As It Happens

After more than a week of catastrophic wildfires across Northwestern Ontario, the province’s minister of emergency preparedness responds to criticism that her government was not prepared for this emergency. A former Alberta representative to Washington says Canada shouldn't meekly give in to Donald Trump's tariffs, or angrily retaliate — but do a third thing, which she'll explain. It took 48 hours before Alberta issued an amber alert in the disappearance of an autistic boy; our guest says that's clear evidence that it's time for new rules about emergency alerts. A political opponent who was once jailed by Daniel Ortega responds to the Nicaraguan President's pledge to end elections in his country, once and for all. Anita LeBrun was shocked to learned her nursing home couldn't serve her alcohol. So she campaigned to get a state law changed — and now the drinks are on her.You can buy a piece of the New Jersey field where the FIFA World Cup final was played — but a local lawmaker thinks the whole deal is a sod state of affairs. "As It Happens," the Tuesday edition. Radio that's a turf act to follow.

Andy Burnham is sworn in as the latest British Prime Minister, and our guest says the way he helped bring her abducted daughter home — is proof that he's the right person to lead her country.A group representing Iranians in the US has filed a new lawsuit alleging the American government worked with the Iranian regime to fast-track the deportation of asylum seekers.Two First Nations in Ontario have been destroyed by wildfires in less than a week. Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler describes the scale of the loss.Ontario Premier Doug Ford responds to new tariff threats by US President Donald Trump over lousy air quality south of the border, because of Canadian wildfires. A nurse in Michigan describes the experience of contracting cyclospora — the parasite that has caused thousands of nasty cases of diarrhea in the US. She tells us it’s unlike anything she’s ever treated — or lived through herself. Researchers ask birdwatchers to stop using technology to "enhance" pictures of their avian discoveries —because it's messing with science. As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that has no time for cheep tricks.

The Trump administration takes aim at the International Criminal Court, and a Canadian judge who works there. One of her friends says she's paying a professional and personal price for doing her job. A wildfire forced them to evacuate this week -- and now, members of Whitesand First Nation are anxiously waiting to hear what's become of their community.After his son died fighting for Ukraine, a New Brunswick is launching an organization to help other families of foreign fighters who've been captured, killed -- or gone missing. In the UK, Labour eagerly turns the page on the disastrous Keir Starmer era by confirming Andy Burnham as the new leader of the party -- and soon, the country. A technology reporter embarks on an investigation of the author who published a biography of her that was written by AI -- a book that's nothing more than a slop in the face. Our guest was overwhelmed to finally see -- and smell -- an elusive monkey that lurks in Congolese rainforests, pursing its bright-orange lips and emitting a unique and unavoidable odour. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that does the funky monkey.

Ontario is asking the federal government to be ready to help with wildfire evacuations -- but a volunteer emergency coordinator says the province should have been more prepared for this level of destruction.A former official with the Ukrainian government tells us why she's joined widespread protests, after Volodymyr Zelensky removes a defence minister who's been pivotal in the war against Russia. Hungarian lawmakers vote to remove the president, previously appointed by Viktor Orban. The former head of Hungary's supreme court says that move is problematic, but necessary. There's been a lot of discussion as the Assembly of First Nations convened for meetings in Ottawa -- and National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says clean drinking water and wildfires were at the top of the agenda. A TV reporter in Los Angeles was on the air when she felt something with a lot of legs land on her and start climbing; she'll tell us how to stay calm when that something is a giant cockroach.An elderly woman in Florida did not request a license plate with a suggestive combination of letters and numbers -- and she's worried that other drivers might make it a big honking deal.As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that believes she's got a little too much on her plate.

Enormous wildfires have engulfed parts of Northwestern Ontario; a wilderness guide tells us about his escape, and worries about the fate of the lodge where he works.MPP Sol Mamakwa says the devastation is unimaginable – and that First Nations communities in the path of the fire have been hit especially hard. An Edmonton man who survived a deadly gas explosion caused by a car crash tells us why he went back inside his building, knowing he might not come back out.When cats lick each other, it's mass adorbs, but a new study suggests it’s not always a sign of love – it's sometimes just another form of cattiness.While visiting for the World Cup, Scottish fans fell in love with Boston and vice versa -- and now, the city of Glasgow is joining the affectionate pile-on by sending an affection pylon. A Florida restaurant is encouraging the hunt for invasive snakes by accepting Burmese pythons as currency – and in return, serving you a pizza topped with snake bits.As It Happens, the Wednesday edition. Radio that’s always time well serpent.

A U.S. Congressman wants Quebec to lift its restrictions on U.S. wine sales in the province. We’ll ask him how he recommends Canada should fight back against the tariffs enacted by his Commander-in-Chief.  For the second time in a week, U.S immigration agents shoot and kill a driver -- and later say that neither of the men were actually who they were after. More than 150 years ago, Newfoundlanders saved a Scottish stowaway who was found walking barefoot on the sea-ice. Now, his great great grand-daughter has visited the island to say thank youWashington State’s attorney general tells us why he thinks the courts are the best place to try to stop the mega-merger between Paramount and Warner BrothersLater this year, 80 athletes will descend on an IKEA in England -- and run a marathon entirely inside the store.  Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland returns home with a World Cup souvenir: a taxidermied raccoon hugging a bottle of booze. We’ll talk to the Dallas store owner who sold it to him. As It Happens, the Tuesday edition. Radio that discovers one man’s trash panda is another man’s treasure.

