Your World Tonight

Hong Kong police issue arrest warrants for six activists based overseas, including two Canadians. Joseph Tay and Victor Ho are wanted for national security offences such as secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces. It is part of a move by Hong Kong to crack down on political dissent after massive anti-government protests in 2019. And: New data on holiday shopping trends shows there may be fewer gifts under the tree this year. Research by the Angus Reid institute, finds Canadians are taking a cautious approach to spending this holiday season. Also: You may be keeping a close eye on the skies tonight in hopes of spotting Santa. But astrophysicists have their attention glued to something a little further away. The Parker Solar Probe came the closest anything human-made ever has, to touching the sun. Plus: Housing the homeless in Manitoba, why thousands of whales die every year and what’s being done about it, and the dangers of driving with LED lights.

The U.S. House Ethics Committee says a former Florida congressman, and President-elect Donald Trump’s first choice for attorney general, paid tens of thousands of dollars to women for drugs and sex. Matt Gaetz has denied wrongdoing. He had withdrawn himself from consideration for A.G. in November. The report closes a nearly five-year investigation into Gaetz. And: Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to the murder of health insurance CEO, Brian Thompson. Mangione faces 11 state charges, including murder and terrorism. Thompson was shot dead on December 4 outside a hotel in New York. It was followed by a five-day manhunt. Also: Honda and Nissan are in talks to merge by 2026, which would create the world's third-largest auto company, after Toyota and Volkswagen Plus: Ottawa proposes new rules on airlines, why more options to learn music are striking a chord with students, and how climate change could soon cause a double-double take with coffee drinkers.

As the future of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership remains uncertain, sources tell CBC News a majority of Liberal MP's in Ontario believe Trudeau should step down as the party's leader. Also: From Toronto to Montreal, we look into what's behind a worrying trend of jewelry store smash and grab robberies. And: The Nordman Fir is one of the most sought after and expensive Christmas trees in Europe - earning the nickname "the Rolls Royce of Christmas trees". But now, they're selling at rock bottom prices. Plus: Donald Trump demands the return of the Panama Canal to the U.S., Italy's oldest wine making school, and more.

The city of Magdeburg, Germany held a vigil to mourn the victims of Friday's car attack on a Christmas market, and police are learning more details about the suspect. Also: Ukrainian and Russian forces traded drone attacks overnight - with Kyiv striking residential buildings deep into Russia, and Moscow launching over one hundred drones back. As drone strikes become increasingly common in the war, a group of Ukrainian judges is facing them head on. And: Learning about music - and so much more. How a program for kids in Yukon is shaping a new generation of Indigenous musicians. Plus: Sudanese-Canadians struggle to help their family members, testing the ICC's power, a big turkey donation in New Brunswick, and more.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shuffled his cabinet, after a week of caucus chaos. Included is Nate Erskine-Smith as housing minister, and David McGuinty as public safety minister. We’ll talk about what it means for the future of the prime minister, and the government. More Liberal MPs are calling for Trudeau to quit, and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh says he will vote no confidence in the government at the next opportunity, which won’t be for more than a month. And: A car plowed into a busy outdoor Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg. There are reports that more than 11 people have died, and at least 50 people were injured. Authorities believe this was an attack. The driver of the car was arrested. Also: Holiday gatherings bring fun and food, but also a rise in illnesses like flu, COVID and RSV. The stats so far suggest a somewhat milder season, but some experts say they're worried it may not be representing what’s actually happening. Plus: Gunshots at a Toronto Jewish school for the third time this year, U.S. government shutdown, GST cut fallout, and more.

More than 50 men have been convicted in a sexual assault trial that has been gripping France. Gisèle Pelicot’s husband was found guilty of drugging and raping her, and inviting other men to participate. Pelicot has been praised for her bravery in allowing her name to be known, as France grapples with what the crimes say about gender relations in the country. And: The prime minister is planning a cabinet shuffle for Friday, as he tries to chart a course out of the biggest threat to his leadership so far. Also: President Vladimir Putin holds his annual, epically-long press conference. He says Russia is ready for a missile duel with the U.S., and claims he should have gone into Ukraine earlier. Putin also says he is ready for talks “any time” with US president-elect Donald Trump. Plus: U.S. lawmakers try to avoid government shutdown, mysterious brain disease investigation in New Brunswick, the future of Hezbollah, and more.

