Your World Tonight - Houthi rebels join Middle East war, Mining critical minerals, Juno Awards Weekend, and more

Episode Date: March 28, 2026

A new combatant has entered the conflict in the Middle East. The Houthis, Iran-backed rebels who control much of Yemen, have fired ballistic missiles at Israel. Their involvement not only increases the danger, but also threatens to upend another vulnerable global shipping route. Also: Around the world, countries are racing to find new supplies of critical minerals. They're the building blocks of renewable energy technology, but also important in advanced weapons. China has a monopoly that countries like the U.S. and Canada are looking to break. The Fifth Estate travelled to Northern Quebec, where residents worry that in the global push to mine these minerals, their rights may be overlooked. And: The Juno Awards are being handed out this weekend. The annual celebration of homegrown music is taking place over two nights, and this time there's a record-breaking number of categories. We take you to Hamilton for a look at how Canadian music's biggest night is shaping up. And we'll take a deeper listen to some of the Indigenous artists gaining global popularity as they're featured on a groundbreaking show.Plus: No Kings protests, NDP leadership candidates make their final pitches to party members, and more.

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This is a CBC podcast. The who-sallahed Yemeni? Please enter the fray. After a month on the sidelines, the Yemeni rebel group has attacked Israel. Sparking fears another vital trading route could be at risk. This is your world tonight. I'm Stephanie Skandaris. Also on the podcast, protesters take to the streets in all 50 U.S. states. Organizers of the latest no-kings rallies hope they'll be the largest single-day protests in U.S. history. There were also demonstrations around the world, including in Canada. The results of the last election were not what we wanted, and we know how to get back to where we can earn the trust of Canadians again.

Can a new leader breathe new life into the new Democrats? You'll go to the party's convention in Winnipeg, where five candidates are running for the top job. A new combatant has entered the conflict in the Middle East. The Houthis, Iran-backed rebels who control much of Yemen, have fired ballistic missiles at Israel. Their involvement not only increases the danger, but also threatens to upend another vulnerable global shipping route.

Katie Simpson is in Doha for us tonight. Katie, how does the Houthis entering this war complicate the situation in the Middle East? Not only is this a new front in the war, it could have a significant impact on another vital Middle East shipping route and mean more volatility for trade and global energy markets. The Houthis are Iranian-backed and operate out of Yemen. Its leaders had warned for a few days it was ready to get involved,

and today it fired missiles at Israel, which were intercepted. The big question going forward is, will the huthies use the same kind of tactics they have in the recent past? The group got involved in the Hamas-Israel war by targeting ships in the Red Sea. If there is a repeat, it would create another choke point, jeopardizing a shipping route for roughly 10% of the war, the world's energy products and the main shipping route connecting Europe and Asia.

This would multiply the already brutal consequences of Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Big picture, it's another area that could be unsafe. Insurance companies may not be willing to cover ships. It could mean supply challenges and higher prices globally. What do we know about these talks apparently happening between the U.S. and Iran? U.S. President Trump says Iran is begging to make peace? What do we know about the state of these talks? The Trump administration is suggesting there could be meetings with Iran as early as next week. That is what we heard from Steve Whitkoff, who's the top American negotiator. Still, Iran has denied there are formal negotiations underway.

However, it did confirm that messages are being shared through intermediaries. Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt, they will be meeting in Pakistan starting Sunday for some high-level talks around a path to de-escalation. Even as there appear to be efforts to reach a diplomatic solution, the fighting rages on. US defenses were breached by an Iranian missile attack. After an American base in Saudi Arabia was targeted, 12 service members were injured and several planes were damaged. The U.S. and Israel continue to hammer targets across Iran, while the Israelis also hit what they say are Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Fear is intensifying the killing and the destruction in Lebanon could lead to a humanitarian crisis with more than one.

