Your World Tonight - B.C. wildfire evacuees return home, Harrowing living conditions on a U.S. aircraft carrier, Anthony Bourdain biopic, and more

Episode Date: August 15, 2026

Its a bittersweet return for people in British Columbia’s southern interior. Some residents of Summerland are re-entering the district., after wildfire evacuation orders were downgraded. Although wildfire conditions are beginning to improve across the province, there will be lots of work to do before affected communities return to normal. Also: There are growing concerns about the living conditions aboard the U.S.S Abraham Lincoln. The thousands of sailors onboard haven't set foot on dry land since December. And according their families back home, the aircraft carrier is facing plumbing issues and a shortage of fresh food, all crushing for the crew's morale.And: The new biopicTony depicts the early years of chef Anthony Bourdain, learning the ropes in the kitchen of a Cape Cod seafood restaurant. It's Canadian director says its an inspirational story. But at least one chef who knew the real Anthony Bourdain says he has mixed feelings about the film. Plus: Five years after Taliban taking back power in Afghanistan, Indy race in Markham begins after track issues, and more.

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It's a little bit surreal to be here and, oh, emotions all over the map. Thousands of people forced to flee BC's wildfires are starting. to return to their communities, but the looming threat of this year's intense wildfire season isn't over. This is your world tonight. I'm Kimberly Gale. Also tonight, Washington says reports about poor conditions aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East were misrepresented as it sends in a replacement vessel. And he was a drug-addicted line cook and then all of a sudden becomes the most.

famous food writer who's really ever lived. Chef, writer, culinary rock star, the late Anthony Bourdain gets the biopic treatment. The mayor of Summerland, British Columbia, says the past week has felt like a year. The wildfire that forced thousands of residents to evacuate is still burning. But many of those evacuees are being allowed back into their homes this weekend, an experience they say is bittersweet. Helen Pike reports. there was a sign there, welcome home, trout creakers.

Bonnie Howard is back in her Summerland community with mixed feelings. About 400 homes in the neighborhood now cleared for re-entry. This area spared from the worst of the fire. We know what other people are going to be returning to. And it was very surreal. It was like a little bit guilty feeling that we were coming home to our home intact. Howard is considering returning to the Penticton Comfort Center, where she spent several days making friends with other evacuees.

But this time, as a volunteer. There's lots of work to be done before the community returns to normal. As people return, local officials are trying to ensure essential services can hold up. Doug Holmes is the mayor of Summerland. That was kind of a test to see how well our infrastructure responded and getting our infrastructure back up and going. So far, he says the test is going well. While some evacuees return, the bald range fire that forced them to leave is still burning out of control.

It's still bone dry in many parts of the province. The last update from BC Wildfire Service expects winds to pick up and the possibility of thunderstorms. Holmes says Summerland is still surrounded by hotspots. There's still pockets of fire on the outlining parts of town. It's a little smothering here, smothering there. So, our fire department is kind of putting those out one by one. And, you know, there is some damage. There's no full picture of the extent of the damage yet.

A specialized team is in Summerland doing rapid assessments when and where it's safe to do so. Insurance providers are already working through claims, first covering living expenses for displaced evacuees. And next, property damage. The insurance industry is dealing with these types of events on a regular basis. Rob DePrie is with the Insurance Bureau of Canada. We also know that hundreds of homes and properties have burnt around the province as well. So these types of events will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Summerland's chief administration officer, Graham Statt, is optimistic about lifting more evacuation orders.

For those areas that were furthest away from the fire and the least impact, we're bundling those together. and we're trying to do more faster. A week that started with clouds of uncertainty, anxiety, and questions from evacuees is clearing up, even if the threat of fire still looms over the horizon here in the Okanoggan Valley. Helen Pike, CBC News, Summerland, British Columbia. There are growing concerns about the living conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The thousands of sailors on board haven't set foot on dry land since December. And according to their families back home, the aircraft carrier is facing plumbing issues and a shortage of fresh food, all crushing for the crew's morale.

As Steve Futterman tells us, after dismissing reports about conditions on the ship, the Trump administration is now sending another vessel to take its place. This is what Donald Trump said on Friday that has outraged many. No, no, no. Not nearly long enough. Thank you, everybody. Trump was responding after being asked whether the deployment of the USS Lincoln had gone on too long. Normal deployments usually last around six months. The Lincoln is now approaching nine months at sea. It was back on November 21st of last year that the Lincoln left San Diego.

