Mass shooting at Brown University, Belarus frees prisoners, Chile's election, and more.

Summary

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Your World Tonight – CBC

Episode Date: December 13, 2025
Hosts: Dave Seglins, with reporting from Tanya Fletcher, Philip Ly Chanok, Marie Armel Lafore, Cody Weddle, Ross Cullen, Megan Williams, John Last
Episode Theme: A whirlwind global catch-up – covering a mass shooting at Brown University, major diplomatic moves in Belarus and Venezuela, election fever in Chile, environmental emergencies, European urban innovation, climate-challenged winemaking, and surprising trends in the toy industry.

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Main Theme

The episode delivers deep context, fast-moving updates, and analysis on some of the world’s most urgent news stories as of December 13, 2025, all with a distinctly Canadian perspective.

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Episode Summary & Key Discussion Points

1. Mass Shooting at Brown University (Providence, Rhode Island)

[00:49-02:36]

• Incident Recap:
  • Two confirmed dead, eight critically wounded after a mass shooting on the Brown University campus.
  • Suspect, described only as a male dressed in black, is still at large.
  • Initial reports (later retracted) suggested the suspect was in custody.
  • Campus remains in lockdown, with shelter in place orders active.
• Police Response:
  • Officers executed a swift search and evacuation protocol.
  • Ongoing manhunt utilizing all available resources.

Notable Quotes:

• “Our officers responded and as they're trained to do, entered that building immediately and began searching for a suspect. … No suspect was located at that time.” – Philip Ly Chanok (01:57)
• “Stay with CBC News for updates throughout the evening.” – Dave Seglins (02:36)

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2. Belarus: Prisoners Freed in U.S. Negotiated Deal

[02:36-05:53]

• What Happened:
  • Over 120 prisoners, including high-profile protest leader Maria Kolesnikova, released by Belarus.
  • U.S. negotiated the deal in exchange for lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash exports—a key fertilizer mineral.
• Geopolitical Impact:
  • Maria Popova (McGill): The deal shifts U.S. policy away from the EU’s position, raising concerns about a “budding Russo-American alliance.”
  • Growing unease in Europe and Canada as Belarus remains closely allied with Russia.
• Link to Ukraine Talks:
  • Maria Popova warns that the U.S. tilt could have broader implications as U.S.-led peace talks on Ukraine ramp up; pressure is on Ukraine to negotiate before Christmas, but President Zelenskyy refuses to concede territory.

Notable Quotes:

• “He wants more normalized relationship with the United States and the West. So we're moving in that direction.” – John Cole, U.S. envoy (04:01)
• “What we're witnessing really is a budding Russo-American alliance, something that is really worrisome to Europe but also should be worrisome to us in Canada.” – Maria Popova (05:01)

Timestamps:

• Belarus Development: 03:13 – 05:53

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3. British Columbia Floods and Rocky Mountain Avalanche Risks

[05:53-11:38]

• BC Floods:
  • Fraser Valley: Hundreds displaced; as of today, more than 450 homes evacuated, 1,000+ on alert.
  • Farming sector hard hit (70+ farms, lost barns/livestock and a key animal health lab closed for months).
  • More rain forecasted; significant frustration at government for lack of progress since 2021’s historic floods.
• Avalanche Danger in Rockies:
  • Heavy snow = high avalanche risk (notably in Banff and Jasper).
  • Resorts stress differences in control measures; dangers spike outside marked runs.
  • Backcountry users are strongly warned to avoid avalanche terrain.

Notable Quotes:

• “Please don't drive around barriers… two individual drivers…sink their vehicles into the water, requiring them to be rescued.” – Cody Weddle via Tanya Fletcher (07:04)
• “Snow is very grumpy. It does not like to change quickly.” – Doug Latimer, Avalanche Forecaster (09:48)
• “Go and play. But make sure you're staying out of avalanche terrain because things are going to be touchy.” – Doug Latimer (11:32)

Timestamps:

• BC Floods: 05:53 – 09:12
• Avalanche Risks: 09:16 – 11:38

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4. Chile's Presidential Election: A Hard Right Turn

[12:50-16:00]

• Election Context:
  • Jose Antonio Kast (far-right) leads, leveraging public fear of crime and immigration.
  • Promises include strict deportation deadlines, border fortifications, and tough-on-crime policies—even as Chile remains relatively safe statistically.
• Political Climate:
  • Robert Fung (Univ. of Chile): Kast split from even more moderate Pinochet-aligned parties; frames the country as facing crisis; softens image to court moderates.
  • Leftist candidate Jeanette Harra (Communist, also tough on crime) struggles with baggage of the past.
• Polls predict a landslide victory for Kast, indicating a significant shift for South America’s stablest democracy.

