The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/23 at 20:00 EST

Episode Date: December 24, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/23 at 20:00 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. Extreme cold is gripping much of Western Canada and into the north. It's putting intense pressure on Yukon's power grid. Yesterday in central Yukon in the town of Farrow, the temperature dropped to a record-breaking minus 52 Celsius. The territory's energy minister, Ted Laking, says the grid is operating at near capacity. There's nothing right now in front of me indicating that we are going to be going into a scenario of voting blackouts, but it is important to know that we're close. The grid is close, it is strained, and conserving energy is a really good way that folks can help us.

Environment Canada has issued cold weather alerts for southern Yukon, parts of the Northwest territories and BC, and for the northern prairies. It's warning of multiple days of extreme wind chills ranging from minus 20 in B.C. to minus 55 in Yukon. Energy facilities in Western Ukraine have been hit hard by Russian attacks. Emergency power cuts are in place in a number of regions. Russia fired more than 650 drones and three dozen missiles, killing at least three people, including a child. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, says the attack, just ahead of Christmas, sends an extremely clear signal about Russia's priorities when people simply want to be with their families at home and safe.

The lawyer allegedly connected to suspected drug kingpin, Ryan Wedding, has been granted bail ahead of his extradition hearing. Deepak Parodkar is accused of advising Wedding to kill an FBI witness and of aiding an international drug smuggling network. The CBC's Michelle Song was in court today. Deepak Paradcar, the Toronto area lawyer accused of working with the alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding has been released on bail as he faces extradition to the U.S. The judge says that although he recognizes that the attorney general argues Pratkar would

likely flee if released, he says because of his age and health conditions, the judge believes it will be difficult for Pradkar to be on the run. The judge also says he has the utmost confidence in Pratkar's surety, his wife, Mandy Taylor Pratkar. Bail is set for more than $5 million. Pradkar's defense proposed 24-7 house arrest with an electronic monitor and proposed he will not communicate with anyone outside his family. Pradkar faces five charges in the U.S., including conspiracy to tamper with a witness.

If found guilty, he would face life in prison. Michelle Song, CBC News, Toronto. The U.S. Justice Department says the letter allegedly written by Jeffrey Epstein to another sex offender, Larry Nasser, is fake. It's part of the vast trove of documents recently released. It contains references to U.S. President Donald Trump. The DOJ says the FBI determined there were several irregularities with the letter, including handwriting and the return address.

In 2024, deportation costs in Canada added up to nearly $80 million. The Canada Border Services Agency says last year it removed more than 18,000 people from the country. Experts say that number may go up as Ottawa tightens immigration targets and limits new study and job permits. Evan Dyer reports. The last fiscal year was the busiest for removal since 2012, part of a steady uptick that followed a lull during the pandemic. CBSA says the increase reflects the larger numbers of non-citizens allowed into the country in recent years, some of whom made asylum claims that were rejected or failed to comply with the conditions of their entry.

It cost between $3,000 and $4,000 to remove a person who's willing to leave the country unescorted. But removals requiring a CBSA escort are more than three times. as expensive. CBSA says it's currently deporting 400 people a week and is on track to remove over 20,000 people in the current fiscal year. Evan Dyer, CBC News, Ottawa. In October, Canada's economy shrank by a greater than expected 0.3%. It is the biggest slump in almost three years. The economy dragged down by the decline in wood manufacturing following new U.S. tariffs. And that is your world this hour.

For CBC News, I'm Martino Fitzgerald.