Your World Tonight - World leaders meet in Alberta, Israel - Iran war, Canada Strong pass, and more

Episode Date: June 16, 2025

G7 leaders gather in Kananaskis, Alberta to talk about the global economy, trade tariffs and other issues. The G7 is hosted this year by Prime Minister Mark Carney. He had bilateral meetings with a number of leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump. The Israel - Iran conflict was front and centre.Also: The Israel - Iran war shows no sign of letting up. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not ruled out ‘eliminating’ Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel stepped up its bombardment of areas in Iran, including Iranian state television, and Iran launched another major salvo of missiles at targets within Israel.And: The federal government launches a ‘Canada Strong Pass’ that offers discounts for travel within our country.Plus: Minnesota shooting, pregnancy loss and more.

School is almost out for the summer and if you have kids in your life, The Current is here to help. My name is Matt Galloway and we talk about big issues facing families like how do you actually get kids off their phones? How can teenagers learn to manage their money? And why some parents admit that they regret even having kids. If you need to escape under your headphones from any family member this summer, we have you covered.

You can find and follow The Current on your favorite podcast app. We'll talk to you soon. This is a CBC podcast. We're gathering at one of those turning points in history. Nostalgia isn't a strategy. We have to change with the times and to build a better world. The Prime Minister likes to call them hinge moments. This is also his moment. Mark Carney at the head of the table, bringing G7 leaders together in Alberta at a critical time,

looking for consensus and cooperation in a world becoming more divided and more dangerous. Welcome to Your World Tonight. I'm Susan Bonner. It is Monday, June 16th, coming up on 6 p.m. Eastern, also on the podcast. I'm a tariff person. I've always been a tariff. It's simple. It's easy.

And I think Mark has a more complex idea, but also very good. So we're going to look at both and we're going to see what we're going to come out with something. Trading ideas. U.S. President Donald Trump and Mark Carney standing shoulder to shoulder, no elbows up, the two leaders meeting on the sidelines of the summit to talk about the tariff tension hitting at the heart of the Canadian economy.

Between the rocky mountains and the hard place of global governance, Mark Carney is facing his biggest diplomatic test yet, hosting the G7 summit and some big personalities. The Prime Minister is looking to avoid drama and find common ground with his counterparts. Murray Brewster begins our coverage. As perhaps fitting for the rocky mountain setting of Cananascis, Alberta, G7 leaders had a short hike up a trail to an artificial waterfall where they were greeted by Prime Minister Mark Carney. But it was quickly down to business inside the boardroom.

Good morning everyone. Bonjour tout le monde. Welcome to Cananaskis. With this being the 50th anniversary of the G7, Carney took a moment to reflect on how the group had shaped the world from the final chapters of the Cold War through the economic crises of the early 2000s. Nostalgia isn't a strategy. We have to change with the times and to build a better world. Seated next to Carney, U.S. President Donald Trump,

whose global trade war has caused division among allies, many of whom were now sitting across the table from him. We might not agree on absolutely every issue, but where we will cooperate, we will make an enormous difference for our citizens and for the world. Speaking before the leaders meeting, Trump made it clear he's a tariff guy and showed no sign of backing away from the economic pain the levies are causing allies and U.S. consumers.

Trump did express optimism that some kind of trade and security deal with Canada was possible within days or weeks, but it won't be happening here. The G7 must lead with unity and purpose. In what appears to be a tall order, Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, says the world is looking to the G7 to solve its economic differences and to lead in a dangerous time. Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. This issue should be addressed by diplomatic means.

This is the time, now is time to give space for diplomacy. And here is the first stumbling block to the consensus Carney is seeking. Leaders have drafted a joint statement calling for de-escalation, a statement Trump doesn't intend to sign. He says he's had a back-channel conversation with Iran about its nuclear program since the exchange of missiles with Israel and the targeted killing of top Iranian military leaders. They'd like to talk, but they should have done that before.

They have to make a deal. European leaders around the table say they want the G7 to put more sanctions pressure on Russia to come to the negotiating table in its war with Ukraine. The summit will hear a more direct appeal tomorrow when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joins the conversations. Marie Brewster, CBC News, Banff, Alberta. They may be global meetings but many Canadians are looking to the G7 for progress on a major domestic issue, trade tariffs and the impact they're having on business across the country. So far no breakthrough, but there are some small positive signs, including one Donald

Trump was wearing, Katie Simpson explains. There was tension from the get-go for the public part of the meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and the ever unpredictable US President Donald Trump. Reporters were invited into a small meeting room on the sidelines of the summit after the leaders met privately for about 30 minutes, the Canadians had hoping face-to-face conversations will spark a breakthrough in trade and security talks. I have a tariff concept, Mark has a different concept,

which is something that some people like, but we're going to see if we can get to the bottom of it today. I'm a tariff person. Trump described his support for tariffs as a sticking point in the negotiations. So far, Canada's promises to increase defense spending, improve border security, and possibly support Trump's Golden Dome missile defense system

have failed to yield any tariff relief. Mr. President, do you think a deal is achievable within days, within weeks? Is there that kind of runway? Yeah, it's achievable. Both parties have to agree, you know, sure. As is the case for most world leaders, this is a difficult relationship for Carney to manage to try to push for Canadian interests while not offending the U.S. president. For example, no one in the Canadian delegation said a word or even flinched when Trump repeatedly made factually incorrect claims.

