Your World Tonight - Zelenskyy in London, Canadian expedition to Antarctica, Latvia loves 'Flow', and more

Episode Date: March 1, 2025

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is searching for calmer waters across the pond - one day after a heated confrontation with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office. By contrast, a meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Saturday was cordial and supportive. And comes just ahead of a European summit looking at Ukraine's future after three brutal years of war.Also: A Canadian Navy vessel has reached Antarctica. Now, the team of scientists on board is getting down to work to better understand how climate change has altered the Southern Ocean. You'll hear from CBC's International Climate Correspondent, who's onboard the ship.And: The Latvian animated movie 'Flow' could soon take home Oscar gold. Its the first movie from the Baltic country to ever be up for an Academy Award. We'll take you to Riga...where Latvians are celebrating the film as a source of national pride. 

In Scarborough, there's this fire behind our eyes. A passion in our bellies. It's in the hearts of our neighbors. The eyes of our nurses. And the hands of our doctors. It's what makes Scarborough, Scarborough. In our hospitals, we do more than anyone thought possible. We've less than anyone could imagine.

But it's time to imagine what we can do with more. Join Scarborough Health Network and together, we can turn grit into greatness. Do need at lovescarborough.ca. This is a CBC podcast. Hi, I'm Julie-Ann Hazelwood. This is your World Tonight. I want to thank you, people of the United Kingdom,

such big support from the very beginning of this war. Thank you. Lone Mayor Zelensky voices gratitude for the UK. One day after Donald Trump and JD Vance gave Ukraine's president a dressing down, Zelensky is getting a warm welcome in London. It comes ahead of a meeting with more world leaders, including Canada's, at a summit on Sunday.

Also tonight, you'll hear reaction to the latest dust-up from inside Ukraine. And? So we collect sediment from the ocean bottom and then we try to reconstruct where glaciers were 100 years, a thousand years ago. Canadian scientists study climate change from Antarctica, and CBC News is with them. Music Ukraine's president is searching for calmer waters across the pond, a day after US President Trump and Vice President Vance berated Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.

The disturbances from that meeting are being felt around the globe. By contrast, a meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Saturday was cordial and supportive, and comes just ahead of a European summit looking at Ukraine's future after three brutal years of war. Richard Madden tells us more from Washington. tells us more from Washington. Ukraine President Vladimir Zelensky getting a warm welcome in London after yesterday's diplomatic disaster in Washington. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer greeting him at 10 Downing. You have full backing across the United Kingdom and we stand with you, with Ukraine, for as

long as it may take. Zelensky has been invited to meet King Charles and come to Sunday's European Defense Summit, also to be attended by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, where Ukraine's security and how to end its war against Russia has become the urgent new focus. So we're happy and we come to your support and really, really, we're really happy that

we have such partners and such friends. This is in stark contrast to Friday's shocking blowout between Zelensky and President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Don't tell us what we're going to feel. Zelensky was berated by Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, accused of being ungrateful, greedy and unwilling to accept a peace deal. You're gambling with World War III and what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country, that's backed you far more than a lot of people said they should

have. Have you said thank you once? This entire meeting? No, in this entire meeting have you said thank you once? In this entire meeting have you said thank you? Zelensky argued that Ukraine be included in US-led peace talks with Russia, adding his country needs US security guarantees saying Russia can't be trusted to honor a ceasefire. Please you think that if you will speak very loudly about the war you can speak? He's not speaking loudly. Your country's in big trouble.

Can I answer? No, no. You've done a lot of talking. That shocking blowout may play well with Trump's political base, but it's rattled Europe and Western allies. Democrat Senator Chris Murphy believes it was a setup. It was a planned ambush designed to embarrass President Zelensky

in order to benefit Vladimir Putin. That was an embarrassment. That was an abomination. The Trump administration denies it but confirms Zelensky was booted from the White House. The two leaders were supposed to sign a critical minerals deal viewed as the first step towards a ceasefire. National security adviser Mike Waltz says the president scrapped it, blaming Zelensky's attitude. His ambassador and his advisor were practically, I mean they were practically in tears wanting this to move forward. But Zelensky was still argumentative. As the U.S. steps back from a leadership role in Ukraine, several European countries are now being forced to step up, boosting defense spending and committing to sending troops and fighter jets to Ukraine as added security guarantees should a ceasefire be reached. Richard

Madden, CBC News, Washington. Ukrainians overseas and here at home are reacting to that tense meeting at the Oval Office. Many are worried and hope allies like Canada will maintain its support. As Philip Lee Shanuck reports, those closer to the conflict hope a peace plan can still be salvaged. Maria Yanchenko, owner of Myrusa's Kitchen in Toronto, says like many Ukrainian Canadians,

she watched in disbelief at what happened in the Oval Office. They drew him there to make a fool out of him. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance to discuss a pivotal minerals deal and strengthen U.S.-Ukraine relations. Yanchenko says what happened was the opposite. Gambling with World War III.

