The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/01/13 at 20:00 EST

Episode Date: January 14, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/01/13 at 20:00 EST

Every language is a note in the symphony of our heritage. Together, they create a harmony that cannot be silenced. Discover your voice on the new APTN Languages TV channel. From CBC News, the world is our. I'm Tom Harrington. Los Angeles is bracing for the return of high winds that help fuel the deadly fires. Officials are bolstering their defences and Canada is playing an important part in the fight.

Erin Collins has that story. We have, right now, extreme fire behaviour. Strong winds are back in the Los Angeles area, fanning the flames of the fires burning there. LA Fire Chief Kristen Crowley acknowledging the help of the fire crews from out of state. We absolutely know that we cannot do this on our own, and we are tremendously appreciative of all of your continued support. A cruise from Alberta will soon be among the firefighters on the ground around LA. Good neighbors are always there for each other.

Todd Lowen is Alberta's Minister of Forestry. Two wildfire crews, including 40 wildland firefighters, and two agency representatives are on the way to California to assist with firefighting efforts. Firefighters from BC and Ontario will soon join them. Water bombers from Quebec are already in the LA area and two more are on the way. Canada's Air Force is pitching in too, helping to transport equipment and supplies. Aaron Collins, CBC News, Calgary.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith fully expects Donald Trump to make good on his tariff threats. Trump returns to the White House next week. Smith says it happens at a time of what she calls a leadership vacuum in Ottawa. I'm very concerned about a leadership vacuum. That's why I've been calling for an immediate election because we need somebody at the table who is able to engage with the administration saying you've got a four-year mandate, I got a four-year mandate, let's deal. And we don't have that right now. Trump is threatening to impose across the board 25 percent tariffs on all

Canadian exports to the United States. Smith met with Trump yesterday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The meeting was arranged by Canadian businessman and TV personality Kevin O'Leary. Donald Trump's inauguration day could also be launch day for Christian Freeland. The CBC's French network is reporting the former deputy prime minister will announce her candidacy for the Liberal leadership on or before next Monday. Freeland's stunning departure from the federal cabinet a month ago is regarded as the tipping point which led to Justin Trudeau's decision to resign as leader.

She's expected to propose dollar-for-dollar matching tariffs on American exports to Canada. The new Liberal leader and next Prime Minister will be announced on March 9. Qatar's government says both Hamas and Israel now have the final draft of a ceasefire deal. The news of significant progress in the talks comes before next week's change of government in the US. And with that, a major shift in American foreign policy. Sasha Petrusik has more from Jerusalem. After months of fruitless talks, mediators in Doha say there was a breakthrough in negotiations late last night, when Israeli and Hamas officials seemed to overcome major differences blocking

a Gaza ceasefire. We see some progress in the negotiations. Today Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sarr sounded unusually optimistic. Israel wants a hostage deal, soon we will know whether the other side wants the same thing. Both sides are under U.S. pressure from incoming President Donald Trump and the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden and his national security adviser Jake Sullivan. We are still determined to use every day we have an office to get this done.

Can we get it done before the 20th? It is possible. But say mediators, still not guaranteed. Sasha Petrusik, CBC News, Jerusalem. At least 100 illegal miners have died in South Africa after being trapped underground for months. Hundreds of people were digging for gold in an abandoned mine in Northwest province. Police launched an operation to drive them out back in November.

A group representing the miners says police cut off food supplies as part of their strategy. It's believed many have died of starvation and dehydration. Officials suggest hundreds more miners remain underground at this point. And that is Your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Tom Harrington. Thanks for listening.