Your World Tonight - Venezula rescue, Canadian Wildfires, Stampede politics, and more

Episode Date: July 5, 2026

More than 10 days after a pair of devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela, bodies are slowly being recovered. The official death toll now stands above three-thousand though that number is believed to be much higher in reality. We bring you the story of one woman who survived after spending more than 60 hours beneath the rubble of a collapsed building with her young daughter.In rural British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, out-of-control wildfires are forcing people out of their homes this weekend, Meanwhile in Quebec, dozens of fires have prompted the province to call for help from elsewhere across the country.Politicians rarely resist the lure of Calgary Stampede, though it's more than just rodeos, country music, and pancake breakfasts. It's also a prime opportunity to make connections, shake some hands, and hear directly from Albertans. But with a question of separatism coming up in the province's fall referendum, this year's Stampede feels different. The rising popularity of the romance genre in audiobooks, and more.

With the help of Google AI, CropMind is giving farmers early and accurate insights on crop health, helping them protect their harvests and increase yields. Innovation is Canada's story. Let's tell it together. Find out more at G.co slash Canadian Innovation. This is a CBC podcast. I told my daughter I'd see her in the next life,

says a woman rescued against the odds, along with her child, days after Venezuela's earthquakes. Incredible stories of survival, eclipsed by a rising death toll. This is Your World Tonight. I'm Tanya Fletcher in Vancouver. Also on the podcast, wildfires flare up in pockets of eastern, western, and northern Canada. Entire communities order to evacuate as extreme summer weather and drought take hold. Plus, it was really important to the mayor that he not just make rent and groceries more affordable,

but he also makes soccer more affordable. The mayor of America's biggest city leverages the politics of the world's biggest celebration of the beautiful game. We begin in Venezuela, where the grim rescue and recovery effort grinds on more than 10 days after a pair of devastating earthquakes. Bodies are slowly being recovered,

sending the official death toll above 3,000, though that number is believed to be much higher in reality. But also emerging in the aftermath, are stories of remarkable rescues. The CBC's Horké Barrera is there and tells us about one woman who survived after spending more than 60 hours beneath the rubble of a collapsed building with her young daughter. Sounds of relief, joy in this video, rescuers pulling Astrid Arnauday and her daughter, Hade,

age eight from an apartment building in the state of Laguayda, destroyed by the twin earthquakes, that have left thousands dead and injured in Venezuela. While they were trapped, Arnauday says she told her daughter they would find each other in another life. They had moved in January to an apartment on a third floor of an 11-story building in Caraballeda, a school and beach nearby, macaws in the palms.

June 24th was a holiday, and after a walk for ice cream, Arnauday put a kettle on for tea. The earthquake alert, off on her phone. Through a window, she saw the palms begin to sway. And just I think in to get her daughter and dove beneath the kitchen table and their world shattered.

She said, Mom, I don't want to die. Her daughter was crying, Mom, I don't want to die, or nowadays says she closed her eyes and when she opened them, black. Haide Macedo, a sculptor and surfer, says she wrote Arnauday immediately after the quake. No response. She grew worried and organized friends to go to Arnauday's apartment on the morning of June 26th. Macedo says a Mexican search crew told him the building had no signs of life. Macedo didn't believe it.

She says she shares a bond with Arnauday's daughter beyond their shared first name, so she sketched a layout of the apartment from memory and with friends and strangers began to dig. I was the first to crawl through and begin enlarging a tunnel that reached the wall with Arnauday and her daughter on the other side. In that I heard the voice of a woman making plans, says Arnade, who kept focused on the voice. Then, through the dark, another voice, male, closer. What matters is, in life, over all.

matters is life over everything. Value every breath, every bite, every sip of water, every person who gets close, every hug, says our nowadays. She and her daughter are now in a shelter for the displaced in Caracas. Jorge Barrera, CBC News, Caracas. mourners gather in Tehran as the sun sets on the second day of a public farewell to their supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Three of his sons attended today's funeral procession, but Mostaba, the son who has succeeded him as Iran's supreme leader, was not present.

He's not been seen publicly since his father's death at the end of February when the U.S. and Israel first launched their attack on Iran. The United States has pulled dozens of troops from northeastern Nigeria. The troops were deployed to assist Nigeria in its long-standing fight against militant insurgents. Washington says it has a chance. achieved its objectives. Freelance reporter Kun Leibabs brings us more from Abuja. Earlier this year, the United States deployed about 200 non-combacked troops to Nigeria to support counter-terrorism operations through intelligence, surveillance and specialized training.

