The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/01/26 at 04:00 EST

Episode Date: January 26, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/01/26 at 04:00 EST

What does a mummified Egyptian child, the Parthenon marbles of Greece and an Irish giant all have in common? They are all stuff the British stole. Maybe. Join me, Mark Fennell, as I travel around the globe uncovering the shocking stories of how some, let's call them ill-gotten, artifacts made it to faraway institutions. Spoiler, it was probably the British. Don't miss a brand new season of Stuff the British Style. Watch it free on CBC Gem. From CBC News, the world this hour, I'm Mike Miles. A change in Alberta's coal mining policy is getting a lot of pushback.

Earlier this month, the provincial government lifted a ban on coal exploration in parts of the Rocky Mountains, allowing suspended projects to resume. Sam Sampson has more. This crowd of about 200 does not want coal mining in the Rocky Mountains eastern slopes. In 2020, Alberta tried to scrap the original coal exploration ban from the 70s. That angered ranchers, First Nations, and environmentalists. So the province reinstated the policy. Alberta's government says the move was housekeeping, aligning with

a previously announced modernized coal policy. That's a fundamentally dishonest characterization of what happened. Nigel Banks, professor emeritus of law at the University of Calgary, says the province made an immediate policy shift without debate in the legislature. He also says this move could lessen the blow of lawsuits against Alberta. When asked recently how those court cases factored into the decision, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said, it's 16 billion dollars with the potential liability. We have to make sure that the taxpayers are protected. At the same time, a metallurgical coal is incredibly valuable. Sam Sampson, CBC News, Edmonton.

U.S. President Donald Trump says he's talking to many potential purchasers of popular app TikTok. I've spoken to many people about TikTok and there's great interest in TikTok. And as you know, I have the right to sell it or close it, depending on what I think is best for the country. So we'll make a decision over the next 90 days or so. I mean, I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I went on TikTok and I ended up winning by a lot, young people.

Trump gave the app a reprieve shortly after taking office. It went dark because of a US law requiring it to be sold to an American buyer before January 19th. TikTok was banned in the US becauseS. because of security concerns. China-based Mike Dance currently owns the app and would retain a minority stake under a U.S. deal. The CIA believes the COVID-19 pandemic started with a leak from a laboratory in China. That assessment was made public Saturday with the disclaimer the spy agency has low confidence in that conclusion.

The report was ordered released by Donald Trump's newly appointed director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, who says the agency should end its neutral stance on COVID's origins. It's known as the world's biggest annual migration. The travel rush in China during Lunar New Year, where just a few days from the Year of the Snake and millions of people have already started traveling to different parts of China. Authorities are estimating 90 million train, excuse me, plane trips over the next month, but the country's economic slowdown has already downgraded many people's travel plans as Unileap reports.

At Shanghai's main railway station throngs of people are clutching suitcases, queuing up to leave the country's economic capital and return to their hometowns. For Chang Huanhuan, home is some 650 kilometers away in Anhui province. I'm so happy and so excited, she tells us. The 36-year-old works for an air conditioning company. Despite the festive mood, she has some concerns about the future. Every year it's becoming harder and harder to earn money, she says.

So far the government's stimulus measures in the past have done little to remedy the economy's troubles. Alicia Garcia, chief economist for Asia Pacific at Natifex Bank, says a Donald Trump presidency creates even more challenges for Beijing. What really drives the Chinese economy now is just exports. So of course, tariffs from Trump would massively impact the Chinese economy. The US president is threatening China with a 10% tariff starting next month. Though a steep drop from the 60% he promised on the campaign trail, any new levies could

complicate authorities' recovery plans. Yenna Li for CBC News, Beijing. After three days, a frozen Canadian freighter has been freed. Coast guards from the U.S. and Canada worked to... Let it go, let it go The Manitoulin had delivered a load of wheat near Buffalo, New York when it got trapped Wednesday in meter-thick ice. The ships broke through Saturday. Authorities say the 17 people on board had plenty of food and fuel on board.

It's now en route to Sarnia, Ontario. That is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Mike Miles.