World Report - November 19: Wednesday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: November 19, 2025

US President Donald Trump is expected to sign a bill to release the Jeffrey Epstein files as early as today.US asks Canada to extradite Atna Onha, a man with alleged ties to Montreal organized crime. Prime Minister Mark Carney travels to UAE, where he's hoping to make a deal and secure Canada billions of dollars in foreign direct investment. John Main is Nunavut's next Premier. Ukrainian officials say 20 people, including 2 children, killed by Russian drone strikes on western city of Ternopil overnight. Officials say at least 13 people are dead after an Israeli air strike late Tuesday. Canada's public alerting system is scheduled to be tested across the country on television, radio and cellphones. Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, the only survivor of one of Ottawa’s worst homicides, speaks for the first time since his family's killer was sentenced. 

In 1983, Paladin Press published a book called Hitman. This book offers specific tips for the aspiring contract killer. Things like where to find employment, how much to charge, basically how to get away with murder, and also not feel bad about it. Ten years later, the book was linked to a triple killing. This week on Crime Story, can a book be an accomplice to murder? Find Crime Story wherever you get your podcasts. This is a CBC podcast. This is World Report.

Good morning. I'm Marcia Young. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign a bill to release the Jeffrey Epstein files as early as today. The House of Representatives voted in favor of the document dump. And now, once again, it is all down to the U.S. president. But the survivors may still have to wait for the information to be made. public. The CBC's Willie Lowry joins me now from Washington. And Willie, these survivors of the late sex offender say this was a long time coming. What is next? Potentially more government red tape. But if the previous few months showed just how dysfunctional and slow the U.S. government can be,

last night revealed how effective and fast it can function when it wants to. After an overwhelming vote in favor of compelling the Justice Department to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein in the House, the Senate agreed to a motion deeming the bill passed on arrival. Is there an objection? Without objection, so ordered. The Senate has now passed the Epstein bill as soon as it comes over from the House. That was Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The Senate should receive the bill sometime this morning, meaning it should get to President Donald Trump's desk today. If he signs it, the Justice Department will have 30 days to release the documents.

There are still concerns that some of these files may never see the light of day. What can you tell us? That's right. There is a caveat to all of this. The bill allows for the Justice Department to withhold information that pertains to ongoing investigations. President Trump has ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to open investigations into Epstein's connections with several top Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers,

and Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn. That move could give the Justice Department cause for not disclosing some of the documents. Here's Democrat Representative Robert Garcia. Right now, he's putting this investigation together and we're very concerned he's going to use it as an excuse to not release the full file. And several Epstein victims are also pleading

with the president to release the documents in full. Thank you, Willie. My pleasure. The CBC's Willie Lowry in Washington. Atna Onha is alleged to have ties to organized crime in Montreal. He faces charges related to murder as well as cocaine trafficking, and now Onha could be extradited to the United States. Sources tell Radio Canada his case is linked to Ryan Wedding,

the former Canadian Olympian, now on a list of the FBI's top 10 most wanted. Sarah Levitt has more. Walking out of a Montreal courtroom, prosecutors had nothing to say. And inside, the documents were sealed, giving away few details. What we do know is that appearing via video conference was Atna Onha, a man allegedly tied to Montreal organized crime. According to Radio Canada sources, the 40-year-old was arrested early Tuesday by the RCMP at the request of the FBI. He faces charges, the exact ones unknown, but probably. Prosecutors said in court it was related to cocaine trafficking and murder, and the U.S. has requested Onha, also known as Tupac, be extradited.

This, all in connection, according to Radio Canada, with the case of Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympian who is now on the FBI's top 10 most wanted. The FBI, calling him an alleged drug kingpin and offering $10 million in reward for information that leads to his arrest. It's believed wedding is in Mexico, but could possibly be in Canada. Today, in Washington, a news conference with big names has been called, and Radio Canada's sources say it's related to Onha's arrest. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Cash Patel are among those expected to be in attendance. Sarah Levitt. CBC News, Montreal.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is on his way to Abu Dhabi this morning. He will be the first Canadian Prime Minister. Minister to visit the United Arab Emirates since 1983. Carney is trying to drum up investment from the sovereign wealth funds to help diversify Canada's economy, and he is expected to meet with senior government and business leaders. Nunavut has a new premier. John Main has been elected as the seventh premier in the territory's history. As T.J. Dia reports, Maine is also making history as Nunavut's first ever non-Inuk leader.

