The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/02/23 at 18:00 EST

Episode Date: February 23, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/02/23 at 18:00 EST

1942, Europe. Soldiers find a boy surviving alone in the woods. They make him a member of Hitler's army. But what no one would know for decades, he was Jewish. Could a story so unbelievable be true? I'm Dan Goldberg. I'm from CBC's personally, Toy Soldier. Available now wherever you get your podcasts. From CBC News, the world is our. I'm Karen Hauerloch. Germany is headed for another coalition government, but with a different leader at the top. The center-right Christian Democratic Union is in first place after Sunday's national election, with the far-right AFD coming in second.

Abby Kuhath-Hawson reports. 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. Meretz has already ruled out negotiating with the far-right AFD, which came in second with about 20% support.

Thunian is the deputy director at the Jacques Delors Center 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. Abbie Koalas in CBC News, Berlin. The Vatican says Pope Francis is still in critical condition in hospital in Rome and is showing signs of mild kidney failure. The 88 year old pope was admitted more than a week ago with pneumonia in both lungs. He was again given extra oxygen today and had two more blood transfusions. This is a generational moment. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says a stable peace that will deter further Russian

aggression is not just in Ukraine's interests but in the interests of Europe and Britain. Russia already menaces our waters, our online spaces, even at times our streets. And the economic insecurity that the conflict has caused cost a living crisis. That will only continue unless we have a resolution that is fair and stable for Ukraine. Instability in Europe always washes up on our shores. Starmor says he supports American calls for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security, promising Britain will reshape its military, economic, and industrial capabilities. Stammer is to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday. French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Trump tomorrow. The Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement is looking

shaky again. Israel is refusing to hand over about 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. It was supposed to release them after Hamas freed six Israeli hostages Saturday. Sasha Petrasek reports. Across the occupied West Bank and in Gaza, there's frustration and anger from Palestinian families waiting for the release of loved ones held in Israeli jails. The delay is a huge burden, says Badr Abu Aliya. More than 600 detainees were supposed to be freed in exchange for six Israeli hostages released yesterday.

But Israel put a hold on that, saying it doesn't like the way hostages are paraded by Hamas, calling it degrading propaganda. Palestinian officials call it a pretext by Israel. If Israel doesn't, the bodies of four hostages may not be released by Hamas this week. And if the ceasefire collapses altogether, 59 other hostages may not make it out of Gaza. Sasha Petrusik, CBC News, Jerusalem.

In Spain, national police raid an apartment in an operation targeting a human trafficking ring. Police say more than a thousand women were lured to the country in the past year with false job offers then forced into sex work. Almost 50 suspects are under arrest. Ottawa is paying 14 different First Nations in Saskatchewan 1.72 billion dollars in total compensation for treaty promises for agriculture that were never kept. Ottawa had agreed to provide them with plows, seeds, livestock, and other farming tools, but never supplied them. And that is your World This Hour.

For CBC News, I'm Karen Howelluck.