The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/03/15 at 16:00 EDT

Episode Date: March 15, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/03/15 at 16:00 EDT

Hi there, I'm Steve Patterson, host of The Debaters, and this week we're debating breakup songs. Do they rule? Sound like a fun valentine to you? We've got Canada's best comedians doing what they do all too well. And here's something that you ought to know. We're part stand-up, part comedy competition, and part game show. And we're looking for someone like you to follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

From CBC News, the world this hour, I'm Jasmine Sepulis. Britain's prime minister is calling for Ukraine's allies to increase pressure on Russia. Now is the time to engage in discussion on a mechanism to manage a monitor a full ceasefire and agree to serious negotiations towards not just a pause but a lasting peace. Keir Starmer hosted today's virtual summit of the so-called Coalition of the Willing. The group of 25 nations, including Canada, is committed to ongoing assistance to Ukraine.

It comes on the heels of a proposed American ceasefire. Ukraine has agreed to it, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has not. Stormer wants the coalition to push Putin to negotiate. The group I convened today is more important than ever. We agreed we will keep increasing the pressure on Russia, keep the military aid flowing to Ukraine and keep tightening the restrictions on Russia's economy to weaken Putin's war machine and bring him to the table. The group has agreed that each country's military representative will get together next Thursday in Britain. In Serbia, thousands have turned out for a massive anti-government rally,

showing their dissent with the policies of Serbia's populist president Aleksandar Vucic. Dominic Valaitis reports. Tens of thousands of people from across Serbia joined today's rally in the capital Belgrade. Alex Sventanovic was among the crowds. I would like to see a change, a regime change, he says. But it's, as the English say, a long shot and it's difficult to achieve. Today's rally was probably the largest Serbia has seen for decades. It follows months of protests against the country's populist president, Aleksandar Vucic. They started after 14 people were killed when a station roof collapsed

in Serbia's second city, Novi Sad. Although more than a dozen people were charged in relation to the incident, protesters are demanding greater accountability for the disaster and more government transparency. Dominic Vlaidis for CBC News, Riga, Latvia. In Cuba, 10 million people are waiting for the power to come back on. Gas power generators are picking up some of the slack after the electrical grid collapsed last night. Grocers are using some of that power to keep food fresh, while power bars have been set up in the streets so people can recharge their phones. It's the latest in a series of blackouts to hit the island, which is plagued with aging infrastructure.

On top of that, Cuba is under several U.S. trade embargoes and restrictions, making it difficult to bring in supplies for repairs. Officials in Alberta are warning of elevated avalanche risks, with warnings for Banff National Park and Kananaskis country where one person has already died, while RCMP say one person died and another was rescued after an avalanche near Lake Louise Ski Resort yesterday afternoon. Joey Keeney has more. RCMP responded to the avalanche at about 3.45pm. According to Parks Canada, it happened near Pipestone Bowl, an area outside the Lake Louise ski area.

Two people were skiing near there when one of them triggered the avalanche and was reportedly carried 50 meters and buried in 150 to 200 centimeters of snow. One of the pair pulled the buried skier from the snow and began first aid until Parks Canada visitor safety brought them to EMS. Parks Canada says the region is currently at a high avalanche risk in alpine elevation and considerable risk in and below the treeline. Anyone with information about the incident or the people involved are asked to contact police. Joey Keeney, CBC News, Calgary. And Hudson's Bay stores are expecting to launch a major sale, but not the kind any retailer wants to have.

The chain says it will begin liquidating everything next week. The 354-year-old retailer went into creditor protection earlier this month, owing nearly a billion dollars to landlords and suppliers. And that is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Jasmine Siputis.