The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/25 at 04:00 EST

Episode Date: December 25, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/25 at 04:00 EST

This ascent isn't for everyone. You need grit to climb this high this often. You've got to be an underdog that always over-delivers. You've got to be 6,500 hospital staff, 1,000 doctors, all doing so much with so little. You've got to be Scarborough. Defined by our uphill battle and always striving towards new heights. And you can help us keep climbing.

Donate at lovescarbro.cairbo. From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Neil Hurland. There's a new U.S.-backed peace plan to try to end Russia's war with Ukraine, and for the first time Ukraine's president is signaling he's ready to compromise on some major sticking points. Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country is willing to withdraw troops from the front line if Russia does the same. Michael Basserkew is a senior at the Atlantic Council, he says Zelensky may have little choice. I think he's been squeezed into a corner, especially by the Americans who want a quick deal. The problem is, with these types of very, very complex peace plans, things cannot be rushed.

The problem, however, that Mr. Zelensky is in, is that the Russians are absolutely pounding Ukraine night after night after night. The war in Ukraine has been raging for three years and ten months. Authorities in Mexico have carried out a series of raids on four homes linked to the Canadian fugitive Ryan Wedding and according to a news release issued last night by the government of Mexico police made a raft of seizures including 62 motorcycles and two Olympic medals Wedding is not named but the news release says

the case involves a foreign former Olympian who is listed among the FBI's most wanted. A major storm has hit large parts of California sparking flash flood warnings and evacuations. The dangerous conditions have disrupted holiday travel as officials urge people to stay home. Ira Spitzer reports. California's governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles

and several other California counties due to heavy rain and flooding. And L.A. Mayor Karen Bass warned people to use extraordinary caution. My message to Angelinos, as we go into the Christmas holiday, holiday is to stay safe, be prepared, and stay informed. At particular risk are areas burned in wildfires, which devastated the region just under a year ago. Burnt soil makes it more likely that rain remains as runoff, meaning heightened potential for mudslides and debris flows.

That's prompted mandatory evacuations. The state's mountain regions are seeing heavy snowfall, while strong winds are forecast to hit Northern California. The dangerous conditions are expected to continue through the Christmas holiday. Iris Bitzer for CBC News, San Francisco. When you think of Christmas, you might also think of that big home-cooked turkey dinner. But some people say they're changing things up this year and opting for something less traditional.

She and Desjardin has more. I'm not going to cook this year. I want to join in the fun. And Linda Campbell is not alone. Others are rethinking their approach too. Outside our Daily Brett in Calgary, 130 pre-made Christmas dinners are being picked up. Owner Brett McDermott says demand keeps growing. Yeah, it's changed a lot, but I think people don't have enough time these days.

One poll found a majority find holiday cooking frustrating. Cost could be a factor too. A food economist says the traditional turkey dinner is about the same, but people are looking to cut where they can. It's all catching the attention of Raisham Singh. After getting over 100 calls to his Indian restaurant last Christmas. I left a note for myself for this year that, hey, I'm not keeping it close. A new tradition he plans to continue, especially with more people branching out.

Shee and Desjardin, CBC News, Calgary. A Christmas Eve jazz concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington was canceled at the last minute. Performing last year, the annual jazz show has been running for more than 20 years, but Red canceled the performance yesterday just hours before the concert to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump, adding his name to the Kennedy Center last week. Red says when he saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, he chose to cancel the concert.

And that is your world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Neil Hurland. You know,