The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/05/12 at 12:00 EDT

Episode Date: May 12, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/05/12 at 12:00 EDT

How did the internet go from this? You could actually find what you were looking for right away, bound to this. I feel like I'm in hell. Spoiler alert, it was not an accident. I'm Cory Doctorow, host of Who Broke the Internet from CBC's Understood. In this four-part series, I'm going to tell you

why the internet sucks now, whose fault it is, and my plan to fix it. Find Who Broke the Internet on whatever terrible app you get your podcasts. From CBC News, it's the World This Hour. I'm Joe Cummings. Hamas has announced the release of Eden Alexander, an Israeli-American hostage being held in Gaza. There's been no confirmation at this point from Israel, but the Red Cross is saying it has sent a team into the territory to collect the 21-year-old.

Alexander is believed to be the last living American hostage being held by Hamas. And the White House says Hamas considers the release a goodwill gesture. It's believed Hamas is looking to establish a ceasefire that would include Israel ending its blockade of food and medical shipments. U.S. President Donald Trump is leaving Washington this hour for a three-country tour of the Middle East. Trump will be visiting Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, but his first stop will be Saudi Arabia.

Chris Brown has more. The Saudi capital is getting ready to throw a big party for Donald Trump, with fancy dinners and lots of extravagant ceremonies. The country's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS as he's known, has held out the prospect of a deal-making bonanza for the U.S. president. Trump is arriving in a country in the midst of significant changes. You can see women and men mixing together and women can now hold decent jobs. Trump had once hoped for a grand deal for Saudi Arabia to normalize its relationship with Israel, but the war in Gaza stopped that process in its tracks.

Now he'll try to push Israel for a ceasefire as a precondition for better relations. Hamas agreeing to release U.S. hostage Eden Alexander gives the U.S. president an early win and maybe some momentum as this trip begins. Chris Brown, CBC News in Riyadh. The United States and China have agreed to pause their trade war. It's a 90-day agreement that includes both countries rolling back some of their most punitive tariffs. And according to President Trump, Beijing is also considering allowing the US to do more business in China.

I think it would be fantastic for our businesses if we could go in and compete and compete with China. It would be a lot of jobs for China. It would be, I think, at a time when they can frankly use the jobs. And that's what we're talking about. So that's a very, very important element to add. Trump says he's hoping to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of the week. Prime Minister Mark Carney introduces his cabinet tomorrow morning at a gala swearing-in ceremony in Rideau Hall, which means in Ottawa there's another day of speculation on who is and who isn't expected to make the grade.

Here's Janice McGregor. Janice McGregor, The New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York

Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New

Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New Times, New York Times, New York Times, New York Times, New There is a need for continuity with the previous government. It could be around the relationships that a handful of senior ministers have already built with key players in Washington. On Rosemary Barton Live yesterday, International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc played coy about whether he'd be staying on that basis. I'm certainly not going to offer any views on the Prime Minister's decision with respect to the Cabinet. I hope I can continue to make a contribution and I'm enthusiastic about the work ahead. The 24 hours before cabinet swearing in often leads to a bit of a parlor game in this town.

Pundits weigh in on what they do. The fact is only a very small group of people know what the Prime Minister is doing and frankly we'll all find out soon enough. Janice McGregor, CBC News, Ottawa. Aaron Ross Powell calling free speech and freedom of the press a gift, Pope Leo addressed a gathering of journalists today at the Vatican Auditorium. Here he is speaking through an interpreter. Pope Leo You are at the forefront of reporting on conflicts and aspirations of peace, situations of injustice and poverty.

This is why I ask you to choose consciously and courageously a path of communication of peace. Pope Leo also expressed his support for journalists around the world who have been imprisoned, and he called for those still in custody to be released. 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.