The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/11/18 at 12:00 EST

Episode Date: November 18, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/11/18 at 12:00 EST

Don't you just love those days when you're sitting alone, maybe reading or listening to a podcast and not talking to anyone? According to Kieran Desai, author of The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, sometimes solitude can be a gift. There was nothing more beautiful than being alone, watching the snow falls slowly outside, starting to write myself. So it was kind of a heaven, really. Next time you're settling in for some quality alone time, head to bookends with Matea Roach to hear that conversation. Available now wherever you get your podcasts. From CBC News, it's the world this hour.

I'm Joe Cummings. We start in Ottawa where the first liberal budget under Prime Minister Mark Carney has made it through the House and the government still stands. However, the challenge is facing the minority liberals continue. Janice McGregor,

as more. Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne is out immediately today with his next flex. The legislation to actually implement the measures in this budget has been put on notice. That legislation means more confidence votes. But the way this first stare-down ended could be instructive because multiple parties blinked here. Two weeks ago, Elizabeth May was theatrically throwing her budget book onto the floor to denounce its climate measures by yesterday. A few words of assurance from the Prime Minister in question period, enough for her to vote in favor. And both the New Democrats and the Conservatives held back with two MPs abstaining. That means neither can blame the other for propping up the government.

Anyone that's watching only Pierre Polyev's social media saw no acknowledgement of this in his messages to his followers about why most conservatives voted no on a budget that they insist remains unaffordable, but what opposition parties also couldn't afford was another election. Janice McGregor, CBC News, Ottawa. Our colleagues at Radio Canada are reporting that a dozen former senior members of the Canadian military have written a letter defending the American-made F-35 fighter jet. The government has been planning to buy more than 80 F-35s, but is now looking elsewhere. Here is former Chief of the Defense staff, Tom Lawson.

There just is nothing available in the free world that comes close to. to the quality of the F-35. The F-35 is the only aircraft that provides a way ahead with the operational capabilities that will make it viable for decades to come. The government is now considering the Gripen E jet made by Saab of Sweden. Incidentally, Swab representatives are in Canada this week as part of the delegation traveling with the Swedish royal family. King Carl Gustav and Queen Sylvia kicked off their three-day state visit earlier. today in Ottawa. Poland's Prime Minister is blaming Russia for what it's calling an act of sabotage on a train line to Ukraine. That's Donald Tusk telling the Polish Parliament that two suspects

have been identified. He says they are Ukrainians working for Russian intelligence. It's being alleged the men touched off explosives that resulted in minimal damage. Polish officials are saying the country has become a Russian target because of its rule as a major supply hub for the Ukrainian war effort. The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote today on the full release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The measure is expected to pass with overwhelming support, but it will then have to go to the Senate, then to the office of the president. But Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Green says there may be even more obstacles. But the real test will be will the Department of Justice release the files? Or will it all remain tied up in investigations? Will the CIA release the files?

Will a judge in New York release the information? President Donald Trump is now bowing to the growing momentum behind the measure saying Republicans should vote for it. He also said yesterday that he would sign off on releasing the files if the House and the Senate both vote in favor. For the second time in five years, Suvankan Famuangza has won the Giller Prize. To my mom and dad, I'm sorry, I didn't tell you about this. And that you're finding out about it on the 6 o'clock news. From last night's gala ceremony, that's Thamavongza, winning this year's Giller for her novel Pick a Color.

It follows her victory in 2020 for her short story collection, How to Pronounce. The Giller Prize celebrates the best in Canadian fiction. It's worth $100,000, and this year comes with a two-week residency at the BAMP Center. And that is the world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Joe Cummings.