After the deadly shooting at a street festival in Toronto, a local business owner tells us she's angry about the violence and worried that fear could end a beloved community event.Gibraltar finally removes 118-year-old border controls – allowing free movement between Spain and the British Territory at last. The mayor of Windsor, Ontario says the compromise agreement to get the Gordie Howe bridge open is a masterclass in how to calm the waters with the Trump administration. After Sony announces it soon won't produce physical discs for new Playstation video games, a Canadian game store owner tells us he’s not ready to let that happen without a fight. A Toronto ice-cream shop attracts lineups for its lobster-flavoured gelato -- which reminded us of an interview with the Texas-based pioneers of popular crustacean-themed desserts. Can the eight-legged tardigrade eke out another victory -- or will the common earthworm reclaim its title as The Guardian's invertebrate of the year? As It Happens, the Monday edition. Radio that knows we can't enter this contest -- because they won't let our backbone slide.

A woman in Spain tells us about the terrifying moment when what appeared to be dust hanging in the air turned out to be flames nearing her doorstep – and the mad rush to get her and her friends to safety.An official in rural Manitoba says she and her colleagues had to knock on people’s doors to warn them of incoming flooding because the cell service in her region is so bad. And she says it’s about time that reality changed.As our guest watched a woman and her car get swallowed up in a slough, he jumped in  – and set about trying to get her to safety.The UK offers a posthumous pardon to Ruth Ellis – the last woman ever executed there. Her granddaughter tells us about the long fight to set the record straight.When a B.C. man saw a horse trapped on a bridge, he thought it was dead. But quickly realized there was a chance to save it.As long as Norway stays alive in the FIFA  World Cup, Norwegian fans will keep doing their now-famous “viking row” chant. But our guest refuses to – and is downright fed up, saying Vikings did not row across the Atlantic... they sailed.As It Happens, the Friday Edition, radio that admires his ability to respectfully bow out.

A professor in Doha tells us what the latest escalation between Iran and the US means for him and other civilians in the region -- where American military bases, and the communities that surround them, are under fire again. Two weeks after earthquakes did catastrophic damage to Venezuela, thousands are still unaccounted for. Our guest says he’s doing his best to support survivors through a heartbreaking situation.Donald Trump backtracks on his threat to cut off trade with Spain over its NATO contributions -- but a Spanish politician says people there are still feeling a little defensive. At the NATO summit, Prime Minister Mark Carney gets a surprising gift from Turkey’s president -- and he's afraid it overshadows his offering of maple syrup. Rocker Suzi Quatro remembers her late friend Bonnie Tyler – a larger-than-life performer who eclipsed many of her contemporaries.United Airlines argues that just because you've paid for a window seat doesn't mean you'll have a seat by the window -- but that doesn't sit well with a judge. As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that assures you: having no window is actually quite paneless.

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych grapples with the IOC's decision to clear the way for the Russian Olympic Committee to make a full return to the Games. With the truce in ashes and the worst exchange of strikes since June, an Iranian-Canadian shares his fears for friends and family, and tells us what he's hearing from them. For 18 months, Israel has detained a Palestinian pediatrician without charge and now the doctor says he believes he'll die in prison. An Israeli advocate tells us about the effort to free him — and more than a dozen other Gazan physicians. Rogers shutters six radio stations across Canada. We'll hear from Calgary Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner who says the stations were integral parts of the community...and transcended politics. Wearing his trademark garbage can on his head, perennial British candidate Count Binface tells us he's no has-bin — and he's ready to kick Nigel Farage to the curb. A new actor arrives on "General Hospital" and British comedian John Oliver is as surprised as anyone to find himself on the classic soap opera, getting slapped.As It Happens, the Wednesday edition. Radio that's tried to get on soaps — but knows it's easier said than dun-dun-dunnnnn.

NATO leaders are meeting in Turkey — and Canada's former NATO ambassador says important priorities are being put on hold, while placating the American President tops the agenda. An Edmonton doctor helped save a life at a basketball game — and wound up getting billed for his trouble. Prominent Democrats pull support for Senate nominee Graham Platner, after an accusation of sexual assault. One former supporter tells us why this was the last straw. After Lionel Messi leads his team to another World Cup victory, a fan in Bangladesh explains why his country is full of hardcore Argentina fans. A team of engineers struggles to get the lid off an enduring mystery: why do pickles glow when they're electrified?The ultra rich are installing "snow rooms" in their homes and yachts — in which snow actually falls from the ceiling. But they're not the only ones who might find that kind of chilling.As It Happens, the Tuesday edition. Radio that will be there when all hail breaks loose.

After Donald Trump called the head of FIFA, the soccer body reversed a suspension that would have kept an American star on the bench tonight. A Belgian sports journalist says there's outrage on and off the pitch.After a hard-fought competition, Germany beats out South Korea to win a multi-billion dollar contract to outfit Canada with new submarines. An Oregon teenager tells us about the thrift store find of a lifetime: paying three dollars for a warm-up jacket worn by basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain. 160 acres of Crown land is given back to a Mohawk community in Quebec. Kahnawà:ke Grand Chief Cody Diabo explains the process they're calling "rematriation".English soccer fans visiting the U.S. for the FIFA World Cup discover baseball in Atlanta -- and develop a love for one centerfielder that really comes out of left field. Researchers are stunned, after toiling to prove that a species of bats chows down on birds - only to discover that an artist had revealed that exact truth in a painting from the 17th century.As It Happens, the Monday edition. Radio that knows you can't have a bird with a good batting average -- but you can have a bat with a good birding average.