Notable Quotes:

• “There are no safe neighborhoods left, so security is a top issue.” – Anonymous voter (13:12)
• “Cass comes from a background which was on the far right...” – Robert Fung (14:22)

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5. Venezuela: Opposition Leader’s Nobel Peace Prize & Hopes

[16:00-18:57]

• Maria Corina Machado:
  • Accepts Nobel in Oslo; hailed as “icon of freedom” by supporters.
  • Insists Nobel will amplify international pressure on Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
• Controversy:
  • Criticized for support of possible U.S. military intervention; responds by citing presence of hostile foreign interests in Venezuela.
• Future Outlook:
  • Machado plans return home, but timing and circumstances remain uncertain.
  • Success of her cause is seen as contingent on U.S. policy, especially the stance of President Trump.

Notable Quotes:

• “It's a turning point in our history. Venezuelan people are feeling right now that the world is behind us and that we are not alone.” – Maria Corina Machado (17:15)
• “Maybe the exclamation point. It may be the beginning of the end for the Maduro regime.” – U.S. Congressman Carlos Jimenez (17:34)

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6. Paris Debuts Europe’s Longest Urban Cable Car

[19:26-21:51]

• Innovation in Transit:
  • C1 line connects outlying suburbs, cuts commute by 20 minutes.
  • Construction inspired by alpine cable systems; operates with safety-first protocols.
  • Stops highlighted by opening-day technical glitches.
• Environmental Ambitions:
  • Part of a larger plan for carbon-neutral public transport by 2050.
  • Expansion limited for now by cost and engineering challenges.

Notable Quotes:

• “The installation was stopped for operational reasons.” – Onboard announcement (20:59)
• “The Paris Capital Region analyzed 12 possible follow up projects… but…the technicalities of design and operational costs mean a second Parisian cable car is not coming down the line in the near future.” – Ross Cullen (21:39)

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7. Italian Wine Grapples with Climate Crisis

[21:51-25:13]

• Extreme Heat & Drought:
  • Growers face cracked soils, earlier harvests, and significant crop losses.
  • Shifts force adaptation: shared irrigation, tech tools, revived ancient grape varieties.
• Changing Identity and Methods:
  • New and old techniques blend; even the taste of Italian wine is evolving.
  • Global wine production vulnerable as just 12 grape varieties make up most wine sold.

Notable Quotes:

• “The grapes that once ripened in October now ripen late August.” – Megan Williams (22:12)
• “It's not only about new methods. There's also a return to old methods, like grafting grapes onto wild roots.” – Megan Williams (23:55)

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8. Toy Industry: Tariffs, 'Kidults', and a Year of Upheaval

[25:13-28:39]

• Tariffs Drive Prices:
  • U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods push toy prices up for the first time in decades.
  • Shrinking volume, higher average spend, industry relies on “kidult” collectors.
• Santa’s New Reality:
  • Adults buying nostalgia-heavy toys and collectibles are buoying sales.
  • Uncertainty lingers; holiday season crucial for industry viability.

Notable Quotes:

• “Children's toys in 2025 are actually up 17%. Those sales were largely driven by adults and those consumers, they will pay a premium.” – Andrew Wagart, Toy Association (26:28)
• “Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.” – President Donald Trump (27:19)

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9. Bobby Rousseau: Montreal Hockey Legend Passes

[11:41]

• Honored as a four-time Stanley Cup champion and Quebec Sports Hall of Famer.
• Not inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame but remembered fondly by Montreal Canadiens fans.

