World Report - November 29: Saturday's top stories in 10 minutes

Episode Date: November 29, 2025

Two ships of Russia's sanctioned shadow fleet caught fire in the Black Sea off Turkey.A renewed Russian assault on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, has killed at least three people, challenging the new U.S.-led push for peace.Trump says Venezuela airspace to be shut ‘in its entirety’ as tensions rise.Trump announces pardon of Honduran ex-president ahead of election.Cyclone Ditwah leaves a devastated Sri Lanka behind, moves to Indian coast.Hong Kong mourns 128 victims of apartment complex fire.Consumer resolve to 'buy Canadian' wavers with holiday season shopping.

Hey Canada. It's me, Gavin Crawford, host of Because News. Each week, I put comedians on the spot with a pop quiz about the headlines. This week, we're talking about the monster of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's own making, Wayne Gretzky's incredible pronunciation skills, and the one kind of Christmas toy experts are all calling dangerous. Miguel Revis, Emma Hunter, and Gene Yune are here, so laugh along as we try to make sense of the headlines. Follow Because News on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts for free. This is a CBC podcast. This is World Report. Good morning, I'm John Northcott. We begin with new developments in the war between Russia and Ukraine, with the Trump administration's new peace plan in high gear. Ukraine is sending a high-level delegation to Washington for more talks today, and that comes ahead of a visit to Moscow expected early next week by White House envoy.

Steve Whitkoff. But in the region, prospects for peace looking doubtful. Ukraine was hit by a major attack overnight, killing at least three people with many more injured and left in the dark. But we begin in the Black Sea, where Ukraine is now claiming credit for striking two Russian shadow fleet tankers. An official from the SPU security service confirmed the attack today, the official claims both tankers sustained critical damage and were effectively taken out of service. Breyer Stewart is there and has more. The crew aboard the oil tanker Kairos reported hearing an explosion Friday, from what they described as an external impact to the ship. The fire ripped through the vessel, which was not

loaded with oil at the time. It was located about 50 kilometers off the coast of Turkey in the Black Sea. Turkish boats responded. All 25 on board. were rescued, and crews worked for hours to extinguish the fire. Around the same time, a little further to the east, a separate incident. The crew aboard a second tanker called the Virat reported being hit twice. Turkish officials are looking into the possibility of an unmanned vessel like a drone hitting it. There were no injuries reported among the crew.

That ship was also sanctioned by the West, including Canada. This is the reality of what... Elizabeth Bra is a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council's transatlantic security initiative and has been tracking Russia's shadow fleet, which it uses to help circumvent sanctions. The shadow fleet has grown exponentially. Western governments have tried sanctioning specific vessels, but every time that happens, another vessel enters the shadow fleet. Both of the ships were flagged to Gambia, and because they were sanctioned, They don't carry insurance policies approved by the Western shipping industry.

Breyer Stewart, CBC News, Istanbul. More now on the Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital, killing at least three and injuring many more. The CBC's Julia Chapman has more on that from London. Ukraine's air defenses intercepting a major Russian attack on Kiev. Volodymyr Zelenskyy says around 36 missiles and almost 600 drones were launched. launched by Moscow. Power stations in Kiev and other regions were hit. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are without electricity, most of them in the capital. The Russian army says it targeted military and energy facilities. But officials in Ukraine say residential buildings were also hit.

Irina lives in one of them. She says the attacks are getting worse, and she doesn't see peace being achieved anytime soon. In southern Russia, an oil refinery caught fire. from falling debris in a Ukrainian drone strike. These attacks continue amid a diplomatic push by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. But Ukraine has just lost its chief negotiator. Zelensky's right-hand man, Andrew Yermak, resigned yesterday after his home was searched by anti-corruption officials.

Journalists Simon Schuster interviewed Yermak hours before he stepped down. He made very clear one thing, that Ukraine will not trade away its territory in the country. these negotiations. He drew a very clear red line. Next week, American negotiators head to Moscow for the next phase. After adding Ukraine's input into a draft peace plan, they'll be putting it to the Kremlin. But Vladimir Putin insists the war will only end when Ukraine withdraws from territory he claims as Russia's. Julia Chapman, CBC News, London.