Alberta says it has a private backer for 10 percent of its proposed pipeline. We'll ask federal energy minister Tim Hodgson if that means taxpayers are on the hook for the rest. The legendary Anne Murray pays tribute to a man who helped launch her career, and many others', on his long-running TV show. Remembering the late great Tommy Hunter. The small Danish town of Rebild has hosted a Fourth of July party for decades — but this year, there are extra fireworks: American officials have been left off the invite list. A German zoologist tells us about testing how fast spiders could sprint by prodding them with a paint brush — and inadvertently setting a new arachnid land speed record. For years, a collection of wool and sheep skin samples belonging to a pioneering Australian scientist has been tucked away in the UK. We hear from an Aussie farmer who helped bring the archive home. Two avid outdoorsmen from the UK set a new record for putting up a tent by relying heavily on each other, and pitching at a fever pitch.  As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that assumes they have a co-depen-tent relationship.

As flooding continues in Manitoba, the city of Dauphin is under a state of emergency — and the Mayor tells us the situation is the worst he's seen in 50 years. After an ultra-traditionalist Catholic sect ordains bishops without papal consent, Pope Leo asserts his authority by excommunicating the renegade leaders.Almost nine years after the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the man accused of ordering her death has finally gone on trial. And her sister says that's a huge moment. An octogenarian with Alzheimer's survives a house fire — thanks to the quick-thinking neighbours who contacted her daughter through a doorbell camera. Putting down roots. A Saskatchewan man digs deep in an attempt to reclaim the tree-planting world record he first set 25 years ago, by planting thousands of saplings in a mere 24 hours. A blot on the landscape. A Spanish family is lucky to get a valuable painting back, after they accidentally left it lying outside their house and a passerby took a liking to its frame. As It Happens, the Thursday edition. Radio that's glad he got his fifteen minutes of frame.

The Trump administration says it won't renew the free trade agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. But a member of the Canadian advisory team says that doesn't mean it's time to panic. 110 years after a First World War battle devastated a Newfoundland Regiment, a near-exact replica of a tree that stood on the battlefield has been unveiled — a powerful moment for one of the people who made it. Canada is officially joining the phenomenon known as Eurovision. And the Canadian behind the fringe show "A Canadian Explains Eurovision To Other Canadians" tells the uninitiated why that's such huge news. In celebration of Canada Day, we searched the archives for conversations about wonderful, odd, and sometimes controversial Canadian inventions, such as the much-discussed pineapple on pizza. The fact that he was at a LA Dodgers baseball game didn't stop one Mexico fan from cheering emphatically when his team scored a goal in a FIFA World Cup soccer game.As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that gives you a very loud ballpark figure.

A lawyer who fought to protect birthright citizenship in the US says today’s Supreme Court decision is a win for her clients -- and the American constitutionAnti-immigrant protesters in South Africa set today as an arbitrary deadline for undocumented people to leave the country. A local activist says the anger is misplaced -- and it is causing real fear. Increasingly, people who are representing themselves in court are turning to AI. A lawyer tells us that’s becoming a problem -- because, more often than not, AI doesn't know what it's talking about.Former Blue Jay Bo Bichette was back in Toronto last night for the first time since signing with the Mets -- and the Canadian crowd brought him to tears. New research of Neanderthal DNA suggests our ancestors did not, in fact, go extinct due to inbreeding -- because they had no qualms about going forth and multiplying.  Wolfgang Porsche, a bigwig at the car company, just wanted to dig through a significant landmark in Austria to make a tunnel only he could use, and for some reason, the locals didn't dig it.As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that's there when Porsche comes to shove.

Six people are presumed dead after a charter boat sank in British Columbia -- but things would have been even worse if a couple sailing by hadn’t done what they could to save everyone they could. A resident of Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories tells us evacuating due to wildfire is never easy -- but her community is one of many that's getting a lot of practice. Just hours before two earthquakes hit Venezuela, Beatriz Ochoa arrived in Caracas for a vacation. Now the aid worker is trying to help in any way she can. Mauro Eustáquio tells us what it was like to watch his little brother Stephen make Canadian soccer history, with a jaw-dropping stoppage time goal against South Africa. The first dinosaur bone ever found in Antarctica is unearthed -- not from the ground, but from a drawer in a British museum. The latest on an Alaskan man named Dan Sullivan who's trying to run against Senator Dan Sullivan -- whose name was on the ballot, then off the ballot, and is now back on.As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that thinks having two Dan Sullivans is kind of redun-Dan.

Former resident of 24 Sussex Catherine Clark tells us she's cautiously optimistic that the vacant and crumbling official residence of the Prime Minister may be restored at last. The US Supreme Court gives Donald Trump the green light to end legal protections for hundreds of thousands of people from Haiti and Syria — panicking families who were building a life in the U.S. Record temperatures are killing people across Europe. And the UN's Global Chief Heat Officer Eleni Myrivili says it's time for leaders, and the voters who elect them, to start thinking past the heat of the moment.When Jill Tucker went to a World Cup watch party to cheer on Cape Verde, she didn't expect to run into one of her former students from Cape Verde — who, it turned out, had spent decades searching for her. The tickle finger of fate. It turns out, apes love to laugh — especially when they’re tickled. And so researchers got busy tickling them, to track the evolution of the chuckle.  That's another fine Messi they've gotten us into. A huge new statue depicting soccer superstar Lionel Messi has one major problem: the phallic World Cup trophy the sculptor erected between his knees. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that's not sure who gave this thing the groin light.

Venezuela's capital is in chaos after two earthquakes in quick succession. Our guest tells us about the sight of toppled buildings in Caracas -- and the sound of those trapped inside. When an Air Canada pilot suffers a medical emergency during a flight, passengers get an unexpectedly bumpy and terrifying ride.  One of NASA's most trusted telescopes is falling to earth, much earlier than anticipated. We'll hear about the rush to rescue it. A teacher in France tells us scorching temperatures aren’t safe for learning or teaching -- so he's calling on his fellow educators to strike. After Ontario banned speed cameras, people in Toronto started driving a lot faster a lot more often. A city councillor says she’s frustrated and troubled -- but not surprised. Political chaos in the UK has one silver lining: every time a prime minister resigns, a man known as "Hot Podium Guy" arrives to set up the microphones. As it Happens, the Thursday edition. Radio that appreciates a hot mic moment.

