've not let up this team and we won't. Our investigators, our parents, as I've said before, we're families and we want answers as much as everybody else. We haven't stopped and we won't. RCMP staff sergeant Rob McCammon says they're investigating under the Missing Persons Act, and the case has not turned criminal. Okay, I'll keep coming around, guys. Nick Oldrieve is executive director of an Ontario-based group called Please Bring Me Home.

He's been leading the volunteer searches to help support the family and ensure no stone is left unturned. You've got to keep your foot on the gas with this. You can't let up at all when it's children missing. Oldreve says the group plans to continue searching. for Lily and Jack throughout the spring and summer months. This in and of itself that it's gone on for as long as it has makes it profoundly rare. Michelle Janice is a criminologist with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Her expertise is missing persons.

She says it's almost unheard of for two children to vanish without a trace, but that doesn't mean they won't be found eventually. These kinds of cases do not look like procedural dramas on TV, and they can take a really long time. and that we should still be looking. And that's exactly what friends and family are doing. We just try and stay positive and try and put one foot in front of the other each day

and looking for answers. An entire community holding onto hope, desperate to find Lily and Jack Sullivan. Selina Alders, CBC News, Halifax. Several Ontario homeowners say they're on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars. That's because indigenous ancestral remains were found on their property, and provincial laws require that homeowners pay for an inquiry.

As Kimberly Ivany reports, at least one couple says they're facing a bill that could reach half a million dollars. The ferry departs from Kingston to get to Wolf Island, Ontario, the largest of the thousand islands in the St. Lawrence River. In April 2006, two locals walking the U.S. island shoreline discovered a human skull in a sandy bank. Police were called and more remains were uncovered. In an initial report, a provincial archaeologist estimated the remains were most likely an indigenous man, more than 1,000 years old. But the investigation appeared to stop there.

Sixteen years later, Dave and Cheryl Van Hall bought the property. The homeowner that we bought it from said that barrel site was gone, it was all washed away. But one month later, Ontario, Ontario's registrar of burials ordered the van halls to complete the unfinished inquiry, relocate the burial site to determine its origin and borders. Dave says they were shocked. Why are we paying for them? It seems like we're trying to pick up all these pieces here.

100 kilometers west in Prince Edward County, J&D Kettle discovered ancestral remains during renovations for a dream business venture last summer. Jay says Ontario ordered them to launch an investigation soon after. They wanted to follow protocol. We don't want to be disturbing anything that shouldn't be disturbed. An archaeologist they hired estimates that 230 square meters of soil will have to be excavated in order to meet the province's requirements. It might take two years to finish,

and could cost the couple more than half a million dollars. Dee says the stress has been extraordinary. I want to throw up sometimes. I feel like I just got punched in a stomach. The law allows homeowners to apply for financial, assistance from the provincial government. But the rules are vague about who can qualify and how long the application process takes. CBC News has learned of five other homeowners navigating Ontario's rules around ancestral remains discoveries. A growing number of indigenous and non-indigenous

experts and homeowners say the rules take the onus off the government in addressing the matter. There's just so much responsibility that's being sure, as always is, when it comes to indigenous relations and or being accountable to indigenous nations. Archaeologist Terry Lynn Brennan is of Mohawk, Tuscarora, and British Heritage. She says the rising number of cases like this point to a problem still buried. This is a situation that has deeper roots than homeowners, if you will. This has got more to do with land rights. There is no way within the current system to make any of this right.

It's an issue that government leaders seemingly don't want to touch. CBC News has repeatedly asked Ontario Premier Doug Ford if he would change the current law. His office has never responded. CBC News also reached out to Rebecca Altie, federal minister of Crown Indigenous Relations. A spokesperson said the minister won't comment because burial site investigations are a provincial matter. Kimberly Avenue, CBC News, Vancouver. The coup in Myanmar, just over five. years ago has radically altered

Chiang Mai. The Thai city has become a safe haven for migrants. Those newcomers are now a major driving force behind the city's economy. Freelance reporter Adam Bema has that story for us tonight. Burmese hip-hop artist Ganji grew up

in northern Thailand across the border from his homeland. He refers to his adopted city after its airport code CNX. We want to be that safe city the safe haven for like all the people to come together, be together, try to support each other and find some sort of answer. That's right. Chiang Mai is home to ancient temples and a modern tech startup scene.