The G7 used to be the G8. Barack Obama and a person named Trudeau didn't want to have Russia in. And I would say that that was a mistake. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not involved in the decision to have Russia removed from the G8. It happened during Prime Minister Stephen Harper's time in office. That was ignored by Carney and the Canadians, who clearly wanted to keep the public portion of this meeting brief.

I'm going to exercise my role, if you will, as G7 chair, since we have a few more minutes with the president and his team. Behind closed doors, the conversations are being described as productive and substantive, though Canada's ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, suggests it may take some time before there's a deal. We are in the middle of a discussion. We are not at the end of the discussion. Our position is that we should have no tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States. That is our position. Hillman says the tone was respectful and the Prime Minister's office pointed out

that Trump showed up wearing a pin with a Canada-U.S. flag on it. Even so, Dominic LeBlanc, the Minister in charge of Canada-U.S. trade, would not deny that Trump once again raised the issue of Canada being the 51st state. We're not going to go into the private details of the conversation. That's not actually true! the 51st state. We're not going to go into the private details of the conversation. Our focus was on the economic opportunity of working with the United States. One glimmer of hope for the Canadian side out of this meeting.

Both countries have agreed to expedite trade and security talks with more conversations to be planned this week. Katie Simpson, CBC News, Kananaskis, Alberta. Conservative leader Pierre Pauliev will face a mandatory leadership review in January. The party's constitution says if the Conservatives don't win an election, members then vote on whether the leader should stay. The party's vote share was up in May's federal election, but it wasn't enough to form government and Poliev himself lost his seat. Coming up on the podcast, the blasts and death continue in both Israel and Iran with neither side in the conflict backing down, the fallout from the assassination and shootings in Minnesota, plus discounting travel in Canada to encourage

summer travel here at home. Calls for calm in the Middle East are being drowned out by deadly strikes across Iran and Israel, and they're escalating, along with the threats. In a recent interview, Israel's Prime Minister did not rule out killing Iran's spiritual and supreme leader while Iran is threatening the largest and most intense missile attack in Israel's history. CBC senior international correspondent Margaret Evans is in Jerusalem. The moment an Israeli attack hit Iran's state broadcaster during a live feed, knocking it

off the air, at least temporarily. A shocked newsreader is seen leaving her desk quickly. Later, a correspondent broadcast a report outside, the building burning in the background and car alarms going off. Earlier, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders telling residents nearby to leave for their own safety, a practice it's used in both Lebanon and Gaza. Iran's leaders denounced it as psychological warfare. But Israel now claims complete aerial control of the skies above Tehran and is making use of

it. There have been large traffic jams as panicked residents flee the capital, those who can. Amir Hossein Mosavi works in a Tehran market store. Where would we go, he asks. Some people might have money, maybe they can leave, but us? I don't think we're going anywhere. More than 220 Iranians have been killed since Israel launched its assault on Friday. It stated aims to destroy Iran's missile stockpiles and its ability to build a nuclear weapon. On Monday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops the aims are in sight. The Israeli military says it's destroyed a third of Iran's ballistic missile launchers. But in Israel, some Iranian missiles are still finding their way through sophisticated defenses. This apartment building in central Israel suffered a direct hit overnight,

turning muddied innards of a family home inside out. Four people were killed. The blast so strong, three nearby tower blocks have been evacuated. Residents allowed back in to collect their belongings today. A lot of noise of the boom. I was very afraid. Hagit Avigdorim A'Olem came back for clothes and cat food, still shaken to the core, she says. She supports Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to go to war with Iran.

Always there is a war in Iran, and all this will finish. But we have no choice, because they want to destroy us. For now, with more threats of retaliation both sides seem determined to continue on their direction of travel no matter the danger of a still escalating war. Margaret Evans, CBC News, Petit Kva. Thousands of Canadians are inside Iran and Israel and with the the conflict worsening, many are desperately trying to get out. But the options are extremely limited. Yasmeen Renea reports.

It's scary to say the least. Ottawa's Maddie Eisenberg is in Tel Aviv, as part of a delegation of Canadians and Americans who are supposed to be meeting with members of Israel's LGBTQ plus community. On Friday around 330 in the morning, Eisenberg woke up to the sounds of air raid sirens and rushed to the nearest bomb shelter. Since then it's been probably 20 or 30 times that we've been in and out of shelters, sometimes once every 45 minutes.