Donald Trump is ratcheting up tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. In a social media post the president warns airlines, pilots, drug, and human traffickers to, quote, consider the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela to be closed in its entirety. There's no mention of how this will be enforced. Trump has been escalating his so-called war on what he calls, narco-terrorists. Meanwhile, the family of a former Honduran president is full of praise for Donald Trump. The U.S. president says he'll pardon Juan Orlando Hernandez. Hernandez is currently serving a 45-year prison sentence in the U.S. for

Drug trafficking. Daniela Hernandez is his daughter. Thank you, President Trump. Thank you to your administration, to all the family and friends who have been there for us. May God bless the United States, President Trump, his administration, and may God bless Honduras. Hernandez led Honduras from 2014 to 2022.

Last year, he was convicted by a Manhattan jury for having and taking bribes, rather, from cocaine traffickers. In his post on social media, Trump says Hernandez has been, quote, treated very harshly and unfairly. Southern India is bracing for the arrival of Cyclone Ditwa. The powerful storm has already lashed Sri Lanka, killing more than 120 people, and it comes as deadly monsoons also deluge parts of Southeast Asia. Dominic Volaitis has more. The floods have receded in southern Thailand, leaving streets strewn with mud, waste, and debris.

There's been a huge human cost too. The authorities say more than 160 people have been killed in what they describe as the worst flooding to hit Thailand in 15 years. With around 3.2 million people affected in nine provinces, soldiers, volunteers and local government units have all been mobilized to hasten relief efforts. When floodwaters swept into Ampon Gepengro's home, There was no time to escape.

Instead, her family spent two days stranded as the water rose around them. We weren't thinking about anything else except surviving, she says. The severe flooding has been caused by cyclone-fueled torrential rain, and it's been reported across the region and beyond. Indonesia's northern Sumatra regions were also badly hit. The authorities here say, more than 300 people have been killed. Scores more are missing, while thousands of families have been displaced. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, is appealing for international assistance after the extreme

weather destroyed nearly 15,000 homes across the country and killed at least 123 people. More than 100 others are missing, and it's not over. The authorities say they expect the floods to spread even further. Dominic Valaitis for CBC News, Bristol, England. Hong Kong is now observing three days of official morning for victims of this week's deadly fire. At least 128 people were killed when flames engulfed a multi-tower apartment complex. More than 150 others are still missing. At least one firefighter was among those killed. Condolence books are set up around Hong Kong for residents to sign. Flags are at half-mast and there was a three-minute silence held outside government headquarters.

Canadian patriotism is being tested this holiday season at the cash register. US President Donald Trump's trade war angered people across the country. But is the Buy Canadian movement as strong as it was earlier this year? Jennifer Lagrasa went out to take a look. From our experience, people really are making an effort to buy Canadian. Julie Brown, owner of clothing retailer province of Canada, says her business has been riding a high this year. Since January, we've been up by almost double every month.

Making all of its products in Canada helped put Brown's business on people's radar when the B-Canadian movement launched earlier this year. The sentiment saw consumers switch to locally made goods in an attempt to boycott the U.S. following a trade war and annexation threats from President Donald Trump. But recent data suggests Brown is one of few seeing steady support. It's definitely waning at this point for sure. Francois Neville is a business professor at McMaster University in Ontario. Recent Statistics Canada data finds that nearly 70% of businesses didn't see an increase in sales of their Canadian products in the past six months. But will the holidays revive the by Canadian sentiment?

59% of what people are expecting to spend for the holidays are going to be on Canadian products and services. Pierre Clouro is the chief economist at the business development. Bank of Canada. Their recent survey indicates Canadians will prioritize local. Whether it's enough to light up the Canadian economy remains to be seen. Jennifer Lagrasa, CBC News, Toronto. And before we go, this just in from Nova Scotia, RCMP, they are warning people in the area of Rockcliffe Drive near Enfield, Nova Scotia to stay inside closed doors and lock windows. A suspect with a gun is seen in the area. He's wearing blue pants and has tattoos on his face. The area we're talking about is in the Shubanakady Valley. It's about 30 minutes north of

Halifax. Stay tuned to CBC News for more on this developing story. That is the latest national and international news from World Report. I'm John Horthcott. This is CBC News. For more CBC podcasts, go to cBC.ca slash podcasts.