The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/28 at 15:00 EST

Episode Date: December 28, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/28 at 15:00 EST

If you want to hear daily news that doesn't hurt your soul and might even be good for your soul, check out As It Happens. I'm Chris Howdy. And I'm Neil Kokesal. Every day we reach people at the center of the most extraordinary stories, like the doctor who restored a patient's eyesight with a tooth. Or a musician in an orchestra that plays instruments made out of vegetables. Take the scenic route through the day's news with As It Happens, and you can find us wherever you get your podcasts. BBC News. It's the world this hour. I'm Nuridine Khorane.

There's a high-stakes meeting currently taking place at Marlago, Florida. Ukraine's president, Vladimir Zelensky, is presenting his peace plan to Donald Trump. It's a renewed attempt to end the four-year war between Russia and Ukraine. Notably missing from the table is Russia. But the U.S. president said he had a good conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Anna Cunningham looks at what's being discussed. This is a trim down 20-point plan for peace. Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky is expected to focus on U.S. security guarantees aimed at preventing Russia from attacking again. He also wants to keep troop numbers at 800,000. And there is, of course, a major issue of territory. Ukraine and its allies, including Canada, do not want to see any potential for the capitulation of Kiev.

But Russia wants Ukraine to hand over territory in northern Donetsk in the eastern Donbass region, which it's not captured. President Zelensky is due to suggest a referendum that can decide on a demilitarized zone with both sides withdrawing from the line of contact. Ukraine's allies, including Canada, certainly will be watching this presidential Mar-a-Lago meeting very closely. Anna Cunningham, CBC News, London. Polls have closed in the first phase of a three-phase election in Myanmar, organized by the military dictatorship, the elections have been widely discredited by Western countries and human rights groups. Observers say the military is seeking to legitimize its power through the election. Lolita Hanwang is a professor who teaches Myanmar's history in Thailand.

Because the election is not inclusive, the military does not even want people along the border, people from ethnic groups and resistance groups to take part in this election. I think the idea is only to have an election and they will take it from there. Myanmar's army conducted a coup in March 2021, overthrowing a civilian government led by noble laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. She is currently in incarceration. A teenage boy in Winnipeg is facing over a dozen charges after a vehicle was stolen and a city transit bus was rammed on Friday. Police say charges against the 16-year-old include vehicle theft, dangerous driving, and possessing a restricted firearm. The charges

come after officers in Winnipeg's north and tried to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver sped off. Nick Curios has beaten the world's number one tennis star Arna San Blanca in what has been controversially billed a battle of the sexes. Exhibition match in Dubai. Dominic the latest reports. It is Kiryos, who emerged is victorious. A sold-out crowd in Dubai for today's Battle of the Sexes exhibition match and a 6-3-6-3 win for Nick Kirios

against women's world number one, Arina Sabalenko. I had to work hard. Nothing came easy out there. It was incredibly high level. Build as a modern take on Billy Jean King's famous victory over former Grand Slam winner Bobby Riggs more than 50 years ago, today's match had ignited controversy over its relevance and meaning, something Sabalanka was keen to address in the post-match press conference.

I showed a great tennis. It wasn't like six-love, six-love. It was a great fight. It was interesting to watch. It brought more eyes on tennis. Sabalenko hasn't ruled out a rematch with Kirios, saying she now knows his tactics, meaning any future showdown would be even better than today's. Dominic Volitus for CBC News, Bristol, England. Staying with sports, Team Canada won a nail-biter at the World Junior Hockey Championship last night. Michael Hage, overtime winner, and Canada takes it to one. Center Michael Hague scored in overtime to lead Canada over Latvia,

with the victory Canada now leads their group by five points. The team will next be facing off against Denmark tomorrow. And that is your world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Nuridine Korane.