The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/02/23 at 14:00 EST

Episode Date: February 23, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/02/23 at 14:00 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 our. I'm Karen Hauerlach.

Political change is coming to Germany. The centre-right Christian Democratic Union is in first place after the country's national election. The far-right AFD is in second, doubling their support from the last election. But as Abby Kuathasen tells us, whoever wins will have to form a coalition government. A man who's never held public office before will become the next German chancellor. Friedrich Merz declared victory after his conservatives

picked up about 29 percent of the vote, but he still has to form a coalition with other parties in order to govern. Merz has already ruled out negotiating with the far-right AFD, which came in second with about 20 percent support. Thunian is the deputy director at the Jacques de laure Centre in Berlin. I think what we really need is quick coalition talks and a stable government. And that really is only possible with two parties. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has conceded defeat, but his central left party could still end up in the governing coalition. Meritz has called for speedy talks, saying the world will not wait for the government to be formed as Washington retreats. Abby Koelas in CBC News Berlin. The Vatican says Pope Francis rested well last night as Roman Catholics around the

world pray for his recovery. The Pope is in critical condition in hospital in Rome. He was admitted more than a week ago with pneumonia in both lungs. He suffered a breathing crisis yesterday and is on oxygen. Doctors say the 88-year-old's condition is touch and go. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia launched more than 200 drones overnight, a fierce attack ahead of two key meetings this week. The leaders of France and Britain are heading to Washington for talks with President Donald Trump. Anna Cunningham Moore has more. Monday, the president will host France's president Emmanuel Macron.

And on Thursday, the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit the White House as well. The White House is preparing. So too is Europe. At the Elysee Palace in Paris and Downing Street in London, there's a sense that these meetings will be a moment of tension in the relationship between Europe and the US. The UK's Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirming today that Britain will unveil a significant package of sanctions against Russia Monday. Europe and Ukraine were excluded by the US from negotiations with Russia to end its war in Ukraine, the biggest war on the European

continent since 1945. Macron and Stammer hope to change that. Anna Cunningham, CBC News, London. Meanwhile in Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelensky says he will willingly give up the presidency if it means peace for Ukraine and would definitely resign to secure Ukraine's membership in NATO. Zelensky was speaking at a news conference in the Ukrainian capital on the eve of the third anniversary of Russia's invasion.

Israeli tanks rolled into Jenin in the occupied West Bank today for the first time in more than two decades. Israel's defense minister says he's ordered the military to expand operations in northern Palestinian refugee camps in the territory to dismantle militant infrastructure, saying 40,000 Palestinians have left the camps and will not be allowed to return. Israel has been conducting military operations in the region for the past few months. Here at home, Liberal leadership candidates are preparing for two debates in Montreal this week. Presumed frontrunner Mark Carney and rivals Christia Freeland, Karina Gould and Frank Baylis

will participate in the French language debate Monday night and the English debate on Tuesday evening. The results of the leadership vote will be released March 9th. The 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards will be handed out tonight and they could offer the final clue in an unusually unpredictable Oscar race. Sean Baker's Nora, a film about a young woman who marries a Russian oligarch is seen as the favorite to win best picture. And that is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Karen Howellak.