The United States says that mission has now largely ended, with most troops withdrawn, though intelligent support is expected to continue. In terms of what the focus of the security partnership between the U.S. U.S. and Nigeria was set out to achieve. I think it's safe to say it has achieved relative success. Abuja-based counter-terrorism analysts David Onnotu says the mission's effects can be felt beyond Nigeria's borders. He says Islamistake West African province or ice swap is linked to a wider network that operates across the Lake Chad Basin, a region which spans Nigeria, Nigeria, Najee, Chard and Cameroon. The operation in the Lake Chad Basin of

Nigeria has not only helped the countries in that region, but it also enhances security across the world, has it disrupted a global terrorist network. The partnership led to one of the most significant victories against ISWAP in recent years, resulting in the death of a senior ISWR figure in May. The U.S. also say it recovered a large cache of phones, computers and digital storage devices belonging to the insurgent group. The recovered items will expose the plan of insurgents. Public affairs analyst Moktao Moldibo says the value of the seized devices will depend on how quickly the investigators can analyze the data and act on it.

This will expose contact, financial trails and other supplies, as well as possible future attacks. Last week, Nigeria named six individuals and three entities, sanctions over alleged terrorism financing. But attacks, kidnapping. and displacements continue to affect civilians in Nigeria and across the Lake Charge region. And the big questions for residents like Titala Yomakos is whether the recovered intelligence can help prevent the next attack. What we want is safety for communities affected by these attacks. So people can return to their farms, homes and live without fair. Washington says the joint operation seriously degraded I-Swaps' leadership.

but the group continues to be a threat in Nigerian northeast. Nigeria's military says it will continue to share intelligence with the U.S. and promises the troops withdrawal will not affect his effort to sustain the pressure on ice swap. Kunibabs for CBC News, Abuja, Nigeria. CBC News has learned that tomorrow Prime Minister Mark Carney will likely unveil Canada's favoured pick to build a fleet of a dozen new submarines. Carney will speak in Halifax before making his way to Turkey for this week's NATO summit. Shipbuilders from Germany and South Korea are competing for the contract

to replace the Canadian Navy's aging Victoria-class subs. Between acquisition and maintenance costs, the price tag could total some $100 billion. Both countries are offering lucrative investments in Canadian industries, including defense manufacturing, to help make up some of the costs. Still ahead, steamy romance novels are on the rise, but not in their traditional form. The genre is seeing an audiobook boom in Canada. We find out what's behind the trend later on your world tonight. U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukraine's president at the NATO summit in Turkey.

It comes after Trump spoke with both Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin this weekend. Ukraine has found some success in striking. at Russia's oil infrastructure in recent weeks, but Russia has responded with strong counterattacks on Ukrainian cities. Reporter Talia Sarv has the details. Emergency crews surround a multi-story home in southern Ukraine. Its walls blown out and floors collapsed. The result of overnight Russian strikes on the city of Zaporasia. It comes as Kiev has targeted Crimea and struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg with drones. The ongoing fighting now well in its fifth year, back in conversation with the U.S. days out

from this year's NATO summit. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushikov speaking of a 90-minute phone call Saturday between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ujikov described the call as quite constructive, saying Trump reaffirmed his readiness to help bring about a swift end to hostilities and seek solutions. Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelensky also said he spoke to Trump at the weekend, posting on social media that there is real prospect to end this war, and America's resolve is decisive.

The White House is yet to make comment on either of the calls. We don't know what Putin will do. Zelensky last week urged the US to provide faster support after Russian forces carried out a mass missile and drone attack on Ukraine's capital. a bombardment that killed dozens. We're asking President Trump, his team, he asks Russia. The Ukrainian leader on Sunday warning of another large-scale attack from Russia. Moscow claimed the strikes on Kiev were retaliation

for ramped up Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities. Putin visited a Russian military command post on Friday denouncing Ukraine claimed victories as imaginary achievements. Earlier saying Russian forces captured the eastern Ukrainian stronghold of Constantinia. The liberation, he says, is a major strategic importance. Kiev has rejected the claim. The Ukrainians now have gained a lot of momentum thanks to an unexpected, fairly impressive development of their drawn industry.