Congratulations, Mr. Maine. It's a new era for Nunavut. The seventh premier of the territory will be John Main. He was chosen by his fellow MLAs in Nunavut's consensus system. In a short emotional speech, entirely in Inuktitut, Maine thanked his fellow MLAs who voted for him and said he would work very hard. The first Kalunat, or non-Inuk, to serve as premier, Maine has been an MLA in the Nunavut legislature since 2017.

He will now serve at the head of the 10th. territory's seventh government, and it's one that faces a lot of issues, a lack of housing, a suicide crisis, a high cost of living, just to name a few. Speaking with reporters afterwards, he touched on exactly that when asked what his priorities would be in the big seat. There's no shortage of issues that need addressing in terms of which ones are going to be at the top of the list. That's a group exercise that we will be going through. Among Inuit leaders watching the forum was Paul Ingout. He's the vice president of Nunavutungovic Incorporated, the organization that manages the Inuit Beneficiary List and the Nunavut land claim.

Engut says Maine knows those issues well, having grown up in Aviviet. Inuit have been left behind for so long that we want our priorities taking into full account with this government, especially with this Premier, and we will push them on that front. Also chosen on Tuesday were the eight members of Maine's Cabinet as well as the Speaker of the House. They'll be sworn in on Thursday after a short sitting to confirm their positions. TJ Deere, CBC News, Akhalovi. It has been a deadly and destructive night in Ukraine. Russian drones struck apartment buildings in Kharkiv.

Ukrainian security services estimate there were more than 470 drones launched across the country. The drones hit an energy facility and industrial site in Lviv, and in the western city of Ternople, a multi-story residential building was destroyed. Bulldozers and fire crews are now clearing the debris. Officials say 25 people, including two children, were killed in that attack. Israel is warning people in parts of southern Lebanon to leave now. Rescue workers rush into a Palestinian camp in Lebanon's coastal city of Saiden. Lebanese officials say an air attack late Tuesday killed at least 13 people,

and Israel warns that more strikes are on the way. The Israeli military says it was targeting members of Hamas operating in a training compound, something Hamas denies. Israel has now issued a warning for two villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate. It says it is continuing to target Hezbollah and Hamas sites in the region, despite ceasefire agreements with both groups. Canada's public alerting system is scheduled to be tested across the country today, A test message and tone from Alert Ready will be broadcast on television, radio, and compatible wireless devices.

Test alerts will be issued in every province and territory to help ensure the system works. It will happen sometime between the late morning and early afternoon. For the first time since his family's killer was sentenced, an Ottawa man is speaking out. He is the sole survivor of the March 24 homicide in his life. his home. Six people in his family were killed, including his wife and their four children. The CBC's David Fraser has his story. Inside an Ottawa temple, incense burning, monks chanting. Danushka Lik Ramsinga bowing his head in prayer, his Buddhist faith, the reason he says he's standing after losing his wife and four children in one of the city's deadliest homicides. Fabio de Suiza

pleaded guilty earlier this month to killing the family and another friend in March of 2024. He also attacked Likramsinga, stabbing him six times. He was sentenced to life without parole for 25 years. I always wanted to justice and, you know, and finally I got the justice. Wickramsinger had welcomed D'Sweza, a young man from Sri Lanka, to live in his suburban Ottawa home, supporting someone he shared a faith and home country with. Came back to me and destroyed my everything, my family, my life, my whole world. Immigration struggles are adding to the trauma.

Wickramsinger's brother rushed to Canada after the killings, but he can't bring his own wife and daughter here. The family's immigration lawyer, Ronnelly Carey, says it could take a decade for the family to be united in Canada unless the federal government steps in. So much was taken away from them, the very least that we can do as Canadians is allow them to stay and build a life here. Wickramsinger hoping to continue building his life in Ottawa. I love Canada. David Fraser, CBC News, Ottawa. That is World Report.

I'm Marcia Young.