The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/01/25 at 12:00 EST

Episode Date: January 25, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/01/25 at 12:00 EST

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From CBC News, the world this hour, I'm Gina Louise Phillips. Hamas has freed four more Israeli captives held since the October 7 attacks. Parents of the four women cheer as they watch the release. About 200 prisoners were swapped in exchange for the hostages. This is the second round under the terms of the ceasefire deal that went into effect a week ago. A South Korean court has refused to extend President Yoon Suk-yul's detention. Thousands of protesters, both for and against the embattled president took to the streets of Seoul after today's ruling. Yoon is facing charges over his attempt to impose martial law.

He was arrested earlier this month while prosecutors carry out their investigation. The judge ruled today there is no reason to keep him detained at this time. Fresh from announcing a snap election, Ontario Premier Doug Ford is holding a super caucus meeting today for all progressive conservative candidates. As Philip Lee Shanuck reports, it's expected to be a strategy session focusing on his plans to combat US tariffs and political opponents here at home. God help us if that ever happens. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says

his political rivals don't have what it takes to go up against US President Donald Trump, which will be a generational challenge that will need a strong mandate from voters. To prepare, Ford is holding a special meeting at a Toronto hotel. Yeah, the Super Caucus event. We're having everyone by and having a good chat, telling him what's going on. Peter Grafe teaches political science at McMaster University. He says it's less about Trump and more about winning. He holds a very strong majority in the legislature and has had no difficulty acting as Premier

of Ontario and getting things passed. An internal memo says the event will provide you with the tools, training and resources needed for a winning election campaign, including photos with four door-to-door canvassing tips and sign strategies. Ontario voters will head to the polls on February 27th, more than a year ahead of schedule. Philip Lee Shannock, CBC News, Toronto. Mayors of Canadian cities on the U.S. border are forming a new partnership. The Border Mayors Alliance is intended to serve as a unified national voice to safeguard communities and to bring a municipal perspective to an international discussion.

Matthew Shoemaker is mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He says proposed tariffs and a trade war are one issue, but so is any general reduction in cross-border traffic. I know, for example, if bridge traffic drops as it did in our community during COVID, that has a huge impact on local retailers, it has a huge impact on gas stations in town, it has a huge impact on hotels. The municipal level, it's really an on-the-ground economic impact from a reduction in back-and-forth travel.

Shoemaker says, unlike some other border cities, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is much larger than its American neighbour. And he says there is an outsized reliance by the Sioux, Michigan, for business and tourism travel by Canadians. He's hoping their relationship doesn't have to change. And finally, Atlanta rapper and hip-hop hype man DJ Unc has died. The 43-year-old, whose real name is Anthony Leonard Platt, he rose to fame in the early 2000s thanks to hits like 2 Step and that club banger Walk It Out. The remix of the hit song featuring Andre 3000 was also featured in the film Stomp the

Yard. Unk is described as a pioneer in the Atlanta hip hop scene and described as an inspiration for younger artists. DJ Unk's family has not released his cause of death. And that is The World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Gina Louise Phillips.