Your World Tonight - Deadly Hong Kong fire, help for steel and lumber, food bank demand, and more

Episode Date: November 26, 2025

Dozens of people are dead after a massive fire in Hong Kong. Many people are still missing. The fire still isn’t out, and there’s no word on the cause, but many fingers are pointing to bamboo scaffolding that caused flames to spread very quickly.And: Ottawa announces support for steel and lumber industries coping with U.S. tariffs. The plan includes limits on the amount of foreign steel coming into the country, and measures to help steel and wood producers better compete in the domestic market.Also: Canadian food banks are preparing to meet demand like never before. Grocery costs are soaring, and food banks say the need is pushing them past their limits.Plus: Two National Guards members shot near White House, the debate over F35s vs Gripens, challenges ahead for Paralympian Raphaëlle Tousignant, and more.

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The temperature inside the buildings are very high. It's quite difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operation. Flames out of control and hundreds of residents out of reach trapped high above Hong Kong in a massive fire, spread across multiple high-rise buildings. Questions about what went wrong, with many still missing, and the casualties still climbing. Welcome to Your World Tonight.

I'm Susan Bonner. It is Wednesday, November 26th, just before 6 p.m. Eastern, also on the podcast. We must protect our workers and our industries who are most exposed to U.S. tariffs. Help them bridge to the future. New support for industries under pressure in. a trade war. With Canada's steel and lumber sectors facing future uncertainty and bleeding jobs now, Ottawa is offering financial aid and protection from foreign products. Also, boom, boom, twice. Go, go, go. And then I heard, help, help in the direction of the shooting.

Gunshots near the White House injure two National Guard members and put Washington on high alert. In Hong Kong, at least 40 people are dead and close to 300 people missing after a fire broke out at one apartment tower and spread to several more. Rescue efforts were hampered by intense heat and the height of the building. Now three people are under arrest in connection to the disaster. Lisa Xing has the latest. Bright orange flames shot up in the air as the sky grew dark, onlookers with their phones out, others hugging each other, crying.

Some wrapped in red blankets sitting on the curb. Everyone was shouting that there was a fire, get out, get out, says this woman who lives in one of the buildings. The deadly inferno broke out mid-afternoon local time. at the densely populated Wang Fouk housing complex in Hong Kong's Taipo district. Eight blocks of buildings, dozens of stories tall, with about 4,800 residents living in them.

The fire went from one block to another, says this woman. It was just burning and burning. It burned until it exploded. Things were exploding and falling down. One man says his wife was still inside. Another left his dog. I am devastated, says Jason Kong. There are so many neighbours and friends.

I don't know what to do. The blaze engulfed at least seven buildings close to each other. Smoke and flames shooting out of the many windows. Firefighters attempted rescue efforts, including a baby. But reaching residents was a struggle. Crews dodged burning debris and falling scaffolding, says Derek Armstrong Chan, Deputy Director of Fire Services at the Hong Kong Fire Department. And the temperature inside the buildings concerned are very high.

So it's quite difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations. A firefighter, 37-year-old Hoai Ho, died from his injuries. And hundreds of people are spending the night in temporary shelters, including sports centres and schools where paramedics treated them. Officials say the fire started at the external bamboo scaffolding of one of the buildings, later spreading to the inside and nearby blocks. The government had started phasing out the material for safety reasons,

no doubt part of the investigation. As authorities look into what happened, people are grieving the dozens of family members they lost and hope for the safety of those who are still missing. Lisa Sching, CBC News, Toronto. Two National Guard members have been shot within blocks of the White House. It happened in broad daylight near a metro station. One person is in custody. The CBC's Katie Simpson was on the scene shortly after the shooting.

