The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/16 at 17:00 EST

Episode Date: December 16, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/16 at 17:00 EST

This message is from Wise, the app for international money. With Wise, you can send, spend, and receive in up to 40 currencies with a fair exchange rate and no hidden fees. Download the Wise app or visit Wise.com. T's and C's Apply. From CBC News The World This Hour, I'm Stephanie Scandaris. Prosecutors in Los Angeles are charging Nick Reiner with first-degree murder of his parents. Rob Reiner was an acclaimed movie director known for films like The Princess Bride and when Harry met Sally. He and his wife, Michelle, were found with fatal stab wounds in their home on Sunday. Nathan Hockman is the L.A. County District Attorney, he says the murder charges include what are called special circumstances,

and if proven, they would significantly increase the sentence. These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty. No decision at this point has been made with respect to the death penalty. Nick Reiner had been expected to make an initial court appearance today, but his lawyer says he did not appear for medical reasons. Canada's largest figure skating organization says it will no longer host national and international level events in Alberta. This comes after the province passed legislation that limits the participation of transgender athletes in sports. Josh McLean has more. Skate Canada says it made the decision after assessing Alberta's fairness and safety

in sport act. That act came into effect at the beginning of September and limits participation in female-only sports to athletes whose sex was recorded as female at birth. Under the act, those aged 12 and older wanting to join girls' teams must declare in writing their assigned sex at birth was female. That declaration is open to challenges by other athletes. The government of Alberta says the Act is intended to protect the integrity of female athletic competitions and that it supports the expansion of mixed-sex leagues. Skate Canada says it is unable to host events in the province and maintain its standards for safe and inclusive sport. But Alberta skaters will still be able to participate in Skate Canada programming and competitions. The

organization says it will watch the legislation in Alberta and reassess hosting events in the province if the situation changes. Josh McLean, CBC News, Calgary. The federal government's by Canadian policy takes effect today. Contracts valued at $25 million or more are now required to give priority to Canadian businesses and materials. That includes steel, aluminum, and wood products manufactured or processed in Canada. The policy applies to the government's new major projects, defense procurement, and other projects funded by the federal government. Ottawa has announced new regulations aimed at reducing methane emissions. Methane is one of the most potent drivers of climate change.

As Olivia Stefanovic reports, the measures are the first major federal climate policy under the Karni government. I'm really excited. Just weeks after the federal government backed a potential new bitumen pipeline to the West Coast, Environment Minister Julie DeBruson is announcing new regulations, targeting the most potent major greenhouse gas released from the oil and gas industry. regulations that are going to reduce methane emissions in our country. Methane pollution has a global warming potential of more than 80 times that of carbon dioxide. Ottawa's new measures aim to reduce methane emissions from fossil fuel production and landfills,

banning intentional methane releases and establishing inspection schedules to find leaks and repair them. But the plan also gives the oil and gas industry more leeway than previous regulations, allowing some operators to design their own approaches. The regulations kick in January 1st, 28. Olivia Estebanovich, CBC News, Ottawa. The European Union is watering down its plan to ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035. Automakers, especially those in Germany,

have lobbied against the ban. They argue market demand for electric vehicles is too low. The European Commission says the new goal is to reduce emissions from cars by 90%. That leaves room for gas-powered cars, as well as the use of various technologies that emit less carbon. And that is the world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Stephanie Skanderas.