Canada vs. Qatar, Iran MOU fallout, prediction markets in Canada, and more

Hey friend, I'm Alamine and on My Shark of Motion we are talking about Pop Culture Jeopardy. I mean look, I watch regular Jeopardy because I want to pretend that I know things even though I don't always. But Pop Culture Jeopardy is the one I was born to do because yes.

This is a CBC Podcast.

Now is my chance to see Canada at the World Cup here. I never thought it would happen before I died.

High excitement and major security as Vancouver welcomes Team Canada and their fans for a match against Qatar. As the teams prepare to kick off in a historical History making game, there is also controversy brewing. Those hydration breaks for players that are dividing fans. This is your world tonight.

If we give billions of dollars to Iran, that money will be used to murder Americans. And so I don't believe we should do that.

Strong resistance to a fragile New Deal signed between Washington and Iran while the White House claims victory and the oil tankers start to move again, the backlash is growing.

The soccer stakes couldn't be higher today in Vancouver. Team Canada versus Team Qatar. Neither has ever won a FIFA World Cup match. So whichever national men's team wins will make history. Saying Canadian fans are excited is an understatement with their red jerseys and their painted faces, they're taking it all in as a rare opportunity on Canadian soil. Tanya Fletcher reports from Vancouver.

Tens of thousands of soccer fans have descended on Vancouver in a match against Qatar that could write World Cup history for Canada. For some Canadians watching in person, it's been a lifetime coming.

Now is my chance to see Canada at the World Cup here. I never thought it would happen before I died.

David Beach now lives in Argentina and traveled back to Vancouver to fulfill a childhood dream.

I first saw Canada play in a Olympic qualifier in nineteen sixty six in Edmonton and I've been waiting since then. It's just incredible to be a part of that. I never thought it would happen in my life.

When I was a kid at Canada coming to the World Cup was something we dreamt about. Like could you imagine if Canada and now we're here?

Albert Gordon came over from Parksville on Vancouver Island with his young son.

I really thought it was important to show my son that people can be kind and united and supportive and

Together.

And a recognizable face and voice among the sea of Team Canada Red.

Especially great to be here on Game Day. It is the pinnacle of sport.

Prime Minister Mark Carney in Vancouver fresh off his G seven trip to Europe, adding to complex security measures, the likes of which this city has never seen.

Logistics a big challenge for us.

Twelve hundred officers have been deployed, says Vancouver Deputy Police Chief Don Chapman, including some all the way from Calgary.

Well, yeah.

dwarfs the 2010 Olympics. This is the largest event that's ever taken place in the city of Vancouver. Not just for spectators coming for one event, but the longevity of this event. Uh our deployment for the Olympics was 17 days in total. Our operational deployment for this uh is just over 40 days. So it's a marathon rather than a spring.

The celebratory atmosphere moving beyond the scoreboard for Qatari fans too. Hundreds of them received an all-expense paid trip to Vancouver to cheer on their team. Arriving on charter jets and staying at high-end hotels in several of the World Cup host cities across North America. Anis Abukamar is one of them.

Katar welcome to world in twenty twenty two. Uh and now Canada's welcoming us with the same hospitality. It is so exciting to be here. Canadians have been so so nice to us, really.

High hopes for some beautiful moments at the world's biggest celebration of the beautiful game. Tanya Fletcher, C BC News, Vancouver.

Besides cheering and jeering at the matches being played, soccer fans in stadiums and at home around the world also have some strong opinions on a new addition to this year's World Cup, the Hydration Break. And if you're wondering why water would be controversial, it's really about the when and the why. Philip Lee Shannick explains.

In downtown Toronto, Ghana fans celebrated last night's 1-0 win over Panama, a single goal in the 95th minute. Despite the victory, manager Carlos Carraz was not a fan of the mandated hydration breaks in the middle of each half. which he did concede may sometimes be needed. But just not on a cool and drizzly night as it was on Wednesday, and fans agreed. A video posted to social media showed their reaction. should be reevaluated.

It's too warm. You can barely stay stay outside.

Charlie Oxley came from England to support his national men's team.

First time I am here and I've never been so hot in my life.

But Alastair Johnston, a defender with Canada's men's national soccer team, says the breaks allow for more commercials, which presents a major revenue opportunity.

Probably making some more money for FIFA.

Yeah.

He says it also changes the dynamics and strategy of the game, more akin to American football.

But now all of a sudden it's split into quarters and yeah, each each twenty minute, twenty two minute block is very different than the next and it's a good way in terms of if things aren't going your way to be able to regroup.

Some fans at England's match with Croatia in Arlington, Texas, which was played in an air-conditioned stadium, didn't think the brakes were needed. England's manager Thomas Tuschel says the three minute pauses disrupt the flow and strategy of the game.

