The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/29 at 13:00 EST

Episode Date: December 29, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/29 at 13:00 EST

When Christy Lee started her podcast, she wanted to avoid the spotlight. But that's kind of become impossible. Canadian True Crime has over 70 million downloads and is constantly at the top of the charts. This week on Crime Story, behind the scenes with Canadian True Crime and Christy Lee. Find Crime Story wherever you get your podcasts. From CBC News, The World This Hour, I'm Karen Hauerlock. A winter storm is hitting Ontario and Quebec today, leaving thousands without power. High winds and blowing snow are creating white-out conditions in parts of northern and southern Ontario.

And freezing rain is icing sidewalks, trees, and power lines in eastern Ontario and Quebec. Colin Butler has the story. John Brutley loads up on salt at a Canadian tire in Ottawa, for sidewalks and driveway. So the ice, basically. This is probably going to be the rest of the year's to fly. In Ontario, winter warnings stretch from Windsor through the GTA. In Toronto, ice pellets and snow could pile up to 12 centimeters.

In the province's north, there are whiteout conditions and totals could reach 20 centimeters. Ryan Pilon is with Tim and snow removal. He's been clearing snow since 2 a.m. I grew up here my whole life and I've maybe seen a storm months or twice like this. stuff. This is pretty bad. In Quebec, Montreal, Utaway, and the eastern townships could see 15 millimeters of ice before the freezing rain tapers off, but then 90-kilometer-an-hour winds. Airports are seeing a host of delays and cancellations as the storm moves east.

It's clear. Winter is here to stay, and it's only the opening act. Colin Butler, CBC News, London, Ontario. U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet this hour with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida. Marlago. It comes as Israel is facing regional conflicts following attacks in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. Blake Sifton reports from Tel Aviv. When he meets Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump is expected to push for progress toward phase two of the Gaza peace plan. The body of one hostage remains in Gaza, and Israel has said previously that they won't go forward with phase two until his body is returned. But Netanyahu is coming under increasing pressure to move forward

with the process. There are also reports that many officials in the Trump administration are growing frustrated with Netanyahu believing that he's trying to stall the peace process. Now, phase two is supposed to see a transitional government of Palestinian technocrats govern Gaza and be overseen by an international body that's being called the Board of Peace. And an international stabilization force is meant to enter Gaza and disarm Hamas as Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza. But many serious obstacles need to be overcome. We still don't know which leaders will join. the Board of Peace. No countries have publicly agreed to contribute troops to the force, and Hamas has flatly refused to fully disarm. Blake Sifton, for CBC News, Tel Aviv.

Moscow says it's revising its position in Russia-Ukraine peace talks, after Russia's foreign minister accused Ukraine of targeting one of President Vladimir Putin's residences today. As Ross Cullen reports, it's thrown a wrench into the peace talks. Well, the Ukrainian president has denied that Ukrainian armed forces target. the House in the Novgorod region of Russia of President Vladimir Putin. The Russian foreign minister says that is exactly what happened. All 91 incoming Ukrainian drones were shot down and as a result, the Kremlin's negotiating position will now change

and targets have been selected inside Ukraine for retaliatory strikes. The Ukrainian presidency saying that could include government buildings. President Vladimir Zelensky says the claims by Russia are fabricated in an example of lies that Moscow is telling to try to influence the peace process, All of this comes just one day after Zelensky and Donald Trump held face-to-face talks in Florida about the peace process and trying to advance the 20-point peace plan. Ross Cullen for CBC News, Paris. China is launching major military drills in the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan's military is on high alert, responding to what it calls a large-scale Chinese exercise. Beijing says it's conducting live fire drills in surrounding waters and airspace deploying warships, aircraft and long-range rocket launchers. China claims the island as its own and has repeatedly threatened to take it by force. Canada's juniors will look to improve to three and nothing in the preliminary round of the World Junior Championships being played in Minnesota this year. The Canadians face off against Denmark tonight. And that's your world this hour. I'm Karen Howerluck. Thank you.