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10. Dick Van Dyke’s 100th Birthday

[28:39-29:43]

• Celebrated actor, singer, and dancer marks a century.
• Shares his philosophy on longevity:
  • “I've always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a person's insides and hate. And I never really was able to work up a feeling of hate. I think that is one of the chief things that kept me going.” (29:10)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Belarus:
  "What we're witnessing really is a budding Russo-American alliance, something that is really worrisome to Europe but also should be worrisome to us in Canada." – Maria Popova, 05:01

• On Italian Wine:
  "It's not only about new methods. There's also a return to old methods, like grafting grapes onto wild roots, which are proving the hardiest." – Megan Williams, 23:55

• On Chilean Politics:
  "He left a party which is already a kind of a Pinochetista party… for being too moderate." – Robert Fung, 14:28

• Dick Van Dyke’s Wisdom:
  “Anger is one thing that eats up a person's insides… I never really was able to work up a feeling of hate. I think that is one of the chief things that kept me going.” – Dick Van Dyke, 29:10

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:49] Mass Shooting at Brown University
• [02:36] Belarus Prisoner Release and Diplomacy
• [05:53] BC Floods and Rocky Mountains Avalanches
• [11:41] Bobby Rousseau Tribute
• [12:50] Chilean Presidential Elections
• [16:00] Venezuela’s Nobel Laureate Opposition Leader
• [19:26] Paris Urban Cable Car Launch
• [21:51] Italian Winemaking and Climate Change
• [25:13] The Evolving Toy Industry
• [28:39] Dick Van Dyke’s 100th Birthday

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Overall Tone

Clear, direct, and analytical with a human touch—balancing in-depth context and expert commentary with emotional stories and personal reflections.

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This episode offered a global sweep of the day's headline-makers and undercurrents, spotlighting crises, resilience, innovation, and the cultural shifts shaping 2025.

Transcript

[Gunnarolla]

Paid content by Tourism Montreal Bonjour High. I'm Gunnarolla, your guide to the world's best eats and must see destinations. We are not hibernating this winter. We're heading to Montreal, a powerhouse of culture and cuisine. It's one of my favorite places to visit. Every corner of the city is bursting with things to do. The food scene is world class, the neighborhoods are alive with art and music, and there are museums and events ready for you all winter long. Come along as I deep dive into Montreal and show you exactly why you need to visit. To start your planning, visit CBC CAE ExperienceMontre Montreal this is a CBC podcast. Sadly, today is a day that the city of Providence and the state of Rhode island prayed would never come.

[Dave Seglins]

A manhunt is underway after a mass shooting in Rhode island on a university campus. Officials say two are dead, several people in critical condition. This is your World Tonight. I'm Dave Seglins, also on the podcast. Bracing for more rain in British Columbia. Residents remain on evacuation alert after floodwaters force hundreds out of their homes.

[Gunnarolla]

And children's toys in 2025 are actually up. Those sales were largely driven by adults and those consumers, they will pay a premium.

[Dave Seglins]

Toy prices on the rise amidst tariffs and an industry increasingly targeting an older market. We begin in Providence, Rhode island, where two people are dead after a mass shooting on the campus of Brown University. Another eight people were critically injured. The suspect is not in custody. Timothy o' Hara is deputy chief of Providence Police.

[Gunnarolla]

So earlier this afternoon when we received.

[Philip Ly Chanok]

The call for an active shooter inside.

[Gunnarolla]

A building inside Brown University, our officers responded and as they're trained to do, entered that building immediately and began searching for a suspect. They did a systematic search of the building. However, no suspect was located at that time. They were able to clear that building and provide a safe place for all of students and faculty and workers that were in that building to meet at.

[Philip Ly Chanok]

Preliminarily, all we have is a suspect.

[Gunnarolla]

That was a male dressed in black. It is unknown how he entered the building. We're utilizing every resource possible to find this suspect.

[Dave Seglins]

University officials initially told students and staff that a suspect was in custody before retracting that statement. The campus remains in lockdown and students and staff are being told to shelter in place. Stay with CBC News for updates throughout the evening and and on CBCNews CA. Belarus has freed dozens of prisoners, including prominent dissidents and activists. The move came after negotiations with the US which promised to lift sanctions on Belarus, a strong ally of Russia. As Philip Ly Chanok reports the deal may have consequences for Europe and Canada.

