The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/03/19 at 21:00 EDT

Episode Date: March 20, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/03/19 at 21:00 EDT

Struggling with debt? Help is available. Discover reliable solutions to help you get back on track. Visit Canada.ca slash debt dash solutions for support you can trust. A message from the Government of Canada. From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Neil Herland. The federal government says four Canadians convicted under China's anti-drug laws were executed earlier this year. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolie is condemning Beijing's actions.

There were four Canadian citizens that are also dual-national, but fundamentally they're Canadians. What I can tell you is that my hearts and prayers are with the families. They are supported by our diplomats right now in China and also in Canada. They've asked specifically that their identity not be disclosed, so we are respecting their privacy, particularly as they're grieving. Jolie says she advocates for any Canadians facing the death penalty anywhere in the world. US President Donald Trump had another high-level phone call about ending the war in Ukraine. One day after speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump talked to Ukraine's

Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Paul Hunter has more from Washington. Today, President Trump and Ukraine's President Vol Zelensky had a fantastic phone conversation. At the White House press briefing after that phone call word from press secretary Caroline Levitt the hour-long conversation indeed went well. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky now reportedly having agreed to what's described as a 30-day partial ceasefire. Ukraine and America will continue working together to bring about a real end to the war and that lasting peace under President Trump's leadership can be

achieved. Donald Trump himself wrote on social media things are now quote very much on track. The tone alone a far cry from the last time in a good position. More talks on how any 30-day partial ceasefire would actually play out are expected later this week in Saudi Arabia, though it's unclear who precisely will be taking part. Paul Hunter, CBC News, Washington. Israel is stepping up its new offensive in Gaza, launching what it calls a limited ground operation in the Palestinian territory, on top of airstrikes

that started Monday night. Sasha Petrosic reports. In Jerusalem, fury as Israeli protesters slammed the return to war in Gaza, declaring it a death sentence for remaining hostages who might have been freed in a longer ceasefire. We need our people. They are there in the tunnels of Gaza. But in Gaza, it's fear that's growing. Fear of Israeli tanks and soldiers who've started a new ground offensive, moving to cut off north from south once again.

And fear of airstrikes. UN official Jorge de Silva says one worker died when a UN compound was hit in central Gaza, accusing Israel of targeting it. In my opinion, this was not an accident. Israel denies it was aiming at the UN, and so far Hamas has not launched military action. Sasha Petrusik, CBC News, Toronto. Violent protests have erupted in Turkey after the arrest of Istanbul's mayor, an opposition figure who's widely seen as the president's top political rival. Chris Brown reports.

The arrest of Istanbul's popular mayor sent supporters into the streets, triggering clashes with riot police and fueling fears about the country's further slide into authoritarianism. Ekrem Emamoglu was perhaps the second most powerful figure in the country and the main political rival to President Tayyip Erdogan. His detention comes just days before he was expected to be selected to lead his party against Erdogan in a possible upcoming presidential vote. Just before his arrest, Imomolo posted a video message proclaiming his innocence. Protests have been banned, although in Istanbul tonight thousands came out anyway.

Erdogan's officials, meanwhile, deny anything improper. They claim Imomolo's arrest had nothing to do with the president. Chris Brown, CBC News, London. And that is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Neil Herland.