I think it changes the character of of of each half quite quite significantly uh because it gives you the chance to to change and and and to reset.

Critics say it should be a game day call dependent on conditions. FIFA says mandatory breaks are for this tournament only and haven't decided if they'll be back for the Women's World Cup next year or the men's in twenty thirty. Philthy Shanock CBC News.

Coming up, rising tensions between the US and Israel after the signing of a deal to end the fighting with Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Plus, Russia threatens to retaliate following a massive drone attack by Ukraine. This story.

I'm Karen Paul's in Winnipeg with a warning from a woman who lost her brother after he was bitten by an infected mosquito.

When he retired he celebrated with all his friends outdoors, going to patios, taking walks with them in High Park and doing all these outdoor things and that's the thing that got him in the end.

I'll have that story for you later on your world tonight.

Ships and oil are moving again through the Strait of Hormuz after the US lifted its naval blockade as part of the agreement signed between the US and Iran. US officials today are defending the deal as a win for Washington, but as Sasha Petrasik reports, not everyone agrees.

Cautiously, tankers venture into the Strait of Hormuz. At least a dozen carrying 12.5 million barrels of oil. since the deal to end the conflict was signed, with US Vice President J. D. Vance taking credit.

We've got this thing to a very good place for the American people.

Yeah. State TV announced that Iran's leader Ayatollah Khameni also backed the deal despite initial reservations. On the streets, a feeling of triumph from citizens like Muhammad Dali Mirzay.

It says

A sense of victory and joy, he tells state media.

Hey!

There's a lot less enthusiasm in Israel, especially the north, where residents like Ellie Goldberg face rockets fired by Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also frustrated, Israeli officials say. They tell media there that stubborn negotiations with the US over Israeli military action in Lebanon continue, despite the deal calling for its immediate termination.

ترجمة نانسي قنقر

Today Netanyahu praised what he calls Israel's vital relationship with American friends. While continuing airstrikes in Lebanon and expanding the territory now occupied by Israeli troops there. In a social media post, Trump repeated that he expects a complete ceasefire in Lebanon, with Vance stressing the call for Israel's compliance.

If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.

This remains one of the most fragile parts of the agreement, though in the US there's also anger in Congress from Democrats like Senator Chris Koons.

What a colossal strategic failure.

Literally everything.

that President Trump said he was trying to accomplish with this war he has failed to accomplish.

But also from Trump's Republican backers like Senator Ted Cruz.

I do not think we should be sending money to the IATO.

Who opposes a$300 billion reconstruction fund included in the deal.

So if we give billions of dollars to Iran, that money will be used to murder Americans. And so I don't believe we should do that.

Vance says the money will come from Gulf states, not the US, and only if Iran behaves.

Yeah.

Don't get anything unless they change their behavior. If they change their behavior, that is a thing to celebrate. That's going to transform the Middle East for a generation.

That is a long way off as negotiations with Iran continue on how to implement other key elements in the deal, like Iran's pledge to end its nuclear program. Sasha Petrasik, C B C News, Washington.

Ukraine has launched its largest drone offensive against Moscow since the war began more than four years ago. The attack damaged a key oil refinery, caused fires, and suspended flights. Briar Stewart has more on the aftermath and the warning this strike sends.

ならならならならならならなら

Black smoke filled the sky over Moscow even as more Ukrainian drones kept speeding toward the capital. Shots rang out as air defenses tried to shoot them down.

Продолжение следует...

Causing panic and confusion for those nearby. This was the second time in three days that Ukraine hit an oil refinery on the city's south side. A strike that launched the lid of an oil storage tank into the air like an oversized Frisbee. This was the largest drone attack on Moscow since the war began. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack was retribution for a strike on a historic monastery in Kiev on Monday.

Україна буде палати ваша Москва.

In an area around the Capitol, an apartment building was hit by a drone and cars were burned. Officials say at least 17 people were injured.

городе который

There was no comment from Russia's president. Vladimir Putin is hundreds of kilometers away hosting leaders from Southeast Asian nations in Central Russia. But nearly four and a half years into Russia's invasion, this may be the closest the war has ever felt. For many of the thirteen million living in Moscow. And Alexandra Horchenko, the director of the Energy Industry Research Center, says that's a good thing.

I don't like to civilian people suffering, but only people of Moscow can stop this war. It's not a Putin really who will go to peace.

He says Russia is beginning to feel the pressure, but says the attacks would have to continue at this pace for several weeks for there to be fuel shortages.

If trend will be the same, it will mean surreal deficit for them.

Russia's foreign minister vowed there would be more attacks on Ukraine in response. At a meeting in Brussels today, Germany and Britain pledged hundreds of millions of dollars more in military aid. But what Kiev says it really needs now are more US-made patriot interceptors to try and defend its cities against Russia's ballistic missiles. Briar Stewart, CBC News, London.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a six month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe. In an address to NATO allies in Brussels today, he accused some countries of free riding and shamed others for refusing to allow their air bases be used by US jets bombing Iran in the spring.