[Philip Ly Chanok]

The first moments of freedom for Belarus protest leader Maria Kolesnikova. I am now free to witness the sunset stunningly beautiful, she says. Jailed for more than five years, she and more than 120 dissidents were suddenly pardoned and released by President Alexander Lukashenko outside the US Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Sikhanouskaya praised efforts behind the release.

[Gunnarolla]

President Trump now uses these carrots. He also can use steeds. We lifted the sanctions on potash.

[Philip Ly Chanok]

US President Donald Trump's envoy, John Cole, said Lukashenko was open to making a deal. The authoritarian leader is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

[Gunnarolla]

He wants more normalized relationship with the United States and the West. So we're moving in that direction.

[Philip Ly Chanok]

Maria Popova teaches political science at McGill University in Montreal. She says this deal is about potash, a critical mineral that's essential for American farmers. Belarus is the world's third largest producer behind Canada.

[Tanya Fletcher]

Our basically strong card here is the potash. And if that card is taken away, it's easier for the for the US to pressure us.

[Philip Ly Chanok]

And it means the US has moved away from the European Union's efforts to UN isolate Belarus after a violent crackdown on protesters following a disputed election in 2020 and the country's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

[Tanya Fletcher]

What we're witnessing really is a budding Russo American alliance, something that is really.

[Gunnarolla]

Worrisome to Europe but also should be.

[Tanya Fletcher]

Worrisome to us in Canada.

[Philip Ly Chanok]

And these developments come as U.S. led peace talk end the fighting in Ukraine are gaining momentum. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with advisers from the U.S. ukraine and Germany in Berlin Sunday. He says he looks forward to meeting his European partners and representatives of US President Donald Trump. Importantly, meetings regarding the foundation of peace, a political agreement to end the war. He says Germany plans to host peace talks set to begin on Monday. The U.S. is pressing Ukraine to sign an agreement by Christmas, but Zelenskyy says it cannot reward Russian aggression with territory. Phillip is Hanok, CBC news, Toronto.

[Dave Seglins]

In BC's Lower Mainland, floodwaters are gradually dropping, but hundreds of people in the Fraser Valley remain out of their homes and on alert. The forecast shows there could be more heavy rain on the way. The CBC's Tanya Fletcher is in Vancouver. I want to start with a forecast. What is environment Canada warning is ahead for southern bc?

[Tanya Fletcher]

Well, what many are dreading, Dave, that's more rain on tap and that's for the hardest hit Fraser Valley Environment Canada is forecasting another onslaught of rain starting tomorrow. And then what they're calling a potentially significant push of moisture through Monday. Like last week, the Bullseye is expected to hit just across the border in Washington State. Here, local rivers are again expected to swell and cause localized flooding, but flows are expected to be less severe this time around. The current flood waters are gradually reced. That's the good news. There's some significant improvement in some areas, but a portion of Highway 1 is still closed. And Abbotsford police put out a video Today from the TransCanada with a warning for drivers.

[Gunnarolla]

Please don't drive around barriers. Last night we had two individual drivers.

[Cody Weddle]

That decided to drive around road closure.

[Gunnarolla]

Points and essentially sink their vehicles into the water, requiring them to be rescued.

[Tanya Fletcher]

So today, rapid damage assessment teams have been deployed. Crews are determining whether an evacuated property is safe to reenter. Officials say they're working to get people back home as quickly as possible. But as it stands, more than 450 properties are under evacuation orders still, and more than a thousand others are on alert.

[Dave Seglins]

And do we have a clearer picture of the impact on those homes?

[Tanya Fletcher]

Slowly, yes. The past 24 hours have really been the first chance to get a glimpse of the devastation. Roughly 70 farms are blanketed under those evacuation orders. And we do know that some poultry barns were lost due to flooding. Some livestock had to be moved. And the province's Animal Health Centre, which tests for things like avian flu, was also flooded. It'll be closed, officials say, until at least the new year. We did speak with a dairy farmer this morning. Kim Dykman says they've spent the past several days preparing their cattle and keeping really a constant eye on the situation. We looked at border cams. We're in communication with people across the border just to get an idea of when the water would reach. But of course, as soon as the water got here, it just. The water levels increased so rapidly, so it was lots of chaos. Thankfully, we had a lot of farmers able to be here on Thursday and Friday helping move cows around. Remember, this is a devastating deja vu for many farmers who lived through historic flooding here four years ago. And there's been criticism that not enough has been done on either side of the border since then. Abbotsford's mayor, for example, took aim directly at Ottawa during a press conference yesterday. He said not enough mitigation work was done since 2021 to avoid a repeat disaster like we're seeing now. Then shortly after the Federal Emergency Management Minister reached out to the mayor who later told us they have been advised of potential future grant opportunities that the city may be able to consider. But for now, lots of frustrations and fears of what more devastation could come at the mercy of the weather.