This is worship one-one, heading outbound to sea from Naval Bay, San Diego. This week, there's been a non-stop stream of stories describing the challenging conditions. The lack of food, fresh water, and soap, broken plumbing, toilets, moldy showers. This man is the father of a crew member. It's obviously terrifying and because they're in a combat zone. And so that that is grieving to hear that people were pushed to that limit mentally. And just days ago, shocking reports emerged about several crew members going overboard. When he was asked about the reports, defense secretary Pete Hegeseth seemed to try to play down the concerns. Listen, we make sure at every,

ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. The issues facing the USS Lincoln appear to be directly connected to an Iranian attack that destroyed a U.S. supply hub in Bahrain in the early days of the war. Retired Admiral Gary Roughhead. For decades, we've had a logistics model in the Middle East. that allowed our ships to be supplied and replenished, and that has gone away. This woman has friends and family members on board the Lincoln. You expect to be ported every so often and to have a little bit of a break,

and it's just not fair that they haven't had those opportunities. Perhaps under pressure, the Defense Department has announced the USS Lincoln will soon be replaced by the USS George Washington and return to California. That will still take several weeks. Meanwhile, the issues facing a Lincoln are another example of how the U.S. war in Iran has presented many more complexities than the Trump administration initially anticipated. Steve Fetterman, CBC News, Los Angeles. In southern Lebanon, rescue crews use bulldozers to clear piles of debris after a series of Israeli air strikes. The strikes killed at least 11 people, including three children, and injured more than a dozen others.

Israel says they were targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in retaliation for attacks by the militant group on its soldiers in the region. It's the deadliest wave of strike since a ceasefire was declared in June between Israel and Lebanon. Hasbullah is not part of that agreement and has refused any direct talks. Still ahead, world heritage sites are preserved for their cultural, historical, or scientific significance. But that UNESCO status is a mixed blessing for one village in central Slovakia as it struggles to manage tourists. That story later on your world tonight. In Indonesia, emergency responders dig through rubble trying to find survivors.

Two powerful earthquakes hit the country Saturday. In the early morning, a magnitude 7.7 quake struck off its eastern coast. Dozens of aftershocks followed. It caused buildings to topple and killed at least 47 people. Dozens more were injured. Hours later, a magnitude 6.4 quake also hit Western Indonesia. Today marks exactly five years since this happened. The Taliban reportedly now has control of the presidential palace.

Thousands of Afghans swarm the tarmac trying to get on any flight. People running away, pecking their belongings, trying to get out. Afghanistan's army gave up. up without a fight. On August 15th, 2021, American forces were in the process of withdrawing from Afghanistan, and the Taliban seized control. Today, the Taliban marked the anniversary with celebrations, describing it as a victory day from Western domination. Outside the former U.S. embassy in Kabul, armored vehicles rolled down the street. But as Julia Chapman tells us, the regime has left millions of Afghans entrenched in human rights and humanitarian emergencies.

For many Afghans, this is not an anniversary to celebrate. Afghanistan has become more repressive than ever, particularly for women and girls. They've been pushed out of education and the workforce, sideline from public life, and forced into the shadows. Girls can only study until they reach grade six. Afghan girls do not need pity than need opportunity. 20-year-old Tahrara once had plans to go to university. Now she studies computing and English in secret. The UN says only 7% of Afghan women have a job. That's exacerbating an economic crisis

driven by a lack of international trade and the collapse of foreign aid. Poverty is soaring and nearly half the country's 45 million people rely on dwindling foreign aid. Western governments are reluctant to legitimize the Taliban, but isolating the leadership risks leaving millions of ordinary Afghans in a dire situation. Julia Chapman, CBC News. London. Twenty-two more bodies have been recovered from Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe following a boat accident. On Tuesday, a passenger ferry capsized while navigating heavy winds. It's unclear how many people were on board the boat, but police say it was likely overloaded. Dozens of people were rescued. The death toll has now reached 68.

From natural wonders to ancient ruins and modern architectural marvels, UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites is a treasure trove for world travelers. But some residents of a tiny village in central Slovakia say recognition from the UN agency comes at the expense of the community that still lives there. Freelance reporter Rob Cameron visited that village and brings us this report. The steady tap of chisel against wood echoing through a cottage in the tiny Slovak mountain village of Vuklainetz. Rows of centuries old wooden houses earned the village UNESCO World Heritage status in 1993.

World Heritage sites are preserved for their cultural, historical or scientific significance and range from ancient wonders like the Great Wall of China to natural marvels like Australia's Great Barrier Reef. That recognition also attracts tourists. Around 100,000 tourists visit Vukalinié. each year. For Anton Sabuja, a lifelong Vuklinnets residence, it's a mixed blessing. Before all this UNESCO frenzy began, life here was much quieter, he says. Around 200 people once called Vuklinnets' home.