It’s been more than a year now since Kevin Brosseau got the job and he says he's too busy trying to stop the flow of the drug to worry about Donald Trump's trade war. Temperatures in Europe are soaring -- and French officials are warning people to resist the temptation to swim in unsupervised areas -- because at least 40 people drowned this week, just trying to cool off. Six Nations artist Santee Smith was thrilled to be asked to copy one of her father’s pottery pieces -- a replica that has a permanent home in the new Obama Presidential Center.We'll pay tribute to the late writer Jill Smokler, creator of the blog “Scary Mommy” -- in which she shared the mess and the mirth of motherhood. An AI audiobook company releases a timely version of Homer's "The Odyssey" as read by a virtual Sir Michael Caine -- a performance that puts an accent on whether a computer can do an accent.A newly discovered species of silk-weaving spider astounds researchers who observe it setting a spring trap – which flings its prey skyward with extraodinary force.As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that hopes their curiosity didn't kill the catapult.

More is becoming clear but the mayor of the neighbourhood where it happened says she and her constituents are still looking for answers. We'll also hear from a local rabbi who knew Michel Mizrahi -- a fixture of the city's Jewish community, who appears to have died trying to save others. Members of the Taliban were in Brussels today for talks with European officials. A former Afghan MP tells us that's a dangerous step towards normalizing Taliban rule. For weeks now, a Zulu architect has been walking across South Africa to raise money for housing -- and hopes for a more equitable society. An Oklahoma family goes viral after video captures their Golden Retriever helpfully bringing a live armadillo inside the house -- a guest they are very vocal about not wanting. An Alaska woman opens her home to some unhoused parakeets and winds up with a surprising number of them -- all of which you will hear. As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that thinks that puts the "bird" in "burden."

A police officer, a civilian, and a suspect are dead after a shooting in Montreal's Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood. A witness tells us what he saw and heard.A Canadian banker is in prison in the UAE, facing extradition to South Sudan; his wife tells us the charges are retribution for his work fighting corruption. I'll speak with a lawyer behind the push to end Pakistan's "period tax". She says it's about time her country started treating pads and tampons as necessities. An Australian town crier demonstrates his record-breaking loudest-ever shout and tells us how he did it — before losing his voice entirely. A B.C. couple signs up for Burnaby's annual "wife-carrying" competition on a whim — and emerges victorious, by taking it one schlep at a time. In Australia, the mischievous birds love getting into garbage bins — but a local men's group may have blown the lid off the problem of keeping the lids on.As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that salutes the winners of the talon contest.

A judge finds Frank Stronach guilty of sexual assault. A woman suing him in a separate case tells us why for her, justice is at least partly about the money. Canada's largest auto worker union will start labour negotiations with the Big Three automakers next week — and the union president says there's more at stake for workers than ever before. For his official presidential centre, Barack Obama wanted a new type of building. Our guests were the architects who actually had to design it. An Ontario delicacy is getting the deep-dish deep-dive it deserves, as a new docu-series explores the phenomenon of Cornwall pizza — known for its deep and pillowy crust.At last, young people in South Carolina will be able to catch each other on the flipper sides — now that the state has overturned an archaic law that banned children from playing pinball.During its World Cup coverage, the BBC broadcasts an AI image of the Houston skyline — to which the AI added mountains that look truly majestic, but unfortunately don't actually exist.As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that issues a warning: the following program contains topo-graphic material.

It took over 50 years — but the U.K. government is finally apologizing for pressuring tens of thousands of new mothers to give their babies up for adoption. And our guest was one of those children. A Canadian Senator tells us she disagrees with her colleagues’ conclusion that people whose sole diagnosis is mental illness should be indefinitely excluded from a medically assisted death. Elsewhere in the U.K. all eyes are on the vote in a northern constituency — which could spell the beginning of the end for Prime Minister Keir Starmer.A Canadian MP makes the case for loosening federal restrictions on magic mushrooms — after a constituent who was battling cancer convinced him of their benefits. We’ll try to understand why Team Scotland's unofficial World Cup anthem isn't a stirring Highland stomp from yesteryear — but the obscure 70’s jam, "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie". Finally, an interviewer has the courage to ask Steven Spielberg a question that has haunted us all for 40-plus years: "was E.T. slimy or dry?"As It Happens, the Thursday edition. Radio that salutes one of Mr. Spielberg's moist popular characters.

A Canadian was just released from an ICE detention centre where he spent the last eight months. He tells us he's glad to be out -- and eager to make sure the world knows just how bad it is inside.The co-chair of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying tells us why they've recommended that the government indefinitely pause the proposed expansion of MAID to include people whose only underlying medical condition is mental illness.An eighteen-year-old who suffered severe burns to her face and neck this past December is now almost fully healed -- thanks to a groundbreaking new treatment. A psychologist packed up to move from the U.S. to Canada -- only to discover that she's one of many whose newly granted citizenship certificates have been mysteriously suspended by the Canadian government. New York is getting yet another new area code -- and a phone number broker tell us if you hate the idea of 465 as much he does -- he can hook you up with a classic 212 -- for a price. In Peru, police officers arrest a World Cup-loving suspect by dressing up as the Canadian mascot -- a moose -- and the U.S. mascot -- an eagle -- both of whom then smashed their way into his house.As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that's there when plush comes to shove.