Its geographic closeness and cultural ties to Myanmar has seen it emerge as a sanctuary in recent years. Since the 2021 military coup and forced conscription in Myanmar, thousands of people have settled here. A lot of new cameras. Instead of just hiding, Many are actively rebuilding their lives. Activist Thet Swee-Win fled Myanmar to Thailand to avoid arrest by the military. He co-founded a hub for exiles. I wanted to create a space where everyone can come there to do business, to rebuild the community.

In order to keep the revolution alive, we have to be able to stand on our own. He calls the place memories of Chiang Mai and wants Burmese to never forget the welcoming reception they received. received in Thailand. This is my office. I like that he's trying to integrate the Burmese community and let the Thai community also taste if they want to come. You know, we love markets. Memories of Chiang Mai features food stalls run by people from diverse ethnic backgrounds,

learning to overcome historical prejudices. Thai journalist Kenikha Petchkeu says it's not only activists seeking sanctuary. There's also entrepreneurs setting up shop here. People come to find a better opportunity for their business. At least 6,000 migrants from Myanmar have settled in Chiang Mai as of mid-2025, a sharp increase since 2021. Chiang Mai's economy, valued at $8 billion, US dollars, relies heavily on the service sector.

And Burmese are already contributing significantly to this service-driven economy. Unlike earlier migration patterns dominated by low-skilled laborers, the new arrivals are mostly educated professionals. Many hold university degrees and bring both financial resources and international experience. When we get to Burma, when we talk about the memory for Thailand, when we talk about the memories of Chiang Mai, this belief will be in our memories. The UN estimates there are now 4.6 million Burmese in Thailand, with half arriving since

2021. Most of the new arrivals in Chiang Mai say they fled military conscription, which was enforced in 2024. The World Bank projects Thailand could face as many as 14. million job openings by 2016, increasing reliance on migrants from Myanmar. For now, Chiang Mai continues to serve as both a refuge and an economic engine, where political upheaval across the border is quietly reshaping the future of this Thai city. Adam Bemma for CBC News, Cheng Mai, Thailand. Bikers Beware. Scammers in Toronto are trying to dupe users of the city's bike sharing system with phony QR code.

It's the first instance of this scheme, like Shared Toronto says. But as Hayden Waters reports, scammers have been using this tactic and pay parking lots in other cities for years. I just wanted to grab a bike. Peter Leventis was in a hurry. He tried to undock one of Toronto City rental bikes using the QR code on it. But that didn't work. So he tried scanning another bike and another one.

That's when he realized something was off. When I noticed the QR code looked a little different. It didn't make sense for like three or four, minutes and then, you know, it all clicked. That's because Leventis was scanning a fake QR sticker, the same size as the real QR that's pasted on every rental bike, but slightly different. QR code didn't work. Let's see where it goes to.

It was a dodgy site asking for personal information, like a credit card to pay for parking. Definitely not how to pay for a rental bike. It's a known scam tactic like fishing, but using fraudulent QR codes instead. Some even call it quishing. The problem has plagued parking lots in other parts of the country, like all. Ottawa and Montreal. But this is the first time Bikshare Toronto is dealing with it. Matthew Varsava is Bikshare's director. All the previous times that we have, the QR code typically is taking someone to a Spotify

playlist. The exact same fake QR codes leading to the exact same phony parking site also recently started showing up on parking machines in Mississauga. Colin Patterson is director of municipal parking for that city. We were able to remove over 80 stickers from the downtown parking machines. And I'm hopeful that we caught it before anyone felt. It's a scam Cammy Vanier has seen many times. I mean, I can literally see someone just giving someone a huge stack of these and say, just put them everywhere. She teaches in the University of Waterloo's electrical and computer engineering department,

specializing in scams, security, and privacy. My only official opinion that I always push, but probably doesn't going to end up in here, is just how hard it is for the general public to tell the difference between a real QR code and a fake one. And it is impressively hard to do. He says you should never auto open a QR code link. You should check where you're being linked to first. Or don't use a QR code at all, especially if it's suspicious looking.