Katie, what do we know? The FBI director is calling this a horrendous act of violence, saying members of the National Guard were brazenly attacked. It was around 2.15 this afternoon when police say an armed suspect approached members of the National Guard as they were patrolling a metro station, just about two blocks from the White House. Two members of the National Guard were shot. There was a back and forth with the suspect who was also shot and is now in custody. The mayor of Washington, D.C., says at this time, this appears to be a targeted shooting. Police are also describing it as an ambush. It was a chaotic scene with a massive police response. Stacey Walters, a nurse who lives in D.C., was in an Uber close to the scene when she heard it all unfold.

I was in the Uber when the shooting happened. I heard boom, boom, boom, two boom booms. So then the Uber driver says, to me, why are all these people running? And I look on the street. So many people were running the opposite direction. And it was little, little children, too. They looked like school-age children, maybe even as young as five. So the individual who's charged them, I just heard him say, go, go!

So then I heard, help, help. Initially, the governor of West Virginia had said that two National Guard troops were shot in this incident, that they were from his home state and that they had died as a result of their injuries. However, less than an hour later, the governor said that there are now conflicting reports, and we have just learned that the National Guard members are in critical condition. U.S. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the investigation on social media. He wrote, the animal who shot the two National Guardmen is also severely wounded, but regardless will pay a very steep price. Katie, a word on who these National Guards are.

They've been patrolling D.C. since the summer. Part of the President's efforts to make the U.S. capital safer? Yeah, the National Guard deployment in D.C. started after a government employee, someone who worked at Doge, was beaten up after a night out. and the National Guard have stayed in town ever since. And it's important to remember, National Guard troops serve on a part-time basis. They have other jobs, some are teachers that are not just related to the military. And there's been plenty of public debate in D.C. about whether this deployment is actually necessary and whether these troops even really want to be here.

As someone who lives here, you'd often see them in the streets, at metro stations. They're generally very friendly. The public here has been very friendly back. They're treated very differently than ICE agents for the. most part. It appears the White House is now considering deploying even more National Guard troops in the wake of this shooting. Thank you, Katie. Thanks. The CBC's Katie Simpson in Washington. A judge has dismissed an election interference case against U.S. President Donald Trump after a request from Georgia prosecutors. The charges stemmed from Trump's efforts to overturn his loss in the state

during the 2020 election. He faced 13 criminal counts, including violating racketeering laws. But the district attorney who originally brought the case was removed for having an inappropriate relationship with a prosecutor. The new district attorney asked to have the case dismissed. Coming right up, material support. Ottawa announces new help for steel and lumber sectors trying to weather the ongoing trade war. And the proposed pipeline linking Alberta oil with the BC coast, causing a split in the Liberal Caucus. Later, we'll have this story.

She's considered one of Canada's best para-hockey players. Rafael Tussignan is now trying to make the mixed team heading to the Paralympics in Italy, a challenge she's facing at a time of personal struggle. I did a mammogram, I did a biopsy, Ultratown, a bunch of tests, and, yeah, it's a breast cancer. I'm Sarah Levin in Montreal. Later on Your World Tonight, how health problems aren't stopping,

to Signon from chasing her dreams. The Prime Minister has unveiled new measures aimed at helping the steel and lumber sectors. Both industries are suffering because of U.S. tariffs. Mark Carney says his plan will help them become more resilient and less reliant on American business. Marina von Stalkleberg explains. Demand is coming.

We're creating that demand. Prime Minister Mark Carney announcing new supports. He says will protect two important domestic industries and clear roadblocks for their products to be used more at home. Carney says Canada will limit the portion of foreign steel that can come into the country at lower tariff rates, even for countries outside of US and Mexico that Ottawa has free trade agreements with.

To ensure that our steel producers have a bigger share of our market. Doing so will unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in domestic demand for those producers. Carney's plan also includes a new 25% tariff on some imported steel products, like wires and prefabricated buildings. The measures welcomed by the industry battered by Trump's trade war, and already fighting a battle with other countries importing cheap steel. Keenan Loomis is with the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction. What China is trying to do is to swamp domestic industries and thus basically killing them.