The federal government tables new legislation designed to ensure access to safe drinking water for First Nations. We ask the Indigenous Services Minister when those taps might start flowing.Despite warnings from officials, a U.S.-Iran peace deal is prompting displaced Lebanese families to head home -- and one mayor says he understands the temptation to return because he never left. This fall, after 74 years, NHL hockey will no longer air on CBC; sportswriter Bruce Arthur tells us that's been a long time coming -- but it's still a shame for Canadians. An Irish writer tells us about the moment she learned a poem she'd written that was inspired by her son had appeared on his English exam. A new study shows that your trash is a bowerbird's treasure -- used by males to charm females. Sir Rod Stewart disappoints fans by cancelling a concert due to a sinus infection -- and disappoints fans further by showing up healthy, the next day, at Scotland's first World Cup game.As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that guesses whatever will be, will be -- que Sir Rod, Sir Rod.

Montreal Police investigate their own amid allegations of racial profiling, discrimination and violence. A community organizer tells us people should be shocked -- but she is not surprised.An Iranian-American football fanatic says he'll be in the stadium tonight in Los Angeles as Iran plays its first FIFA World Cup match, but he won't be cheering.  While Donald Trump celebrates a ceasefire, a political scientist in Jerusalem tells us why Israelis from the left, right and centre are denouncing the agreement -- and their Prime Minister. A six-year-old in Windsor, Ontario has been visiting the site of the Gordie Howe Bridge nearly every week for almost his entire life. And now...he has a message for the powers that be.15 years after its release, a Bosnian band’s satirical song about immigrating to the US has become a soccer anthem. The band tells us why fans think the new version is pitch perfect.A store owner in Halifax tells us she can't keep her dapper porch geese in stock, thanks to an online revival of the replica bird trend. As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that appreciates a geese offering.

Canada's men's soccer team plays its first FIFA World Cup game at home. We reach a fan in Toronto with divided loyalties. Ireland is not in the FIFA World Cup. But a closer look at another country's flag is giving fans something to cheer about. A woman in Florida discovers a thrift-store painting that's been hanging in her home for 60 years is actually a Scottish masterpiece — after her son gets an AI appraisal.The organization that governs international chess suspends the game's Russian federation. We hear from the Ukrainian grandmaster who helped lead the charge. An Ontario man explains his unique role at the World Cup: training border collies to keep honking invaders off the practice pitch. We hear from a streamer whose quest to rank every early Nintendo game took him three years and meant working his way through more than 700 titles. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that imagines he took things 8-bit at a time.

SpaceX goes public tomorrow. Elon Musk is promising investors a chance to own a piece of the future. Our guest says everyone needs to come back down to earth. A woman in Belfast tells us what the past few days have been like for her family and the entire Sudanese community as violent anti-immigrant rioters terrorized the city. A Toronto police officer is shot and killed after executing a search warrant in a residential building. A councillor for the ward where gunfire broke out tells us how her constituents are processing the news. As the FIFA World Cup gets underway, soccer fans all over the world are buzzing — including those in Miami’s Little Haiti, who are celebrating their team’s first world cup in more than fifty years. After a historic comeback on the court, the New York Knicks are now one win away from an NBA title. An ecstatic fan tells us why he was just as star-struck to see star player Jalen Brunson's mom. In a bid to curb overcrowding on Sardinian beaches, authorities there have decided to ban umbrellas for most of the population — a measure that has some beach-goers throwing serious shade.As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that thinks they're headed beyond the pale.

A city councilor in the Northern Irish city appeals for calm, after a night of violent anti-immigrant rioting in which families were forced from their homes by arson. In a new "online harms" bill, Ottawa proposes a social media ban for kids under 16; and an expert advisor to the government tells us what it would take to make that idea a reality. The government says a brand-new task force will update the country's cancer screening guidelines, after the last group was disbanded due to a controversial recommendation on mammograms.You may not have heard of the rock star Carlos "Indio" Solari — but right now, Argentinians are mourning the truly massive homegrown hero. A French woman has won Icelandair's World's Worst Photographer contest — and now she'll put her lack of talent to the test in one of the most photogenic places on Earth. Scientists are left stunned by a study that suggests humans have an innate tendency to turn left — even when we're feeling all right. As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that puts the "left" in "left to our own devices."

A longtime soccer correspondent tells us he's ready to cover this year's big tournament — but worrying that a never-ending list of FIFA controversies might just drain the World Cup of its magic.The organization that represents Inuit in Canada launches a new poverty-reduction strategy — and calls on Ottawa to scrap a federal food-subsidy program our guest says simply isn't working. The long delayed Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan may finally be set to open — even as the U-S President keeps throwing up road blocks.Elections Alberta says finding enough staff to work this fall's referendum is a huge undertaking. We'll talk to the woman in charge of organizing the manual counting of up to 45 million ballots. At an exhibition of terrible album art in England, you can see aesthetic disasters that might change your feelings about particular musicians — and perhaps even all human life. Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan is not pleased to be facing a challenge from a new rival whose name is Dan Sullivan — and wants to boot his namesake for his name's sake.As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that wonders if we're seeing the Dan of a new era.

A longtime soccer correspondent tells us he's ready to cover this year's big tournament — but worrying that a never-ending list of FIFA controversies might just drain the World Cup of its magic.The organization that represents Inuit in Canada launches a new poverty-reduction strategy — and calls on Ottawa to scrap a federal food-subsidy program our guest says simply isn't working. The long delayed Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan may finally be set to open — even as the U-S President keeps throwing up road blocks.Elections Alberta says finding enough staff to work this fall's referendum is a huge undertaking. We'll talk to the woman in charge of organizing the manual counting of up to 45 million ballots. At an exhibition of terrible album art in England, you can see aesthetic disasters that might change your feelings about particular musicians — and perhaps even all human life. Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan is not pleased to be facing a challenge from a new rival whose name is Dan Sullivan — and wants to boot his namesake for his name's sake.As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that wonders if we're seeing the Dan of a new era.

Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre makes his case for Alberta to remain in Canada — and says Liberal governments should shoulder the blame for increasing separatist sentiment in the province where he grew up.The mayor of London, Ontario tells us why he believes the feds should treat addressing homelessness as a nation-building project — and fund it accordingly. A Michigan state highway is renamed in honour of a regiment of Indigenous soldiers who fought in the Civil War — when they weren't even considered U.S. citizens. British Prime Minister Kier Starmer gives tech companies three months to roll out features that would stop children from seeing or sending explicit material online. A Mohawk flight attendant tells us about getting ready to work on what she thought would be another routine commercial flight — and then learning that Rihanna would be on board. We hear from two Liverpudlian golfing buddies whose incredible feats on the course defied 17-million-to-one odds. As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that knows they were not teed off after they teed off.

Quebec tables a bill that would ban the sale of energy drinks to anyone under the age of 16 — something Zachary Miron's parents and their community have been pushing for since the teenager's death. Photographer Angelina Katsanis was covering protests at an ICE detention centre in New Jersey when she was injured, and lost her camera bag. And now a police officer has been charged with theft. A British man who climbed Everest describes the shock and joy of learning that one of their guides was still alive — six harrowing days after he disappeared. Edith Wharton’s novels famously gave readers a peek behind the curtain of New York’s high society. And now, a previously unpublished short story — set in a French chateau at the end of the First World War — again takes aim at the elite. Yesterday, hundreds of people gathered to protest a proposal to build an AI data centre in Hamilton, Ontario. One of those residents tells us about the community's first small victory — and what they plan to do next. If it feels like your seasonal allergies are getting worse, you’re not alone. A new study suggests that bright lights in the big city could be to blame. Scientists tasked bees with solving a problem meant to test their basic intelligence: pushing a tiny ball into a corner to reach a sweet treat. And they aced it. As It Happens, the Friday Edition, radio that’ll bee-lieve it when we see it.

The Prime Minister unveils a new AI strategy that he says will help Canada catch up with the rest of the world. Our guest says it's a start, but it could use some fine-tuning. Hezbollah has rejected a ceasefire deal brokered between Israel and Lebanon; our guest in Beirut tells us people there were already referring to it as a "less-fire" anyway. A protestor in Albania tells us a crucial stopover for migrating birds is in danger of being destroyed — because Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump want to build a resort. Trixie and Nacho have been busy getting busy — which is great, because the prolific parakeet couple are almost singlehandedly rebuilding New Zealand’s kākāriki karaka population.A scientist explains how the late Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman devised a mathematical solution to the eternal question: stick with your favourite restaurant, or risk trying somewhere new?Blanket forts aren't just a quilt draped over some stuffed animals on the couch anymore — now that some students in Las Vegas have definitively shattered the world record for building the biggest one ever."As It Happens", the Thursday Edition. Radio that's usually suspicious of blanket statements.

The European Union has finalized key elements of its strictest-ever immigration agreement, prompting right-wing politician Charlie Weimers to pronounce that "the era of deportations has begun." Irish MEP Regina Doherty tells us why she’s aligned with the people behind that kind of rhetoric. U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra has made some questionable comments in public, but Quebec trade representative Louise Blais says he was much more diplomatic in their private meeting today.We remember Grammy-winning R a former ocean scientist tells us that's a huge loss to the scientific community — and the rest of us too.An NGO says the Ebola outbreak is far larger than officials have admitted — and it will take a big international push to get the virus under control. As temperatures rise, students in Winnipeg are feeling the heat, with classrooms hitting 30 plus degrees Celsius. And one mother, teacher and board of trustees chair says conditions are no longer safe. Get this patty started. It looks ridiculous, but tastes ridiculously good — and that's why an aesthetically disastrous burger from one Montreal restaurant has been named the fifth-best in the world. As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that thinks this story is a real something-burger.

The Prime Minister's team says it wants to renew the free-trade deal with the US and Mexico. We'll ask the trade representative once berated by the US Ambassador whether Team Canada is playing too nice. Russia's latest strikes on Ukraine kill more than 20 people and injure dozens more. A long-time resident of Kyiv says there's no way to be safe — but that doesn't mean he's going to leave his home. NDP MP Don Davies is fed up with Canadian politicians abandoning their original parties for the government benches. He'll tell us about his plan to force floor-crossers to face the music.  Brooklyn Rivera was imprisoned for fighting for the rights of the Miskito people in Nicaragua. Now, he's died in custody — and our guest says that should be a wake up call. Invasive rodents once had the run of a remote Australian Island — but now, in their absence, a biology student has returned to find a burgeoning bonanza of rare cockroaches and other bugs. Several times over the past month, mystery men have been emerging from the sewers of New York — and that's creating a bit of surface tension. As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that's suspicious of anyone behaving sewer-reptitiously.

Cricket's international governing body suspends Cricket Canada for financial and governance issues; we'll speak to the CBC journalist, and avid cricketer, whose work helped uncover alleged corruption. After a day of conflicting statements and mixed messages from all sides, the United States, Israel, Iran and Lebanon appear to be at yet another dangerous crossroads. Nil asks a former negotiator where we go from here.  Female police officers in British Columbia say they faced gender-based discrimination on the job; one tells us she won't let the recent court ruling against their class-action suit stop her from fighting. To help make the American’s imminent 250th birthday a little frothier, New Yorkers recreate a beer first brewed by a future president in 1757 — and find it slightly sweet and highly quaffable. The short documentary “Heavy Metal Parking Lot” has had a long life as a cult classic. It just turned 40 — and the filmmakers tell us what they think is the key to its enduring appeal. Once again, despite past complaints, the bus to the Polish resort of Hel — H-E-L — will be given the number 6-6-6. As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that goes to the beach via the route of all evil.