With Trump and Vance calling Zelensky disrespectful while she says they insulted him and his country. All the world is a stage now for Trump because he's like a reality showman. Who can you trust anymore? Nobody. Peter Shaturn, president of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress in Toronto, says he was shocked but not surprised. Because we kind of saw it coming especially with the messaging that's been coming out of the White House the last few weeks. On the streets of Kyiv the same feeling of betrayal by a country that had been a staunch ally.

When you look at Zelensky's face you understand that they are so rude. They don't respect people of Ukraine. Looks like they support Russia and they ignore everything regarding it, regarding the war in Ukraine. And while Trump and Vance have criticized the suspension of elections during the war with Russia, even Ukrainian opposition politicians like Ina Sovson support Zelensky. He stood up for Ukraine. It must have been very difficult for him. It was very difficult for me to watch. Ivan Yabovitsky is a Ukrainian political analyst. He says it's

clear Moscow has the support of Washington DC. And it also means that Ukraine has to be ready to rely more on its own resources. Resources the U.S. are interested in, according to Queen's University Energy and Environmental Policy Professor, Warren Mabee. He says while Trump may claim Zelensky has a bad bargaining position, the U.S. needs critical minerals and rare earth metals from Ukraine. U.S. companies are not likely to go in and start doing billions of dollars worth of development on the land unless the area is secure, unless it's safe to do that kind of investment. So he says a peace deal is still possible given that a minerals deal is just as important

for U.S. interests as it is for Ukraine. Philip LeChanoc, CBC News, Toronto. [♪upbeat music playing -♪ [♪upbeat music playing -♪ Still ahead, a cartoon black cat has captured the hearts of an entire country. Flow is the first ever Latvian film to be recognized by the Oscars. And for people in the country, Flow is more than just a movie. It's a phenomenon and a source of national pride. You'll hear

all about it later on Your World Tonight. Pope Francis is in stable condition, the Vatican says. In a statement, the Holy See says Francis is alert and eating on his own. It also says he doesn't have a fever or a high white blood cell count. But his prognosis is still guarded, meaning he's not out of danger. The 88-year-old Pontiff has been in hospital since February 14th with double pneumonia. For the second year in a row, Palestinians in Gaza are fasting for Ramadan under challenging conditions. There is a shortage of basic necessities and most of the territory's mosques have been

destroyed. Lantern shop owner Sayed Al-Bitar says prices have skyrocketed. Items that used to cost one shekel are now three, from three to six, from six to twelve. Today the situation is difficult. There is no work and nothing keeps the country running. There are worries about the future of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. It expired Saturday. Israel now says it endorses a U.S. proposal for a temporary truce during the periods of

Ramadan and Passover. Israel's Prime Minister's office says half of the hostages in Gaza, both living and dead, would be released on day one of the plan. The remaining would be released at the end if a permanent ceasefire is reached. Hamas has yet to accept the plan. Florence is one of Europe's great cities, a hub for fashion, tourism, and American students. Thousands of Americans study abroad in Florence each year, and as John last tells us, Florentines are getting fed up.

On the streets outside of the American University of Florence, not a word of Italian can be heard. Everywhere there are American accents debating the merits of Ibiza or the benefits of a Mediterranean diet. This year though, these students might detect an undercurrent of hostility around them. Across the city you can still find remains of yellow stickers bearing a message in blocky black font. Yankee, go home. The Americans here, they stay in their own bubble, we can say. Marala Amorini is a Florence native and vice president of a local club for foreign students.

She says Florence has always been overrun by American tourists. But what's changed recently is the number of students. Today, Florence is home to more than 50 satellite campuses for American universities, attracting more than 18,000 exchange students each year. These students, Emerini says, rarely integrate with Italians, instead earning a reputation for public routiness and supporting American-style bars over local Italian establishments.

