The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/02/22 at 13:00 EST

Episode Date: February 22, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/02/22 at 13:00 EST

Hi there, I'm Steve Patterson, host of The Debaters, and this week we're debating breakup songs. Do they rule? Sound like a fun valentine to you? We've got Canada's best comedians doing what they do all too well. And here's something that you oughta know. We're part stand-up, part comedy competition, and part game show. And we're looking for someone like you to follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

From CBC News, the world is our. I'm Karen Hauerloch. Hamas has released six more hostages, and later today Israel will release about 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. It's the last exchange under the first phase of the ceasefire deal and as Sasha Petrasek reports more exchanges will depend on reaching agreement on a second phase. We're in so-called hostage square in the middle of Tel Aviv. A lot of mixed emotions today. Joy of course at seeing the hostages come home, these six, but also a lot of sorrow over the realization that some won't be coming back alive. That became painfully clear this week when four were

returned in caskets. There's now a memorial here with candles and lots of tears. Many people are turning their thoughts to what happens next because this group of six is the last who will be released as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. For the others who remain in Gaza, the 59 hostages, there will have to be a second phase to that agreement. The two sides are in touch with each other, there are talks going on but it seems very far away from an agreement that would see those other hostages come home.

Sasha Petrosik, CBC News, Tel Aviv. US negotiators are telling Ukraine that Elon Musk could cut its access to the Starlink satellite internet system if Kyiv doesn't sign a document giving America access to Ukraine's critical minerals. Starlink provides crucial America access to Ukraine's critical minerals. Starlink provides crucial internet access to Ukraine's military. The issue was discussed at a recent meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy on Ukraine. In Washington, the White House is handing out more pink slips, including one for the

chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the top position in the U.S. military. General Charles Brown is only the second black person to hold the position. The Trump administration says he's a proponent of diversity, equity and inclusion and are replacing him with a white man. Linda Ward has more. Air Force General C.Q. Brown, a fighter pilot and only the second Black general to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, fired.

His replacement, three-star Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Raisen Kane, coming out of retirement. The Trump loyalist most recently served as associate director for military affairs at the CIA. He said ISIS could be taken down in a matter of days. Brown's firing is abrupt but perhaps not unexpected. During Defense Secretary Pete Hegsath's confirmation hearing, Hegsath promised to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military. He's openly questioned whether Brown would have gotten the job if he weren't black.

The president did not explain his decision. Taking to Truth Social, he thanked him for his service and called him a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader. Democrats are criticizing the decision saying it politicizes the military. Linda Ward, CBC News, Toronto. A new Léger poll suggests 70% of Canadians are in favor of dollar for dollar retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to impose 25 percent tariffs on all imports from

Canada early next month. City engineers are inspecting bridges in Vancouver after yesterday's 4.7 earthquake, and BC Ferry's is inspecting its terminals. Thousands of people felt the earthquake in Vancouver, Victoria Victoria and as far away as Lillooet. But BC Emergency Management Minister Kelly Green says not everyone got an alert on their phones. I've also had reports of uneven application of the emergency alert system for this earthquake. It is a federal system so I will be reaching out to my federal counterpart to find ways that we can make sure that it works as expected so that people can stay safe.

Natural Resources Canada is responsible for the earthquake early warning system. It says it will look into why some people didn't get the message, telling them to drop, cover and hold on. The warnings are automatically sent to cell towers, TVs and radios within a given area. And that is Your World is Our. For CBC News, I'm Karen Howelluck. [♪