Romania's foreign minister says there's no doubt in her mind that an armed Russian drone hit an apartment building in her country -- and believes NATO must respond forcefully, even if it was an accident. The daughter of former Cuban president Fidel Castro has lived in exile for decades -- and Alina Fernández is very hopeful that this U.S. administration will bring about regime change in her homeland. Gilbert Bernal was among those killed in this week's deadly chemical tank implosion in Washington state -- and a friend tells us he still doesn't know how it happened. Hundreds of volunteers team up to restore the Cerne Abbas Giant -- an enormous, centuries-old, chalk figure carved into the Dorset countryside.Senegal's national soccer team has a serious shot at winning this year's World Cup -- a dream fans are finally daring to believe could come true.Baseball superstar Bryce Harper weirds everyone out by posting a video documenting his morning routine -- in which he applies the toothpaste directly to his tongue.As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that finds that a refreshing change of paste.

New York and New Jersey investigate allegations that FIFA is misleading soccer fans -- and unfairly inflating World Cup ticket prices.A year ago, the arrest of an anti-corruption lawyer prompted dozens of journalists and democracy advocates to flee El Salvador. Now, that lawyer's husband says he can no longer stay silent. For more than a century, Saskatchewan's Legislature has had a well-appointed private bathroom for male law-makers. But female MLAs won't have their own updated loo until sometime next month. Fire tears through a girls’ boarding school in Kenya, killing at least 16 students -- and forcing desperate families to rush to the scene, and wait for news. Audio artists recorded birds, bombs, and bugs, with an eye -- and an ear -- toward winning the coveted "sound of the year" award. You'll hear the victorious sound, and meet the man who chose it; he's a great listener. Athletes are heartened to hear the modern pentathlon will no longer involve horseback-riding -- then disheartened to hear they'll have to complete a "Ninja Warrior"-style obstacle course.As It Happens, the Thursday edition. Radio that thinks this is just adding insult to ninja-ry.

The Liberal MP and former environment minister announces he's leaving politics -- and says the government's approach to environmental policy is at the heart of his departure. The young man who sold the gun used in the killing of two Edmonton police officers is convicted of manslaughter; a criminologist tells us why his case will almost certainly wind up before the Supreme Court. Women and girls' rugby is surging -- but the science on what all that violent contact does to their brains is way behind. A player and a researcher tell us about their efforts to close the gender gap. Covered Bridge Potato Chips are a classic Canadian success story -- and Susan Ryan was a huge fan, until the company opened a factory in her neighbourhood. One of Iowa's best-known mermaids is looking for a new gig after a local aquarium, and its huge saltwater tank, close down.An Italian court rules that a restaurant was within its rights to refuse a tourist free tap water -- and only offer her expensive bottled water.As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that knows still waters run steep.

While trying to spread the word about Ebola safety in Congo, our guest and his colleagues were attacked by a mob that later set fire to a hospital. He tells us what he thinks is behind the violence.After a deadly implosion at a paper plant in Washington state involving a corrosive substance, a former plant worker tells us just how dangerous a vat of what's known as "white liquor" really is.French authorities launch investigations at more than a hundred elementary schools and nursery schools in Paris -- in the wake of allegations ranging from physical violence to sexual assault against children in their care. Legendary bassist Ron Carter reflects on the towering influence of his friend and collaborator -- the late, great jazz saxophonist, Sonny Rollins.When the Montreal Canadiens hit the ice tomorrow night, they’ll have some help from longtime organist Diane Bibaud -- who's been striking a chord at home games for nearly 40 years. Until now, astronauts have just thrown their dirty clothes into space to burn up on re-entry -- but a new plasma blaster might solve a long-term laundry quandary.As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that welcomes astronauts back to the fold.

In a papal first, Pope Leo formally presents his view on artificial intelligence -- and the man behind a Catholic AI tool tells us he's listening. At this point, the cases of Ebola are outpacing efforts to contain it -- but an aid worker in Congo tells us he's determined to help close the gap.A giant overheating chemical tank in southern California is no longer at risk of exploding, but the crisis isn't over. We'll reach a resident who is housing twenty of her evacuated relatives. We remember one of the earliest pioneers of climate activism -- a lobbyist who read a report on the catastrophic effects of burning coal in 1979, and spent the rest of his life pushing for change. The NHL says a Canadiens watch party in Gatineau, Quebec is a no go -- but the party organizer tells us he's holding out hope the league will reverse that call. Someone in Kansas bought themselves a brand-new pick-up, but they can't drive it off the lot yet -- because a family of protected robins is living on top of one of the tires.As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that cautions against putting all your eggs near one gasket.

Alberta announces a vote on whether to hold a vote on whether to separate -- and a former Conservative cabinet minister tells us about his plan to convince as many people as possible that Canada's union is worth preserving. He was restrained without restraint. And now, people in Ireland are demanding answers after the death of a Black man who was suspected of shoplifting -- and set upon by security guards. A Jamaican politician tells us what it was like to be interrupted in parliament for speaking Patois -- or Jamaican -- and why she's speaking out about speaking it. When Victor Bal got his university degree today, he was accompanied by his service dog Kopek -- who joined him for every class he took. And ultimately should also have been given a degree. Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" has come to an end; a long-time writer for the show tells us the host's finely tuned moral compass guided the writer's room, even on the toughest days.Everybody wants their photo taken with one Parisian celebrity -- so the Louvre is moving the Mona Lisa to her very own space, where people can stop fighting over self-portraits with the portrait. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that hates to get in the middle of a Louvre's quarrel.