So what we need is these types of measures to be able to protect the industry. Ottawa is also pledging to cut the cost of transporting Canadian steel and lumber between provinces by train in half. Industries have argued the high cost to ship these raw materials cross-country make them cheaper to buy from overseas. housing projects that use Canadian wood will also be prioritized. $1 billion in loans and supports are also being promised to the lumber industry. That's on top of the $1.2 billion, Ottawa committed in August. But despite calls for months from the forestry industry, little of that money has actually started flowing.

Get the money out the door. Derek Nybar is with the Forest Products Association of Canada. He says 2,000 jobs have already been lost since the trade war began. The additional funding is welcome today. The focus now needs to be on execution, and that's the piece we'll be holding the government to account for. Carney says talks with the United States have not restarted, but that he will be meeting with President Trump in Washington next week. Marina von Stackleberg, CBC News, Ottawa.

He's facing pushback from one province, criticism from the opposition. Now Mark Carney is dealing with. internal caucus pressure over his pipeline plan with Alberta. Tomorrow's announcement is expected to lay the groundwork for a proposed line to the West Coast. And as Olivia Stefanich reports, it's already laying bare some tricky politics. Of course, it's important for British Columbians to be involved in the process. In front of cameras, BC Liberal MPs like Parm Bain's are speaking diplomatically about the potential of a new oil pipeline.

You know, it doesn't really matter what me personally, I, I think it matters what Canadians altogether think. But behind closed doors, some tell CBC News their seething. Angry, they're learning about the details of the Prime Minister's agreement with Alberta from the media, instead of their own government. Minister, what did you tell the caucus? We had a really good discussion. Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson tried to smooth over those concerns this morning,

delivering a briefing to BC Liberal MPs on the MOU. Before Prime Minister Mark Kearney laid out. the broad strokes to the rest of caucus. But one MP described the meeting as quite candid and tense at times, with Hutchin using words like naive and ideological when responding to concerns. The project may be too much for lifelong environmental activist Stephen Gilbo to bear. Sources say the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture is having conversations with the Prime Minister's office, and there are internal concerns, Gilbo, could resist.

And we enjoy a very open and engaged dialogue. Carney hasn't directly addressed the cabinet resignation rumor, but says the MOU is about more than a pipeline. It's about building this economy. It's about making Canada more independent. And it's about making Canada more sustainable. Sources say the agreement exempts Alberta from some environmental regulations. In exchange for stricter industrial carbon pricing,

Carbon capture storage, engagement with BC, and support from First Nations, who say they're also learning about the MOU through the press. So it's been, you know, frustrating. Marilyn Slet is the elected chief counselor of the Helsic Tribal Council, one of the coastal First Nations urging Ottawa to uphold the tanker ban off of BC's northern coast. You know, ultimately one oil spill could destroy our way of life. I don't think that leaking to the Globe of Mail and the CBC, is First Nations engagement, and I don't think it's helpful.

BC Energy Minister Adrian Dix says his province isn't on board with the plan, and Ottawa should have started speaking to First Nations much earlier. I think that's the way you get things done. The opposition is also pouring cold water on the government's ability to follow through, from Conservative Alberta MP Stephanie Cluzey. And they have a pretty divided caucus in cabinet right now. To block Quebecois leader, Yves Francois Blanchet. Don't promise things that you cannot deliver.

or that you should not deliver. That's what politics should be all about. Carney isn't promising a pipeline will get built, only that he will clear the way for Alberta to make the project possible. Olivia Estefanovich, CBC News, Ottawa. As the federal government tries to decide which fleet of fighter jets it wants to buy, a Defense Department report obtained by Radio Canada is shedding more light on why the Royal Canadian Air Force likes one option better than the other. Murray Brewster reports.