Justin Trudeau hasn’t said anything about Chrystia Freeland’s resignation. And that silence is being filled by the voices of others – some calling on him to resign, others wondering if he will shuffle the cabinet and try to hold on. And: Donald Trump posts again about Canada becoming the 51st state. He’s tying it to his demands about the border and claims the U.S. is subsidizing Canada. Ottawa has shown a willingness to meet some of Trump’s demands, despite the insults. Also: A Montreal synagogue is attacked – again. An incendiary device caused a small fire, and the window of a Jewish advocacy group next door was smashed. The prime minister condemns it as a “vile antisemitic attack”. Plus: The dipping loonie, misinformation from India, astonishing recovery from a shark attack, and more.

Where does the Liberal Party go now? Some of his own MPs are calling for Justin Trudeau to go, on the last day before the holiday break. The government is still making policy announcements, including more details on their border protection plan. And: What does Chrystia Freeland’s departure mean for Canada/U.S. relations? Donald Trump is newly elected, while Trudeau is on the ropes. Also: Shock and outrage follows the discovery of mass graves in Syria. Observers say there could be hundreds of thousands of bodies. Now - the awful task of finding out who they are, and what happened. Plus: Russian general killed, Canada’s doctors seeing fewer patients, life in Nunavut hits Netflix, and more.

An unprecedented day in Canadian politics, as Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland quits, hours before she was supposed to deliver the government’s fall economic update. And she makes it clear why: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Another cabinet member – Housing Minister Sean Fraser – also steps down. Dominic Leblanc has already been sworn in to replace Freeland, but it may not be enough to save Trudeau. The NDP leader has joined the chorus of voices from the Conservatives – and some Liberal MPs – calling for him to step down. And: Canada Post workers will be on the job tomorrow, after a strike that’s lasted more than four weeks. The federal labour board determined that talks are at an impasse, but the mail must get moving. Workers will go back under the existing contract, with a 5% increase, until a deal can be reached. Also: In France, judges are deliberating the fate of 51 men accused in a disturbing rape case that has shocked the nation. It also galvanized support for the victim, after Gisele Pelicot agreed to make her name public.

The full extent of human rights abuses by the Assad regime is coming to light in Syria - one week after its downfall. CBC News traveled to a Damascus suburb that put up strong resistance to the regime - in the early days of the civil war. Also: A powerful windstorm in B.C. has left at least one person dead and two others unaccounted for. It also knocked out power for more than 250,000 residents. While the lights are now back on for many, the cleanup is still underway. And: Christmas markets are a staple of the holiday season in Europe. It's a tradition going back centuries, starting in Germany. But now another country is challenging Germany for the Christmas tourism crown - Croatia. Plus: Looking ahead to the federal government's fall economic statement, A memorial for former B.C. Premier John Horgan, awaiting verdicts in a major rape trial in France, and more.

Shoppers are now getting a two month reprieve from the federal GST. The federal government says it's a bid to help make life more affordable, but some people have mixed feelings about tax break. Also: Some rural Yukoners say they're being abandoned after being sent to Whitehorse for medical treatment. Finding themselves discharged, alone, and hundreds of kilometers from home with no place to stay. And: Swimming sensation Summer McIntosh broke another world record at the world short course championships in Hungary. CBC Sports Devin Heroux was there to see it, and tells us how it all happened. Plus: Georgia arrests political dissidents, the influence of India's most feared mobster, Streaming services get into the Christmas movie market, and more.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon says if there is no agreement soon, the Industrial Relations Board should order Canada Post workers back to work next week. Negotiations would continue. The four-week strike has hit small business, charities, and people who depend on income support hard. And: Those small businesses are preparing for another challenge: the GST holiday. It starts at midnight. Some say they have to pay overtime in order to prepare for the switch. And there’s still confusion about which products qualify for the tax break. Also: The CEOs of four airlines appear before the transportation committee in Ottawa to defend their practice of charging extra fees. The MPs say the goal is more affordable travel. CEOs say government add-ons are pushing up prices. Plus: Premiers make plans for dealing with U.S. tariff threat, Trump and crypto currency, celebrations in Syria, letters to Santa will still get through, and more.

Newfoundland and Labrador signs a new tentative deal with Quebec on Churchill Falls energy production. N.L. Premier Andrew Furey and Quebec Premier François Legault announced the terms of a memorandum of understanding at a news conference in St. John's — one they say means $200 billion for each province over the long term. And: RSV is on the rise in Canada, as it often is at this time of year. There is immunization available, but it’s pricey, and not every province is offering it. Also: Lawmakers demand answers about mysterious drone sightings over New Jersey and surrounding areas. Congress members have called for a state of emergency even though the Pentagon has said — nothing to see here. Plus: Alberta’s border plan, Canada’s response to tariffs, Ontario’s plan on homelessness, a new federal target for reducing carbon emissions, and more.