Today, there are just 17 permanent residents. Anton is trying to lead the charge to leave UdNets' UNESCO altogether and his campaign has the support of a few of his fellow villagers. One visitor from France tells me the village's appeal lay precisely in the fact that people still lived here. Local officials say the answer isn't leaving UNESCO, but managing tourism better. Miro Parrabeck is in charge of tourism for the town of Rujumberok, which adjudice. ministers of Wokolinets as one of its municipal districts. Our first priority is to preserve the traditional architecture, but our goal is also for this to

remain a living village, he says. We want to help and support the people who live here. Large festivals have already been replaced by smaller cultural events. The town is seeking Norwegian funding for a new park and ride below the village, as well as restoration of traditional terraces and converting the old school into a community centre. UNESCO has removed sites from its World Heritage list on only three occasions, and there's no precedent for a community simply asking to leave. For Vuckelinnets, the challenge isn't preserving the houses, it's preserving a way of life. Rob Cameron, for CBC News, Vuckelinets, Slovak.

The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy is revving up after a slow start. Organizers had to hit the brakes yesterday, canceling practice sessions and qualifying rounds over an incomplete track. It's the first year Markham Ontario is hosting the races, but as reporter Michelle Song tells us, the event is now full speed ahead. Indy car drivers finally got the green light to hit the truck. track in Markham, Ontario for the first time today. On Friday, organizers canceled the first day of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy due to an incomplete track, leaving fans disappointed. Things like the water situation, you know, one of the fountains kind of ran out. The lineups have been really long. Things like that and some confusion over to the entrance and exits.

I expected that. What I didn't expect was to not see cars today on track. It's been worse than I I mean, we noticed when we were coming in that they were still building like a couple of the bridges to go over the race track. Organizers apologized to fans saying safety checks for the new course couldn't be completed in time. But now with the event back on track, fans today say all is forgiven. So it's been fun. It's been great. It looks like it's picked up since yesterday, so that's good. And it's like the first year for Markham, so it's expected. But honestly, it wasn't extremely bad.

For 40 years, the popular motorsports only Canadian stop was downtown Toronto. Now, organizers moved locations to Markham for a multi-year deal, partly because Toronto was also hosting the FIFA World Cup this year. It was an extremely short timeline to get this accomplished. The event's announcer Todd Lewis says, because it's a fresh start for the event, bumps along the way are to be expected. This circuit is taking place on city streets and through a parking lot of a ghost transit station hub. That area was not made available until just a couple of days ago.

So to assemble a racetrack through that area is an extremely complex process. The Ontario and federal government invested a combined $5 million for the race. And Markham's mayor, Frank Scarpiti, says the city's spending for the event has exceeded $13 million, while it's expected to bring in 150,000 people. When you look at the investment we made, you can say yes, it was full. the indie race, but because of what we get in return, the branding of Markle, the exposure to over 200 countries around the world, this investment goes a lot further than the race itself. And indie car drivers won't need to pump the brakes today. New Zealand competitor Marcus Armstrong

says he's feeling good on the track. I mean, I liked the track downtown too. It sort of provided its own challenges. Here it's obviously a bit more predictable. Frankly, I prefer this because you can drive it a bit harder and know what grip you're going to have in 25 metres times. So so far, I really enjoy this place. Those who qualify today will be able to compete in the Indy 90 Lab race Sunday. Michelle Song, CBC News, Toronto. When it was first announced in 2022, the Pathways Alliance was proposed as a way to thread the needle between continuing oil production and the Trudeau government's efforts to reduce carbon emissions. But the size of the carbon capture project has been significant. significantly reduced. At the same time, it might end up costing the Canadian government much more.

Aniat Singh reports. There's still one industry that's polluting more. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2004, singling out the oil and gas industry for being the largest emitting sector in the Canadian economy. One solution, the Pathways Project, a multi-billion dollar proposal to transport carbon emissions from over 20 oil science facilities, and permanently store them in an underground hub. And there's already technology that can capture the carbon emissions from the oil and gas production. And we want these companies to invest in that technology. It was a kind of a social license to allow more Canadian fossil fuel production.