Dominique Rale is chair of Ukrainian studies at the University of Ottawa. He says the window to a ceasefire may be wider than last negotiations with Trump. Ukraine less likely to accept a peace plan where it's forced to cede control from regions. They've been hitting strategically Russian assets, so they're certainly less inclined if they ever were to consider the option. A bumpy path ahead, but an end, many want to reach. Talia Saf, CBC News, Toronto. The US ambassador to Canada says he's confident,

the two countries will soon settle their differences, though not before some wrinkles are ironed out. At a 4th of July event in Ottawa, Pete Huxstra expressed hope that by this time next year, American alcohol will once again flow freely in Canada. But as Peter Armstrong tells us, that won't be an easy task. An American F-35, accompanied by Canadian CF-18s,

fly over the American ambassador's house to celebrate July 4th. a gesture of cooperation and goodwill at a time that has been rather strained. But U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra took an optimistic view. You know, we've got a few little issues to work out. We've got to figure out this bridge thing. We've got to figure out some tariffs and those kinds of things. But we're going to get over this. We're going to get through it.

And yet, as it has been made abundantly clear, those few little issues are not easy fixes. The bridge, of course, is the $6.4 billion Gordy Howe bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario to Detroit, financed entirely by Canada. But as Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in June, the opening has been delayed. At the request of the United States, we agreed to delay the opening and take the necessary time to resolve outstanding issues. What are those specific outstanding issues? That's unclear. But the New York Times has reported that the delay came after. the U.S. Commerce Secretary met with the billionaire American family that owns the Ambassador Bridge,

a family that has also happened to donate a million dollars to a Trump super PAC. Hawkshstra has said the delay has nothing to do with the donation and that the bridge is a standalone issue from the broader trade talks. We'll get through these problems. We'll get through these issues and we will be stronger together. That said, a deadline to extend Kuzma blew by this week with no real sense of when and where. Canada-U.S. talks might resume. And it's not like Canadian trade issues are top of mind here right now. The U.S. just celebrated its 250th birthday. Meanwhile, people here are far more focused on the war in Iran and domestic

issues like gas prices. Still, Hoxtra ended his July 4th comments with a goal of sorts. But next year, hopefully we can all take a toast of American bourbon legally in the province of Ontario. American booze was pulled from many liquor store shelves across the country when the trade war began. Restocking those shelves probably won't happen without a broader trade deal, which by Hoxha's own admission isn't anywhere close to being completed. Peter Armstrong, CBC News, Washington. Well, there are no World Cup matches being played inside New York City, but that hasn't stopped the mayor, Zoran Mundani, from making his mark on the tournament. The Democratic Socialist and soccer fanatic has turned the world's most expensive sports. recording event into a six-week demonstration of his politics.

The CBC's Chris Reyes explains. That's why I'm calling all soccer fans and dynamic pricing. Nine months before FIFA World Cup's first opening match, New York mayor, Zoran Mamdani, was already pushing for a more affordable tournament. Calling on FIFA to lower prices and set aside tickets for locals. And when FIFA didn't deliver, Mamdani launched his own programs. Dozens of restaurants are offering deals for just four. $26.

Cheap meals, free soccer at public schools. Last year, just like Arsenal, we got it done. And a lottery for $1,050 tickets for New Yorkers only. Melody Iberg was one of the lucky winners. There's no way we would have done it if we hadn't gotten that lottery, won the lottery. So I think it's a wonderful program, and I was so glad our amazing mayor did that. Maya Handa is New York's first World Cup czar. She's led the city's preparations to host.

one of the most expensive and popular sporting events in the world. That was our top priority from day one was how can the whole city benefit? We worked with the FIFA host committee to make sure that all five fan fest, one in each borough, were free to the public. So we worked with our tourism organization to create a $26 deal with these beautiful commemorative cups, one in each borough, to kind of motivate people to experience our amazing restaurant and bar scene in an affordable way. The World Cup is being hosted in cities where costs already run high, like Toronto.

in Vancouver. Some tickets are selling for tens of thousands of dollars. In New York, getting to the main stadium in New Jersey, transit alone can cost almost 100 U.S. dollars. Because of that, another lottery winner, Belen Burhanu, felt even luckier for the $50 ticket. What made it even more awesome was just how thoughtful they had been about making sure we had free shuttle buses due to the insanity around transportation and getting to the MetLife Stadium and the cost of that. While there has been free programming in all the host cities, Mamdani, the city's first democratic socialist mayor, seemed to make a point of putting his brand of affordability on the tournament.

We started with a single-minded focus on affordability. It was really important to the mayor that he not just make rent and groceries more affordable, but he also makes soccer more affordable. New Yorkers have taken notice. Do you feel that you've been able to enjoy the warm? World Cup, even without a ticket? Yes, 110%. And it's honestly really cool to have a mayor that is so into soccer.

