The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/02/23 at 04:00 EST

Episode Date: February 23, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/02/23 at 04:00 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. The Vatican has given a brief update on the condition of Pope Francis.

The Pontiff has been in hospital for over a week suffering from pneumonia. This morning, the Vatican said that the Pope had a tranquil night in hospital. That followed a critical day on Saturday. 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. Over 59 million German voters are eligible to go to the polls today to elect their next government. Conservative leader Friedrich Mers is poised to become Germany's next chancellor, but a victory for Mers' Christian Democrats would still require an alliance with at least one other party.

Observers believe that would be with Olaf Scholz's social Democrats, whose government collapsed late last year. The 69-year-old Mertz has stated he will not align with the far-right Alternative Party. The country's faltering economy and a succession of deadly attacks have made migration and security a focal point in this election. British

Columbia has taken new measures to keep prescription opioids off the streets. People in that province who rely on those drugs can no longer bring them home. But as Jessica Chung explains, there are concerns about how this new model will work. Opioids like hydro morphine tablets used to be taken home around a dozen at a time by those with prescriptions under British Columbia's Safer Supply Program. Now the province has scrapped the take home model and says new patients who get prescribed opioids under the program will need to take them under the supervision of a pharmacist.

They give me 14 a day. I can't take 14 or take two, then run back in an hour. Lorna Byrd says the change is completely unrealistic and would mean going to the pharmacy six to seven times a day. The Safer Supply Program provides regulated opioids to drug users with a prescription as a way of giving people an alternative from toxic and deadly street drugs. The sweeping change was announced on Wednesday, effective immediately. The province says it's meant to prevent the diversion of prescription opioids into the illicit market. I think it's gonna be a nightmare.

Sydney Salos, a pharmacy assistant, says this will set many recovering addicts back. If they have to come in multiple times a day, what is that gonna mean for them? It's gonna screw them over a lot. Jessica Chung, CBC News, Vancouver. Top US officials, including President Donald Trump, broke bread together on Saturday at the White House. Trump hosted the National Governors Association evening dinner and reception. And rather than take shots at his enemies,

including Democrats, Trump actually extended a rare olive branch for what he says is the good of the country. If we can help, you're gonna call me up and we'll take care of it. You'll call the secretaries, you'll call the cabinet members, but if they don't do the job and I think they will, you'll call me and we'll take care of it. And that's Republican or Democrat.

And I'll take maybe the Democrat call even first. How about that? Can I say that? It was the first time Trump hosted the dinner in five years since his last term as U.S. President. Health Canada has issued a recall for a kids sunscreen. It includes the kids 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.