World Report - May 19: Tuesday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: May 19, 2026

Canada's annual inflation rate rose to 2.8% in April, thanks to soaring energy prices. Prime Minister Mark Carney to make announcement not far from the site of Nouveau Monde Graphite's Matawinie Mine. 3 people dead after mosque attack at the Islamic Centre of San Diego. 2 teenage suspects dead.WHO says Ebola outbreak in central Africa is spreading quickly with more than 130 deaths and 500 cases. Jonathan Andic, son of the founder of Mango fashion group, in police custody being questioned about his father's death. Women in Halifax area decry long wait times for mammograms. Canadian defence minister David McGuinty visiting home base of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, amid speculation the fleet may not be able to perform much longer.

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The cost of living continues to climb. Statistics Canada's just released its April inflation report. It shows the annual rate rose to 2.8% up from 2.4% in March. CBC's senior business correspondent, Peter Armstrong, is with me in studio. Peter, what is behind this jump? Gasoline. I think everybody knows that energy prices writ large. anybody who's even walked past the gas station knows what's been happening there.

Stackcan says that gasoline prices across Canada, we're up 28.6% in April. Remember this time last year, we also, Canada removed the consumer carbon tax. So there's an impact, what they call the base year effect that's adding to that surge in energy inflation. But the interesting thing here, Helen, is that as high as this is, and it is high. 2.8%. This is the fastest increase we've seen in 2. years, but it's still slower than economists had been expecting. And that's largely due to core prices holding their ground, a core inflation which strips out volatile stuff like food and gasoline. It came in at 2%. And what that tells us here is that surge we're seeing in energy

prices, that surge we've seen at the gas pumps, but also for diesel and jet fuel and cargo ship fuel as well, that hasn't yet bled over into other sectors. It doesn't take much for a company that's seeing an increase in what it costs to ship stuff, pass that on to consumers. But we haven't seen that yet. That is the heaving sigh of relief you hear from policymakers across the country, but it is also the thing we will be watching. Peter, thanks very much. You bet.

The CBCC's Peter Armstrong in our Toronto studio. Amid recent setbacks for electric vehicle production in North America, Prime Minister Mark Carney is heading to a small Quebec community, which may someday hold the key to battery production in Canada. It's not far from the site of Nouveau-Mond graphite's Matawini Mine. For more, let's go to Janice McGregor in our Parliamentary Bureau. Janice, this mine was referred to the major projects office last fall. Why has this been such a focus for the government?

The ambition for this particular site is to turn it into one of the largest open-pit graphite mining operations in North America. Now, why graphite? Well, it's key to the supply chains for greener advanced manufacturing. manufacturing lithium ion batteries, drive electric vehicles, but they're also now in demand for storage facilities to boost the capacity of Canada's electricity grid. It's what smooths out the peaks and valleys of supply and demand.

Graphites also use in nuclear reactors. It has a number of strategically important uses for the military, not just in their vehicles, but it's essential for aerospace engineering and stealth technology. This particular mine was not only referred to the major project's office last November, But Export Development Canada and the Canada Infrastructure Bank has already given it over $450 million in debt financing. It received an $100 million investment last month from the Canada Growth Fund, part of a larger financing package that also involved the Quebec government. And as it begins production, the federal government's already committed to purchase roughly three quarters of its production for Canada and allied countries.

The Carney government says it's essential for national security and federal taxpayers, also have a huge stake. So what hurdles remain? Well, there are no guarantees, right, with emerging technologies. Plenty of business risks here, that's why government financing key to getting it off the ground in the first place. And local development at this site wasn't without protest. The Manawana-Tic, First Nation, signed an impact benefit agreement with the mine late in

2024, giving its official consent following a long consultation process. It's going to share the financial benefit, including jobs, monitor local environmental impacts, but work continues to persuade everyone in the community that this is the right way forward. Janice, thank you. You're welcome. The CBC's Janice McGregor in Ottawa. U.S. federal, state, and local police are tracing the steps of two teenagers who opened fire

outside a mosque in California. Three people are dead after the attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego. The suspects are believed to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. As Steve Futterman reports, this is being investigated as a hate crime. Investigators here say they know who did it. They also believe they know the basic motive, anti-Islamic hate. That still doesn't explain the troubling question, what triggered two teenagers, 17 and 18,

to carry out the deadly attack, then, according to police, kill themselves. The attack occurred just before noon at San Diego's largest mosque, which also houses an elementary school and a middle school. The two gunmen never got inside any of the buildings. They were confronted by a security guard and two staff members of the school. All three were killed by the gunmen. We were having lunch and I heard at least a dozen shots.

