The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/03/19 at 22:00 EDT

Episode Date: March 20, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/03/19 at 22:00 EDT

In Scarborough, there's this fire behind our eyes. A passion in our bellies. It's in the hearts of our neighbors. The eyes of our nurses. And the hands of our doctors. It's what makes Scarborough, Scarborough. In our hospitals, we do more than anyone thought possible. We've less than anyone could imagine.

But it's time to imagine what we can do with more. Join Scarborough Health Network and together, we can turn grit into greatness. Donate at lovescarborough.ca. From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Neil Herland. Canada is condemning China for executing four Canadian citizens earlier this year.

Melanie Jolie says they were dual Chinese-Canadian nationals convicted for drug crimes. Ottawa always asks for leniency, she says, because Canada doesn't have the death penalty. Tom Perry has more. This is an issue that I've been following very very closely. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolie says the families of the four dual nationalnational Chinese Canadians convicted and executed under Chinese law have asked for privacy. Jolie didn't name the four but offered some insight into the accusations against them. They were all facing charges linked to criminal activities according to China linked to drugs. Jolie says both Xi and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked Beijing to show leniency.

The conviction rate in China's criminal justice system is close to 100 percent, and human rights groups say Beijing executes more prisoners than any other country, though the true numbers are a state secret. The Chinese embassy in Canada issued a statement saying China is a rule of law country and whoever violates the law must be held accountable. Tom Perry, CBC News, Ottawa. The president said that having a liberal prime minister would be easier for him to deal with and you know what it's true. Canada's conservative leader is using the words of Donald Trump to attack the Liberals.

Last night on Fox News, the US President said Pierre Polyev was no friend of his. Polyev says he'd be tougher to negotiate with Trump. It's clear that President Trump wants the Liberals in power because they will keep this country weak. What Canadians need is a leader who's tough, a leader who will make Canada strong, self-reliant and stand on its own two feet. Across Canada, some consumers are shunning U.S. goods and cancelling vacations to the states.

And as Nicole Williams reports, a similar backlash is building in many countries around the world. Shopping in Ottawa, Beth Charbonneau is looking for ways to spend her money with bi-Canadian in mind. Just look for anything that says made in Canada or anywhere else in the world. Just avoid things that are made in America. Turns out we're not alone. For me, it's a lot about the democracy.

From cutting back DEI initiatives to blaming the Ukrainian president for starting the war against Russia, people in other countries also have their own reasons to turn their backs on the US administration. In Sweden, Janneke Koinor helps run a Facebook group dedicated to boycotting US products. It's grown to more than 80,000 members in just a few months. Renowned German violinist Christian Tetzlaff cancelled his American tour dates scheduled for this summer. I'm hurting myself with not being able to play those wonderful halls, but I needed a decision where I wouldn't feel wrong. Nicole Williams, CBC News, Ottawa. There may be a breakthrough that could end the war in Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky is sounding hopeful following an hour-long phone call with Donald Trump. Richard Madden has more. Today, President Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky had a fantastic phone conversation. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt says Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to halt attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure. It echoes the same commitment from Russia's President Vladimir Putin on a call the day before who agreed not to hit Ukraine's infrastructure.

Zelensky also requested more U.S. military equipment, but U.S. President Donald Trump deferred. President Zelensky asked for additional air defense systems to protect his civilians, particularly Patriot missile systems. And President Trump agreed to work with him to find what was available, particularly in Europe. The Kremlin has demanded Ukraine stop receiving foreign military support, but the White House says it will continue to share intelligence with Ukraine.

High-level talks will begin in the Middle East within days, without Ukraine or Europe. Richard Madden, CBC News, Washington. And that is your World This Hour. I'm Neal Hurland.