But now, rather than offsetting pollution from the existing oil industry, it has become a condition for offsetting new production that will fill a new oil pipeline. Tom Green, policy expert at the David Suzuki, foundation is critical about the role pathways plays in justifying fossil fuel expansion. I think it's just to give some people the sense the industry is doing something about their ever-growing emissions. The federal government and Alberta signed a deal in July to move forward with a much smaller Pathways project, which would capture only 6 million tons of carbon per year by the mid-2030s, rather than the original 22 million tons by the end of the decade. So a very far cry from the initial announcements and proposals from the oil

sands lines to reach net zero by 2050. Janetta McKenzie, Director of Oil and Gas at the Pembina Institute think tank, says pathways and the associated pipeline are becoming increasingly dependent on taxpayer support. Ottawa and Alberta will own up to 90% of the pipeline. Federal tax credits could subsidize up to half of the carbon capture equipment, and the federal government has even promised to support the project's operating costs once built. You put all that together. We seem to be talking about a very significant public funding package or public support package for the oil sands, which are an extremely profitable industry and probably

not, you know, not the type of industry or sector that Canadians would maybe look at and think needs a hand up. Many details about pathways are yet to be worked out, including the exact amount of money, federal and provincial governments will invest. One of the oil sands companies has estimated pathways may cost $20 to $30 billion to build, a big bill for tackling at least some of the industry's climate impact. In Ayat Singh, CBC News, Toronto. Anthony Bourdain was a culinary rock star, so it's only fitting that his life is getting the cinematic treatment. The new biopic Tony depicts his early years, learning the ropes in the kitchen of a cake,

Codd Seafood Restaurant. Its Canadian director says it's an inspirational story. But as Sarah Levitt tells us, at least one chef who knew the real Anthony Bourdain says he has mixed feelings. I need a job. You work in a good gym before. A young Anthony Bourdain, 51 years ago before the TV shows, books, and culinary fame in the newly released movie titled Tony. This is false for you. A coming of age film directed by Canadian Matt Johnson, where Bourdain finds his love for the kitchen amidst his young adult angst and uncertainty. It just seemed like an interesting antidote to the persona that everybody knows. My dad's like one of the best chefs in New Jersey.

It features Dominic Sessa as Bordane and Antonio Banderas as the head chef and mentor. The film is based on sections of Bordane's 2000 memoir, kitchen confidential, adventures in the culinary underbelly. But Johnson says the film is about more than Bordain. He wanted it to be a lesson on overcoming adversity. He was a drug-addicted line cook for much of his young adult life, and then all of a sudden becomes the most famous globetrotting food writer who's really ever lived. I think there's deep wisdom in that.

But the director actually knew little about Bourdain before taking on the project. I'd seen one episode that my brother had told me where he goes to Montreal. This is a great country because of this city. Without Montreal, Canada would be home. hopeless. It's where the cool kids hang. That, a scene from a 2011 episode of Bordane's show, The Layover. Then came this, the magnificent Joe Beef. He kept coming back to Montreal, ultimately shooting three episodes for three different shows over the years.

And in those visits, he created deep friendships with some of the city's greatest chefs. Bourdain was like this supergroup of one person. Friends, like Fred Morin, co-owner of Joe Beef, who says he owes Bourdain in. part for making his restaurant so renowned. It was a friendship that was cut short when Bourdain took his own life in 2018. I feel like Bourdain was very unscripted. Pustumously, his legacy is overly scripted. Morein was invited to the premiere in New York City but declined.

I don't need a documentary because he said it all. He was open. In his shows, in his books, in his conversation, he led it all there in such perfect curated form that nobody else can say it afterward because there's nothing else to say. Still, he says he will probably watch it at some point. You know, I can cook it too. With the film now screening across Canada, Morin won't be alone. Sarah Levitt. CBC News, Montreal.

Final applause for singer Bonnie Tyler. Fans lined the street of the coastal Welsh town of Swansea as a hearse passes by carrying Tyler's casket. Draped in the red dragon flag, her black and white. white glamour shot, staring out of the window. At the start of the procession, her biggest career hit, total eclipse of the heart played in the streets. Some people through flowers, others followed the hearse. I grew up with the music of Bonnie Tyler. I've always heard her songs throughout my life. And it's just my way of coming here to pay my respects because I think she was a very unique artist and she had a unique voice. We hear Bonnie Tyler all whole lives.

And so it's pretty important for us to come here, to say goodbye together. And it's pretty emotional for us. Maybe we cry some tears if she comes down there. I think everybody wanted to pay respects to Bonnie. I mean, she's well known. She's well loved. We call it a Welsh queen. Bonnie Tyler was born Gaynor Hopkins in 1951.

Her husky voice and power ballads catapulted her to stardom in the 70s and 80s, becoming the first Welsh person to score a number one hit in the U.S. Tyler died a month ago, aged 75. Her family said it was unexpected. Ahead of their private family service, they said in a statement, she's remembered as a warm, generous artist whose music touched generations and continues to fill dance floors and karaoke booths around the world. Her final resting place is her hometown of Fernhill Wales.

We'll leave you tonight with more Bonnie Tyler. This has been your world tonight for August 15th, 2026. I'm Kimberly Gale. Good night. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca.ca.com.