The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/19 at 21:00 EST

Episode Date: December 20, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/19 at 21:00 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 this hour i'm mike miles the u.s justice department has released several hundred thousand records relating to convicted sex offender geoffrey upstein they're the first documents to come to light under a new law compelling their release karen paul's has the latest this is proof of literally everything that we've been saying canadian charlene rochard is one of the Epstein survivors who pressured lawmakers and U.S. President Donald Trump to force the release of these files. I really want people to know how human trafficking works. This new dump includes photos, many sexual and graphic, naked or topless women with their faces blacked out. There

are references to child sexual abuse material, as well, photos of notable people like former president, Bill Clinton, and lots of documents related to the prosecutions. against Epstein, much of it redacted. Rochard says all the files should be released. We've experienced delays, unanswered questions, and a lack of transparency. The legislation does allow the department to withhold personal information of survivors and information related to ongoing prosecutions. Karen Paul's, CBC News, Washington. The U.S. launched airstrikes on targets in Syria today. Defense Secretary Pete Hankseth calling at a declaration of vengeance.

Two members of the Iowa National Guard and an American translator were killed in an ISIS attack in Syria last weekend. EGSEF says the U.S. targeted ISIS fighters, infrastructures, and weapons sites in response. European leaders have struck a deal to send billions in interest-free loans to Ukraine, and the United States is trying to broker a peace deal for them,

but success remains elusive. Breyer Stewart is more. On Friday, EU leaders, agreed to loan Ukraine 90 billion euros or 145 billion Canadian dollars over the next two years. But the bloc didn't agree on the contentious issue of using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine. Putin claims Russia is ready for peace and says it's now up to Ukraine in the West, but it's Moscow that's refused to agree to even a temporary ceasefire. There's a reason why this war hasn't ended, and that is because there's complex factors at play.

U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Wars end generally in one of two ways. Surrender by one side for another or a negotiated settlement. Rubio says Washington is trying to figure out if there's a scenario that both sides could live with. Talks are scheduled to continue this weekend, but both sides remain far apart, and any kind of agreement is elusive. Breyer-Stewart, CBC News, London. Vancouver's installing hundreds of new temporary surveillance cameras

ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. City officials say it's about public safety, but some privacy experts say it needs closer scrutiny. The province is estimating there will be about 350,000 visitors during the tournament next summer. Extra cameras have been put around BC Play Stadium. It's not clear how the cameras will be used and who will have access to the footage.

Like other parts of the country, Alberta is experiencing a spike in the number of flu cases and it's putting a strain on hospitals. Erin Collins reports. My husband's had it pretty bad. He had the cough and the chills and all the things. Tis the season for influenza. That's my bus driver.

Top of mind outside this Calgary school as the holiday break starts. Yeah, a couple weeks ago, he only had nine kids in his class that day because there are so many out sick. The flu is hitting hard this year driven by the H3N2 strain. 650 people are in hospital with the flu in Alberta. nearly double last week's total. Lewis Franciscetti is an ER doctor in Edmonton. There's no if, ends or butts about it. The flu is here with a vengeance.

We're in the exponential phase right now. This year's flu shot isn't a good match for the H3N2 strain. Still, doctors are urging people to get vaccinated before gathering for the holidays because it reduces the risk of a severe infection and complications. Aaron Collins, CBC News, Calgary. And that is The World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Mike Miles.