This neighbor was nearby when the attack took place. Then I called 911. The security guard is being labeled as a hero who very possibly prevented additional deaths. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wall. The security guard was able to minimize the situation to the front area of the mosque. I don't want to speculate, but at this point I think it's fair to say his actions were heroic, and undoubtedly he saved lives today. Authorities have recovered what they describe as hate-filled writings.

One of the guns used in the attack had hate language etched onto the weapon. Two hours before the shootings, the mother of one of the gunmen, alerted law, enforcement, saying her son had taken a number of weapons from the home. Police desperately tried to locate the teenager's vehicle to prevent a possible attack, but could not do so in time. Steve Futterman, CBC News, San Diego. The number of deaths linked to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is rising rapidly. The World Health Organization says there are now 130 suspected deaths and 500 presumed cases of the virus. Tedros Adnam Gabrizes is the head of the WHO.

He says quick action is needed. I'm deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic. We will convene the Emergency Committee today to advise us on temporary recommendations. The spread of Ebola is forcing a Canadian company to bring in infection control measures. Barrick mining has a gold mine in DRC near one of the outbreaks. The Toronto-based company says it is ramping up worker screening and contact tracing at its Kabali site. The son of the founder of Mango Fashion Group is in police custody being questioned about his father's death. Isaac died when he fell off a cliff during a family hike near Barcelona in December 2024.

Forbes says he was worth $4.5 billion U.S. at the time of his death. His son Jonathan is now under arrest. And local media report, police are looking into a possible homicide. Some women in the Halifax area are decrying what they call an unacceptable wait for a mammogram. There are ongoing staffing challenges. And right now, screening appointments are being booked well into next year. The CBC's Carolyn Ray reports. I think we need to have a voice.

I think we need to make changes. Cynthia McCutcheon thought she was being proactive by calling. now to book her mammogram for the fall. But she was left speechless when the booking clerk told her the next available appointment in the Halifax area. Well, when she started to say July, I was thinking, oh, that's a little bit too early. And then when she threw in 2027, I was really shocked. Nova Scotia's wait times are now twice as long as Prince Edward Island. Some clinics in Toronto book within two weeks.

Cheryl Coulin, who also lives in Halifax, found a lump in her breast last year. She's supposed to be checked every six months, but her next appointment isn't until next April. Here I am supposedly at risk, and I have to wait. How many people are going undiagnosed? According to the Canadian Cancer Society, Nova Scotia has the lowest survival rate of breast cancer in the country. The province's breast screening program is run by the IWK Health Center. It says the biggest challenge is staffing. There's a national shortage of medical radiation technologists.

In Nova Scotia, there's a 30% vacancy rate. McCutcheon says she knows all too well the importance of catching problems early. Her grandmother died of breast cancer. Why are women in Nova Scotia being penalized? The IWK is telling the women to keep calling in hopes of landing a cancellation. But even then, those last-minute appointments could be anywhere in the province. Carolyn Ray, CBC News, Halifax. Canada's defense minister, David McGinty, will be making an announcement shortly

at the Saskatchewan base of the Canadian forces snowbirds. His visit comes amid speculation about the future of the aerial acrobatic squadron. Since 1971, the snowbirds have performed at thousands of air shows. McGinty has said the aircraft fleet is approaching the end of its life and air demonstrations can continue only as long as the planes are safe. The federal government has apparently been looking for replacement options. That is the latest national and international news from World Report. I'm Helen Mann. This is CBC News.

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