The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/02/08 at 06:00 EST

Episode Date: February 8, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/02/08 at 06:00 EST

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. Donate at lovescarborough.ca. From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Claude Fay. We begin in the Middle East. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, Cheers erupt as three Israeli men have been released from captivity following a handover by Hamas in central Gaza this morning.

Two men in their 50s and one in their 30s all appeared weak and fragile. Israeli officials expressed concern about the state of the hostages. Israel has released 183 Palestinian detainees and prisoners as part of the ceasefire deal. The Canadian government says it will list drug cartels as terrorist organizations under the law. But experts say dozens of groups have their fingerprints on the fentanyl trade, not just cartels. Darren Major has the story.

The conduct of criminal cartels are very similar in nature to terrorist groups. Public safety minister David McGinty says adding cartels to the terrorist list will grant law enforcement agencies more powers to track their illegal funds and activities. It would also allow intelligence agencies, such as CSIS, to be more involved in investigations. There is growing evidence to suggest that Mexican cartels are gaining a foothold in Canada's illicit drug market. But Jessica Davis, a former senior intelligence analyst, says just because more law agencies could get involved doesn't necessarily mean they will.

It's not like the Canadian government has proactively said, you know, the cartels are a huge problem. We're listing them as terrorist entities. We are going to deploy all of our tools and resources to target them. A recent intelligence report on organized crime says biker and street gangs are also heavily involved in drug distribution. Darren Major, CBC News, Ottawa. We're hearing differing reactions coming from the federal government to the U.S. president's talk of Canada as a 50-first state.

One high-profile cabinet member says Donald Trump's rhetoric isn't serious. Host of CBC's radio's the house, Catherine Cullen, has more. We have an obligation to take it seriously but on behalf of Canadians I think it's fair to say that's just not serious. Public safety minister David McGinty is not alarmed by Donald Trump's intentions. Even though on Friday the Prime Minister privately told business leaders that the US president wants Canada's critical minerals.

The remarks were accidentally being broadcast outside the room. Though the recording is fuzzy, the Prime Minister says that Trump believes the easiest way to get the minerals is absorbing our country and it is a real thing. Still, McGinty argues the situation is not particularly shocking. I don't think it's news that there are folks interested all over the world in what Canada has. The Public Safety Minister says he doesn't believe that Trump is a threat to Canada's sovereignty.

He says the $1.3 billion border plan he's currently working on is part of helping keep Canada sovereign. Catherine Cullen, CBC News, Ottawa. And you can hear more about this with Catherine on the house right after the 9 o'clock edition of World Report 930 in Newfoundland. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expected at the opening ceremonies of the Invictus Games today. As Yvette Brenn reports, this will be the first to feature winter sports and a first for BC. As you go down here, I want you to think about the... A coach shows team Ukraine skier Arsen Ryokpo-Szopko how to turn.

A translator explains what being on this Whistler Slope means to him. Invictus Games is like a swallow of fresh air. He only clamped on ski boots for the first time six days ago. I am ski six days. He's one of hundreds of Invictus athletes competing in British Columbia over the next week. Adaptive ski instructor Ellie Taylor says Ryaboschapko progressed fast.

Amazing how he just throws himself in. Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games for wounded veterans in 2014. A decade later, hundreds of competitors from 23 nations will compete in BC. For Ria Borshako, who was shot in both legs during a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, skiing mountains he'd only seen from a ship is the realization of a dream. Eva, CBC News, WSNA. And that is Your World This Hour.

Remember, you can listen to us anytime on voice-activated devices such as Google Home. For CBC News, I'm Claude Fague.