The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/04/23 at 17:00 EDT

Episode Date: April 23, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/04/23 at 17:00 EDT

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 this hour, I'm Gina Louise Phillips. In the final few days of the campaign, Pierre Poliev is hitting a familiar theme. The Conservative leader is in Hamilton talking about drugs and crime and his plan to deal

with homeless encampments in cities. The CBC's Cameron McIntosh has more. Speaking in Hamilton, Conservative leader Pierre-Pauliev again pushing a tough on crime message. This time, homeless encampments. Letting these tent cities spread is not compassion. It is chaos. Polyov is promising to amend the criminal code, giving police more powers to remove encampments and charge people blocking access to public space.

And for those found with illegal drugs, mandatory treatment. And we will allow judges to give them a sentence of drug treatment. The Canadian Mental Health Association says evidence supporting mandatory treatment is inconclusive. Poliev's latest promise comes after an endorsement by the Toronto Police Association. Cameron McIntosh, CBC News, Ottawa. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is in Edmonton speaking about affordability. The NDP leader is specifically talking about the high cost of rent. Singh criticized corporations that buy up rental properties only to rapidly increase rent.

He's calling for the creation of a national rent control program in the next budget, as well as a moratorium on corporate landlords buying affordable homes. We're going to ban corporations from buying up affordable homes. Because that's what they're doing. They're looking around saying, well, where is rent affordable? Because you know what we could do? We could probably triple that rent and make more profit. That should not be allowed. We have to keep affordable homes affordable. Singh says it's clear Pierre Polyev will not win the election and says electing NDP MPs will prevent Mark Carney from holding all the power.

There will be no testimony today in the sexual assault trial of five former world junior hockey players. The trial's first witness was expected to take the stand, but the jury has been dismissed for the day. Five men were charged last year in connection with an alleged assault that took place in London, Ontario in 2018. All of them have pleaded not guilty. The complainant's identity is under a publication ban. Earlier today the Crown's opening statement outlined the timeline of the alleged sex assault, including evidence that would be put forward to trial. North American stock markets are gaining ground as the U.S.

appears to be softening its rhetoric on trade. The Trump administration says there's an opportunity for a big deal between the U.S. and China. Nisha Patel reports. Investors are in a buying mood. U.S. stock markets rose for a second day after the U.S. softened its tone on tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson said he expects a de-escalation of the trade war with China.

America first does not mean America alone. To the contrary, it is a call for deeper collaboration and mutual respect among trade partners. President Donald Trump said he expects a deal with China to happen very quickly and said the 145 percent tariffs against China won't last. It won't be that high. Not going to be that high. Still the volatility may not be at an end. While China has indicated its door is open to trade negotiations, the U.S. hasn't offered to make the first move to dial back tariffs. Nisha Patel, CBC News, Toronto.

And today we are so excited because right here in Vancouver, we got a team! A Vancouver team is being added to the Professional Women's Hockey League. It's the first expansion franchise as the league heads into its third season of operation. The league announced the team will be called PWHL Vancouver until the club announces its permanent identity. It will play out of Pacific Coliseum. That was the home of the Vancouver Canucks until 1995. In January, more than 19,000 fans turned out as the league hosted a game in the city.

And that is The World This Hour. Remember, you can listen to us wherever you get your podcasts, updated every hour, seven days a week. For CBC News, I'm Gina Louise Phillips.