The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/05/12 at 16:00 EDT

Episode Date: May 12, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/05/12 at 16:00 EDT

What is attention capitalism doing to our minds? What is all this tariff chaos doing to our money? How can we get better at growing older? We look at these kinds of big questions here on The Current, our award-winning podcast that brings you stories and conversations to expand your worldview. My name is Matt Galloway and like you, I'm trying to wrap my head around what's going on right now. We look for solutions to wicked problems. We listen to each other and we try to find delight in the everyday. You can find The Current wherever you get your podcasts, including on YouTube.

From CBC News, the world this hour, I'm Stephanie Scanderis. An Alberta separatist group says it'll push the premier to hold a referendum on independence from Canada this year. And the Alberta Prosperity Project has released the question it hopes to have on the ballot. Josh McLean has the details. This is as serious as a heart attack. Jeffrey Rath with the Alberta Prosperity Project unveiling the question his group hopes to

put to Albertans later this year. Do you agree that the province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province of Canada? This is what Albertans expect. They want a clear, concise question leading to a clear, unequivocal answer. Rath argues Alberta would fare better economically, free of Ottawa's oversight. But his group has more hurdles to clear before the question will appear on a ballot, including getting it approved. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith wouldn't weigh in when asked about the question. There are several groups out there that are proposing different timelines, different questions, and so I'll wait to see which

one garners enough signatures. Smith says she wants to see Alberta have more sovereignty while staying a part of Canada. Josh McLean, CBC News, Calgary. North American markets are climbing after the U.S. and China announced a 90-day truce in their trade war. The world's two largest economies agreed to temporarily roll back most of their tariffs against each other. Aaron Collins has more from Washington. The talks in Geneva were very friendly. The relationship is very good. Donald Trump speaking in Washington, signaling progress in trade talks with China. Both sides have agreed to dramatically reduce tariffs while they work on a deal. We're not looking to hurt China. China was being hurt very badly. They were closing up

factories. They were having a lot of unrest. This trade war also a burden for the U.S. Worries of rising prices making getting trade deals done important here too. An opportunity for Canada according to international trade lawyer Martha Harrison. With the U.S. key retail markets continuing to suffer, that may create additional leverage for Canada to try and settle this tariff issue once and for all with the United States. Perhaps a good place to make progress on a deal. A G7 meeting being held in Alberta next month. Erin Collins, CBC News, Washington.

The last living American hostage abducted by Hamas is now in Israeli custody. Crowds in Tel Aviv cheered as they saw a picture taken today of Edan Alexander standing with workers from the Red Cross. The 21-year-old was serving at an Israeli military base near the Gaza border when he was taken in the October 7 attacks. Washington negotiated the handover of the US Israeli citizen with Hamas without Israeli involvement. Hamas says the release was a gesture of goodwill in efforts to revive ceasefire talks and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

India's Prime Minister warns his country will retaliate if Pakistan launches further attacks. Narendra Modi says India has only paused its military action. Clashes in the disputed Kashmir region flared up after a deadly attack on tourists in the Indian-controlled portion last month. New Delhi has struck targets it says were tied to militants responsible for those killings. Pakistan denies backing the men who carried out the attack. The trial of rapper Sean Diddy Combs has begun in New York City. Combs has pleaded not guilty to a number of charges including sex

trafficking and racketeering. Singer-songwriter Jaguar Wright is not part of this trial but she was one of the first to speak out against Combs. I'm glad it's not just me anymore. I'm glad it's someone else. I'm glad there are other people who need to be hurt. Prosecutors claim Combs used his business empire to commit and cover up a host of drug and sex crimes. The defense says Combs was prone to violent outbursts but insists none of his behavior was criminal.

And that is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Stephanie Scanderis.