A former U.S. health official tells us international cuts, and the shutdown of USAID, is hampering the response to the growing Ebola outbreak in Congo -- and recovery won't be easy. The tiny island country of Vanuatu convinces a majority of the world's countries to back a UN motion our guest says could make it a legal duty to fight climate change.The Department of Justice is creating a fund for people who say they were mistreated by the federal government. Police who defended the Capitol on January 6th are horrified that rioters are among those looking for a payout.We remember Frank Hayden -- who helped found the Special Olympics. Canadian Olympian Mark Tewksbury says his late friend changed millions of lives for the better. Scientists are finally able to classify an exciting fish with a long nose and what appears to be orange hair -- and name it after the long-nosed orange hairy elephant-like Sesame Street character it most resembles. For years, a souvenir Roman calendar has appeared to offer 12 months of photos of handsome priests -- but now an Italian newspaper has revealed they're not men of the cloth at all, just...men. As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that has to admit they're all pretty hot under the collar.

The United States indicts former Cuban President Raul Castro on criminal charges -- to the delight of a former Miami prosecutor who worked on the case more than 20 years ago.  Canada’s Foreign Affairs minister has summoned Israel’s ambassador over the treatment of Canadian citizens aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla -- which our guest has been watching with growing alarm. A man living in the city that is the epicentre of Congo's deadly Ebola outbreak says people there are experiencing both fear and shame -- and he's asking the world to treat them with a bit more empathy. A Saskatchewan couple get up for an early morning shift to discover their neighbour’s house is on fire -- and scramble to rescue the eight people sleeping inside.Last year, someone stole a statue of Amelia Earhart from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador. But today’s news really sticks the landing. We know T. rex had ridiculous little forelimbs -- and new research suggests that's because its noggin expanded enough to do all the killing.As It Happens, the Wednesday edition. Radio that guesses it was heads you win -- arms you lose.

San Diego is mourning after a shooting at its largest mosque -- and we speak to a community leader who, like so many other Muslims, is processing the depth of the loss.Undone deal. A Newfoundland and Labrador review panel finds a proposed energy deal with Hydro Quebec is not in the province’s best interest. And the Premier tells us why he thinks his government can make good on Churchill Falls.We hear from the mayor of a PEI town where one-in-three work in the oyster business -- the mayor included. He explains the struggles they're facing as the trade is devastated by disease. The organizer of an event called "Ratapalooza" tells us former lab rats make great pets -- and she would know, she has 20 of them. The iconic Snowbirds will be grounded after the 2026 season due to their aging aircraft. A former Snowbirds pilot and commander says this could have been avoided. A man in Australia set out to make a dinner of steak and salad for his housemates ... but almost ended up serving them ribs ... sorry I mean rib-bits -- thanks to the tiny frog in his greens.As It Happens, the Tuesday edition. Radio that's pleased he didn't end up with a frog in his throat.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is battling a rare and deadly strain of the Ebola virus. An aid worker in Kinshasa who lived through the last outbreak shares her frustration and sadness that more wasn’t done to prevent this latest outbreak.Dawson City, Yukon is mourning the loss of the goldrush-era Westminster Hotel -- a watering hole our guest says acted as a community hub that won't be easily replaced.A Montreal-based sex worker tells us she and her colleagues deserve better working conditions...as they prepare to walk off the job.Renowned Two spirit Cree composer and cellist Cris Derksen died in a car crash on Friday at just 45 years old. A friend and fellow musician tells us Cris Derksen was just coming off a career high -- and likely would have had many more to come.An Irish city councillor explains why he wants Cork to honour the mosquito that's credited with killing an English invader...by erecting a very tiny statue.Nil and Chris take us on a tour through the archives, with a special edition of As It Happened, full of stories of the great outdoors.And... He definitely knew batter. A young Dodgers fan is going viral for vigorously cheering on his team from the stands. So vigorously, that the live broadcasts kept being interrupted by his personalized cries to players as they stepped up to the plate. As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that's open to a chants encounter.

Ottawa has reached a new carbon-pricing agreement with Alberta; we'll ask Julie Dabrusin whether the feds are setting the bar for big polluters too low.In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of Canada opens the door to a new way for survivors of intimate partner violence to sue their abusers in civil court.A new study suggests at least one Neanderthal did something surprising to deal with a toothache: they submitted to some prehistoric dentistry.It's all hands on deck for the Emerald Coast Open this weekend in Florida -- a tournament where divers compete to see who can kill the most invasive lionfish. I'll speak with a woman who is obsessed with the Montreal Victoire and the Ottawa Charge, who are playing each other in the PWHL Walter Cup Finals -- an experience she compares to being in a polyamorous relationship. A new study of train passengers reaches an alarming conclusion: we have a tendency to follow the person in front of us, regardless of whether we know them or where they're going.As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that warns the following may be upsetting for some listeners.

An Alberta court sides with First Nations and quashes a pro-separation petition -- which means the idea for a province-wide referendum on leaving Canada could be dead on arrival. The Nova Scotia government hits back at the union representing long-term care home workers -- suggesting their striking members might accept the offer on the table, if only they were given a chance to vote on it. There's now a better chance an uncontacted tribe in Brazil will remain that way -- after a move to preserve and protect a million acres of Amazonian land. A new video game puts players in the shoes of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment during the First World War. The creative director tells us the true stories are as exciting as the gameplay. After carefully observing how crickets respond to mild injury, researchers discover that they're just like you and me -- except for the multiple legs. An Omaha tavern is forced to change its name from "The Barber Shop", when it is met with the righteous wrath of the Nebraska Board of Barber Examiners.As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that shouldn't be surprised a bunch of barbers got snippy.