The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2026/01/02 at 02:00 EST

Episode Date: January 2, 2026

The World This Hour for 2026/01/02 at 02:00 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 is sour. The U.S. is urging China to exercise restraint and avoid actions that raise tensions following large-scale military exercises around Taiwan. The Taiwanese president has vowed to defend the island sovereignty and boosts military spending in response to war games. Patrick Falk reports. In a televised,

speech from Taiwan's presidential office marking the new year leader Lighting Deh said the island must resolutely defend national sovereignty and strengthen national defense. We must plan for the worst and hope for the best, he added. The speech came just two days after China fired dozens of rockets and deployed jets and naval vessels encircling the island, which Beijing claims as part of its territory. In an address, just hours after the war games concluded Chinese President Xi Jinping said China's reunification with Taiwan cannot be stopped. U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this week he wasn't concerned about the drills, but on Thursday the State Department issued a statement saying China's actions are a source

of unnecessary strain. Meanwhile, Lai warns the exercises demonstrate the need for boosting Taiwan's defense capabilities. Patrick Fock for CBC News, Singapore. About 40 people are dead and 115 injured, many seriously, after a fire at a crowded bar in the Swiss Alps New Year's Eve. The cause of the blaze, which was initially reported as an explosion, remains unclear. Authorities say it appeared to be an accident rather than an attack. Here's an eyewitness speaking through a translator. Some friends came. They called me, so I drove over. I arrived, and from there, everyone was burned. Everyone was screaming. was shouting. They'd been moved from the constellation to bar 1900, and it was crazy. It was like a

horror movie. For real, it was a horror movie. I've never seen anything like it in my life. Switzerland has begun five days of mourning. Authorities say many of the victims were young, and from many countries. Global Affairs Canada says it's not aware of any Canadians among those killed or hurt in the fire. Manitoba Hydro says it has completed repairs. To a downed line that has affected a remote First Nations for days, but it says bringing electricity back to thousands of residents will take time. Power has been out in Pima-Chicamac. The Kree Nation since Sunday, those who did not evacuate, have dealt with frigid temperatures near minus 30. The nation's chief is warning of complications such as flooding and burst pipes. A day after the official

asked Calgarians to reduce their water use in wake of Tuesday's catastrophic water main break. The city says it is not seeing any real reduction in usage. Typically, the city has about 600 million liters of water stored underground on a daily basis. That dropped the 459 million liters after the break. Officials say progress has been made to get the main fixed, but a boil water advisory remains in effect for parts of the city. And that is your world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Wayne Timito. Thank you.