The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/28 at 12:00 EST

Episode Date: December 28, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/28 at 12:00 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 is sour. I'm Neil Kumar. Fresh off his visit in Halifax yesterday with Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ukraine's president Volodymy Zelensky will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump today. Trump is trying to broker an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine, with Zelensky making several concessions in his latest proposal. The big question is, will Russia sign on? J.P. Tasker reports.

on Kyiv shows just how important it is that we stand with Ukraine during this difficult time. After getting support from Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is hoping for some from U.S. President Donald Trump today. I hope very important and very constructive meeting with President Trump. He'll pitch his plan to bring an end to the Russian conflict. We need two things, pressure on Russia and sufficient strong support for Ukraine. That includes a request for security guarantees. from the United States and other Western allies.

While a Trump-Zelensky deal on that and what the Ukrainian president calls territorial issues would be a breakthrough. There is no progress when it comes to Putin ending the war. Kurt Volker, Trump's former representative to Ukraine, tells CBC News, there's only peace if Russia agrees, and it's not looking good. Putin has made it very clear,

including in just the past few days, that he wants everything. J.P. Tasker, CBC News, Washington. military is pressing ahead with elections widely dismissed as a sham four years after it seized power. Voting is taking place in limited areas with opposition parties barred and the country still gripped by a civil war. Adam Bama reports. Voting is underway in parts of Myanmar as the military junta pushes ahead with elections, widely dismissed as illegitimate amid a civil war and humanitarian crisis. Six military-approved parties are vying to replace the elected government

of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy. Suu Kyi and senior NLD figures were jailed after a military coup on February 1st, 2021, led by Army Chief Minong Lange. While not on the ballot, his regime has cracked down on critics of the vote. Minong Lang claims the NLD committed fraud in the 2020 election, a vote international observer said, was free and fair, in which Suu Kyi's party won overwhelmingly. Only junta loyal parties are allowed to run,

and analysts expect the military-backed USDP to return to power. Adam Bema for CBC News, Chiang Mai Thailand. In Kosovo, people are heading to the polls today for a snap election. Prime Minister Alban Kirti is hoping to win a majority that will end a year-long political deadlock. After casting his own ballot, Kirti urged citizens to vote. A higher turnout.

of citizens means both, higher quality of overall choice, of the content of next Parliament, but at the same time, more legitimacy for our institutions. This is the second vote of the year after Curtis's party fell short of a majority in February. Coalition talks failed, leaving Parliament deadlocked and delaying international funding. One of Canada's biggest public libraries has released its 2025 list of most borrowed books. Akshe Kolkarni brings us some. of the highlights. The Vancouver Public Library says it's the most visited urban library system in Canada per capita, and this year, the most borrowed books by its readers are a number of

returning favorites. In the adult category, it's a hat trick for the self-help book, 101 essays that will change the way you think, by Brianna Weist. It was the most borrowed book for the third year in a row. Canadian author Louise Penny cracked the top three with her mystery novel, The Grey Wolf. Among teens, fantasy reigned supreme, with Sarah J. Masse taking top spot for the second year in a row. Her fantasy books also claimed three other spots in the top 10. For kids, it was a tale of two series. As Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the Babysitter's Club made up nine of the top 10 spots. Haxh Kulkarni, CBC News, Vancouver. And that is your world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Neil Kumar.

Thank you.