The conflict between Israel and Iran is now in its fourth day. Both sides widening their attacks with dozens already killed. Israel has closed its airspace to civilian airplanes. Eisenberg says the Canadian embassy has warned it could be days or weeks before she could get out of the country. So that was actually more anxiety inducing in a weird way than any of the rockets have been up to this point. Former Canadian diplomat Artur Wolczynski is also part of the delegation. You try and get some rest between the alarms and it's not particularly successful. And then, you know, during the day where there's fewer attacks,

you take the opportunity to take the naps that you can. Iran's airspace is also closed. Those seeking to leave will need to get to a neighboring country through a land border crossing. What I'm feeling and what a lot of Iranians in the diaspora are feeling is just anxiety and anger. Toronto resident Sarah Shariati's father is currently trapped in Tehran. When the strikes first started, he could hear them while inside the house and as the attacks are getting more intense and more frequent,

he's worried and is unsure of what he should do. There is no Canadian embassy in Iran. Global Affairs says its ability to provide consular services is extremely limited. It says Iranian authorities could take retaliatory measures that could pose a risk to the safety and security of Canadians. Nearly 80,000 Canadians are registered with Global Affairs as being in the Middle East. Those who are stranded will continue to shelter in place as necessary and hope the conflict doesn't escalate even further.

Yasmine Ranea, CBC News, Vancouver. In Minnesota, the suspect wanted in that state's largest ever manhunt has made his first court appearance accused of assassinating a politician in an ideologically charged string of violence that authorities say could have been even worse. Sasha Petrasek reports. The breakthrough came in a field in southern Minnesota. Police first found the suspect's parked black sedan. Down the road, his cowboy hat.

And then late Sunday, they found 57-year-old Vance Belter, says Drew Evans with Minnesota's Department of Public Safety. He was cooperative and cooperated with law enforcement and gave up peacefully at that time. Belter appeared in front of a St. Paul federal judge this afternoon, charged with two counts of murder and two of attempted murder. He worked at funeral homes and posted online that he'd run a security firm. At the state capitol, flowers and cards pile up, remembering its its speaker Democrat Melissa Hortman and

her husband Mark both shot by Belter early Saturday morning say police residents like Stephen Schroer come with tears. The fact that this is where we are as a country it's really it's really tore me up and I just, it's just, it's just really hard to see what's going on. Federal prosecutors say Belter first shot a state senator and his wife at their home, visited two other lawmakers' houses disguised as a police officer, then shot the Hortmans early on Saturday morning.

Belter stalked his victims like prey. He went to their homes as a police officer and shot them in cold blood. The acting district attorney for Minnesota, Joseph Thompson, says notebooks found in Belter's car listed dozens of other politicians he was targeting. Political assassinations are rare. They strike at the very core of our democracy. Amy Klobuchar's name is in those notebooks. She's a U.S. Senator from Minnesota, blaming

online threats for the violence. People have to look at the mirror who are engaging in this rhetoric that has inflamed already difficult time in our country, that are posting things on social media, that people actually start believing and then acting out on it. Security is being increased in Minnesota and in Washington now, as U.S. members of Congress are to be briefed on what's to be done to protect them this week. Sasha Petrusik, CBC News, Washington.

It can be a devastating experience for a mother, a pregnancy that ends in early loss. Now doctors are calling for better, more compassionate care for Canadian women suffering through that trauma and they've set out new guidelines to improve standardized care across the country. Christine Birak reports. So I had two early pregnancy losses. One was February 2024. The first time, Bethany Murray says she saw blood and rushed to the emergency department. The pregnancy had ended after five weeks. Then months later, during an ultrasound,

Murray learned her second pregnancy ended at around six weeks. It just, it was just devastating. While she was satisfied with the care she received in hospital, she says after the loss, it was painful to sit in a maternity ward waiting for a blood test. It's not an easy thing to go through mentally no matter how far along the process you are in my opinion. Murray's experience isn't unique. Early pregnancy loss, also referred to as miscarriage, happens in

about 15 percent of pregnancies within the first 13 weeks. We're really recognizing the impact that early pregnancy loss has on women and families. Dr. Lynne Murphy-Callback is president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada. She says too many women are not only dealing with grief but also inadequate health care that lacks compassionate support. The organization released new guidelines for early pregnancy loss including hospitals having private clinic space for pregnancy assessments, screening for depression and anxiety, and providing free medications to medically manage miscarriages. Women can have prolonged mental health issues from this.

