The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/02/15 at 09:00 EST

Episode Date: February 15, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/02/15 at 09:00 EST

It's the epitome of classical ballet, beloved the world over. The National Ballet of Canada invites you to experience Swan Lake, revel in Tchaikovsky's glorious score, and an unforgettable production directed and staged by Karen Kane, whose vision emphasizes the love story at the heart of the ballet. Presented by Nicola Wealth Management, on stage March 8th to 22nd, tickets are selling fast. Secure your seat now at national.ballet.ca. From CBC News, the world is sour. I'm Neal Kumar.

Celebrations are taking place in Tel Aviv as three Israeli men are being released in hostage square. They've been released by Hamas in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners. It is part of the fragile ceasefire that almost fell apart earlier this week. The CBC's Sasha Petrasek reports from Jerusalem. Well, this morning we saw three Israeli hostages released from Gaza, something that people were worried was not going to happen as recently as yesterday or the day before when Hamas was threatening not to release

any more hostages and the US was threatening Hamas with all hell if it didn't. But it went according to schedule this morning, three Israelis, including an American Israeli and another Russian Israeli, three men in this case, looking better than the hostages looked last week. There was a lot of concern and a lot of criticism of Hamas over that. These did look somewhat better, but there was still a level of games being played, of propaganda being exchanged as part of this. Hamas had a stage, it gave them awards, it made them speak. Sasha Petrusik, CBC News, Jerusalem. European leaders are in Munich for day two of a global security conference. As Abikou

Othosin reports, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has a full slate of meetings today, as he continues to bolster relationships with key European allies. Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelensky says his country will not accept any peace deal reached behind their backs. In Munich he urged allies to work out a common position before even thinking about sitting down with Russian President Vladimir Putin. We cannot just agree to a ceasefire without real security guarantees, without pressure on Russia, without a system to keep Russia in check. He also stressed that Kiev will not agree to any kind of ceasefire without security

guarantees, guarantees that ensure the Kremlin does not attack Ukrainian territory in the future. European allies were hoping for details on the new U.S. administration's approach to dealing with Putin. What they've heard before the conference wasn't what they wanted to hear. The issue of the negotiation skills of the president still remains to be seen. Pekka Havisto was the Finnish foreign minister when the Kremlin launched its wider scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. We are here quite concerned about this full reset attitude. Abhi Kaur Dasan, CBC News, Berlin.

In Ottawa, Pierre Poliev will address Conservative Party supporters at a rally in downtown this afternoon. The event is being branded as a Canada First Rally and the party is asking people to wear red and white to honor the Canadian flag on its 60th anniversary. The City of Halifax will get 10 new firefighters next year with the possibility of more. On Friday, City Council approved the $98 million Halifax fire, an emergency budget that includes money for 10 firefighters to start next winter. There is also consideration of adding an additional 10 firefighters, bringing the total to 20. Here's Councillor Nancy Hartley. The Tantalum wildfires was a hundred and sixty five million dollars in insurable damage. The cost of being behind the

eight ball can never be overstated. I think that as a core service we should be continually committed to doing the right thing for the folks in Halifax and for Halifax regional flyer. The department says it needs the extra positions to reduce response times and medical calls. It's going to be a big night for hockey in Montreal, as Canada faces the U.S. at the Four Nations Faceoff Tournament. But for Canadian forward and Halifax native Brad Marchand, a showdown between Canada and the U.S. on any level brings out the best in all players.

I mean there's no bigger rivalry than Canada, U.S. and hockey. I think they're the games that everybody dreams about playing growing up. And you know they're memories that will last a lifetime. So we're all really looking forward to it and it can't come quick enough. Pug drop from the Bell Centre is set for just after 8pm Eastern Time. And that is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Neil Kumar.