The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/03/20 at 01:00 EDT

Episode Date: March 20, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/03/20 at 01:00 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, the world this hour. I'm Neil Herland. The federal government says four Canadians convicted under China's anti-drug laws were

executed earlier this year. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolie is condemning Beijing's actions. There were four Canadian citizens that are also dual-national, but fundamentally they're Canadians. What I can tell you is that my hearts and prayers are with the families. They are supported by our diplomats right now in China and also in Canada. They've asked specifically that their identity not be disclosed. So we are respecting their privacy, particularly as they're grieving.

Jolie says she advocates for any Canadians facing the death penalty anywhere in the world. U.S. President Donald Trump had another high-level phone call about ending the war in Ukraine. One day after speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump talked to Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky. Paul Hunter has more from Washington. Today, President Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky had a fantastic phone conversation. At the White House press briefing after that phone call word from press secretary Caroline Levitt the hour-long conversation indeed went well. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky now reportedly having agreed to what's

described as a 30-day partial ceasefire. Ukraine and America will continue working together to bring about a real end to the war and that lasting peace under President Trump's leadership can be achieved. Donald Trump himself wrote on social media things are now quote very much on track. The tone alone a far cry from the last time the two leaders spoke. From the very beginning of the war. You're not in a good position. More talks on how any 30 day partial ceasefire would actually play out are expected later this week in Saudi Arabia, though it's unclear who precisely will be taking part.

Paul Hunter, CBC News, Washington. Israel is stepping up its new offensive in Gaza, launching what it calls a limited ground operation in the Palestinian territory on top of airstrikes that started Monday night. Sasha Petrosic reports. She come back! In Jerusalem, fury as Israeli protesters slammed the return to war in Gaza, declaring it a death sentence for remaining hostages

who might have been freed in a longer ceasefire. We need our people. They are there in the tunnels of Gaza. But in Gaza, it's fear that's growing. Fear of Israeli tanks and soldiers who've started a new ground offensive, moving to cut off north from south once again. And fear of airstrikes. UN official Horhead de Silva says one worker died when a UN compound was hit in central Gaza, accusing Israel of targeting it. In my opinion this was not an accident.

Israel denies it was aiming at the UN and so far Hamas has not launched military action. Sasha Petrusic, CBC News, Toronto. Tesla vehicles have been getting attention for years but now Tesla dealerships are being targeted by protesters, sometimes violent ones. Nisha Patel reports. Across the US there's growing anger with Elon Musk. Elon Musk is destroying our government. Nobody elected him. Most recognizable as the CEO of Tesla, protesters are targeting that business with boycotts. Hitting him in the wallet. But some protesters are going beyond legal demonstrations to violence. In Las Vegas,

Solitov cocktails were thrown into Tesla showroom. And in Kansas City, the FBI is investigating Tesla's set on fire as arson. Today in Montreal, two activists were arrested after a dealership was vandalized with pink spray paint. Now the Vancouver International Auto Show has removed the carmaker from its event, citing safety concerns. Consumers like Jeff Baker are finding their own ways to protest. He slapped an anti-Elon Musk sticker on his red Tesla.

Nisha Patel, CBC News, Toronto. And that is your World This Hour. I'm Neil Hurland.