5 things you need to know this morning: May 8, 2025

Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.

Five things you need to know

1. Canadian Blood Services hoping to recruit a million new donors

Canadian Blood Services is asking once again for people to donate blood as it looks to recruit a million new donors over the next five years. The group said only two per cent of eligible Canadians donate blood and plasma, but demand for transfusions is expected to surge in the coming years.

Demand for blood and plasma is quickly rising and the current base of about 420,000 "incredibly dedicated" active donors isn't going to be enough, said Dr. Graham Sher, CEO of Canadian Blood Services.#health #blood https://t.co/ajHJats2j0

— 650 CKOM (@CKOMNews) May 8, 2025

2. Joly says Canada 'most European of all non-European countries,' but has been 'over-reliant' on US

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has told the BBC that Canada is "the most European of all non-European countries," echoing a similar statement previously made by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Joly also said Canada has been "over-reliant on the US for too long" and stressed the country wants "to be closer to Europe."

Canada has been 'over reliant on the US for too long', says Joly https://t.co/m8zcENzlYF

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 7, 2025

3. Denmark summons US ambassador over report that American spies are focusing on Greenland

The Danes have summoned the US ambassador to explain a report in the Wall Street Journal that alleges American spies are focusing on Greenland after President Donald Trump said he wanted to acquire the island. Denmark's foreign minister said the report "worries me greatly because we do not spy on friends."

"We do not spy on friends," Denmark's foreign minister said after the Wall Street Journal reported the Trump administration is stepping up intelligence-gathering efforts on Greenland. https://t.co/qxkSpcDFBl

— HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) May 7, 2025

4. Ontario gives green light to Canada's first small modular reactor

The Ontario government has approved the construction of Canada's small modular nuclear reactor. It's expected to supply power to about 300,000 homes, cost an estimated $7.7 billion to build and be sited next door to the nuclear power plant in Darlington.

We are cleared to begin construction on North America's first commercial SMR — Ontario's first new nuclear build in over 30 years! The future of nuclear will be made right here. Learn more about this historic moment: https://t.co/DHiFVp2jYq #BigThingsStartSmall pic.twitter.com/PUij4psnMs

— Ontario Power Gen (@opg) May 8, 2025

5. British sign first trade deal with US since Trump's tariff announcement

The British have sealed the first trade deal with the US since President Trump announced his "Liberation Day" global tariff regime on April 2. Trump said he was delighted to sign the deal with the British, citing the two countries' partnership during the Second World War, but the precise details are yet to be unveiled.

President Trump Makes a Trade Announcement, May 8, 2025 https://t.co/FcM16YIDL6

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 8, 2025