The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/08/03 at 18:00 EDT

Episode Date: August 3, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/08/03 at 18:00 EDT

Hi everybody, I'm Jamie Poisson and I host Frontburner. It's Canada's most listened to daily news podcast. Just the other day we were in a story meeting talking about how we can barely keep up with what's going on in Canada and the world right now. And like it's our job to do that. So if you are looking for a one-stop shop for the most important and interesting news stories of the day, we've got you. Stop doom scrolling. Follow Frontburner instead. From CBC News, the world is sour. I'm Wayne Thibodeau. The BC Fire Service says the Wesley Ridge fire burning on Vancouver Island in northwest Nanaimo has burned through 389 hectares and remains out of control. Just under 400 homes are under evacuation orders with another 240. On evacuation alert, Fire Information Officer Madison Dahl says they're prioritizing

protecting structures and critical infrastructure. We have support from the RCMP, the Dashwood Fire Department, the Coombs Fire Department and additional authorities and fire departments. BC wildfire firefighters, structured defense personnel, heavy equipment and aircraft continue 24 hour wildfire operations on the Wesley Ridge wildfire. Overnight operations include two helicopters that have night vision technology.

In Northern Manitoba, another First Nation has been forced to evacuate the community of Nelson House. They began leaving yesterday as the fire threatened to cut off the only road out of town. Almost 300 priority residents were taken to Winnipeg and about 3,300 more are expected to leave in the coming days. The smoke from the wildfires is being felt in just about every region across Canada. The Northwest Territories has already experienced some of the worst air quality

in Canada this weekend. Environment Canada had a number of active air quality warnings and statements stretching from Eastern British Columbia into Western Quebec, varying in severity. Dominic LeBlanc appeared on US television today saying he still thinks a win-win trade deal with the U.S. is possible. But the message out of Washington is anything but clear. Tony Waterman explains. We remain very optimistic. Cabinet Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he's still working towards a better trade deal with the U.S. But top White House officials are painting a muddier picture. U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer says tariff rates are pretty much set.

I know a lot of these are set rates pursuant to deals. Some of these deals are announced, some are not. While Kevin Hassett of the White House National Economic Council says talks may continue. They're going to get the reciprocal rates, you know, soon, and then we would expect that there might continue to be negotiations with those countries. Ultimately, any final decision will be made by Donald Trump himself. Tony Waterman for CBC News, Washington. The UK government is cracking down on smugglers who use social media to offer illegal channel crossings.

Dame Diana Johnson is the British Crime and Policing Minister. This is to go after the brazen tactics of organized criminal groups who are involved in the small boats, using Instagram, TikTok, Facebook to advertise and to say, if you pay a certain amount, we will provide you a safe journey over to the United Kingdom on a small boat. This is going after those individuals. More than 25,000 migrants have crossed the channel this year. The new law will make online advertising for things like crossing a criminal offence. The sanctions will let authorities

freeze property and block access to UK banks. The government says the bill will help break the criminal's business model. Meanwhile more than 50 migrants are dead after a boat carrying about 150 would-be migrants sank off the coast of Yemen in bad weather today. Health officials say dozens are still accounted for. Ten people were rescued. And Canadian wild card Victoria Amboco has delivered a stunning upset at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal. Amboco beat top seed and former French Open champion Coco Goff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday.

She's the second teenager and the first Canadian to defeat Goff. The 18-year-old drew loud cheers after sealing the win in just over an hour. Mboko is the last Canadian standing in the singles draw. And that's the latest from CBC News. I'm Wayne Thibodeau.