The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/12/24 at 15:00 EST

Episode Date: December 24, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/12/24 at 15:00 EST

All right, what are we talking about? A new year means a fresh start. Okay, make a list for the year and take charge of your life in 2026. Look, I'm not talking about your to-do list. I'm talking about your watch list. Cross off Family Feud Canada, St. Pierre, and this hour has 22 minutes. There's no excuses. Dream big people. Enjoy all your favorite shows on CBC TV or stream anytime on CBC Gem. Mike drop. From CBC News, the world this hour, I'm Halley Cottenham. The extreme cold in the Yukon is putting extreme pressure on the territory's power grid. Temperatures drop below minus 40 again today. And the electrical grid is operating at near capacity. Julian Green reports. Officials have floated the prospect of imposing blackouts in Whitehorse for days. But territorial power companies say they would be.

be a last-ditch effort. For now, Yukon Energy and Electric Power Company ATCO are calling on residents to use less energy. They say that'll help put a cap on peak electricity demand, which earlier this week hit an all-time high. On Monday, Yukoners used 90% of what the grid can supply. Jay Massey with Atco, Yukon says the grid buckled under the pressure. Still, he says rolling blackouts are a ways away. We're as prepared as we possibly can be. Stephanie Cunia, is with Yukon Energy, she says residents should use appliances at off-peak hours. It is allowing us to not turn on as many diesel engines and to have that little bit of buffer. The Yukon-R-CMP is telling people to travel only if absolutely necessary

and to just stay home where it's warm. Julian Green, CBC News, Whitehorse. U.S. weather officials say a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation is unfolding in Southern California. A powerful storm pummeled parts of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Santa Barbara overnight. Across several counties, evacuation warnings and orders are in place. More than 7 million people in those areas are at high risk of flash flooding. The rains and winds have knocked out power to more than 100,000 homes and businesses. Meteorologists say more rain will come on Christmas Day and continue into Friday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is threatening, retaliation after an officer was injured by an explosion in Gaza. Netanyahu's blaming the bombing in Rafah on Hamas and is accusing the group of violating the ceasefire. Hamas officials insist the incident happened in an area fully controlled by Israel and say the explosives were an unexploded Israeli bomb. Many Canadians are traveling this week to see family and friends, maybe even visit a sunny beach, but new data show Canadian travelers continue to who shun U.S. destinations. Liam Britton has more.

Canadian Tracy Lemore has family in the U.S. My brother and his wife, they just bought a beautiful home. Publicist's work. So it really is across industry, cross borders, in terms of client base. And travel ambitions. And I always didn't want to go to New Orleans. But citing the political situation there, she's paused her plans. And the latest stats can figures covering October show Canadian return trips to the U.S.

are down about a quarter from the year before. while international travel to Canada is up about 3%. Toronto Metropolitan University tourism researcher Frederick DeMange. For Canada, I think it's good all over. You know, traffic is likely to increase. We should definitely expect better continuous results in 2026. Lemore isn't sure when she'll go back stateside. I don't imagine that America's ever going to be something that I'm going to feel

is an aspirational travel destination ever again. Liam Britton, CBC News, Vancouver. And finally, the holidays are a time associated with plentiful food and drink, and few know that better than this fellow. I am stout round, and I have found, speaking poundage-wise, I improve my appetite when I exercise. Winnie the Pooh turns 100 today. The jovial, honey-loving toy bear,

first made his debut in a children's story by English author A.A. Milne. Pooh catapulted to fame after Disney acquired the rights in 1961. His current voice actor, Jim Cummings, says the bear inspires an enduring nostalgia for many people. It's a pipeline, you know, back to kindergarten, back to five years old, six, four years old. You know, there's their tears that well up and it's just, you know, I give out a lot of hugs. Pooh remains one of the world's most popular children's characters. And that is the world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Hallie Coddenham.