1.1 million people already displaced. Iran's attacks remain relentless, firing missiles and drones at Israel as well as Gulf region countries. And as this fighting enters its second month, the U.S. says it sees an end to the war soon. Within a matter of weeks, it says, rather than months. Katie, thank you so much. Appreciate it. Thanks. CBC's Katie Simpson in Doha. Katie mentioned Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon. Those have killed nine paramedics and wounded seven others. That's according to the World Health Organization. The attacks happened in five separate villages. The WHO says because of Israel's war with Hezbollah, four hospitals and 51 primary health care centers are now closed. Several other facilities

are operating at reduced capacity. An Israeli attack also killed three Lebanese journalists. Israel's military says one of the journalists was targeted for being a Hezbollah operations, but did not provide evidence of that claim. If history is any indication, Americans don't really like kings very much, and millions of them fear Donald Trump is acting more like a royal than a president. They took to the streets in every state for the third no-kings rally, and they were supported by similar rallies in countries around the world. Philip LeShenock reports.

In Madrid, hundreds came out to voice their opposition to U.S. president, Donald Trump. This protester named Sean is originally from Los Angeles. He is completely and 100% unqualified. He cares nothing about America. He cares nothing about the American people. He cares nothing about the people of the world. In cities around the world, people protested against unchecked power. In the United States, organizers say more than 3,200 events were planned in all 50 states. If more than 9 million people attend, it will be the largest single-day non-violent protest in U.S. history. It's the third no-kings event, but since the last protest in the fall, ICE agents have shot

and killed two U.S. citizens, René Good and Alex Preddy in Minnesota in January. And just last month, the U.S. and Israel launched an ongoing military operation. Gulf War veteran Walter Finn protested outside D.C.'s Fort McNair. And that was an illegal war just like many of the other. You know, Donald Trump is in love with Donald Trump. President of Donald Trump. That's it. Everybody else, you know, to hell with them. Unlike the past two No King's rallies, about two-thirds of the events were in smaller communities

outside major city centers. Organizers say small-town America is reacting to surging gas and grocery prices, masked ice agents patrolling the streets, the Epstein files, and now the war in Iran. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed the rallies as Trump derangement therapy. sessions. While a Fox News poll found 59% of registered voters do not approve of Trump's presidency on Fox and Friends, Trump says his MAGA base approves of his administration. The MAGA people are smart. We're very popular. I mean, what can they say? MAGA loves the fact that they're not going to have somebody with a nuclear bomb over their head. At a rally in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, educator Bill Nye, the science guy, wondered how long Trump

can continue to govern without the consent. of the governed, and he remembered he was in high school when U.S. President Richard Nixon resigned. The President of the United States was abusing his authority, and they got him to quit. That was nothing compared to what's going on now. Outside the U.S. consulate in Toronto, Julie Buchanan of Democrats abroad Canada says all efforts are on getting the vote out for the midterm elections in November. Nine million Americans live outside the United States. If you need to register to make sure your votes protected, because who knows how many of our votes overseas are going to get challenged by Republicans.

Democrats see an opportunity to gain majorities in Congress, and they're concerned about attempts to redistrict election boundaries, challenge mail-in voting and other changes that could curtail voting rights. Philip Lichanaw, CBC News, Toronto. Still ahead, it's Juneau weekend. We take you to Hamilton for a look at how Canadian music's biggest night is shaping up and take a deeper listen to some of the indigenous artists gaining global popularity as they're featured on a groundbreaking show.

That's all coming up on Your World Tonight. Tomorrow, the NDP unveils its new federal party leader. Today was the last day to vote in the leadership race. Five candidates are on the ballot, all with different visions to rebuild the party. David Thurton is in Winnipeg covering the Leadership Convention. And now for our showcase. The candidates on the ballot for NDP leader made one last pitch to voters. Kicking things off, Avi Lewis.

He wants to take on the wealthy. We are the only party that criticizes capitalism. Lewis is promising to make the NDP a party of bold ideas. But we in the NDP need a political offer that cannot be confused with or co-opted by either the liberals or conservatives. Heather McPherson took the stage with an endorsement from former Alberta Premier Rachel Notley. Heather understands we can only grow through addition, not division.

