The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/15 at 17:00 EST

Episode Date: December 15, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/15 at 17:00 EST

There are two kinds of Canadians, those who feel something when they hear this music. And those who've been missing out so far. I'm Chris Howden. And I'm Neil Kuksal. We are the co-hosts of As It Happens. And every day we speak with people at the center of the day's most hard-hitting, heartbreaking, and sometimes hilarious news stories. Also, we have puns.

Here Why As It Happens is one of Canada's longest running in most beloved shows. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. From CBC News, the world this hour, I'm Stephanie Skanderas. There are new rainfall warnings for British Columbia's lower mainland, and with them comes the increased risk of flooding, landslides, and burst riverbanks in the days ahead. The region has been experiencing serious flooding due to heavy rain for the past week. 100 properties have now been evacuated.

1,200 others are on evacuation alert. Aaron Collins is there. You know, it's very stressful. Brad Dreger has seen this before. The Abbotsford farmer hit hard by floodwaters in 2021. Last time we lost about 30,000 birds. This year's flooding not as bad, at least not yet. But more rain is expected throughout Monday.

Environment Canada issuing an orange rainfall alert for the Fraser Valley. Most evacuation orders in the area have been lifted, but the water has left its mark. Victor Smith is the mayor of Hope, BC. Water pooling on the road, of course, but also a lot of the road is broken away and a lot of potholes everywhere. So you've got to be very careful everybody in the drive-in this morning. They're getting pretty big some of those potholes.

As much as 8 centimeters of rainfall is expected in the area, the rain expected to ease up by Tuesday. Aaron Collins, CBC News, Chilliwack, BC. The Premier of Newfoundland and Lapprador says the province will take another look at a deal with Quebec signed by his predecessor. Tony Wakeham has announced a review of the Churchill Falls, memorandum of understanding. I am pleased to announce that we will be forming a new independent review process that will be empowered as a public inquiry. The MOU was signed in December

2024. It proposes Hydro-Cabec pay much more for power from the Churchill Falls station in Lapprador. Wakeham had previously expressed doubt about whether his province was getting the best deal possible and said experts would need to review the memorandum before his government makes a final decision. Wakeham says the deadline for the independent review is the end of April. Police in several Canadian cities say they're increasing their presence around synagogues and Jewish schools. It comes in the wake of the deadly attack on Australia's Jewish community in Sydney yesterday. 15 people were killed and at least 40 injured during a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach. Thomas Dagla reports. The initial reaction was shock and pain and to be honest this belief. Across Canada,

Jewish community leaders like Rabbi Haim Hildesim in Thornhill, Ontario, are contending with what he describes as mixed emotions, as Hanukkah celebrations including nightly candle lighting ceremonies, are still a go. On one hand, people are on pain, but on the other hand, we all understand that we cannot stop the celebrations, we cannot give into terror. Police in Toronto, Montreal, and other cities say they're stepping up patrols at Hanukkah gatherings. Criminologist Michael Kempa. Where the risk is concentrated is where people congregate.

It's the periphery of these events. These are the spot where people should be the most vigilant. Last year, the RCMP arrested a father and son near Toronto, saying police foiled a large-scale attack that now bears similarities to the rampage in Sydney. Thomas Dagg, CBC News, Toronto. The LA Police Chief says the son of acclaimed Hollywood director Rob Reiner has been booked for murder. Reiner and his wife, Michelle, were found dead in their home late yesterday. Their 32-year-old son, Nick, is being held in police custody.

with bail set at $4 million U.S. dollars. Police have given few other details about the investigation. In the past, Nick Reiner had spoken frequently about his addiction and mental health struggles. President Donald Trump is sounding upbeat about the prospect of ending the war in Ukraine. And I think we're closer now than we have been ever. Trump says the latest round of talks in Berlin has gone well,

but the sticking point remains a Russian demand Ukraine give up the eastern Donbass region. Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, says Kiev needs security guarantees from its allies before making any decisions about territorial concessions. Trump says the U.S. is working on making that happen. And that is the world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Stephanie Scandaris. Thank you.