The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/08/18 at 19:00 EDT

Episode Date: August 18, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/08/18 at 19:00 EDT

We are gathered here today to celebrate life's big milestones. Do you promise to stand together through home purchases, auto-upgrades, and surprise dents and dings? We do. To embrace life's big moments for any adorable co-drivers down the road. We do. Then with the caring support of Desjardin insurance, I pronounce you covered for home, auto, and flexible life insurance. For life's big milestones, get insurance that's really big on care at Dejardin.com slash care. from cbc news the world this hour i'm mike miles the u.s president says a deal to end the fighting in

ukraine is in reach donald trump says he's working to set up a meeting between vladimir zolensky and russian president vladimir putin and after that a trilateral summit involving the u.s the remarks following extensive meetings in the white house with zolensky and several european leaders including Finland's president. Alexander Stoop says he's optimistic. In the past two weeks, we've probably had more progress in ending this war than we have in the past three and a half years. But there is little progress on the prospect of a ceasefire. Although Trump had previously called for one, he now says it's not necessary for a peace agreement. And the U.S. President says Zelensky will likely have to cede some territory to Moscow.

Ultimately, this is a decision that can only be made by President Zelensky. and by the people of Ukraine working also together in agreement with President Putin. Trump, however, did say security guarantees from the U.S. and EU to last, and sure, rather, a lasting peace are on the table. Voters in the Alberta writing of Battle River Crowfoot are casting ballots in a federal by-election. While Pierre Paulyev's name is one of more than 200 names on the ballot, the Conservative Party leader is expected to win. He needs a seat in the House of Commons after losing.

losing Hazam writing back in April. Pauliev is expected to win. Conservative candidates have won this writing with at least 80% support in every election over the past 25 years except one. Jobs Minister Patty Heidu says no one should be expected to work for free. She's announced an investigation

of one of the key complaints of striking Air Canada flight attendants that they've been performing duties before takeoff that they're not being paid for. The Labor Code has protections for workers, federally regulated workers, and in fact, prohibits unpaid work. So I'm concerned deeply by this allegation, and if there are loopholes that employers are using

to get around the Canada Labor Code, we have to know and we have to close them. The Canada Industrial Relations Board has ruled the walkout illegal. It's ordering the Canadian Union of Public Employees to hotel members to get back to work, but Kee insists their right to strike is protected by the Charter of Rights in Freedoms. That walkout isn't just affecting travelers,

parts of Prince Edward Islands tourism industry say the dispute has been a challenge. Corinne Clements is CEO of PEI's Tourism Industry Association. She says disruptions to air travel have a domino effect. We've heard of a number of cancellations, and I think even some shorter stays, people left a little bit early ahead of the strike notice. Actually, I was talking to someone earlier at car rental business, and they were saying a lot of their travelers actually left early and drove those vehicles to wherever they needed to get to to be able to get

home on time. Some travelers have rebooked flights through other airlines. Federal forestry officials are warning the wildfire season is not likely to end soon. More than 700 wildfires are burning across Canada right now and continuing hot, dry conditions are making things worse. David Thurton has more. Canadians living with the impacts of this year's fire, I know that hearing forecasts of continued fire activity can be daunting. Julian Morissette with the Northern Forestry Center warning this year's fire season could stretch into the fall. The outlook where we can forecast with at least some degree of certainty into the end of September is looking like it's going to continue to be warm and dry.

Close to 8 million hectares of land have burned this year in Canada's second worst wildfire season on record. Most of that in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Climate change is playing an important role. Fire seasons are getting longer. Officials said it is so dry. The country is seeing fire. and places where historically they were not that common, like Atlantic Canada.

David Thornton, CBC News, Ottawa. Hamas says it is agreed to the latest proposal for ceasefire in Gaza. The Egyptian Qatari plan would see fighting suspended for 60 days and includes the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for half the Israeli hostages still in captivity. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu isn't commenting directly on the offers, but says Hamas is under a lot of pressure. That is your world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Mike Miles.