The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/13 at 07:00 EST

Episode Date: December 13, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/13 at 07:00 EST

Hey Canada. It's me, Gavin Crawford, host of Because News. Each week, I put comedians on the spot with a pop quiz about the headlines. This week, we're talking about the monster of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's own making, Wayne Gretzky's incredible pronunciation skills, and the one kind of Christmas toy experts are all calling dangerous. Miguel Revis, Emma Hunter, and Gene Yune are here, so laugh along as we try to make sense of the headlines. Follow Because News on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts for free. From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Claude Fagg. The federal health minister says she's keeping an eye out to see if some provinces are going too far in embracing private health care. In an interview with the CBC Radio's The House, Marjorie Michelle said she'd also be concerned about the impact U.S. public health decisions are having here in Canada. Host of the House, Catherine Cullen, has more. We are trying to keep everybody under the Canada health tent. Federal health minister Marjorie Michelle says she doesn't believe there's room for more private health care in Canada,

though she emphasizes her desire to work with provinces. Last month, Alberta announced plans to let doctors work in the public and private pay for access system simultaneously, a first in Canada. Michelle says federal lawyers are still examining Alberta's legislation, which hasn't become law yet. Another subject on the minister's mind is the U.S. U.S. Health Administration's approach to vaccines. Recently, a U.S. panel recommended rolling back hepatitis B vaccines for all healthy newborns. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. has regularly contradicted scientific consensus. Could that also cause damage here in Canada?

I think he will make the damage if we are buying what they are saying. Do you think Canadians are buying what he's saying? Some. Michelle says she's working with organizations on the ground to help get more Canadians vaccinated. Catherine Cullen, CBC News. Ottawa. A stadium in India erupted in the chaos during a visit by soccer superstar Leonel Messi. Messi kicked off the first leg of his goat India tour in Kolkata today. It was supposed to be a chance for fans to get a good glimpse of the phenom, but overcrowding left many disappointed

and angry. Dominic Volaitis has the details. Crowds line the streets of India's called Qatar this morning, many hoping to catch a glimpse of soccer legend. Lionel Messi, whose three-day tour of India kicked off today. I used to watch Messi. I love him so much. But the jubilant atmosphere soon turned sour when the Argentina and Inter-Miamy forward visited the city's Salt Lake Stadium. Fans, who paid more than $100 for a ticket, complained that Messi's brief 20-minute tour of the ground

was obscured by a large group of VIPs, officials and security. Many even ripped up seats and threw them onto the pitch in disgust. Everyone was very furious. It was a total scam. With the main organiser of the stadium tour reportedly arrested, officials say disappointed fans will have their tickets refunded and that those responsible will be punished. Dominic Valaisus for CBC News, Bristol, England.

We're now hearing how Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina G Machado defied a travel ban and was smuggled out of the country to arrive in Oslo to meet with Nobel Peace Prize Committee. Brian Stearns runs a rescue company that specializes in dangerous missions. There was a land component, a maritime component, and also an air component, a small air component. I could tell you that we were not detected because if we were, they would have certainly killed us all. So I feel very confident in saying that we operated undetected.

After fleeing Venezuela in disguise, Machado boarded his boat for a 14-hour journey on choppy sees followed by a flight. And while Machado says she wants to return to Venezuela, Stern doesn't recommend it. Machado had been in hiding since August of 2024. While a major shakeup for Vancouver's NHL franchise, the team has traded its captain, Quinn Hughes, to the Minnesota Wild for three players in a first round draft pick. The 26-year-old Hughes was the Canucks first round pick, seventh overall, in the 2018 NHL entry draft, and has amassed 432 points. points and 459 career games. He also won the Norris trophy in 2024 as the league's top defensemen. But with the team struggling in Hughes' current contract sect to expire next season,

trade rumors had become rampant. The new Canucks include 20-year-old defenseman Zeebouyev, 24-year-old center Marco Rossi, and 22-year-old prospect Liam Ogren. And that is your world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Claude Fagg. Thank you.