[Dave Seglins]

Tanya Fletcher in Vancouver, thank you.

[Tanya Fletcher]

You bet.

[Dave Seglins]

Now that same atmospheric river Wreaking havoc in B.C. is also creating dangerous conditions in the Rocky Mountains. The storm delivered near 50cm of fresh snow and has left behind dangerous avalanche conditions. Sarah Reid has the details.

[Gunnarolla]

The good news is we're getting a lot of snow, which is what everybody wants to see and everybody enjoys.

[Tanya Fletcher]

But avalanche forecaster and ski guide Doug Latimer says there's also another side to the seemingly ideal ski forecast.

[Gunnarolla]

Snow is very grumpy. It does not like to change quickly.

[Tanya Fletcher]

However, that's exactly what's happening in the Rockies. A powerful storm just last week dropped a significant amount of snow along with high winds. The forecast shows the next storm in the coming days is expected to bring much of the same. All this is building on top of a weak layer down in the snowpack caused by warm fall temperatures.

[Gunnarolla]

It gets buried enough, it starts to become less of a problem. So if we get a lot of new snow, it's going to be bad for the short term, but then things will settle out and they're pretty good again. If we don't get a lot of snow but we keep getting snow for the while we've got a short term problem and then that deep problem is still going to haunt us.

[Tanya Fletcher]

Parks Canada says while the snowpack adjusts to the added weight of new snow, it's seeing a lot of avalanche activity. Avalanche Canada is reporting the risk in Banff national park to be considerable. Jasper national park is also rated as having considerable risk, but more snow and wind will increase that that risk to high for some areas. One area though, that's not at risk is Jasper's ski resort.

[Gunnarolla]

We mitigate the avalanche risk, usually using explosives.

[Tanya Fletcher]

Brian Rhode is the vice president at Marmot Basin Ski Resort and says they focus their efforts in the alpine areas above the ski lifts, but don't have much control over conditions outside the marked resort runs.

[Gunnarolla]

As soon as you leave the ski area and go under that fence, that's when, that's when there can be trouble because you don't have to go very, very far before you are in a high risk area.

[Tanya Fletcher]

While the increased snowfall is calling many outdoor enthusiasts to the backcountry, avalanche expert Doug Latimer says steer clear or at least until the snow has had time to settle.

[Gunnarolla]

Go and play. But make sure you're staying out of avalanche terrain because things are going to be touchy.

[Tanya Fletcher]

Sarah Reed, CBC News, Edmonton.

[Dave Seglins]

Montreal hockey hero Bobby Russo has died. He was a four time Stanley cup champion, helping the Montreal Canadiens take home the trophy in 1965, 66, 68 and again in 69. Rousseau played with the Habs for most of his pro career, with stints with the Minnesota North Stars and the New York Rangers. While Rousseau has not been inducted into the Hockey hall of Fame, he was recognized by the Quebec Sports hall of fame in 2007. The Montreal Canadiens announced his death on Saturday. Bobby Russo was 85. Still ahead, beating traffic gridlock by taking to the air. Paris has just opened its first commuter cable car, helping cut Travel times by 20 minutes. We'll climb aboard for a ride on the new Paris C1. Coming up on YOUR WORLD tonight, Chile appears to be the latest South American country making a hard turn to the political right. Voters will elect the country's next president in a runoff vote on Sunday, and polls suggest a conservative candidate pushing a hard line stance on crime and immigration is favored to win. Freelance reporter Marie Armel Lafore has more from Santiago.