The NDP currently holds provincial government here in Manitoba and in British Columbia. Yet the federal party's opposition to bitumen pipelines has clashed with pro-oil-and-gas NDP premiers. McPherson is vowing to change that. the country. Our values are winning. And we can choose to ignore or even oppose that success, or we can build from it together. McPherson, an Alberta MP, is the only candidate already elected to Parliament. And I'm already doing the work. Thank you. Three other candidates are on the ballot, Tony McQuail, a farmer, Tinnell Johnston, a social worker,

both leading grassroots campaigns with new ideas. We need to unite not just new but a broad, green, progressive coalition. A guaranteed livable basic income to end poverty in Canada. One candidate, who some say could be a surprise winner, is Rob Ashton. Ashton is a dock worker and a labor leader. My friends, I believe in this party. I believe in what we built. Ashton has spent much of the campaign doing outreach to those who may have abandoned the party for the conservatives.

working class, Canadians stop seeing themselves in us. We could fix that, and we will. Each of the candidates is offering a different diagnosis for the federal party's problems. In the last election, it lost party status in Parliament. And more recently, an MP crossed the floor to join the liberals. On Sunday morning, Canadians will find out whom the party chooses to turn things around.

David Burton, CBC News, Winnipeg. Only a small share of Canada's household energy consumption is from heating oil, just under 3% according to statistics Canada. Most of that oil is burned in three provinces, Nova Scotia, P.E.I and Newfoundland and Labrador. But now, with the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz driving up fuel prices, people who heat their homes with oil say a hole is burning in their wallets. Laura Howells reports from St. John's. Just going sky high, week after week after week, going to a point where

it's almost unable to be paid for. Is that expensive? Jack Whalen says his last heating oil bill was about $900. And as prices rise, he's bracing for the next fill-up. Go to go down next week and go again tomorrow next day. So it's like a roller coaster. You don't know what it's going to be. About 1 in 10 homes in Newfoundland and Labrador rely on heating oil,

according to natural resources Canada. And costs have been steadily ticking up since January. At one point, furnace oil was up by 81 cents per liter. from the start of the year. The price changes almost every day lately. You know, you're sort of playing roulette with the prices. You don't know when you're going to see another 12 or 15 cents up or 2 cents down or 9 cents up. Walter Harding says he recently paid almost $2,000 after taxes to fill his tank. To save money, he now keeps the house cooler, puts on sweaters, and leaves the oven door open after cooking.

You see our disposable income is down to nil now, like absolutely nil, and you have to save where you can. Familiar stuff to Sharon Callahan. She heads the provincial pensioners association and says a lot of seniors are making tough choices to deal with heating costs, including leaving home during the day or moving in with family for a couple months. People are taking all kinds of measures that they can possibly come up with. Callahan's own oil bill went up by more than $150 this month. The cost of oil has just escalated so much over the past. a number of months that people are just finding it really difficult to keep pace. Jack Whalen says he's driving less to keep costs down.

It's one of these things you've got to take from one thing to pay the other thing, you know. So you don't do as much traveling or you don't do, you know, eat as much food and that kind of stuff. So you're going to have, and people have various ways of cutting their costs when it comes to heating, but you can't go cold. Price is heating up, making it harder to stay warm. Laura Howells, CBC News, St. John's. 22 migrants have died off the coast of Greece. They were sailing in a dinghy that left Libya a week ago en route to Europe.

The Greek Coast Guard says the boat then lost its way, and passengers spent six days at sea without food or water. Another 26 people were rescued when they were intercepted by a European border agency ship. Two men from South Sudan have been arrested on suspicion of human trafficking and are under investigation for illegal entry and negligent homicide. Around the world, countries are racing to find new supplies of critical minerals. They are the building blocks of renewable energy technology, but also important in advanced weapons.

China has a monopoly that countries like the U.S. and Canada are looking to break. But in northern Quebec, residents there worry that in the global push to mine these minerals, their rights may be overlooked. The Fifth of States, Stephen D'Souza has a story. An early March after a 200-plus kilometer journey by Snowmobile, a group of Innu arrived at a remote mining camp in northern Quebec. The group raises a blue flag with their community logo, marking their opposition to what could be the biggest rare earth mine in Canada.

Rare earth elements are used in high-powered magnets found in electric vehicles, but also drones, fighter jets, and weapons systems. I mean, in the perfect world, they shouldn't touch the area. Magia Mudluck is chairperson of the Katavik Regional Government. Their community lies 200 kilometers downstream along the George River from the proposed mine site, a pristine region with plenty of wildlife that could be affected by a massive open-pit mine. The migrating caribus, the migrating birds, the salmon, it's the diet. If they're harmed, then we're going to be harmed.

