The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/28 at 20:00 EST

Episode Date: December 29, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/28 at 20:00 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 riley leachuk after several hours of negotiations at mara lago ukraine's president vladimir zelensky and u.s president donald trump both expressed optimism that a peace deal could be reached to end the war between ukraine and russia we had a really great discussions on all the topics and we appreciate the progress that was made by american and ukrainian teams in this recent weeks? I really believe we're probably, Mr. President, closer than, by far closer than ever before with both parties.

I think they both want to see it happen. The leaders indicated that there was near agreement on a U.S.-Ukraine security agreement, but Trump said a few thorny issues around territory must be resolved. Trump says he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the day and says he will speak with him again. The diplomacy comes shortly after Russia launched one. one of the longest sustained assaults on Ukraine's capital Kyiv. To Mexico, where at least 13 people are dead after a train derailed.

It happened earlier today in the country's south. The Mexican Navy said the train was carrying 250 people at the time. 98 others were injured, including 36, who were said to be receiving medical assistance. Winter rain is lashing the Gaza Strip flooding camps with displaced Palestinians. The wind was very strong last night, says this man trying to fix his tent in Khan Yunus. A strong winter storm has soaked blankets and mattresses. Clay ovens for cooking are swamped with water. At least 12 people have died since December 13th from hypothermia or weather-related collapses of war-damaged homes,

according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. 61 employees at Ubisoft's Halifax branch have formed a union. UBSoft is a video game publishing company. It is the company's first union in North America. Meg Campbell has the story. T.J. Gillis is a server developer at Ubisoft Halifax. He started inquiring about forming a union after the closure of another local studio, Alpha Dog, in 2024. We're seeing a ton of studios just letting people go.

People were just being left to spend for themselves, oftentimes having to leave the industry. Earlier this month, Ubisoft Halifax employees, voted to join CWA Canada. Carmel Smith is their president. She says this industry is still new to unionize, but Ubisoft Halifax is already making a difference. So we know that it is prompting more interest. And why wouldn't it?

Thousands of Canadians work in that industry. Gillis says the goal was always to maintain their workplace and have a say in how it grows. And we're quite excited that we can hopefully influence some of our North American co-workers as well. UBSoft Halifax said in a statement to CBC that they are committed to maintaining full cooperation with the board and the union representatives. Meg Campbell, CBC News, Halifax. And Nick Curios has beaten the world's number one tennis star Arina Sabalanka in what is, in what had been controversially built, pardon me, a battle of the sexes exhibition match in Dubai.

Dominic Volitus brings us that story. 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 Arena 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-lough, six-love. It was a great fight. It was interesting to watch. It brought more ice 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. For CBC News, I'm Riley Lechuk.