The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/01/29 at 02:00 EST

Episode Date: January 29, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/01/29 at 02:00 EST

From CBC News, the world is sour. I'm Neel Kumar. In India, at least 12 people are feared dead after a stampede left dozens of people injured. The incident took place when tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to take a holy bath in the river at the massive Kummala festival. Crowd rushes are frequent in India, often leading to a loss of lives. Rescue efforts are now underway to help the injured in the northern city of Prayagranj. Back here at home, a hitman who pleaded guilty to killing a former Air India bombing suspect has received a life

sentence. The family wants to know who hired him, but he's refused to give up any names. Michelle Kussub reports. Tanner Fox will serve a life sentence with no chance of parole for 20 years. Fox and his accomplice Jose Lopez shot and killed Malik as he sat in his Tesla in Surrey in July 2022. Malik is known in the community. Back in 2005 he was acquitted of charges related to the Air India bombing. His son Jaspreet Singh Malik said the sentencing brings only

some relief. The only question that remains now is who hired Mr. Fox and Mr. Lopez. Standing outside of court he pleaded once again for the hitmen to reveal the names of who ordered the job. I'm asking both Mr. Fox and Mr. Lopez to do the right thing. Tell the RCMP who hired you. Let those people be brought to justice. Fox addressed the court only briefly, telling the family he was sorry. Lopez is expected to be sentenced in February. Michelle Gassoub, CBC News, New Westminster. The public inquiry into foreign interference says there are no traitors in parliament. But Commissioner Marie-Josée Ogg says the federal government and national security agencies

have to do more to prevent meddling by foreign states. Rafi Boujikaneen has more. I saw evidence of some concerning behavior. Commissioner Marie-Josée Ogg says there is need for caution, but... The evidence does not show any MPs plotting with foreign states against Canada's interests. That evidence? 47,000 government documents, mostly classified. More than a hundred witnesses interviewed, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, members of his cabinet and the head of Canada's spy agency, CSIS.

Ogg says the threat of meddling is real. Certain foreign states are attempting to interfere in our electoral processes and democratic institutions. Ogg has multiple recommendations, some focusing on the pre-Rid period, suggesting elections Canada should have jurisdiction over nominations and party leadership contests. She also says CSIS needs to do a better job flagging political decision makers about the relevance of its intelligence. Rafi Boudjikani on CBC News, Ottawa.

Ontario's premier has set the province on course to an election. Doug Ford asked Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont to dissolve the provincial parliament on Tuesday. Ontarians will cast their ballot on February 27th, 15 months ahead of the fixed election date. Ford claims he needs a new mandate now because of the uncertainty sparked by those potential American tariffs. This isn't going to happen overnight. It may not happen February 1st. I'm sure something's coming. But this is going to be a battle for the next four years.

And I want to make sure that I have a strong mandate to outlast President Trump. Opposition parties are calling the election a waste of time and money. The leader of the BC Greens is stepping down. Sonia Ferdinand has led the party since 2020 and she was an MLA from 2017 until last year. She failed to be reelected in October during the provincial election. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit the White House next week as the first foreign leader to visit in President Trump's second term. Trump sent the invitation to Netanyahu for Tuesday, February 4th as the U.S. puts pressure

on Israel and Hamas to continue a ceasefire that has caused a devastating 15-month war in Gaza. And that is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Neil Kumar. Music