[Marie Armel Lafore]

At a subway station in a wealthy Santiago neighborhood, voters support far right candidate Jose Antonio Cast and his campaign to crack down on violent crime and illegal immigration. You can get attacked anywhere, this voter says. There are no safe neighborhoods left, so security is a top issue. While violent crime is up in Chile, statistics show overall crime rates are down and it remains one of the safest countries in Latin America. But the feeling of insecurity is deeply ingrained. A recent poll finding that Chileans are the most fearful of crime in the world, and many voters have linked crime to illegal immigration. This supporter says that without spending a cent, Cast has already started scaring away illegal immigrants. At his closing rally, Cast told people who were in the country illegally that they have 90 days to leave. After that, they will be deported. An estimated 300,000 people have crossed into Chile illegally, most of them from Venezuela, and to keep them out, he has promised to build walls and trenches along the borders with Peru and Bolivia. Cass Hardline's stance on immigration comes despite the fact that he's the son of an immigrant. His father was a member of Germany's Nazi party and emigrated to Chile after the Second World War.

[Gunnarolla]

Cass comes from a background which was on the far right.

[Marie Armel Lafore]

Robert Fung teaches political science at the University of Chile.

[Gunnarolla]

He left a party which is already a kind of a Pinochetista party that had inherited the political policies and ideas of the military dictatorship, and he left them for being too moderate.

[Marie Armel Lafore]

He says CAST has portrayed the country being in a state of crisis that needs drastic solutions. But he's downplayed his support for the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in order to attract more moderate voters. But at the last campaign stop for Jeanette Harra, the Communist candidate representing Representing a coalition on the left, voters have not forgotten the past. My grandparents were tortured and exiled by the dictatorship, this woman says. If the country votes for Caste, this voter says, it will be a return to Pinochet's policies. Harra has also tried to soften her image during the campaign. The fact that she's a member of the Communist Party has scared many moderate voters. Attacking caste's German background, Jara says she's 100% Chilean and shares the concerns of those who work hard to make a living. Hara has also campaigned on crime and illegal immigration. But she says she would only deport migrants convicted of crimes and would put more police officers on the streets to combat crime. But Hara seems to be fighting a losing battle. Polls suggest CAST is expected to win by a large majority. Marie Armel Lafore for CBC News, Santiago.

[Dave Seglins]

Venezuela's opposition leader claims Nicolas Maduro's days as dictator are numbered. Maria Corina Machado is in Oslo, where she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize this week. That award comes amid an escalating campaign against Venezuela by the US And Machado is positioning herself as the right person to replace Maduro and if he is toppled. Freelance journalist Cody Weddle reports from Oslo.

[Cody Weddle]

When Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corinna Machado stepped back into public view Thursday for the first time in nearly a year, it signaled a potential turning point in her country's politics. The hundreds of supporters on the street below cheered, thrilled to see the person who has led the fight for democracy for several years. This supporter calls her the icon of freedom of Venezuela. But the question lingering for many was Machado essentially entering exile? And what would happen to her campaign to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro? Machado insists her efforts continue and that the Nobel Peace Prize puts more international pressure on Maduro.

[Gunnarolla]

It's a turning point in our history. Venezuelan people are feeling right now that the world is behind us and that we are not alone. And it's a decisive moment.

[Cody Weddle]

Supporters of Machado, like US Congressman Carlos Jimenez, framed the event as an inflection point.

[Gunnarolla]

This is not a lost cause by any means. Matter of fact, it may be the exclamation point. It may be the beginning of the end for the Maduro regime.

[Cody Weddle]

Machado says she'll be back in Venezuela soon, but she hasn't specified exactly when or under what conditions I plan to pick up the award to take it back to Venezuelan, she says. Machado has praised the US Administration for what she calls decisive actions against Maduro's regime, including the seizing of a Venezuelan oil tanker this week. That stance has led to criticism from some. There were even small protests in Oslo. Some say her support support for US Military intervention should disqualify her from receiving a peace prize. Machado responded.

[Gunnarolla]

Venezuela has been already being occupied by forces from totalitarian regimes such as Russia, Iran, Cuba and criminal groups such as Hezbollah, the drug cartels and the Colombian guerrilla.

[Cody Weddle]

The success of her freedom campaign may ultimately come down to one thing whether Donald Trump decides to take direct action against Nicolas Maduro.