The American community that lives in Florence is totally integrated. That's unfair, says Florence Mayor Sara Funano. The American community here is totally integrated, she says. She's made courting even more Americans on so-called long stays a priority of her government, launching a campaign to help connect students with community groups and medical services. The problem is, all those students need somewhere to stay, and Florence is quickly running out

of space. Francesco Torrojani is an organizer for Salvia Amo Forense, an affordability advocacy group. He estimates that of the 30,000 or so rental apartments in Florence, more than half have been turned into Airbnbs, leased for a small fortune to tourists and long-stay visitors alike. And each year, there are more of them, as American investors convert Florence's Grand Palazzi into hotels and residences for college kids. Still, Funaro says the problem is not with Americans per se. Putting a limit on new Airbnbs is her idea for solving the city's

housing problem. It also just happens to be something she can't do alone. Any move to cap them would require buy-in from Italy's national government. While they negotiate, critics like Amorini say the city of Michelangelo is slowly losing its soul. Florence, she said, is like a theme park. It might be charming for those visiting for just a short while, but it's a bit depressing to spend your whole life in. For CBC News, I'm John Last in Florence, Italy. Prince Edward Island's longest-ever serving MP is calling it a career. Lawrence McCauley says he will not run in the next federal election. The farmer-turned-politician

has represented the PEI riding of cardigan since 1988. McCauley tells the CBC that the time has come. Since 2015, there was great thought that I would not run anymore, but here I am and I have enjoyed it all and worked with the people and that's what made it worthwhile. Macaulay has held several roles in Cabinet. He's currently Agriculture Minister and has served as Solicitor General and Minister of Veterans Affairs. A Canadian Navy vessel has reached Antarctica.

Now the team of scientists on board is getting down to work. The first all-Canadian Antarctic expedition hopes to better understand how climate change has altered the Southern Ocean. CBC News has exclusive access to the scientists. International climate correspondent Susan Ormiston joins us from on board HMCS Margaret Brooke. Susan, describe where you are and what's happening off the ship. Well, we are in Admiralty Bay off the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.

It's really a stunning, craggy landscape here with ice encrusted peaks. We can see the white blue glaciers and surprisingly for me, a clear green blue of the Southern Ocean. I expected it to be darker. The ship arrived on Friday and they were pretty excited on the bridge. Here's Operations Officer Jeff Brooker on the PA system when they got a first sight of Antarctica.

Good morning, Margaret Brook. Opso here. Overnight, Margaret Brook continued south towards Antarctica. Today marks a truly historic moment. Antarctica is now on the horizon. For many, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So I really encourage everybody to come to the Upper Decks today and take in this beautiful continent. Now we're into the science work and I can see small boats bobbing around the Navy ship with scientists out taking water samples in quite frigid water. Another team on the quarter

deck is hoisting a three meter long metal cylinder by a crane and plunging it into the seabed. Alex Normandeau with Natural Resources Canada is running that research. We're interested in reconstructing glacial retreat in Antarctica using sediment cores so we collect sediment from the ocean bottom and then we try to reconstruct where glaciers were hundred years a thousand years ago and then to see how these trends have changed over time. The other thing is that as a scientist, Antarctica is what the Arctic looked like 10,000 years ago.

Fascinating. I can really picture where you are in the work that's being done. Why is this unique? Well, you know, for a country like Canada bordered by three oceans, marine scientists say they need a lot of access to ships to do complicated research and they collaborate internationally with other scientists on other boats like the Germans and the Brits, but this is the first all Canadian expedition in Antarctica ever. And the Navy's mission here is to assist the science team and we're seeing it all in motion

this weekend. And I want to bring you into a scene where the Navy helped Kevin Wilcox of the University of New Brunswick launch his uncrewed surface vehicle or USV. A crane was lowering the two meter long, bright yellow vehicle into the ocean, which is going to map the seabed. And Wilcox and our CBC videographer

were on another boat, crewed by the Navy. Small boat is by the Navy. But you know that's what testing is for and not long after that they'd untethered the mooring strap and they were on their way and Wilcox was operating it remotely as it scooted around the bay and it did perform as they'd hoped. It's pretty fascinating to see how the Navy crew and the scientists, which were strangers less than a week ago, work out all the kinks. Also on deck today Brent Else from the University of Calgary, who told us that he'll be testing ocean water for carbon dioxide levels. This kind of work is important because the oceans take up a lot of carbon dioxide. They absorb about 30 percent of the CO2 that humans emit. So oceans really slow down climate change

and the high latitude oceans, the polar oceans, the Arctic and the Antarctic, they do a lot of that work. As the climate changes, we need to know what that trajectory might look like. I feel like I'm on board with you there. Susan, where are you headed next? We're here in the Bay for a couple of days and then moving to an area off an ice shelf

for more sampling and eventually making our way to Deception Island, which is an active volcano and there's some ash-covered glaciers there. Wow. Thank you so much for this, Susan. You're welcome. The CBC's International Climate Correspondent, Susan Ormiston, in Admiralty Bay, Antarctica. The Latvian movie flow has no dialogue, was animated entirely on free software, and could soon take home Oscar Gold.

