The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/02/15 at 10:00 EST

Episode Date: February 15, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/02/15 at 10:00 EST

What does a mummified Egyptian child, the Parthenon marbles of Greece and an Irish giant all have in common? They are all stuff the British stole. Maybe. Join me, Mark Fennell, as I travel around the globe uncovering the shocking stories of how some, let's call them ill-gotten, artifacts made it to faraway institutions. Spoiler, it was probably the British. Don't miss a brand new season of Stuff the British Style. Watch it free on CBC Gem. From CBC News, the world is sour. I'm Neil Kumar.

Three more Israeli hostages have been released in Gaza as part of the ceasefire deal. Three men, one in his 20s, another in his 30s, and a third in his 40s, were paraded onto a stage in Khan Yunus by armed militants, even asked to speak into a microphone before being turned over to the International Red Cross. They were eventually handed over to the IDF. All three were captured during the October 7, 2023 attacks. In return, Israel will reportedly release over 300 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. In Rome, concerns are growing over the health of Pope Francis. He is spending a second day in hospital where he is being treated for a respiratory infection. Megan Williams has more on the Pope's condition.

The Pope was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital here in Rome Friday morning for what the Vatican called in a statement, some diagnostic tests and treatment for bronchitis. A few hours later the Vatican announced the Pope would be canceling all appearances at Roman Catholic Holy Jubilee year events for the weekend and Monday. Earlier this month Francis said at a weekly audience that he had a bad cold but until yesterday he continued to hold daily audiences, albeit inside his Vatican Santa Marta residence. Last Sunday he led an outdoor mass, though wasn't able to read aloud the homily. The Pope, who is

now 88, has suffered from the flu and other health problems these past couple of years, and as a young man had part of one lung removed. Recently, he's put on weight and appeared bloated, possibly due to water retention from medication he's taking for his lung infection. The Vatican spokesperson said last night the Pope was in good spirits and reading the papers. Megan Williams, CBC News, Rome. European leaders are gathering today in Munich for day two of a global security conference. Concerns about the U.S.

administration's approach to the Kremlin are dominating much of the conversation. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky continues a full slate of meetings aimed at nurturing relationships with key European allies. One of U.S. President Donald Trump's fiercest critics within his own party has some advice for Canadians and that's to take all the talk of a 51st state with a grain of salt and don't be afraid of him. The CBC's Murray Brewster explains. Canada is going to be a very serious contender to be our 51st state. That has been Donald Trump's message over and over and it's hard not to take the bait. He's trying to look tough. He's trying to entertain.

Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who voted to impeach Donald Trump after the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, says Canadian political leaders need to keep calm and push back hard in areas where Canada can defend itself, for instance, with counter tariffs. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a business audience recently he believes Trump's threats are real, while members of his cabinet have downplayed the idea of annexation as something credible. If we came to him tomorrow and said it's all yours, of course he'd take it. Vincent Rigby, the Prime Minister's former top intelligence adviser, says swallowing Canada with its geography, distinct culture and institutions is not something the U.S. is in any way prepared for.

Marie Brewster, CBC News, Ottawa. The town of Cochrane, Alberta is kicking off a Fire Smart initiative next week. It says crews will be working to reduce the risk of wildfire damage through vegetation management, fuel reductions and public education. Fire Chief Sean Pauley says it will include firebreak work as well as removing dead, downed, damaged and diseased trees in some spaces. It's definitely a process that we want to make sure it's sustainable over the next, you know, 10 years or longer or perpetuity, I guess.

But we want to make sure that we're always paying attention to what some of those risks are and how can we reduce them for our citizens and really build out a nice robust program and make FireSmart more of a day-to-day activity than just a once a year type of program. He says this round is expected to take three to five months. And that is Your World is Sour. Remember, you can listen to us wherever you get your podcasts. The World This Hour is updated every hour, seven days a week. For CBC News, I'm Neil Kubar.