[Gunnarolla]

I am very hopeful Venezuela will be free and we will turn a country into a beacon of hope and opportunity.

[Cody Weddle]

Of democracy, machado projecting confidence that change still remains possible, but whether it turns into a transfer of power in Caracas remains an open question. Cody Weddle for CBC News, Oslo.

[Dave Seglins]

After just three years of construction, a new cable car has opened in Paris to help move the growing population in the city suburbs. Thousands of people will benefit from the reduced travel time on the longest urban cable car in Europe. Reporter Ross Cullen tried it out and has this report.

[Gunnarolla]

Cable cars in France usually whisk people up mountainsides and across alpine snow fields, but a new line has opened in Paris. The C1 was built on the city's outskirts, cutting commuters travel time to the centre by 20 minutes each way. This woman was impressed by the height and the views of the whole area. Another first time rider said. While her friend was a little scared, she enjoyed the trip. Construction started in 2022 and took three years to complete. Engineering teams were sent to the mountains to see how the operation works in the French Alps. Traveling by air exposes the system to the elements. It will fully close in storm conditions and go at a reduced speed on windy days. The system cost US$162 million to build, and the EU helped to support it. The president of the Paris capital region, Valerie Percress, said that many residents were concerned about safety and the fire brigade needed extra reassurance. And on the day of opening there were teething problems.

[Tanya Fletcher]

Attention. The installation was stopped for operational reasons.

[Gunnarolla]

The cable car came to a sudden halt at one point as engineers rushed to fix the issue. The new cable car is part of ambitions by France and the wider European Union to prioritize environmentally friendly public transport infrastructure to work towards the goal to be carbon neutral by 2050. Paris already has a fleet of electric and some hydrogen powered buses to go with extended bike routes and a subway expansion program. The Paris Capital Region analyzed 12 possible follow up projects to expand the cable car network in the city, but the technicalities of design and operational costs mean a second Parisian cable car is not coming down the line in the near future. Ross Cullen for CBC News, Paris.

[Dave Seglins]

It may be cold here in Canada, but Italy's winemaking heartland is feeling the heat, literally. Summers have become hotter and drier, and extreme weather is battering vineyards. As Megan Williams tells us, all this is forcing winemakers to rethink centuries old traditions.

[Megan Williams]

Under a blazing sun in the countryside north of Rome, wine grower Massimo Tozone surveys the rows of vines behind his farmhouse in Tarquinha, once part of the ancient Etruscan civilization, now one of many Italian vineyards struggling to save a tradition. The soil beneath his grapes Trebbiano, Malvasian, Vermentino is cracked and chalk dry, cooked by longer, hotter summers. The grapes that once ripened in October now ripen late August. Last year. Waiting too long to pick the grapes cost Tozoni a third of his harvest, he says. By his side is daughter Martina, part of a new generation of winemakers adapting fast. The biggest challenge? Not heat, she says, but water. But they're not facing it alone. Instead, with nearby producers, they've begun rotating irrigation, building wine tourism to survive and sharing tech like the app she uses to check the watering that's replaced Massimo's nighttime rounds. It's not only about new methods. There's also a return to old methods, like grafting grapes onto wild roots, which are proving the hardiest, and preparing to plant different varieties. Because the grapes that defined Italian wine for centuries may not survive in their traditional areas, there is huge untapped biological.

[Tanya Fletcher]

Diversity in the grapevine.

[Megan Williams]

Climate scientist at Lund University in Sweden, Kimberly Nicholas says Italy's not alone.

[Tanya Fletcher]

Italy actually has a pretty high diversity of grapes, but the majority, something like 80% of global wine production comes from 12 varieties of grapes.

[Megan Williams]

And those varieties are starting to struggle. Across Italy, grapes ripen earlier, sugar spikes, acidity drops and flavors flatten. Producers are planting higher and on north facing slopes, stringing shade cloths and installing solar panels above vines and experimenting with ancient grapes once abandoned. But even with adaptation, tradition is shifting the tastes of Italian wine. The identity of the region is already changing. In the shade of the Tozoni farmhouse, Martina hosts a wine tasting for tourists. As Massimo gazes out at the vines he's tended for decades. Italian wine has survived invasions, floods and plagues. Now, in a warming world, producers are searching not just for body, flavor and depth, but above all, for resilience. Megan Williams, CBC news, Tarquinha, Italy.