It's given Leventis a lot to think about next time he tries to unlock a bike. It'll be part of my check now when I take a bike out. Does the bell work? Are the tires okay? Do the tiers change? Is there a right QR code on there? For his part, he found five fake QR code stickers. He ripped them off the bikes, reported them, and he threw them in the trash.

Hayden Waters, CBC News, Toronto. In London, a large statue erected under the cover of darkness is turning heads. It's the most recent stunt from the elusive street artist Banksy, and the statue's satirical message has Londoners talking. Griffin Yeager reports. The crowd that drew us in, we were like, oh, we were like, what is this? This is the best thing that has happened to corporate lunch in a hot minute. A large statue bearing Banksy's autograph in Zincolns.

Central London drew equal parts, crowds, and confusion. To get that in place, it's pretty bullsey. We're in a bit of awe that a 10, 12-meter statue just randomly showed up and no one knows where it came from. Sculpture isn't Banksy's typical medium. The anonymous artist started with spray-painted creations, stenciled onto buildings, before moving into gallery spaces. His paintings now fetch millions of dollars at auction. But Banksy confirmed it. Posting a video on social media Thursday afternoon,

showing the piece being installed overnight in Waterloo Place near Buckingham Palace. A truck driving it in, workers wearing construction vests. I think the high visibility vest is an invisibility cloak, right? It's this counterintuitive thing. RJ Rushmore is a public art producer who's been writing about Banksy for over a decade. He says confidence is the artist's greatest tool. Do you see somebody wearing a vest? Yeah, they're supposed to be there, right?

And I think that they pulled that off just flawlessly. The statue is of a suited man walking forward off of a plinth, carrying a flag that covers his face. For many, the political undertone is hard to miss. I see it as nationalism in the worst way possible, you know, leading us off a cliff. Ollie Isaac is an art student in London. It sums it up perfectly for me. What's currently going on in England and the UK everywhere right now,

the wars in various. places. It doesn't have to be anyone. It just has to carry the message that we're all walking off the cliff if we listen to them, you know? A theme Rushmore says is common for the elusive artist. Banksi has been outspoken for decades now on sort of the dangers of patriotism, right, of extreme patriotism. And the location, not a surprise to him, highly policed and close to other landmarks and monuments. And then to see this person falling off the plant in that environment is very intentional. As the crowds grow, some hope it'll spark more than just conversation. And if more artists can do that and get the message across, there can be positive change and we can start leading

the world with hope rather than with hate and fear. The latest work by an artist whose real identity is still a mystery. Griffin Yeager's CBC News, Toronto. And finally tonight, an old game a new purpose. I was made for this. On that's what? Nice. The dice lands and its huge relief felt by 15-year-old Mateo Narvez

as he plots his next move. What sounds like a regular board game happening amongst friends is actually an emerging form of group therapy. It trades in traditional techniques for other tools, like swords and battle axes.

Jonathan very quickly moves into the room, draws his dagger. and takes out one of the guards. Meet Jonathan Smith. The group knows him as dungeon master. The Trent University Master of Psychology student created the Oshawa Dungeons and Dragons Club through Autism Ontario.

For youth like Mateo, the tabletop role-playing game is a game changer for how he shows up in his day-to-day. I've been more confident in what I've said, what I've done, and overall, my confidence has really raised because of this program.

This kind of group therapy is proving to help people who struggle to connect with friends or have been diagnosed with ADHD or autism. The banner term for who they are in this world is neurodivergent. But in this world they're immersed in, they're elves, wizards, and warriors. As Mateo's mom says,

finding a program that works on social skills through play isn't common. That's really tough to find. So this program is a bit of a lifesaver. On the other side of the country, Cody Ruger is a child therapist doing this too. The group filled within a week and then I've got a wait list created. Both Ruger and Smith are looking for ways to expand their programs, giving more youth a chance to tap out of the challenges of being neurodivergent

and tap in to the magic of play. If I'm lying, then why aren't my chance? This has been your world tonight for May 2nd. I'm Gina Louise Phillips. Good night. For more CBC podcasts, go to cBC.ca.ca slash podcasts.