The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/29 at 23:00 EST

Episode Date: December 30, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/29 at 23:00 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. Russia is leveling new accusations at Ukraine, put in the prospect of a deal to end the war in doubt. U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky insists progress is being made. But Russia's foreign minister says Ukraine targeted one of Vladimir Putin's many homes. Aaron Collins has reaction. We had a really great discussion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky upbeat after peace talks Sunday.

And once again, we'd like to thank President Trump for a warm, welcome and substantial discussion. That discussion focused on a 20-point peace plan. One Zelensky says would include security guarantees from the U.S. and Europe. Mark Kramer is the director of the Cold War Studies Project at Harvard. Every time there seems to be some degree of progress, Putin has launched a new round in the war. Russia did just that. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov accusing Ukraine

of sending drones to attack Vladimir Putin's home. A lie designed to derail peace talks, according to Volodymyr Zelensky. On the back and forth, seeming to catch Donald Trump off guard... I just heard about it actually, but I don't know about it. That would be too bad.

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine is set to grind into its fourth year. Aaron Collins, CBC News. Calgary. U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing to implement part two of the American brokered peace deal in Gaza. Trump met Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a Lago resort in Florida. The next part of the deal includes a more permanent end to the conflict. We talked about Hamas and we talked about disarmament and they're going to be given a very short period of time to disarm. The deal also includes an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza

and it requires Hamas to return the body of the last hostage still in Gaza. China has launched two days of military drills in the Taiwan's trades. Beijing calls them a warning to separatist forces. Taiwan has responded by putting its military on high alert. Taiwan has been a self-governing island since it broke away from the mainland and wants to stay that way. Caroline Bargut has more. China has long claimed Taiwan as its own, something the democratically governed island

rejects. Lin Jian is a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry. He says the Taiwan issue is the core of China's core interests, and China's resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity is unwavering, adding, any sinister attempt to obstruct China's reunification will never succeed. As a precaution, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said its army was on high alert. The island is also calling for calm.

Karen Guo, a spokesperson for Taiwan's presidential office said, We call on the Chinese authorities to act rationally and with self-restraint, to immediately cease irresponsible, provocative behavior, and not to misjudge the situation and become a troublemaker undermining regional peace. Earlier this month, the U.S. announced an $11 billion arm sale to the island, angering Beijing. Last month, Japan's prime minister, Sanai Takaichi, suggested that Japan's self-defense forces could step in if China attacked Taiwan.

on. Caroline Bargut, CBC News, London. We're following a developing story in South Asia tonight. In my country, Bangladesh's first female prime minister, Kalida Zia, has died at the age of 80. Her opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party says she died after a prolonged illness. Her doctor says she had advanced cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, diabetes, chest and heart problems. Kalida served as Prime Minister of the South Asian country from 1991 to 1996, and again from 2001 to 2006. There's a state of emergency at the Cross Lake Reserve in central Manitoba

because of a downed power line. The chief of the Pimichikamak, Cree Nation says power's been cut to homes and critical infrastructure. The local chief is asking for government assistance as the First Nation sets up warming centers. Some residents may have to be sent to hotels in Thompson. And that is your world this hour. I'm Neil Hurland.