The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/01/22 at 13:00 EST

Episode Date: January 22, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/01/22 at 13:00 EST

Hey friends, I'm Alameen Abdul-Mahmoud. I'm the host of commotion. Look, every day you're going to hear about the biggest stories in the worlds of pop culture, art and entertainment. And luckily, I'm not doing it alone, okay? I'll be joined by some really brilliant culture writers, people who follow this world really closely. We're going to have some hilarious hot takes, some vibrant, thoughtful debates. I think it's time. I think it's time for you to join the group, Ted. Get in here. It's commotion. Find us wherever you find your podcasts. From CBC News, the world is our. I'm Tom Harrington. Donald Trump's tariffs are possibly nine days away. Canada's effort to prevent or even push back is accelerating. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the premiers are holding a virtual strategy session.

BC Premier David Eby is urging Canadians to do their part too. Mira Bains reports. BC Premier David Eby says people should use their purchasing power to stand up for Canada. And we will not spend money in a country that wants to do economic harm to Canadians. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Monday that 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods could take effect as soon as February 1st. EB told British Columbians to carefully consider where they're taking their vacations and what country they're buying products from. Our decision not to purchase American alcohol would definitely send a message.

It is one of the things that could be on the table to respond to purchase American alcohol would definitely send a message. It is one of the things that could be on the table to respond to these tariffs. They are completely unjustified. Other ways B.C. could retaliate, E.B. says, is charging U.S. trucks to drive through Canada to get to Alaska or banning American companies from bidding on B.C. infrastructure projects. Carleton University Professor of public policy Ian Lee says Canada should be open to a deal. We will get squashed in any trade war because they are vastly more powerful. Mira Bains, CBC News, Vancouver. President Trump is moving

quickly to end diversity, equality and inclusion programs created under the Biden administration. Trump has called the programs discrimination and insisted on restoring merit-based hiring. But civil rights advocates argue DEI programs are necessary to address long-standing inequities and systemic racism. Chris Reyes has the story. All traces of diversity, equity and inclusion programs have already been deleted from U.S. federal websites. The president has directed all federal employees in DEI roles to be placed on paid leave by tonight. Trump is also putting federal agencies on deadline to come up with a plan for firing those employees by January 31st. All DEI-related offices will shut down. Mark Morial is the president of the National Urban League and

he's calling on his fellow members to push back. It's reprehensible. It is nothing but an effort to repeal the progress that this nation has made over the last 60 years. And it has to be resisted. Trump's executive order undoes many of President Biden's initiatives to promote inclusion within the government, including signing an executive order to assess any systemic barriers to diversity. Chris Reyes, CBC News, Washington. Amazon Canada is closing all seven of its warehouses in Quebec. That puts 1,700 permanent employees and 250 temporary workers out of work. The decision comes after Amazon lost an effort to stop a unionization drive at its Laval warehouse.

The online retailer says the closures are not a response to that initiative. Rupert Murdoch's newspaper empire is issuing a public apology. It's part of a lawsuit settlement with Prince Harry, which he is calling a monumental victory. He sued News Group, accusing two Murdoch papers of using illegal means, including phone hacking, to gather information about him. David Sherborne is Prince Harry's lawyer. In a monumental victory today,

News UK have admitted that the son, the flagship title for Rupert Murdoch's UK media empire, has indeed engaged in illegal practices. The apology also includes an admission the media conglomerate intruded into the private life of Harry's mother, Princess Diana. As well, News Group paid a financial settlement to the prince, but the amount is not being disclosed. Netflix is about to get more expensive for Canadian subscribers. The cost of its cheapest plan, which includes commercials, will rise by $2 to $7.99 per

month. Ad-free streaming will increase by $2.50 to $18.99, while the Netflix premium plan jumps $3 to $23.99. The new prices take effect immediately for new subscribers, while existing members will see the change on their next bill. And that is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Tom Harrington. Thanks for listening.