The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/03/15 at 21:00 EDT

Episode Date: March 16, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/03/15 at 21:00 EDT

Overwhelmed by debt? You are not alone. Empower yourself with trusted solutions. Visit Canada.ca slash debt-solutions and regain control with confidence. A message from the Government of Canada. From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Khalil Hassan Ali. Canada is part of the so-called Coalition of the Willing, Western countries helping Ukraine militarily and financially. As Chris Reyes tells us, it's to fill a gap left by the US, which has signaled it may no longer provide security guarantees to Kiev.

This morning I convened the largest, strongest group of countries yet behind a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke shortly after gathering dozens of world leaders, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, for a virtual summit to bolster support for Ukraine amidst a US proposed ceasefire deal. Also in attendance, European partners Australia, New Zealand and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. The UK convened summit comes amidst tensions between the US and Ukraine following a disastrous meeting at the White House more than two weeks ago between the two leaders.

Earlier this week, tensions cooled when Ukraine accepted the US's 30-day ceasefire proposal. On Friday, Trump said he's confident that Russia will make a deal with the U.S. — Enough people have died. So we'll see what happens with regard to all of it. But I'm getting some pretty good vibes coming out of Russia. — Starmer said the ball is in Putin's court. Chris Reyes, CBC News, New York. — Now, Prime Minister Mark Carney begins a three-day European tour tomorrow. First stop, Paris, to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron. Then it's off to London to see British PM Keir Starmer and an audience with King Charles.

He'll return to Canada on Tuesday with a stop in Nunavut. The US military has carried out deadly airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Houthi-run health ministry reports at least nine deaths and nine injuries. President Donald Trump says he ordered the strikes in response to attacks on international shipping and aircrafts in and around the Red Sea. Attacks the militants claim were a show of support for Hamas and Gaza. To Serbia. An estimated 100,000 people converge in Belgrade today to protest the country's President Aleksandar Vucic. The rally is believed to

be the biggest anti-government protests ever held in the country. It comes after more than four months of demonstrations which have posed the biggest challenge to Vucic's grip on power after 13 years in charge. The almost daily protests began after 15 people died in a railway station collapse last November, which some blame corruption under Vucic's leadership. In Oklahoma, 12 counties are in a state of emergency after wildfires ripped across the state. Governor Kevin Stitt gave this update. What we know right now is there's about 170,000 acres that were burned and

forestry is up flying right now to kind of get the exact number. Friday's fires also destroyed nearly 300 structures. No fatalities have been reported so far. If the Hudson's Bay Company can't secure financing to keep itself afloat, the once-iconic Canadian company could begin the process of liquidating. As Philipp Lee Shanuck reports, they could start as early as next week. Outside the bay in downtown Toronto, Pooja Limba is surprised to hear the store could go under. I actually applied there for a job. But did she actually shop there? Not that much. With origins tied to the 17th century fur trade, Canada's oldest company has seen better days.

Despite marketing attempts, it struggled to get shoppers in the door. Since 2008, the Bay has been run and financed by Americans. Now, under creditor protection, it's looking to keep some of its 80 stores open. It's not enough. Its days are numbered. Moisha Lander teaches economics at Concordia University in Montreal. Once everybody realized that you can order things from the comfort of your bed, you don't have to get dressed, the bay would be no different than anybody else. In a statement, the company says it's looking for a viable path forward and asks for support from customers and employees.

Philip DeGenoch, CBC News, Toronto. That's the world this hour for CBC News. I'm Khalil Hassanali.