For too long NATO has been a paper tiger and a one way street.

No more.

And that's what defense spending commitments are all about, transforming NATO back into a real military alliance that's focused on hard power and real deterrence. Europe was not supposed to be a dependency of the United States.

Hegseth also threatened to cut force numbers in countries spending the least on defense. European officials have pledged to take more responsibility. Many NATO allies have recently increased their military spending. The Canadian Armed Forces is losing its ability to investigate sexual offenses within the military. A bill passed in the Senate transfers those cases to the civilian justice system.

Well, Canadians will soon be able to bet on the future, but not all of it. Regulators have nudged open the door for prediction market trading, financial trading that pays out based on the outcomes of real-world events. But as Anis Hidari reports, many of the most popular events will still be off limits.

This is not your index fund.

Marius Zoykan says, even if it's a financial institution offering you access to prediction markets, it is not the same as any other market you'd access at the bank. He's a Canada research chair in financial technology at the University of California.

Algree.

This is an asset class which is that is closer in some sense to to to gambling. These are very simple contracts and they're all or nothing. Either you win big or you lose your entire estate.

Prediction markets let users bet on what might happen in the real world. Canadian financial institution, Wealth Simple, says it wants to offer them.

Okay, what what what's this for again?

Well Simple. The tech company says later this summer it will offer access through a U.S. player in prediction markets. But Well Simple only has approval from Canadian regulators to offer bets on things like climate trends or finances and economic indicators. That might sound a bit like, well, regular investments. Maria Zoyken says there's a difference. Traditional stocks indexes or mutual funds.

So if the stock price goes up you might win, if the stock price goes down you might lose, but you're not in a situation where either you win everything or you lose everything.

You know.

Does kinda blur that line between what is gambling and what is financial trade?

Andrew Kim researches gambling and addictions at Toronto Metropolitan University. He says it's unclear what the impact of these new markets will be, in particular because you can't bet on politics or sports like in other countries.

So it's it's limited to three general areas. So it's a lot less than what is available in the States, but I think sort of kind of getting a foot in the door to see what this might look like.

And it's also unclear how popular this might be with Canadians. Wealth Simple wouldn't tell CBC News what demand is projected to be, but in a statement the company called predictions the fastest growing segment of global financial markets. And reports have estimated the total value of bets on top international prediction markets have hit around$100 million U.S. dollars.

Growing up, like your banks would not be, I guess, your bookie at the same time.

Well.

Well simple customer Marcello Nesca keeps a lot of his family's investments in banking with that company. He's not planning to use these prediction markets and he generally isn't sure if this is a good idea, period.

It's really about like the convenience of where your money is and uh how how easy it could be to use that convenience to spend on a prediction market. That's why I it didn't jive well with me.

Well, yeah.

Health Simple does say prediction markets will have the same standards to protect investors as its other trading products. And the company's plans won't allow Canadians to join international gamblers, wagering on politics or war.

Thank you.

Though instead of saving up for a rainy day, Canadians might soon bet on one instead. Any Sadari CBC News Calgary.

Some tech companies are balking at the ballooning costs of using AI, where once they encouraged even mandated its use to disrupt and innovate, as Nora Young reports, the high price tag could change that.

People were totally happy with the amount they were spending.

That huge issue is the rising cost of AI for tech forward companies that are using it intensively. Last month, Uber acknowledged it had spent its entire twenty twenty six AI budget in the first four months of the year, with the company's COO saying it was becoming harder to justify internal AI costs. And it's not just big US players. At a recent conference, leaders from Canadian startups said they're feeling the cost of internal AI expenses.

If that five hundred thousand dollar engineer did not consume at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars worth of tokens, I am going to be deeply alarmed.

But now the push is to rein in AI costs. And that's because, unlike you and me asking AI a simple question, all those tokens cost big bucks. Costs AI companies need to recoup. Anthropic's current enterprise plan, for example, includes both a flat fee and a fee based on token usage. At the beginning of June, Microsoft owned GitHub Copilot changed its fees to tie price to token use. Enter AI Tokonomics, tracking the cost and value of applying AI.

I think they've moved away from very kind of naive experimentation.

Nestor Masley is CEO of a consulting firm that advises companies on strategically adopting AI. He thinks businesses should focus on

think running micro sized experiments to figure out where AI is useful as a tool in organizations. Does it do things faster than a human and also at what cost

But if the bottom line improves for big users of AI, that cuts into the revenue model of AI companies themselves, which leaves open the question of finding the sweet spot of pricing, long term innovation, and return on investment.