Outside a public school in the Bronx, where Luca Marcelli is running that free program called soccer streets, he said the World Cup in New York hopefully sends a message. It comes down to the fact that soccer is for everybody. Tickets to the final are still out of reach for many New Yorkers, but Mamdani's last World Cup event won't cost a thing. A free watch party for more than 50,000 people in Central Park. Chris Reyes, CBC News, New York. In rural British Columbia and the Northwest Territories,

out-of-control wildfires are forcing people out of their homes this weekend. Well, in Quebec, dozens of fires have prompted the province to call for help from elsewhere across the country. The CBC's Quabina Oduro has more on a fire season that's suddenly ramped up in parts of Canada. We're making very good progress. Fire is not out. It's still a serious situation. It is not under control. Northwest Territory's fire information officer, Shannon Graff says strong winds on Sunday are pushing a fire towards Wrigley.

The small communities' residents have been out of their home since June 30th. Graff says the fire pushing towards the town isn't all bad news. It's giving the fire pause. It's having a hiccup. We're trying to control that. So we are directing the fire where we want it to go because fire's going to do what it wants to do, which is to burn. It may seem like we're going slowly, but slow is smooth and smooth as fast. And that's the way we're treating this fire. There are no updates yet on when Wrigley residents can return home. Meanwhile, about 200 kilometers southeast, favorable conditions could lend an assist to cruise battling a fire bearing down on Fort Simpson.

In Quebec, there are currently 202 fires burning. The fires are not threatening any communities, but throughout the week, road access and hydroelectric power stations have been compromised. The battle is going well. We're definitely working with Mother Nature. Melanie Moray is a communications agent with Quebec's Fire Prevention Agency. She says there's more rain in the forecast that should help crews bring the levels down. We've had some critical days. We've had a bit of rain in several areas, which has helped quite a bit. We do have all our resources at work. We've also had help from other provinces. Cruise from New Brunswick, PEI, and British Columbia are on a 14-day assignment to help the province.

While firefighters from BC are helping out Quebec, they are dealing with fires of their own. In Southern BC, an out-of-control fire near Boston Bar has ballooned in size, triggering a second evacuation order for the community. It is now considered a wildfire of note, meaning it poses a threat to public safety. Samantha Bellion is with the BC Wildfire Service. We did see an increase in both fire behavior and in size on this fire. So these winds pose a risk to responder safety, and they have resulted in several spot fires to the of this incident. This is where it gets warm and dry.

Lori Daniels is with UBC Center for Wildlife Coexistence. She says Canada's forest fire season is just kicking in. The fuels in the forest don't have that winter moisture to kind of trade off. As we have that warm summer condition kind of building up, it also dries out the forest and makes it increasingly susceptible to fire. Daniels also notes El Nino has been declared in the Pacific Ocean, but the effects of that will be felt on next year's forest fire season. season. Kubino Duro, CBC News, Montreal.

Politicians rarely resist the lure of the Calgary stampede, though it's more than just rodeos, country music, and pancake breakfasts. It's also a prime opportunity to make connections, shake some hands, and hear directly from L. Burtons. But with a question of separatism coming up in the province's fall referendum, this year feels a lot different. Stephanie Cram has that story. We'll fight for the country. We'll fight for Canada. We'll fight for Canada. including in the upcoming referendum to win back Albertans, not by wagging our fingers or lecturing them.

We will be respectful to people on both sides of this debate. Conservative leader Pierre Pollyev giving a campaign-style speech at his party's Stampede Barbecue. While I have been very clear that I will always stand for a United Canada, we will always be willing to listen to the views and address the legitimate concerns of people who are involved in this debate. we want to ensure that when this is all over, we will once again be fully united. The stampede has always been a popular summer destination for politicians from all levels of government,

but this year the focus is squarely on Alberta's fall referendum. Historically, the stampede has been a national political event. I think the focus is much more on Alberta in this particular stampede. Lori Williams' political science professor at Mount Royal University. Politicians are looking whether they're in favor of, remaining in Canada or those who are looking to send the message out for a referendum to separate. The stampede hasn't started on strong footing for Alberta Premier Daniel Smith. At the parade, she got cheers and jeers.

