The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/23 at 19:00 EST

Episode Date: December 24, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/23 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 Worldless Hour. I'm Martina Fitzgerald. Residents of Wolf Island near Kingston, Ontario have been left frustrated and stranded again. There is no bridge between the island and the mainland, so people rely on ferry service. There have been numerous issues since a new vessel was introduced in August of last year, and now it's out of service again. It's still less than ideal, but a passenger-only ferry has arrived to help. Emma Weller is talking to upset islanders.

We've been stuck with almost no supplies for this little guy. Silas Turley Yuck cradles his six-week-old son inside the ferry terminal after being stranded overnight in Kingston waiting for the ferry home to Wolf Island. He's one of many. About 1,500 people called the island home. The ferry broke down Monday morning, cars and gas trucks at a standstill. People left to find hotels last night or couches to sleep on. Residents worry food is running low.

People are missing medical appointments. Jennifer Sutherland is also from the island. I have 80-year-old parents, and if there's an ambulance call, there is literally no way to leave the island right now. The ferry service said they're experiencing an electrical issue. In the latest update, a pedestrian-only ferry has been brought in and is shuttling people to and from the island. As for the cars, gas trucks, and other supplies, it's still unclear.

Emma Weller, CBC News, Kingston. Justice Department says the letter allegedly written by Jeffrey Epstein to another sex offender, Larry Nassar, is fake. The letter is part of the vast trove of documents related to Epstein recently released by the department. It contains references to U.S. President Donald Trump. The DOJ says the FBI determined there were several irregularities with the letter, including handwriting, the date, and the return address. The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting today on increasing tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. Since September, the U.S. has attacked vessels off the Venezuelan coast

that it accuses of smuggling drugs. And earlier this month, the U.S. military seized two oil tankers carrying Venezuelan crude. A growing number of American politicians accused President Trump of increasingly dictatorial behavior. Brad Schneider is the Democratic representative for Illinois. We've moved from attacking boats that were reportedly carrying drugs to now take oil tankers. And at the end of the day, what you're seeing is it's about enriching Trump and his friends. They've already talked to companies about taking the soil. Venezuela accuses Washington of committing acts of piracy. The Trump administration argues its actions are legal. British comedian and actor Russell Brand is facing new charges. He's accused of the rape and sexual

assault of two women. These charges date back to 2009. Brand had previously pleaded not guilty to charges including rape and sexual assault involving four other women. One of the top items on the Christmas wish list for teens comes with a warning from health officials. E-Scooters are a popular buy for people of all ages. But as Tanya Fletcher reports, hospitalizations involving e-scooters are also trending upward. It's small, lightweight, and gets you pretty much where you need to go. Onyxcala works at EVs in downtown Vancouver and says many parents come in looking to an e-scooter for their kids, but with every sale, a word of caution.

We are very, very clear. We tell people, just because it goes fast, doesn't mean you need to or should ride it that fast. Some e-scooters can go from zero to 75 kilometers an hour in seconds. And data from the Canadian Institute of Health Information shows injuries are on the rise. Over a one-year period, hospitalizations linked to e-scooter injuries rose by 32 percent with a staggering 61 percent. among young people aged 5 to 17.

The more serious ones that we hear about include head injuries like concussions and fractured. Dr. Randin-Yal with Vancouver Coastal Health says children need to know e- scooters are a vehicle, not a toy. His advice, wear a helmet and don't speed. Tanya Fletcher, CBC News, Vancouver. And that is your world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Martina Fitzgerald. Thank you.