The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/03/18 at 06:00 EDT

Episode Date: March 18, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/03/18 at 06:00 EDT

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, it's the World This Hour. I'm Joe Cummings. Health ministry officials in Gaza say Israeli airstrikes overnight

have killed more than 300 people in the territory. It is by far the biggest Israeli attack on Gaza in two months and it breaks the Gaza ceasefire, which has been in place since January. Crystal Gmancing has more. Wrapped bodies are piled up together in Gaza City overhead the hum of Israeli surveillance trots. We were sleeping then suddenly woke up on the strikes as Muhammad Badir. The renewed attacks come as Israel continues to pressure Hamas to agree to

an extension to phase one of the ceasefire and release more hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has been holding out to move ahead with phase two of talks as both sides had previously agreed. Danny Dannen is Israel's UN ambassador. We will show no mercy on our enemies. Let me be very clear. Israel will not stop until all of our hostages are back home. Hamas says the strikes expose Israel's true intentions to, quote, spill the blood of innocent civilians. Crystal Gaman, Sings, CBC News, Jerusalem. Now to the war in Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He is scheduled to speak today with U.S. President Donald Trump, who is expected to push Putin to agree to a U.S. ceasefire proposal. The proposal has been accepted by Ukraine, but President Vladimir Zelensky says Russia is stalling in an attempt to extract as many exemptions as possible. The White House, however, says it is optimistic that that peace is within reach with today's phone discussion. After a one-day visit to Paris and London, Prime Minister Mark Carney is now headed back to Canada.

He'll be flying to Iqaluit for an announcement later today on Arctic sovereignty. Juanita Taylor reports. That really shows that Arctic security is very vital. Jeremy Tungaluk, the newly elected president at Nunavutungavik Inc., representing Nunavut Inuit, is pleased he will be meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney today in Iqaluit. It is very important that the Prime Minister knows we're in the front lines of making sure that we're helping Inuit to thrive.

Carney is set to make an announcement on strengthening Canada's sovereignty and security. Inuit Teparig Kanatami President Natan Obid and Nunavut Premier P.J. Akarouk will also be there. Earlier this month, Akarouk attended the federal unveiling of the location of three military hubs, including Iqaluit, where he said he's glad there's more attention being made to the Arctic, but... Considering the jabs about Canada as a 51st state, it is even more urgent for a country to reinforce our presence in the Arctic. Juanita Taylor, CBC News, Yellowknife.

Still with defence, the plan to build a new fleet of Canadian destroyers has taken a modest step forward. It follows Nova Scotia-based Irving shipbuilding and Britain's BAE systems finalizing a collaboration contract. Murray Brewster has more. With the Irving and BAE agreement, the pieces are falling into place for the eventual construction of 15 warships to replace the Navy's aging frigates. Earlier this month, the federal government revealed it was putting an $8 billion down payment towards the delivery of three destroyers with an eventual cost of $22 billion.

The Defense Department says ammunition and training are included in the overall price tag but officials refuse to disclose a detailed cost breakdown. I mean it's tragic when you can't be open with the public. Alan Williams, a former senior defense official, also tried and failed, through access to information legislation, to get a per ship cost estimate. The numbers are important because the Liberal government chose to go with a pre-existing warship design saying it would be cheaper. Allies have no problem releasing their shipbuilding estimates. The UK is paying an average of 1.9 billion dollars for each of its

three ships of this type. Murray Brewster, CBC News, Ottawa. And that is The World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Joe Cummings.