The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/02/15 at 20:00 EST

Episode Date: February 16, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/02/15 at 20:00 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 this hour, I'm Julianne Hazelwood. The latest hostages for detainees' swap went relatively smoothly.

Three Israelis were exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian detainees. But a social media post from Donald Trump is casting doubt about whether there will be any more releases. Sasha Petrasek has the latest. For days it wasn't clear if Israeli hostages would be freed today. But this morning three men climbed onto a Gaza stage Surrounded by armed uniform militants Hamas backing down on a threat not to release any more hostages Hostage supporters watched in Tel Aviv I'm afraid for the next one and the next one. Indeed this afternoon more doubts about whether there would be a next release in a week's

time with US President Donald Trump suggesting on social media that Israel should take action since Hamas didn't release all hostages as he had demanded. A Hamas representative responded, hostages will only be freed if Israel abides by the ceasefire agreement and timetable. Sasha Petrusik, CBC News, Jerusalem. Conservative leader Pierre Polyev spoke

at his party's rally in Ottawa this afternoon. He took aim at US President Donald Trump and his attacks on Canada. The unjustified threats of tariffs and 51st statehood of Donald Trump have united our people to defend the country we love. Palyev also took aim at one of the frontrunners in the race for the liberal leadership, claiming Mark Carney will not put Canada first.

Recent polls have showed a narrowing gap between the conservatives and liberals under Carney's leadership. A group of white South Africans held a rally in Pretoria to show their support for the US president. Many were from the Afrikaner community, descendants of Dutch and German migrants. Last week, Donald Trump offered Afrikaners refugee status. The US president said they were victims of their government's

plan to expropriate some land. Willem Petser attended the rally. We are here in support of President Donald Trump's decisions to make a statement against the racial laws coming out of South Africa. And we also had a petition that was signed by more than 138,000 people. Trump also signed an executive order to cut U.S. financial assistance to South Africa. From coast to coast, Canadians are celebrating Flag Day. It's the 60th anniversary of the raising of the maple leaf for the first time. And with a looming trade war, patriotism is on display across the country. Phil Bleszanak reports. As a giant Canadian flag is raised at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto,

Shirley Sequeira says she came to send a message. We need to be respected and our flag needs to be respected because it's beautiful. She says threats by US President Donald Trump that Canada should become the 51st state made this Flag Day more important. On February 15th, 1965, the Canadian flag was raised for the first time on Parliament Hill and for many marking it today, it's not just an act of defiance, but pride. Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham says he thinks of the moment his son enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. Seeing his tunic with the maple leaf patch, tears streaming down my face.

Over the years, flag days have passed without notice. Now, five former prime ministers urged Canadians from coast to coast to come together and fly the flag proudly. Philip LeChanock, CBC News, Toronto. A heavy winter storm is pummeling parts of southern Ontario and Quebec with snow. Environment Canada says Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal could see between 25 and 40 centimeters of snowfall throughout the weekend. It comes just days after another storm dumped snow across the region leading to school

closures and suspending mail deliveries in some areas. And that is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Juliane Hazelwood. MUSIC