She seems to have angered a number of different groups. The separatists aren't happy with her. Federal supporters aren't happy with her. Then that's to be expected at a time when there's a lot. of debate, a lot of disagreement, and a lot of passion associated with the referendum that's upcoming in October. The stampede holding such reverence of what it means to be Albertan, ideals that both the provincial and federal conservative leaders embrace. This really is such an expression, not only of the greatest outdoors on Earth, but also of the values that we hold as Calgarians and as Albertans, this Western heritage that we have, and the hard work and grit and determination, we just get her done and we're going to get her done.

pulling together. That's the spirit of the stampede, the spirit of Alberta and of Canada. Our values of family, personal responsibility, neighbors helping neighbors hard work and freedom. In the coming days, the stampede is expected to see a record number of liberal MPs. Prime Minister Mark Carney expected among them, those pushing for sovereignty also making their case, with the pro-separation group, let Alberta decide, throwing a pancake breakfast on the last day of the stampede. Stephanie Cramm, CBC News, Edmonton. For many, the summer reading list isn't so much read as it is heard. Audibooks have been growing in popularity in recent years,

and in Canada, romance is one of audio's fastest growing genres with listeners returning for the intimacy and escape. Christine Pagoulayan has more on this audiobook love affair. I do something at the same time. like I will go for a walk or go for chores or do chores. When Toronto romance author Lily Chu finishes writing a book, she has her computer read it out loud to place herself into the audience of her own story. I will do something to try to mimic what a listener will be doing

just to see what really jumps out. According to a 2025 study by non-profit organization BookNet Canada, 81% of respondents reported listening to audiobooks while doing something else. We lead really busy lives. And audiobooks are great accompaniments. For a lot of people, it is the convenience of being able to listen to something and make it a task enjoyable. Listening back, Chu smooths out text message exchanges, tones down swearing,

and trims repetition for multitasking listeners. Six years after her debut rom-com The Stand-in, she has a deal with Audible and just released her sixth audio-first book. Audible Canada says romance is its fastest-growing genre with nearly a third of Canadian listeners, calling it a favorite. What we've been seeing is this boom in the digital audio space. Podcast advisor Amanda Capito says audio storytelling has been on the rise for many years.

I think the pandemic definitely was one of those turning moments where we saw some big jumps because people were looking for connection and we know that audio is such an intimate medium and made people feel less alone. In the beginning, Levi was always my one good thing. my only good thing. Now he's one of many. I love you, I say. Canadian audiobook narrator Angelina Raca

has been getting plenty of work with romance stories. She says listeners crave the guaranteed happy ending the genre offers. Life is hard. Things are hard, and everyone wants an escape, and romance is the perfect way to escape. Romance critic Sarah Wendell adds that immersive audio romance creates a shame-free private space, to explore sensuality and pleasure. So much of our daily experience involves our earbuds.

You're in your own little world. It gives you your own little bubble. It is between you and whatever device you're listening on. No one needs to know about it. I was struck again by that feeling of newness with him. It felt like stopping time. As if they had been waiting a lifetime to be noticed by him. I won't shiver.

Liz Kidd, a bookseller at Toronto Bookstore, Hopeless Romantic Book. says Audio Erotica subscription apps, like Quinn, can let listeners sample different styles. It's spicy, and it's a way for me to explore my sensuality in my own pace. Kids says audio storytelling is a great way to discover what you like and don't like. Open your world up to all these lovely stories and support artists. Christine Pagulayan, CBC News, Toronto. Well, straight out of a romance novel, the biggest celebrity of the summer, perhaps of the decade, is unraveling all kinds of romantic threads.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey's marriage in New York City was a blockbuster concert in and of itself. The not-so-suttle affair featured scores of famous actors, singers. The list goes on. While the venue couldn't have been more public, Madison Square Garden, the details were kept very private, but new tidbits are trickling out of which singers the singer herself chose to perform.

Paul McCart. He reportedly performed his Beatles classic, I want to hold your hand at their reception for the first time in decades. The classic became the Fab Four's first American number one hit, and the last time they performed it was in 1964, and no band member had sung it solo before Friday's nuptials. Swift and McCartney are said to be friends with the two supporting one another in interviews and at their concerts.

And the star-studded stage didn't stop there. Stevie Nix, who's been a friend and mentor to Swift for years, is also said to have performed post-ceremony. The pair have long shared mutual admiration for one another. Swift name drops Nix in her tortured poet's department song, Clara Bow. Nix has always been supportive of the couple saying in a Rolling Stone interview a few years ago, I hope Taylor and Travis fall deeper and deeper in love and ride off into the sunset. This has been your world tonight for Sunday, July 5th.

I'm Tanya Fletcher. Thanks for being with us. Good night. No one in my small town thought I'd meet these suits in L.A. They all want to say they give. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca.ca.