[Dave Seglins]

2025 has been a wobbly year for the toy industry, with steep US Tariffs on Chinese goods and rising economic uncertainty. It's never been more complicated to be a toymaker. But as freelance reporter John Last tells us, if Santa can learn one thing from the industry, it's to expect his customers to be a little older this year. Like to play a lot of the.

[Gunnarolla]

Old classic music and usually on our TV set.

[John Last]

We've got like Stepping into Toy Heaven, an independent toy store in Smith Falls, Ontario, is like stepping back in time. The walls are covered with Hot wheels from the 1990s, Transformer toys from the 1980s, and original run Star wars collectibles now more than 40 years old. Lenny Storms, the store's founder, started out selling preschool toys, but quickly he learned that the real money was in helping source rare collectibles for adult buyers. Those customers, known as kidults in the industry, have helped boost toy sales to their best year yet. Even amid unprecedented economic uncertainty, things have.

[Gunnarolla]

Actually been a lot better than people think.

[John Last]

Andrew Wagart is on the board of the Canadian Toy association and is CEO of a toy consultancy called Swerve Strateg Marketing.

[Gunnarolla]

Children's toys in 2025 are actually up 17%. Those sales were largely driven by adults and those consumers, they will pay a premium.

[John Last]

It's good they will, because toy prices for the first time in decades are back on the rise. Roughly three quarters of all toys have their origins in China, a country which US President Donald Trump has targeted with steep tariffs this Christmas. The trickle down effect has been a gradual increase in the average price of toys, masking an overall decrease in total units sold.

[Gunnarolla]

A lot of the increase in revenue that we're seeing on the sales is due to some higher prices. There's no question that inflation is playing a part.

[John Last]

For his part, Trump has been clear that he doesn't mind. That might mean families buying less. Here he is at a recent press conference.

[Gunnarolla]

Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.

[John Last]

But the toy industry disagrees. Weygar says they've been searching for new strategies to help weather the storm, and pitching familiar brands to adult collectors is only part of the play. This year, the top selling items are likely to be collectible cards like Pokemon and NFL trading card sets. After all, they're cheap to produce, keeping unit costs low enough for a child and giving adult collectors something worth hunting for. But Wegar cautions the jury is still out on 2025. In the toy industry, the next three.

[Gunnarolla]

Weeks are going to be pretty crucial.

[John Last]

More than 60% of toy sales happen between September 1st and the end of the year. It won't be until January that we see the real impacts of rising prices. Even still, as he braces for the Christmas rush storm, says January can't come soon enough.

[Gunnarolla]

December is over the top. And when January February comes, it's a nice time to relax and see what.

[John Last]

You need to do for the next year. For CBC News, I'm John Last in Smith Falls, Ontario.

[Dave Seglins]

Well, today marks a milestone. The 100th birthday of Dick Van Dyke. This, of course, is the theme for the Dick Van Dyke show is which. Which won him a best actor Emmy four years running in the mid-60s. Not to mention he won Tony, Golden Globe and Grammy awards over more than six decades in comedy, Broadway, TV and the big screen.

[Gunnarolla]

I feel really good for 100, you.

[Dave Seglins]

Know, taking it all in stride. Van Dyke credits a positive outlook for such a long life.

[Gunnarolla]

People say, what did you do right? And I say, don't ask. I don't know. I've always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a person's insides and hate. And I never really was able to work up a feeling of hate. I think that is one of the chief things that kept me going.

[Dave Seglins]

Well, happy birthday, Dick Van Dyke. Like you sang next to Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins, you really are super califragilisticexpialidocious.

[Gunnarolla]

Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious. Say it loud enough, you always shall propose it. Super califragulistic.

[Dave Seglins]

And this is Being youg World. Tonight, I'm Dave Seglands. Have a super night.

[Gunnarolla]

He traveled all around the world and.

[Dave Seglins]

Everywhere he went he'd use his word.

[Cody Weddle]

And all would say, there goes a clever gent.

[Gunnarolla]

When Dukes and Mar Rogers pass a time of day with me I say me special award and then they offs me off to tea. For more cbc podcasts, go to cbc ca podcasts.