The Bank of Canada has cut its trend-setting interest rate by 50 basis points. And it’s signalling this will be the last major cut for a while. The next update from the bank comes after Donald Trump becomes president in the U.S. And: Canada’s premiers hear from the prime minister on the plan to deal with tariff threats from Trump. On the table: the billion-dollar border package. But some premiers are making their own plans: working to boost support from states down south. Also: Curfews across Syria have been lifted, and there is a sense of cautious optimism across the country. Days after rebels toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s interim prime minister promises calm and stability. Plus: After years of wrangling - a renegotiated deal for the Churchill Falls hydroelectric project, documents in limbo because of the postal strike, Canada’s gun buy back program and more.

CBC News is on the ground in Syria. Margaret Evans is at the notorious Sednaya prison, where families are searching for their loved ones. Syria's prisons have been infamous for their harsh conditions. Human rights groups say torture is systematic, and secret executions happened regularly. And: A new caretaker prime minister has been appointed in Syria, while people are flooding back to the homes they fled during years of civil war. Israel, Turkey and the U.S. are striking targets in the country, citing security risks. Also: A man in Ontario says he was put on hold three times when he called 9-1-1 while someone was breaking into his home. The armed man demanded money, and pointed a gun at his five-year-old. Now he wants changes to how 9-1-1 operates. Plus: Benjamin Netanyahu testifies at his corruption trial, Donald Trump calls Justin Trudeau a “state governor”, fentanyl at the border, and more.

Fallout after rebels take over in Syria. The Syrian prime minister says he will hand over power to the HTS, a group considered terrorists in several countries, including the U.S. and Canada. Some European countries have already said they will stop accepting asylum seekers from Syria. But the future of Syria is unclear. And: Police have a man in custody in connection to the murder of a health insurance CEO in New York last week. He was found at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Police say they found a weapon, fake ID, and a handwritten document. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot last week as he arrived for a conference at a hotel in Manhattan. Also: Sources tell CBC the Trudeau government is considering spending hundreds of millions of dollars to protect the Canada-U.S. border. The goal: allay Donald Trump's concerns about drugs and illegal immigration, and avoid his threat to impose 25% tariffs. Plus: Quebec’s premier suggests a ban on prayer in public places, the cost of cancer, and more.

After more than a decade of civil war, the decades-long rule of Bashar al-Assad has been overthrown by a sudden and fast moving rebel offensive. His ouster has the potential to upend the balance of power across the Middle East. Also: In his first TV interview since winning the election, U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump is doubling down on his threat of placing high tariffs on Canadian imports. We take a look at what he had to say, and how leaders in this country are reacting. And: After nearly two years of her massively successful Eras Tour, Taylor Swift takes her final bow tonight in Vancouver. Plus: Global reaction to the rebels takeover of Damascus, police crack down on protesters in Georgia, and more

Rebel factions in Syria continue to gain territory - pushing the ruling Assad regime out of major cities, inching closer to the capital Damascus. Also: The Notre Dame Cathedral officially reopened its doors in Paris, five years after parts of it were destroyed by a massive fire. The occasion was marked by a lavish event with dignatories from around the world. And: A new show loosely based on a true Canadian heist story is now streaming - but it took help from Hollywood to get it made. We look at what it could mean for the future of Canadian content. Plus: South Korea's president survives an impeachment vote, The Archbishop of Toronto becomes a cardinal, MP's speak out against harassment, and more.

UPS and Purolator, which is owned by Canada Post, both say weather and increased volume are forcing them to pause package pick ups for some customers. They need to clear the backlog of packages. The increased volume is largely because of the ongoing strike at Canada Post. And: Canada’s unemployment rate is up. Analysts say the economy isn’t moving fast enough, leading to the question: What will the Bank of Canada do next week with its trend-setting interest rate? Also: Children are becoming ruder in the classroom, which is affecting the quality of learning for everyone. Experts point to factors such as pandemic shutdowns and increased screen time as exacerbating the problem. Plus: Rebels are close to taking the Syrian city of Homs, Biden mulls pardons, Canada’s Arctic policy, should femicide be in the criminal code, the end of an era - tour and more.

Food prices in Canada are likely to go up even more next year. That could mean as much as $800 more per year for a family of four. And as the dollar gets weaker, importing food from the U.S. will cost even more. And: Police in New York release new images, and chilling information, in the search for the killer in Wednesday’s attack on a health insurance company executive. Authorities are looking for a man caught on camera in a hostel, and are trying to decode messages written on shell cases found at the scene of the crime. Also: Patrick Brown faces questions about foreign interference, and claims India tried to derail his 2022 federal Conservative leadership run. Plus: Rebels continue their swift advance in Syria, the Earth is less reflective, one in seven visits to the emergency room could be handled by primary care, and more.