The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/20 at 17:00 EST

Episode Date: December 20, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/20 at 17:00 EST

Hi, Steve Patterson here, host of The Debaters, the show where we answer your most burning questions, like, do candles deserve more appreciation? Canada's best comedians wax on about it in this week's new episode, so listen, wherever you get your podcasts. From CBC News, The World This Hour, I'm Gina Louise Phillips. US officials say American forces have seized a second vessel in international waters off the coast of Venezuela. This comes just days after President Donald Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuelan waters. The first tanker was seized on December 10th. China is the biggest buyer of Venezuelan crude oil.

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on targets in Syria last night. We hit the ISIS thugs in Syria who were trying to regroup after their decimation by the Trump administration five years ago. We hit them hard. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is calling it a declaration of vengeance. Two members of the Iowa National Guard and an American translator were killed in an ISIS attack in Syria last weekend. Hegsteth says the U.S. targeted ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in response. In Florida, members of the Trump administration are meeting with Russian officials today for another round of talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

But there are no signs the Russian president is prepared to compromise. Dominic the lightest has a story. The Russian delegation is meeting with Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in Miami today. This follows U.S. talks yesterday with Ukrainian and European officials, who earlier this week reported progress on security guarantees for Kyiv as part of a proposed plan to end the war. But Putin offered no. compromise during his annual press conference in Moscow yesterday, insisting Ukraine abandon its ambition to join NATO and withdraw from the four Ukrainian regions. Russia now controls.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said financial support from the EU for Ukraine has strengthened its position in future peace talks. Dominic Volaitis for CBC News, Riga, Latvia. Meanwhile, at least eight people were killed and another 27 wounded in a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Odessa. And Ukraine says its drones hit a Russian warship, an oil rig, and other facilities in the Black Sea. This morning, police in Welland, Ontario took a man into custody following a standoff that lasted nearly a day. The suspect was identified as 59-year-old Daniel Tronko. Yesterday, he barricaded himself inside his home after exchanging gunfire with police.

One officer suffered minor injuries and was later released from hospital. Constable Richard Hingley from Niagara Regional Police says there were some tense moments. We sent remote cameras into the building, into the residence. Every time that we did that, the suspect met those cameras with gunfire. just demonstrating a blatant disregard for public safety and the safety of officers. Hingley says Tronko was injured and then sent to hospital. Ontario's special investigations unit has taken over the case. Tronco has been charged with attempted murder.

Akeback judge has granted bail to Daniel Jolive. He was convicted of four counts of murder and spent more than 30 years in prison, always insisting he was innocent. Now his case is being examined by a federal panel as a possible miscarriage of justice. Jolive's granddaughter says this is the best Christmas gift she could ever receive. But he doesn't see it that way. What gift is there after 33 years there? You should have given me that gift like in the first week there when I was saying I'm innocent.

They didn't believe me. I even asked to pass the polygraph test. The case is in the hands of the federal justice minister who could decide to appeal the case. or order a new trial. That process could take up to five years. New Brunswick is going to spend $10 million in an effort to make home care more affordable for seniors and people with disabilities. The province will increase the income threshold for accessing home care by 10% starting New Year's Day. It's the first time in 30 years, New Brunswick has increased that income threshold.