A U.S. Air Force F-35, looking to refuel mid-air. The F-35 has long been the preferred choice of the Royal Canadian Air Force to replace the CF-18s. And now we have it in writing. I'm actually a little surprised at how stark the difference is. Defense expert Dave Perry, looking at a technical evaluation written in 2021, comparing Lockheed Martin's F-35 with Sobs Gripin. The document was written as the Liberal government debated which jet to choose. The Air Force evaluation, obtained by our colleagues at Radio Canada,

gave the F-35% a commanding 95% acceptability rating versus 33% for the Gripon. The Trudeau government had originally promised not to buy the F-35. Dave Perry wonders whether this evaluation was the tipping point in the decision to do an about-face. Because the capability assessment here says that there is a clear-cut winner. Like no contest, no ambiguity, the F-35 was assessed as being much more capable than the alternative. And I don't think that that's fundamentally changed. Critics, however, say a lot has changed in five years. Much of the evaluation was based on performance and the functionality of the F-35.

In September, the U.S. Government Accountability Office issued a report that said Lockheed Martin was having trouble delivering the latest software update known as Block 4. Retired Air Force Major General Charles Duff Sullivan wonders how much that will close the gap. Now, this is going to have a significant impact on the countries that are due to receive this aircraft, mainly in the area of weapons employment, sensor fusion, self-protection, and networking. The Department of National Defense says it's aware of the F-35 software problem, but insists the issues will not impact the aircraft Canada will receive. Software, however, is the defining feature of all modern aircraft, determining functionality.

So we have a new software update in the aircraft about every 10, 14 days. Lieutenant Colonel Marcus Vant is a Gripen test pilot who says the Swedish Air Force and Saab literally meet every week to discuss software updates. My job is to, I was put in the middle of this program, to make sure that it became a fighter for war and modern. product. It's unclear whether the Air Force has updated its 2021 assessment for the government's current review of the F-35 program. A decision on which fighter to select will be based on more than just capability, though. Jobs and economic benefits are part of the broader discussion. Murray Brewster, CBC News, Ottawa. This is Your World Tonight from CBC News. If you want to make sure you stay up to date and

never miss one of our episodes, Follow us on Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your podcasts. Just find the follow button and lock us in. Heading into the holiday season, food banks say demand for their help is at a record high. As more and more Canadians struggle to keep up with rising prices, some food banks are getting pushed past their limits. Selina Alders reports. Having the access to it is life-changing.

Brodie Dawson goes to his local food bank about once a week to stock up on essentials. The Toronto resident is unable to work due to an injury. And with the rising cost of groceries, he's been struggling to keep up financially. But he says it's around the holiday season where he really feels the pinch. Everyone wants to contribute something when you're having big meals for Christmas. Volunteers at food banks across the country are gearing up for what's expected to be a holiday season of record high. demand for food assistance. The demand is growing so much in terms of what's happening with our economy and what's

happening with just trying to survive. Romaine Rodin with Halifax's Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank says demand for its Christmas hamper is already up by 10% this year. They've extended their application deadline by three weeks just to give families in need a chance to sign up. Dawson says he sees people from all walks of life each week at his local food bank. You could see a mom with a stroller and her kids.

You could see somebody in a suit. You could see young adults. In Mississauga, it's been a year since city council declared food insecurity a citywide emergency. CEO of Food Bank's Mississauga, Megan Nichols, says this was a big step, but more work needs to be done at all levels of government to address the affordability crisis. We are a very efficient, very helpful Band-Aid that helps people through emergency times. We do not bring food security for people on a year-round basis. This year, the organization has set a $3 million fundraising goal for their annual holiday campaign.

A recent Food Bank's Canada report shows the number of food insecure Canadians has doubled since 2019. Director of research Richard Matern says it's a countrywide trend with no region space. Many people are having increasingly difficult time affording both rent and food, both of which have increased by over 25% since 2021. He says they're calling on Ottawa to introduce a groceries and essentials benefit for lower income Canadians. In the meantime, local food banks are inviting community members to help meet the growing need through financial and food donations so that every family can share in the holiday season. Selina Alders, CBC News, Halifax.