Torn Gat Metals is the Quebec Company trying to develop the site. It's part owned by a major U.S. private equity firm and has close to $175 million in loans from the Canadian federal government. Ultimately, access to your own critical minerals, access to your own energy, is soft. sovereignty is strength, is security. That's federal energy minister Tim Hodgson. With China holding a global monopoly on supply and processing of these types of minerals, he says the new mine is a necessary alternative.

Look, we are in a world where world powers, hegemon's, are using supply chains and our economic integration to get what they want. The way we diversify against that is we bring our own resources to market. To do that, the government has to do that. taken what it calls unprecedented steps. The government loans come before the company has even completed the environmental assessments. We've never been in a situation where one country controlled over 90% of the world's supply of critical minerals that are required to make all the things we rely on as a society. We're doing things that are exceptional because we are in exceptional

times. Maggie and Mudluck, though, worries if that means the project will be rushed through before her community can assess the impact. They know that. They can't just bulldoze and start mining tomorrow because of the environment section that we have. It's a very strong one. Ludwig Terjean is with Mining Watch and Environment and Human Rights Group.

He says the government needs to slow down. Why are you putting so much pressure? Why are you giving so much leverage and means to a company that has not even started yet to have real discussion with all the individuals? in this community is affected. But the minister insists they will listen to local concerns and won't push the project ahead. Absolutely not. Any proponent who ultimately brings a project to production needs to ultimately get support of First Nations. That's a core part of our government. But amidst the

global rush for critical minerals, over the next few years critics say this project will put that promise to the test. Stephen D'Souza, CBC News, Toronto. You can watch the 50s, the state's full investigation, critical threat on YouTube or CBC Gem. It's a big day for the professional women's hockey league. Today's match in Detroit was the first ever PWHL game to be broadcast nationally in U.S. history. What a third period for the victoire. And they are a 3 to 1 winner over the sirens. The Montreal Victoire beat out the New York Sirens 3 to 1.

The league says the broadcast made the game accessible to more than 120. million U.S. households. It was a one-time deal, but there are hopes it could help secure a full-time national TV deal. Interest in women's hockey has skyrocketed in the U.S. since the Milano-Cortino Winter Olympics. That gold medal game between the U.S. and Canada was the most watched women's hockey game on record, bringing in more than 5 million American viewers. The Juno Awards are being handed out in Hamilton this weekend.

The annual celebration of homegrown music is taking place over two nights, and this time there's a record-breaking number of categories. Griffin Yeager has been soaking it all up at Hamilton's TD Coliseum. Griffin, can you set this up for us? Tell us about these categories and all the awards that have to be handed out. There are over 40 categories being given out at the Juno's, two heavy hitters that we've seen on the charts for many years, two up-and-coming artists. There's just so much exciting stuff.

Justin Bieber leads the pack with six nominations. He's being honored for his work on swag and swag too. Those are those albums that came out. Coachella, he performed at the Grammys. So exciting to see the Juno's giving him his flowers as well. Another person up for six awards is Tate McRae, Calgary-Born pop megastar, who is being recognized for her work on her first number one album. We've also got the weekend up for some nominations, but we're not sure if those megastars will make it to the Junos this year.

We do know that another person who's up for five nominations tied with the weekend is Cameron Whitcomb, who is a first-time Juno nominee. There is also a new category at the Juno's this year. They're going to be giving out an award for Latin music recording of the year, something that's been in the works for like two to three years. One of the artists, not in the Latin category, but nominated for Adults Alternative Album of the Year for Her album, Furnacee Life is Bagonia. Bagonia is born in Winnipeg and is just so excited to be here. Take a listen to what Bagonia said. It would be the hottest thing ever if I met Nellie Furtado, but like we can't count our chickens here before they had. I met Julie Black last night and she was like, take my number.

And I was like, I won't abuse this, I promise. Are you sure? So it's just been fun just being in the mix. So she's talking about the fun. You mentioned the excitement. There seems to be so much anticipation for this main televised ceremony, which is happening tomorrow night. What's in store?

