The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/21 at 23:00 EST

Episode Date: December 22, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/21 at 23:00 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 Neil Hurland. Australians held a day of reflection to remember the victims of last weekend's mass shooting at Bondi Beach and Sydney. Thousands gather to pay tribute to the 15 people killed at a Hanukah celebration by two gunmen. As Philip Lee-Shanock reports, there are risks here in Canada as well. Where there was horror and panic last Sunday, on Sydney's Bondi Beach today, there was defiance and solidarity. Like the grass here at Bondi was stained with blood, so too has our nation been stained. David Ossip is head of a Jewish community group in New South Wales.

Hanukkah teaches us that light can illuminate even the biggest of places. Alan Kessel is a former assistant deputy minister and legal advisor to the government of Canada. He says Bondi Beach is a warning that Canada cannot ignore. When we look at what is happening to that country and what we have seen in Canada, there's almost a doppelganger effect. Canada is very similar to Australia, not only in its makeup, but in its laws. Kessel warns that terrorist entities like ISIS and Al-Qaeda have vowed to exploit the tolerance for freedom of expression in open societies like Australia and Canada. Philip Ashanox, CBC News, Toronto. And also in Australia, the state of New South Wales has recalled its legislature to vote on some proposed new laws after last week's deadly attack that killed 15 people.

Chris Minns is the premier of New South Wales. Today we're introducing new laws, tough new laws to protect the community to crack down on hate and strengthen public safety. The legislation bans, the public displays of terror symbols, outlaws violence, incitement to violence in New South Wales and gives police stronger powers. during public assemblies. The Premier also pushed back on criticism that his proposed laws would infringe on free speech in Australia. The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing an oil tanker in international waters. Multiple U.S. media outlets cite U.S. officials saying the vessel is part of Venezuela's

effort to evade sanctions on its oil. Karen Paul's reports. This is the second vessel pursued by the U.S. in two days. On Saturday, Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem posted a video on social media. It showed the U.S. military flying over the Panamanian flagged ship in international waters and American forces boarding the vessel. Noam said the action is part of the U.S. efforts to, quote, pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco-terrorism.

The interceptions come just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced what he called a blockade of sanctions. oil tankers leaving and entering Venezuela, an escalation in his pressure campaign on Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. The Venezuelan government hasn't yet responded to Sunday's action, but has previously described the seizures as acts of piracy and international terrorism. Karen Paul's, CBC News, Washington. American rapper and singer Nikki Minaj had a very awkward moment this weekend. She appeared at an event organized by Turning Point USA, the conservative group that was founded by the late Charlie Kirk, and while chatting on stage with Erica Kirk, Charlie's widow, she used hip-hop slang to compliment the American

vice president. And you have amazing role models like the assassin, J.D. Vance, our vice president. And when I say that, mm-hmm. I... I... Trust me. There's nothing new under the sun that I have not heard, so you're fine. Charlie Kirk was gunned down by an assassin in September. In hockey tonight, Sidney Crosby broke Mario Lemieux's franchise scoring record as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Montreal Canadiens 4'3. Crosby began the night one point behind Lemieux. He also moves past Lemieux for the eighth most points in NHL history.

And that is your world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Neil Hurland.