Environment Canada is rolling out a new weather warning system across the country. Instead of general watches and warnings, alerts will now come in three color-coded tiers. Yellow means conditions could be disruptive. Orange signals a risk of serious damage. And red warns of potentially life-threatening weather. Officials say the goal is to make storm alerts clearer and improve. preparedness. She has beaten the odds before. Now, Rafael Tussignan may be facing her toughest test yet. She is one of Canada's best para-hockey players who wants to compete alongside men on a

mixed team at the upcoming Paralympics. But getting there will be a challenge on and off the ice. Sarah Levitt has her story. In the dressing room ahead of the game, Raphael Tuzignan listens intently to her captain. The Montreal Canadians are about to strap into their sleds to take on the Boston Bruins in Parahockey. What makes Tuzignan unique is she's the only woman on the team. After being diagnosed with bone cancer when she was 10, she had her right leg amputated.

It hasn't stopped her. The 23-year-old has made a name for herself in parahockey dominating the women's side. And Rafael Tussignan right in front of the net. She's also the first Canadian woman to compete with the mixed national team at the 2023 World Parahockey Championship. Since, she's set her sights on making history again by being the first woman to play at the Paralympics in Milan in March.

Women's parahockey has yet to make an appearance at the Paralympics, so Tuzignas only shot is with the mixed team, which holds a roster spot for a woman. Now, though, she's hit what she calls a major snag. I did a mammogram. I did a biopathy. Eltrieve town, a bunch of tests, and yeah, it's a breast cancer. Tussignan starts her treatment this week, chemotherapy, and will soon get a double mastectomy.

A week after her diagnosis, she took to Instagram to let everybody know, but also to make it clear she's still going to try and crack the roster for Milan. I'm a lot on TikTok about it these days, trying to learn how it will be and trying to grip her myself. And there's not a lot of story of athletes or very active person, going through it. They kept working out and showing up to their sport. So I just want people to know. And if I can inspire other people, I'll be glad. She's fearless.

Vanessa Racine mentored Tuzignan when she first started playing parahockey. She's not afraid of anything. And I think that she can face challenges. And I also believe that the fact that she put it out there, she's got a huge wave of support already. Tuzignan says first she'll tackle the treatment and see how her body reacts, but ultimately, she wants to keep training. I don't know how realistic it is. I really don't know, but if there's one thing in my life that I always tried, and I'll keep showing up,

I'll keep working hard, keep manifest in it. That's what I want. On the ice, up against men sometimes twice her size, that determination is on full display. Sarah Levitt, CBC News, Montreal. Gordon a gate and let him out and walkin' boys. Here we come a letter number 29. What are you going to give for the little fella?

I want to have a man. Gordon Lightfoot's 1980 song, The Auctioneer. Fitting on a day when the legendary singer-songwriter was the focus of a Toronto auction house, one of the most successful Canadian artists of all time, Lightfoot died in 2023. Earlier today, fans and collectors had their chance to purchase items from Lightfoot's estate. There were high school yearbooks, lyric sheets, set lists, artwork, awards, even a handwritten note with a phone number on it.

It reads, if you need me, signed Bob Dylan. That sold for $1,700. McCall Fair Warning at $380,000, selling at $380,000. And that was the winning bid, $380,000 for the jewel of the lot. Gordon Lightfoot's 1948 Martin acoustic guitar with a custom leather pad to prevent belt buckle scratches and a smiley face sticker from Lightfoot's daughter. It was his primary performing guitar throughout much of his career. Gone to the highest bidder with one important condition.

The auction house cannot. ship the guitar out of the country because it is designated Canadian heritage. Thank you for joining us. This has been your world tonight for Wednesday, November 26th. I'm Susan Bonner. Talk to you again. It is possible, son, we just can't stand to have a mediocre man, some of danger to auction, you're using a good name. Well, I was an old to auction school, and then you'll be an old buddy's fooling. You can take your place For more robust

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