Well, actually, I hear there are some surprises in store. Rush, you know the band are hinting at, quote, something special at the 26 June Awards on their social pages. They posted a sort of cryptic message saying, We want to let you in on something in a newsletter. Cameron Whitcomb, first-time nominee, will be taking the stage. Joni Mitchell is being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Nelly Furtado will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Daniel Caesar will be getting an achievement award. And there will also be a performance from Hamilton's own Arkells. We actually had a chance to speak with Max Kerman, the frontman of Arkells, just about what this moment means to be back on that hometown stage celebrating Canadian music. The world is pretty tough out there right now. So if you can have any moment to sort of just reflect on what your own small little community is producing, and I think it's a good use of your time. And Max's words there really represent the message being sent out here at the Juno Awards,

the celebration of Canadian music, and Hamilton is ready to host the party. Griffin, thank you so much. Thank you. CBC's Griffin Yeager in Hamilton. The Juno's will be broadcast live Sunday night at 8 p.m. Eastern across all CBC platforms. That includes CBC TV, Gem, Radio 1, and the CBC Listen app. And some of the musicians up for Juno's captured new audiences, thanks to the hit CBC show, North of North, that's also streaming on Netflix.

Its soundtrack features all indigenous artists. And some of those artists say North of North's popularity is held. helping them reach a global audience. Christine Pagelion has that story. Siaya, the main character of the hit Canadian series North of North, starts a new job after a very public breakup and assigns her daughter's school drop-off to her mother. Arriving at school, Little Bun then flips off her teacher.

And the song you hear as all this goes down is no evil. Mohawk artist Shawnee Kish is thrilled at its success. That song has reached. Indigenous communities, non-Indigenous people, it just has that reach. And because North of North has blown up on Netflix, its music has too. The show's Inuctitude cover of Duelipa's Levitating

is all over TikTok. The soundtrack's praise isn't lost on the show's co-creator and executive producer, Stacey Agluck-Peddonald. It's unreal. It takes some time to sink in, and then we lavish in it. Her team was hungry and eager to feature indigenous artists on the show.

These are people who are just making music because they love making music for our people, for our communities, and for Inuit and for indigenous people. Music supervisor Michael Perlmutter says every track has intent. The soundtrack mixes pop, rock, and throat singing and Inuctitude covers of popular songs like Ave Maria and Time After Time. Music is a universal language. And people don't speak the language that they're singing. But they can feel the emotion and they can feel the energy and they can feel the passion.

That mix of traditional and contemporary genres is getting wider recognition. Last year, Red Future from Hazela hip-hop duo Snoddy Nose Res Kids won big at the Juno's Best Rep Album of the Year. And that matters, says Alan Gray Eyes, director for the Sakeway Festival because it's a category in competition with more. than just indigenous artists. When they continue to create more music, audiences grow, and also cultural practices are we introduced and strengthened. For Kish, visibility is about more than awards. It's about making room for indigenous people to be their whole selves,

advice she wants to pass on to the next generation of indigenous artists. You are so worth fighting for, and you are so worth having a voice and a place in the world to use your gifts that the creator gave you, to use who you are, to use your pain, to use your struggle, to use your beauty, to show up and to be exactly who you are. Let me do you one favor. Let me pray for you.

You're a gift from Corridor. Christine Pagulay on CBC News, Toronto. Here is another of the musicians in that same category, contemporary indigenous artist of the year. Tia Wood, and it's been a big year for the 26-year-old from Alberta's Satell Lake Cree Nation, Her star was already on the rise. And then last October, Sean Mendez brought her on stage in Vancouver for a duet of his song, Youth.

As long as I'm wasting out there. Tia was raised in music. Her father is Earl Wood, one of the original founders of legendary and Juno-winning powwow and round dance group, Northern Creek. Tia Wood is making her mark on social media with more than 2.2 million followers on TikTok. She had her first Juno nod last year after her debut EP Pretty Red Bird. She's back this year in the same category, so we'll leave you with more of her song, Sage My Soul, on your world tonight. I'm Stephanie Skendaris.

Thank you for listening. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca.ca.