The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/22 at 19:00 EST

Episode Date: December 23, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/22 at 19:00 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 Martina Fitzgerald. It's setting up to be a tough flu season. In mid-December, the number of Canadians with influenza was the highest it's been in three years. 71% of infections detected are the H3N2 strain of influenza A. It's known for more severe infections. Toronto General Hospital Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Isaac Bogosh says so far this year, children are being heavily affected. Bogarch says, though it's normal to see an uptick in hospitalizations during December and January, it's also never too late to get the flu shot.

Air travel can be stressful, especially during the holidays, and it turns out all that stress leads to a spike in unruly behavior. CBC News has analyzed more than 300,000 aviation incidents over the last 25 years. Megan Fitzpatrick has details of the findings. I'm excited about Santa coming. 10-year-old Rachel Lynch not particularly stressed as she arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport this morning, but her dad Ryan says he can understand why some fellow passengers might be on edge this time of year. He wasn't surprised by CBC's findings that suggest December sees the highest proportion of disruptive passenger reports.

To me it makes sense because the stress of the holidays, everybody's traveling, there's a lot more people. Airlines file the reports to transport Canada when someone disrupts or threatens the normal operations of a flight. Behavior can range from smoking in the bathroom to verbal abuse, physical aggression and intoxication. About one in five cases analyzed by CBC News mentioned alcohol. And of all the days in December, the analysis showed Christmas Day has the highest proportion of disruptive passengers. Megan Fitzpatrick, CBC News, Mississauga. With three days left until Christmas, Canadians are scramble. to buy gifts. But as Nisha Patel reports, for many, the holiday budget is tighter this year.

Telescope, dinosaurs, trying to get little knickknacks, little things that will inspire. Jason Bogle just finished his Christmas shopping at the Eaton Center in downtown Toronto. Things are tighter. Everyone is feeling it. I'm not spending as much as last year, but I think that the gifts are more meaningful. From presents to decorations, parties to special meals spending during the holiday season can add up. One in five Canadians surveyed by Angus Reed said they're feeling high financial pressure. Angus Reed Research Associate John Roe says there's a lot of anxiety about the economy. They're worried about maybe they're going to lose their job. They're looking at the cost of groceries and they're saying, yeah, it's very difficult for me to put food on the table to feed my

family. That concern may persist as nearly three and five Canadian surveyed named the cost of living as their top issue heading into 2026. Nisha Patel, CBC News, Toronto. Prime Minister Mark Carney is appointing Mark Wiseman, Canada's ambassador to the United States. A statement from the Prime Minister's Office says Wiseman's career spans three decades in law, business and finance,

and he has experience with both countries, economies, financial markets, and institutions. The appointment comes as Canada and the U.S. are locked in a trade war and ahead of a formal review of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Investigators in Russia are suggesting Ukraine is responsible for the death of a Russian general. Vanil Suorov is the third general killed in Moscow by an explosive device in just over a year.

Saworov helped lead the Russian military's training operations. Kiev has not commented on the attack. Barry Manilow has lung cancer. The 82-year-old is postponing shows next month to undergo surgery. Manelow is a Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award winner with a career spanning six decades. He's known for hit recordings including Mandy and this one. I write the songs. In a social media post, Manilow says a recent MRI found a cancerous spot on his lung.

But he says the early diagnosis means no chemo, just chicken soup and reruns of I Love Lucy. And that is your world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Martina Fitzgerald.