The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/03/19 at 06:00 EDT

Episode Date: March 19, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/03/19 at 06:00 EDT

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First to the Middle East where Gaza is once again being hit with Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli military says it targeted a Hamas military site overnight with initial reports suggesting as many as 12 people have been killed. Crystal Gamansing has more now from Jerusalem. The second day of strikes comes as far-right Israeli politician Itamar Ben-Gavir resumes his role as national security adviser. He resigned from that position in protest when Israel agreed to a ceasefire in January.

Now that ceasefire is broken. The resumed military operations and ensuing cabinet appointments, says Ansel Pfeffer of The Economist, is about maintaining power. Prime Minister Netanyahu needs to ensure that he has a majority over the next couple of weeks to pass a budget.

If that doesn't happen, then early elections are triggered. Most of his potential coalition are on the far right, of weeks to pass a budget. If that doesn't happen, then early elections are triggered. Most of his potential coalition are on the far right, and they have been demanding an end to the ceasefire and a return to the fighting. Thousands of demonstrators are marching towards Jerusalem. Multiple groups are involved trying to show Netanyahu's government they'd rather fight for democracy. Crystal Gamansing, CBC News, Jerusalem.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says a prisoner exchange will take place today with Ukraine. The swap is expected to include, among others, 23 injured Ukrainians currently in Russian medical facilities. This follows a telephone call yesterday between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky says in the immediate hours following that phone call his military shot down 40 Russian drones. Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing criticism over his reshaped federal cabinet. Specifically, questions are being asked about how Carney went about making the cabinet smaller and why he consolidated certain portfolios.

Ashley Burke explains. It's a political strategy. For Rabia Hooter, the new Prime Minister's decision to consolidate some cabinet portfolios is viewed as a strategic choice ahead of a looming election. To get rid of anything that has to do with equity, diversity and inclusion. She's the National Director of Disability Without Poverty, one of more than 200 advocacy groups and organizations, calling on Mark Carney to reinstate a series of ministerial roles solely dedicated to portfolios like persons with disabilities,

women, gender equity and youth, along with official languages and seniors. We're concerned that we lost a champion at the cabinet table women, gender equity and youth, along with official languages and seniors. We're concerned that we lost a champion at the cabinet table because this issue is no longer given the priority that it needs. Those portfolios aren't gone, but the minister's titles are. The work will now fall under other ministers' expanded portfolios. Ashley Burke, CBC News, Ottawa. Two NASA astronauts have returned to Earth after spending nine months on the International

Space Station. But remember, this nine-month stay was originally scheduled for just eight days. Nicole Williams has more. Butch, Sunny, welcome home. Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams have returned with a splash. After a 17-hour trip from the International Space Station, the two American astronauts are finally back on Earth. The SpaceX capsule burned through the planet's atmosphere at 28,000 kilometers an hour. Then a series of parachutes deployed, slowing down the spacecraft's descent,

eventually floating into the waters off the coast of Florida. NASA has been trying to get Williams and Wilmore home since they first left Earth's orbit last June. Their mission to the ISS only supposed to last eight days, but issues with their spacecraft extended that trip. Stephen Stitch is manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. This has been nine months in the making and I couldn't be prouder of our team's versatility. Nicole Williams, CBC News, Ottawa. And that is The World This Hour. Remember, you can listen to us wherever you get your podcasts.

The World This Hour is updated every hour, seven days a week. For CBC News, I'm Joe Cummings.