The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/06/03 at 12:00 EDT

Episode Date: June 3, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/06/03 at 12:00 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, it's the world this hour. I'm Joe Cummings. We go first to the wildfire emergency in northern Saskatchewan. The plan is to keep our operation going as long as we can here. At least we'll have access to food every day and clean accommodations.

In Montreal Lake First Nation, that is Lionel Bird, he is helping to prepare a school gymnasium for evacuees traveling south from the LaRange area. They are fleeing a wildfire that is now more than 800 square kilometers in size. An evacuation order was issued last night, which means that from the town and surrounding region more than 7,000 people are on the move. In total, close to 15,000 people have been forced from their homes across the province. In Manitoba, it's 17,000. In Alberta, it's 5,000 people have been forced from their homes across the province. In Manitoba, it's 17,000. In Alberta, it's 5,000. In this ongoing crisis and with the growing number of evacuees, all will be discussed tonight in an emergency debate set for the House of Commons.

Now to Gaza. Ambulances pull up to a hospital in the city of Rafa after the Hamas-run health ministry says Israeli troops opened fire on a crowd gathered near a humanitarian aid site. It's being reported that at least 27 people are dead. Israeli officials say the military fired on what they say were individual suspects moving toward their position. This is the second deadly incident of its kind in three days. Health officials in Gaza are saying at least 31 people were killed on Sunday when shots

were fired near a similar aid distribution site. Now to Nigeria, where more than 200 people are confirmed dead following some of the worst widespread flooding that country has seen in decades. The number of fatalities is expected to continue rising with more than 500 people considered missing. Anna Cunningham has the latest. Last Wednesday and Thursday heavy rains burst the banks of the Niger River, the flash floods washing away anything in its path.

There is shock this happened so quickly. In Mokwa there is grief. Fatima Jibran lost 18 members of her family. She says they have only found four bodies. Fatima says there is no help coming from anyone, not even the government. Thousands are now homeless. We lost everything, the families we don't even have anywhere again to go to. This is the start of the rainy season in West Africa.

Heavy rains are not unusual, but scientists say climate change is fuelling more extreme weather. Authorities say the search is no longer a rescue operation. They do not believe days on, those missing have survived. The concern now is to find and bury bodies to prevent the outbreak of disease. Anna Cunningham, CBC News, London. Insured or not, a new poll is suggesting a majority of Canadians are putting off medical

care because of the cost. And this is particularly the case among those needing a dentist or an optometrist. Jennifer Yoon has more. Between paying for groceries and rent or getting medical care, more than half of Canadians are choosing to skip the medical care, says a new poll. Canadian insurance company PolicyMe carried out the poll in partnership with the Angus Reed Institute. It found 56% of Canadians reporting skipping or stalling on getting medical care, especially dental and vision. As of this week, Canadians of all ages without insurance can apply for

public coverage through the National Canadian Dental Care Plan, but cost is only part of the solution, says Dr. Paul Allison, professor at McGill University's Faculty of Dental Medicine. There are all sorts of problems of access to care. Yes, financial access, but time access, geographic access. Making sure Canadians can see a medical professional is crucial to avoid greater suffering and cost later down the line. Jennifer Yoon, CBC News, Toronto.

And that is The World This Hour. For news anytime, go to our website cbcnews.ca. For CBC News, I'm Joe Cummings.