It's the first film from Latvia to ever be up for Academy Awards. And as Dominic Velaitis reports from Riga, for Latvians, Flow isn't just a good movie. It's a source of national pride. The animated movie Flow is Latvia's first ever shot at an Oscar. And people in this small Baltic country can't wait for tomorrow night's awards ceremony in Hollywood. I'm very proud about it and actually I hope that we will win. Big moment for us. If we win Oscar, of course it will be a great victory, yes.

It's a big achievement for Latvia, something that never happened before. So I'm happy for Latvia. The tale follows a cat and its unlikely companions as they navigate a post-human world ravaged by floods. Praised by the critics, it's already picked up a Golden Globe and smashed box office records in Latvia, selling more tickets than any other movie in the country's history. But the independent film's success hasn't stopped there. It's made over $20 dollars worldwide on a budget of

less than 4 million. This one is going to United States. Official movie merchandise meanwhile has been flying off the shelves at M50, a boutique store in Riga owned by Eleanor Baclava. The sales just were booming and are high and crazy and people have been waiting in lines. We have had orders of course from Europe mainly but there's been fantastic destinations as Peru and New Zealand and of course the United States and Canada as well. Flow is putting Latvia under the international spotlight and boosting the country's media industry. But one of the biggest impacts the movie's having is inside the European nation.

Hi, my name is Agnes Elata and I'm the Minister of Culture of Latvia. After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, we needed a good story and it has strengthened our unity and it has reaffirmed that Latvians can, Latvians should aim for wide success, for amazing success and this is what Flow has reminded all of us. The movie is up for both best animated feature and best international feature at the Oscars. The man behind it all has been too busy to enjoy the huge support his movie has in Latvia. Hello, my name is Ginzil Belodis and I'm the director of Flo. I haven't been home that much.

I've been like traveling all over the world since the premiere and maybe after the Oscars I'll finally like return home and really get a sense of it, but it's It's great. It's just it's kind of unexpected. So of course, I'm very anxious but also very excited So of course I'm very anxious but also very excited. Latvia is holding its breath for flow at tomorrow's Oscars ceremony. A movie that has already put the country on the map, boosted national pride in industry and reminded us all that even the smallest voices can have the biggest impact.

Dominic Vlises for CBC News, Riga, Latvia. And finally. Hey, Seigneur, Dieu vivant, Créateur du ciel et de la terre. That's the tune listeners recently heard on a community radio station in New Brunswick. It's called J'mouafra à toi, or I offer myself to to you and the artist credited is Ossian Chamberlain. But here's the twist. That artist doesn't exist. The voice, the singer's image, the instrumentation, it's all generated by artificial intelligence. The station's general manager says he had no idea.

The track was added to the station's lineup through their automated system. And he says he wouldn't have played the song if they knew it was a digital creation. There is one human element, though. The song's lyrics. They were written by this guy. I did it by myself, independently. No big cost, and I think it's revolutionary.

Pierre Coté is the founder of an AI tech company. He's also a long time music fan and producer. Cotet concedes it may not be the finest song in the world, but he sees the track as a harbinger of change. The beginning of a new era for AI music. All of these things, it's the Wild West. A different tune from Jean Serret. He's the executive director of Music New Brunswick.

He spoke with Information Morning Moncton. My position is I don't like the way that it's being portrayed as a real person. And I say it's, because Océane Chamberlain is a fictional character. We're in uncharted territory. Indeed, on the song's credits, Océane Chamberlain is listed as a Quebec artist.

There's even an AI-generated image of her. Freckles, piercing green eyes and wavy brown locks. The image has a moody, sultry vibe. And if you listen closely, Saret points out, the track is too shiny, too overproduced, something seems off. And yet, it's still hard to put your finger on what that could be. Is it a work of art? Or a product of an algorithm, Saret asks? Either way, he makes the case it should be flagged, a big AI-generated label, to make sure more AI tunes don't fly under the radar and onto our radios without us even knowing.

This has been Your World Tonight for March 1st. I'm Julianne Hazel Wood. Thanks for listening. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca slash podcasts.