The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/02/23 at 00:00 EST

Episode Date: February 23, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/02/23 at 00:00 EST

In Scarborough, there's this fire behind our eyes. A passion in our bellies. It's in the hearts of our neighbors. The eyes of our nurses. And the hands of our doctors. It's what makes Scarborough, Scarborough. In our hospitals, we do more than anyone thought possible. We've less than anyone could imagine.

But it's time to imagine what we can do with more. Join Scarborough Health Network and together, we can turn grit into greatness. Donate at lovescarborough.ca. From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Claude Fague. Doctors in Rome say these next few hours could determine the Pope's survival.

The Vatican says Pope Francis is in critical condition after suffering a respiratory crisis this morning. The 88-year-old Pontiff has been in hospital for more than a week. Megan Williams has more. A Vatican statement says Pope Francis's condition remains critical, meaning he is not out of danger. The Pope experienced a prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis this morning requiring high flow oxygen therapy and blood tests showed a condition that makes it harder for blood to clot and increases the risk of bleeding. He also has anemia, a lower than normal red blood cell count which can cause fatigue and weakness. He was given a blood

transfusion. Despite his condition, the Vatican says the pope remains alert and spent the day sitting in a chair, though in more discomfort than yesterday. For now, it said, the prognosis remains uncertain. The pope was hospitalized eight days ago for bronchitis that developed into double pneumonia. Megan Williams, CBC News, Rome. Ukraine's military intelligence says Russia is going to claim victory over Ukraine on Monday. That's the third anniversary of the invasion. Dominic Vallaitis has the details. This Monday marks three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

And according to intelligence officials in Kyiv, the Kremlin intends to use the anniversary to declare victory over Ukraine, and possibly even NATO. The main intelligence directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, the GUR, says Russian propagandists have already been instructed to promote so-called victory narratives ahead of Monday's anniversary. Moscow's aim, it's claimed, is to destabilise Ukrainian society and discredit the country

among its Western allies, which provide Kiev with essential military aid. Russia is reportedly hoping the new propaganda campaign will mask its status as the aggressor in the conflict. Moscow has not commented on the claims. Dominic Vellaitis for CBC News, Riga, Latvia. NDP MP Charlie Angus wants the Prime Minister to revoke Elon Musk's dual citizenship status and Canadian passport. Angus accuses Musk of using his wealth and power to influence Canada's elections.

Musk's mother was born in Regina. Angus is sponsoring a petition that has so far 24,000 signatures. It's been a frustrating time for Sunwing Airlines and its passengers. The airline had to cancel outbound flights earlier this week because of storms and a plane crash in Toronto and focus on getting customers stuck overseas back home. Michelle Song has more. To many Canadians' disappointment, the popular low-cost airline Sunwing cancelled all of

its flights departing from Toronto and Montreal earlier this week. The airline says it will focus on getting passengers now stuck in foreign destinations back to Canada. This comes after back-to-back snowstorms and the crash of a Delta Airlines plane at Pearson. Hans Roach was supposed to fly back that day, but as of this morning, he's been stuck in the Dominican Republic. And every day, as I said, is Groundhog's Day where we wake up, we're told to check out of our hotel and then, you know, go to the airport but then there's no flight.

Roche and his wife had to change resorts three times and now his wife is running out of her prescription medication. But he really hopes his flight today will put an end to his Groundhog Day. Michelle Song, CBC News, Toronto. Health Canada has issued a recall for a kids sunscreen. It includes the kids by Baby Gannix SP50 mineral sunscreen. It says an impurity was found in the products which may pose health risks. Officials are asking the public to stop using the products and contact a health care professional if there are any concerns. And that is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Claude Fague.