The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/16 at 13:00 EST

Episode Date: December 16, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/16 at 13:00 EST

Dragon's Den is celebrating 20 years of supporting Canadian entrepreneurs, 20 years of innovative ideas, groundbreaking products, and inspiring stories from Canadian businesses. And this season has all of the wheeling and dealing that's changed the lives of countless dreamers. Now, with Celebrity Dragon Drew Scott from Property Brothers. Don't miss Season 20 of Dragon's Den. Watch free on CBC Gem. From CBC News, The World This Hour, I'm Stephanie Skanderas. Israel has denied entry into the occupied West Bank to a delegation of 30 Canadians, including six members of Parliament.

The trip was sponsored by a non-profit charity called the Canadian Muslim vote. Its goal was to meet with displaced Palestinians. Israel says it turned the group away for security reasons. NDP, MP, Jenny Kwan, is with the delegation. She says she rejects the assertion that public officials engaging in humanitarian work pose a threat to public safety. The issue that we're pushing for is really grounded on human rights, basic human rights and humanitarian action. And that's the motivation behind it. Israel says the group also arrived without prior coordination.

Kwan's office says the Canadian government had formally notified Israel of the visit. She says electronic travel authorizations to enter the West Bank were initially approved, then revoked on the day of arrival. The surviving gunman in the Bondi Beach attack in Australia has woken from his coma. His condition is unclear, but police say he will face charges if he survives. On Sunday, 15 people were killed and dozens injured in a shooting targeting a Hanukkah event. Authorities say the suspects were inspired by the terror group Islamic State. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is calling for national unity in light of the attack. What terrorists seek to do is to create division, is to create conflict, is to undermine social cohesion.

We're a better country than that, and we can't allow their objective to be successful. A government coalition has started a task force aimed at analyzing the federal response to anti-Semitism and national security. weaknesses. The most complex fire in Toronto's history is finally out more than two weeks after it started. The fire has been burning in a small gap between two residential buildings since November 27th. Fire chief Jim Jessup says because of that, it was extremely difficult to access and fight. And because the fire was not visible in the traditional sense, this required a very different approach for suppression and risk mitigation. Jessup says firefighters used cameras, helium, garden hoses, and foam to track and put out the

fire. The smoldering fire forced the evacuation of more than 400 units. Engineers will now have to inspect the buildings for structural integrity. It's not yet known when residents will be allowed to return. Newfoundland and Lappador's projected budget deficit has ballooned to almost $1 billion. Meanwhile, the province's newly elected progressive conservative government insists it'll keep election promises and bring down that deficit. Mark Quinn has more. The new deficit projection is $948 million, up from the Liberals' prediction of $626 million in August. Finance Minister Craig Party says it's a big problem. This number is deeply troubling. These structural challenges will take time

to fix. Still, he says the government will keep its election promises to improve health care, cut taxes, and make community safer. But he hasn't laid out a plan about how that will be achieved. The provincial opposition leader John Hogan says it's not enough. I don't think I heard one substantive answer from the minister of finance. He kept deferring to saying they will do a long-term plan. NDP leader Jim Dinn says the finance ministers talk about spending smarter makes him nervous. That usually means prepare for the worst, batting down the head. is cuts are coming. Party says the government will have a detailed plan by budget time this coming spring. Mark Quinn, CBC News, St. John's. Heavy rainfall warnings have been issued again for

parts of BC already swamped in recent days by heavy rain and floodwaters. Environment Canada is forecasting up to 70 millimeters of rain over the next 24 hours for areas including the Fraser Valley and parts of Metro Vancouver. And that is the world this hour. For CBC News, I'm St.B. Stephanie Scandaris.