To me, this is just kind of all evidence of a technology that's still in its very early days in terms of not only its capability but also how it's priced.

Nora Young, C B C News, Toronto.

Alberta's Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health says residents will soon be able to pay for elective surgeries. Adriana Lagrange today laid out details of a new dual path healthcare system. It will give Albertans the option to pay for things like knee, hip, and cataract surgeries. Lagrange says there will be safeguards to protect the public system, including requiring doctors to work a minimum number of hours before they can offer private services.

Finally, there will be no privately paid surgeries for life threatening conditions such as cancer or emergency surgeries. public system will continue to be the sole provider of these critical procedures. Oversight will be strong.

Lagrange says patients will be able to start using the private system in the fall. An Ontario family is turning grief into a warning tonight. Their loved one had just begun retirement when a fatal case of West Nile virus cut that short. Now, after seeing CBC's coverage about the dangers of mosquitoes and the diseases they can spread, they decided to share their story with Karen Paul's.

Brent Seahan singing and dancing with the son of close friends. The sixty-three year old had just retired after nearly four decades with the Toronto Public Libraries when a rare infection took hold, says his sister, Andrea Carey.

When he retired he celebrated with all his friends outdoors, going to patios, taking walks with them in High Park and doing all these outdoor things and that's the thing that got him in the end.

During regular surveillance last July, Toronto public health officials confirmed the first mosquitoes of the season to test positive for West Nile virus. Seahan felt sick with what he thought was just a summer flu, but it rapidly escalated to severe spinal pain, confusion, and respiratory failure.

So the doctor was extremely shocked because it's such a rare thing to get that sick with West Nile.

Sehan died of West Nile encephalitis, a severe inflammation of the brain, one of just nine Canadians to die of the virus last year.

Like I've just been numb.

While eighty percent of people infected with West Nile show no symptoms at all, men, older adults, and those with underlying health conditions face higher risk of severe illness.

If the virus travels to your brain or your spinal cord, it can cause inflammation, which can then lead to serious complications like high grade fever, coma, hallucinations, confusion, and potentially even death.

Corby Fink is an assistant professor at the University of Manitoba's Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

So no vaccines exist and there are no specific treatments.

Yeah.

Public health agencies are already doing surveillance for infected mosquitoes, says Dr. Joanne Titarin, a senior epidemiologist and veterinarian at the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The West Nile activity can vary quite substantially from year to year and it's typically a combination of factors like weather, bird populations, mosquito abundance, and other local environmental conditions.

Her advice to prevent bites? Wear light colored, long clothing, use insect repellent, especially at dawn and dusk, and eliminate standing water on your property.

We have such wonderful Canadian summers. We want to continue to get out, be active and enjoy them.

Experts say climate change means disease bearing mosquitoes will only become more common in countries like Canada. Brent Seahan's sister hopes their loss can be a cautionary tale for others.

I would like people to be safe. I hope that Brent's death wasn't for no reason.

Karen Pauls, CBC News, Winnipeg.

Finally, tonight.

Drummers and singers from Onion Lake Cree Nation sent high school students off from the banks of the North Saskatchewan River for the first leg of a 350-kilometer canoe trip. It's commemorating the signing of Treaty 6. 150 years ago. Over eight days, students took part in different legs of the journey, which followed the river from Fort Pitt, Saskatchewan, just east of the Alberta border, to Fort Carleton in central Saskatchewan.

I learned that I'm stronger than I thought I was when we had a paddle against the wind.

Fourteen year old Allie Hillis was one of the thirty students to take part, all from Lloydminster High Schools. She paddled the middle leg of the tour, calling the experience amazing, teaching her Cree knowledge and about the significance of the treaty.

I learned that like the treaty isn't just like a document, it's a living thing. It's still here today and we still like we still have promises that we have to fulfill.

Treaty six was signed in eighteen seventy-six by representatives of the Crown and by leaders of the Cree, Assiniboine, and Ojibwe nations, spanning a vast area of central Alberta and Saskatchewan. Seventeen-year-old Credence Saint Germain. is from Pelican Lake First Nation and says the trip meant a lot to him.

feel pretty blessed to c be from Treaty Six and the reserve I'm from and all that and going on this canoe trip m like really means a lot that I got to represent it.

I think our students did an incredible job at supporting one another free of judgment.

That's Principal Luke Maw. He helped organize this and paddled the entire distance. He says the trip may be over, but the journey is not, with the expedition and the life lessons living on with each student.

think what what gets lost at times is you know we're all treaty people. Um you know it's not this this is not something just for indigenous people. Um this is not something for just Europeans but together Um, you know, we're all treaty people, we all hold our own responsibilities.

Thanks for being with us. This has been your world tonight for Thursday, June 18th. I'm Anundram. Good night.

For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca slash podcast.