The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/01/26 at 12:00 EST

Episode Date: January 26, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/01/26 at 12:00 EST

My name is Graham Isidore. I have a progressive eye disease called keratoconus. Admitting I'm losing my vision has been hard, but explaining it to other people has been harder. Lately, I've been trying to talk about it. Short-sighted is an attempt to explain what vision loss feels like by exploring how it sounds. By sharing my story, we get into all the things you don't see about hidden disabilities. Short-sighted from CBC's Personally, available now.

From CBC News, the world this hour, I'm Gina Louise Phillips. A Canada-wide ban on vaping flavors may not happen. Health experts have warned for years the fruity and sweet taste is getting a new generation of young people addicted to nicotine. But as Marina von Stackelberg reports, a ban has been put on the back burner. Obviously we are greatly disappointed. Cynthia Callard is with Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada. That's one of several groups trying to get vaping flavors banned. Health Canada promised more than three years ago it would happen.

Then last week, health groups got a meeting with staff in the addiction minister's office. Callard says they were told a looming federal election meant the restrictions were no longer a priority. It comes as Canada's top public health doctors renewed their calls this week for a nationwide flavour ban. Addictions Minister Yara Sax declined CBC's request for an interview. In a statement she says vaping flavors will be restricted but they need to get it right to avoid putting youth at risk. Marina von Stackelberg, CBC News, Ottawa. U.S. President Donald Trump says he's talking to many potential purchasers of the 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. Mr. President. 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 of young people. Trump gave the app a reprieve shortly after taking office. TikTok was banned in the US because of security concerns. China-based ByteDance currently owns the app.

Canada's insurers are casting a wary eye south after a record-setting year for insurance claims. Laura Lynch of CBC Radio's What on Earth has the story. Naomi Cook admits to getting nervous when the rain starts falling on her street in Sackville, Nova Scotia. That's because it reminds her of the storm water that flooded her home in July of 2023. It was running so fast by my basement door. It was up at least two feet. Cook paid several thousand dollars for repairs because insurers say her home is at too great a risk for floods.

The industry and its overseers call them insurance deserts, places that have become too hazardous for coverage. And the Insurance Bureau of Canada's Craig Stewart says when he looks at what's happening in the U.S., he sees Canada's future in a changing climate. So in Louisiana, Florida and now California, what we're seeing is you're seeing insurers pull out. They're reducing their exposure. Stewart says Canada needs to follow the lead of those states and other nations by establishing a government-backed insurance program.

Ottawa has been negotiating with the provinces and plans to have the program set up this year. Laura Lynch, CBC News, Vancouver. It's known as the world's biggest annual migration, the travel rush during lunar new year. Authorities are estimating 90 million plane trips over the next month, but the country's economic slowdown has already downgraded many people's travel plans, as Yenna Li 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 Huan Huan, home is some 650 kilometers away in Anhui province.

Her 36-year-old works for an air conditioning company. She has some concerns about the future. Every year, it's becoming harder and harder to earn money, she says. A 36-year-old works for an air conditioning company. 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 year have done little to remedy the economy's troubles. Alicia Garcia, chief economist for Asia Pacific at Natasix Bank, says a Donald Trump presidency creates even more challenges for Beijing.

What really drives the Chinese economy now is just export. 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. Yenna Li for CBC News, Beijing. And that is The World This Hour. For news anytime, go to our website, cbcnews.ca. For CBC News, I'm Gina Louise Phillips.