And research will show that if it's dealt with effectively with compassionate care and the proper follow-up, we lessen that risk for long-term consequences. We're very excited about this. Dr. Madhupe Tundebias is an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Toronto. She says the guidelines are standard practice in the UK and doable in Canada. She started a clinic at Toronto's North York General that now offers grief counseling, testing and psychological assessments away from the ER. Oh my brain was just spinning the whole time because

like you have you blame everything on yourself even though at the end of the day you finally. Bethany Murray welcomes the guidelines. She says compassion is key when a pregnancy ends early along with hearing and understanding it wasn't your fault. Christine Birak, CBC News, Toronto. Rain and cooler temperatures in Manitoba are helping with the 18 wildfires still burning in the province. Residents of some evacuated communities are now being allowed to go home. Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Menea says his community is happy to be heading home. I see a lot of smiles, I see a lot of handshakes, hugs being given and I think people are just

really excited to be able to go home. I think they'll be just full of smiles, probably cheers. I can just see them cheering in the buses as soon as they arrive home and all that stuff. Officials are warning the community may have to evacuate again and people should be ready. 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.

The world's most popular museum is not receiving any visitors today. The Louvre is closed. Its employees say they're exhausted. They're complaining of unmanageable crowds, chronic understaffing and untenable working conditions. The spontaneous strike took hold during a routine meeting this morning. It's rare for the Louvre to close. It happened during war, during the pandemic, and during a few strikes, the last one in 2019.

The federal government may not be the first place you look when planning a summer getaway, but Ottawa wants to convince Canadians to rediscover their country. And it's chipping in with free admission to national parks and discounts on via rail. But as Olivia Stefanovich found out, not everyone's on board. Why not? Let's enjoy Canada. Like many Canadians, Nancy Hessel didn't grow up seeing much of the country from her home in London, Ontario. We had a large family and yeah so budget budget-wise it was, you know, camping trips were our summer holidays locally. Now she may have the chance, with the federal government launching the aptly named Canada

Strong Pass. And this summer, Canadians will have a unique opportunity to celebrate and discover the very best our country has to offer. Stephen Guilbeau is the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture. His announcement makes good on a liberal campaign promise, incentivizing Canadians to staycation during the trade war with the U.S. The pass grants free admission to all national parks, marine conservation areas, and historic sites administered by Parks Canada.

Plus, a 25% discount on camping fees. So we love the idea. That being said, we are concerned about the impact that this will have. Corey DiMano is the mayor of Banff, Alberta, a town already overrun with visitors flocking to the Rocky Mountains, with parking lots full each day by 10 a.m. We continue to see visitation grow and so we feel the pressure in terms of just having too many vehicles in the town site in summer. Some park users aren't sold on the idea either. If we stop paying as we use it, so who will pay for that? Marie Hellin in PEI is worried the sites will lose out on much needed revenue for preservation and upkeep.

We think it's important that they have enough money to take care of those beautiful places. I think it's a great idea. Others, like Isaac Laffont, are excited. He runs a boat tour along the Rideau Canal National Historic Site. It's definitely well timed with the heightened sense of patriotism that we have right now. In addition, the Canada Strong Pass gives children under the age of 17 free access to national museums, including the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City. Kids can also travel for free on via rail when accompanied by an adult, while young

people aged 18 to 24 get a 25% discount on train tickets. Better late than never. Even though the announcement comes after many Canadians have already booked their travel plans, Claude-Paul Bovin is expecting an economic boost. He's the interim CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.

This will encourage Canadians to explore their backyard and beyond. There is no need to sign up. All you have to do is book or show up. Free entries and discounts last until September 2nd. Olivier Stfanovich, CBC News, Ottawa. Finally tonight, it could become a tourist attraction someday, in the wilderness of northern Ontario, an archaeological mystery that's still being unraveled. Basically, it looked like carvings in rock. And so we took a close look at the photographs and then discovered that there was sort of

a pattern to them and it looked like a written language. Archaeologist Ryan Primrose talking about a series of carvings etched into bedrock near the community of Wawa, Ontario. Discovered in 2018, Primrose has been trying to make sense of it all ever since. About 250 symbols in total. Primrose and his team landed a breakthrough last fall when they found someone who could understand and read it. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come. Henrik Williams is a leading expert of runology from Sweden, reading what he saw when he visited the site last October. It's a version of the Lord's Prayer, written in ancient Nordic runes. Williams may be able to understand it, just don't ask him how it got there. Well, you got me there. It must have taken days and days of work to carve, they really deeply carved into the rock. Someone must have spent, I would say, a couple of weeks at least. And this must have been a Swede.

Were there any Swedes here at all at the time? I don't know. Turns out there were Swedish people in northern Ontario around the time of the carvings from the early 1800s working for the Hudson's Bay Company. So that's likely who did it. What's less clear, why? There were no other artifacts around the site. The researchers hope they will be able to learn more about the site's history and eventually open it up to the public. Thank you for joining us. This has been

Your World Tonight for Monday June 16th. I'm Susan Bonner. Talk to you again.