The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/01/29 at 01:00 EST

Episode Date: January 29, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/01/29 at 01:00 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 is sour. I'm Neil Kumar.

We begin in India. BAND PLAYS At least 12 people are feared dead following a stampede that injured dozens of people as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to take a holy bath in the river at the massive Kamala festival. Emergency officials have been seen taking away what appear to be dead bodies on stretchers, rescuers are now helping the injured in the northern city of Prai Graj. Ontario voters will head to the polls in just under a month. The provincial election is scheduled for February 27th. Premier Doug Ford is making the move more than a year ahead of schedule.

Thomas Dagler reports. Meeting the Lieutenant Governor to formally dissolve Ontario's provincial parliament, progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford is asking voters for a third straight majority government. They want a leader that's going to protect jobs, protect the people's livelihoods. Ford insists he needs a strong mandate to face the threat of tariffs proposed by US President Donald Trump. But his opponents suspect the PC leader is instead aiming to distract from a list of controversies surrounding his government,

including a land development scandal under police investigation. Andrew Brander is a former adviser to the Ford government. Anytime you are leading in the polls is a good time to call an election. He points out polls put Ford's party well ahead of Bonnie Cromby's Liberals and the New Democrats led by Marit Stiles. Thomas Daigle, CBC News, Toronto. Ottawa has a multi-billion dollar aid program in the works if Donald Trump imposes tariffs on Canadian products. Radio Canada is reporting the plan is similar to economic measures taken

during the pandemic. David Thurton has the details. This is who we are as Canadians and we're going to win. We have to be confident. Francois-Philippe Champagne with that message while visiting Linamar, a manufacturing company in Ontario. What he didn't say though is this, the federal government is preparing a multi-billion dollar aid package if Trump proceeds with his tariffs. While the precise amounts aren't confirmed yet, the measures would target workers and businesses, possibly companies like Linamar. The manufacturer conducts significant cross-border trade. One of its execs, Linda Hasenfratz, underscored what's at stake.

So in my opinion, if a significant tariff is imposed, it'll bring the industry to its knees. Some of the government's planned measures could be adopted on their own. Many require parliamentary approval, a challenging task when opposition parties have vowed to bring down the government. David Thornton, CBC News, Ottawa. Marie Jose Ugg has tabled her final report into foreign interference in the last two federal elections.

The inquiry's commissioner found no evidence of traitors in parliament. She says Canada's democracy is held up against attempted meddling. But Ug also found shortcomings in investigating interference. The government sometimes took too long to act and coordination was not always optimal. Certain documents never got to where they were supposed to go and there seems to be no good reason why. I found that the government has been overall a poor communicator when it comes to foreign interference. Medical associations are slamming a report on COVID-19 by the Alberta government calling it anti-science.

Josh McLean reports. The contents are very troubling. The new pandemic report calls into question the effectiveness of masks and vaccines, and argues doctors should have more leeway to provide alternative treatments for COVID. But physicians are raising questions about the science in the report. Dr. Shelley Duggan is the president of the Alberta Medical Association. Misinformation is a huge problem. And misinformation kills people. And that's why it's important that we're speaking out about it.

The $2 million report was commissioned by the Alberta government. UCP MLA Eric Bouchard is defending the report's findings. I'd like to see, at the very least, a pause on mRNA vaccinations for children immediately until we find out more. The province has not announced any plans to act on the report. Josh McLean, CBC News, Calgary. And that is your World is Sour for CBC News. I'm Neil Kumar.