The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/01/25 at 02:00 EST

Episode Date: January 25, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/01/25 at 02:00 EST

Hi, I'm Jamie Poisson and I host the Daily News podcast, Frontburner. We've been at it for about six years now, and it's been incredible to watch how many more people are turning to shows like ours for reliable, deep information. If that's you, you should follow Frontburner, especially during major news cycles like the one that we're in right now. I mean, here in Canada, we might as well be in an election campaign, even though it's not yet official. Plus, Donald Trump is setting off on his first 100 days back in office.

So, five days a week, we have got you. Fact-checked, researched, reliable. Follow Frontburner. From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Mike Miles. Israel and Hamas have an agreement in place for the second swap under the ceasefire deal. That exchange to take place Saturday. Meantime, Palestinians are returning to southern Gaza, many searching for loved ones they believe are buried in the rubble. Chris Brown with that story. As many as 10,000 bodies may be buried under Gaza's rubble, says Gaza's emergency service. Every day, dozens more are found and the

death toll ticks higher with more than 47,000 dead and counting, say local health officials. As Palestinians use the ceasefire to conduct painful searches, Israelis are also coming to observe the impact of 15 months of war on the territory next door. In the community of Deir Eod, where Hamas gunmen killed dozens on October the 7th, a lookout lets people see the destruction in places like Biet Hanun and Jabalia, only a kilometer or two away. As Israel Shimon peers through his binoculars, he says once the remaining Israeli hostages are returned,

he wants the war to resume. We not finished the job yet. What's the job? Throw away all the buildings of the terrorists. Chris Brown, CBC News, and Derrod Israel. The federal electric vehicle rebate program is being scrapped due to a lack of funds. And as Katie DeRosa reports, it appears B.C.'s program could also be axed. As the province faces down a record $9 billion deficit and with a looming economic catastrophe

related to Donald Trump's tariff threat, many programs could be on the chopping block. That could include the province's electric vehicle program, which provides rebates of between $500 and $4,000 for those who purchase an EV. Energy Minister Adrian Dix. Clearly, we're looking at the program in light of the federal action and it never was the plan for this to be permanent, but we've got some decisions to make. Neither Dix nor his ministry would say how much money is left in the province's EV rebate account. Daniel Breton, the president of Electric Mobility Canada, said the change in policy is confusing for consumers. We need to make sure that the decline is gradual so people can adjust.

What we need is predictable policies and programs. BC has committed to making 100 percent of new vehicle sales electric by 2040. Katie DeRosa, CBC News, Victoria. Vancouver Island's health authority is looking at using drones to deliver essentials like medication, tests, or equipment. It's partnered with the University of Victoria's Center for Aerospace Research. Jay Matlock speaks for the center. We want to see how we might be able to deliver things like pharmaceutical supplies or lab samples.

There's a lot of communities across Vancouver Island that are just a little bit separated by land or by sea. And when there's harsh weather conditions or some existing infrastructure is shut down for one reason or another, I think it's a perfect opportunity for our autonomous aircraft technology to kind of fill the gap. Matt Luck says drone technology has come a long way.

Island Health says it expects to test the technology more in the months ahead. Political observers say Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is taking a risky approach dealing with economic threats from US President Donald Trump. Janet French explains. Historically, Canada has been very, very bad. It's very unfair to us on trade. Donald Trump today continued to dismiss America's long-standing trade relationship with Canada. The US president says America doesn't need Canadian oil, vehicles,

lumber or crops and big tariffs are coming. Premier Danielle Smith called for diplomacy. Unlike other Canadian leaders, Smith says talks of retaliation need to stop. Calgary pollster Janet Brown says the premier has had to pivot. I think a lot of Canadians, maybe even particularly our premier Danielle Smith, thought she was going to have a really cooperative partner in Donald Trump when he came to power. National Observer columnist Max Fossett says Smith is walking a dangerous line with Trump. If he doesn't exempt oil and gas, she is going to look not just un-Canadian, but foolish. She's going to look ineffective.

JANET FRENCH, CBC News, Edmonton. And that is your World This Hour. Remember, you can listen to us wherever you get your podcasts updated every hour, seven days a week. For CBC News, I'm Mike Miles.