The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/08/17 at 17:00 EDT

Episode Date: August 17, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/08/17 at 17:00 EDT

We are gathered here today to celebrate life's big milestones. Do you promise to stand together through home purchases, auto-upgrades, and surprise dents and dings? We do. To embrace life's big moments for any adorable co-drivers down the road. We do. Then with the caring support of Desjardin insurance, I pronounce you covered for home, auto, and flexible life insurance. For life's big milestones, get insurance that's really big on care at Dejardin.com slash care. from cbc news the world this hour i'm gina louise phillips we begin with a labor dispute at air canada

the union representing flight attendants say they're going to defy the government's order to return to work yesterday the canadian industrial relations board ordered the union to end its strike and the airline to end its lockout by two p m eastern but q p p says it's going to challenge the ruling here's Wesley Lassoski, president of the Air Canada component of QP. We're not willing to accept binding arbitration at this stage. We're here to negotiate a collective agreement. Something that we can now see was put on hold by Air Canada, awaiting this decision, we're just not going to accept it at this time.

They didn't address unpaid work or anything else. So they haven't come to the table because this was the plan all along. We're not willing to accept that. Initially, Air Canada said it would resume service this evening, but now says it hopes to restart flights tomorrow evening. There are 15 wildfires burning in Nova Scotia, but only one is out of control and threatening homes. That's the Long Lake Fire in the Annapolis Valley. Andrew Sampson has the latest.

The Long Lake Wildfire is showing no signs of letting up. It's expected to grow, even larger. Four air tankers, two helicopters, and more than 100 firefighters are on the scene. But Jim Rutterham, the director of fleet and forest protection for Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources, says the weather is not cooperating. It's very low humidity and wind and warm, and it's everything we don't need for helping us put out fires. More than 100 homes have already been evacuated, and officials say that number might grow. Scott Tingley, manager of Forest Protection, says the fire is still a couple of kilometers away, but crews are on standby. They are on high alert there, where everybody's ready and prepared for what might happen.

Evacquees have been out of their homes since Thursday. Many of them are staying with family or friends, and some are even camping. Showers are in the forecast, but it's been so dry for so long that officials say the rain will barely have an impact. Andrew Sampson, CBC News, Halifax. In Newfoundland, an evacuation alert remains in place for Conception Bay North, and a new one has been issued for the town of freshwater. While in New Brunswick, the Lavalette fire has been contained, an evacuation alert in that area has been lifted.

Six wildfires remain out of control, including the Oldfield Road fire near Mir Mishie. While voters in the Alberta riding of Battle River Crowfoot will decide whether conservative leader Pierre Polyev gets back into the House of Commons, a federal by-election will be held tomorrow. Polyev is expected to win handily in the small-sea conservative riding. He lost his Ottawa seat in the last election. Thousands of Palestinians are trying to flee parts of Gaza City. following the Israeli government's announcement that it intends to take control of the city.

While in Israel, tens of thousands of people took part in a nationwide strike, demanding a deal to release the hostages still held by Hamas. Dominic Volaitis has that story. Palestinians in Gaza City are on the move. Parts of the city have been under days of continuous Israeli bombardment. At least 40 people have been killed across the territory this weekend alone. The Israeli government intends to take control of government. Gaza City and plans to forcibly displace a million people to camps in the south. Among them

is Noaman Hamad. It's clear there's no humanitarian solution here, he says. This is a new displacement operation, an attempt to seize the land and areas. Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis took part in a nationwide strike today in support of the families of hostages still held in Gaza, waving flags and carrying photos of those taken, they called on Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu to reach an agreement with Hamas to end the war and release the remaining captives. Dominic Volaitis for CBC News, London.

And that is the world this hour. For news anytime, visit our website, cbcnews.a. For CBC News, I'm Gina Louise Phillips. Thanks for listening. Thank you.