Your World Tonight - U.S. booze on the table, Israel moves Gaza yellow line, Prince Harry moves to UK, and more

Episode Date: August 20, 2026

As Ottawa and Washington fine tune the details of a trade deal on steel and autos, one potential concession from Canada – getting rid of provincial bans or restrictions on selling American alcohol. It’s a popular policy here - and many Canadians say even if it’s put back on the shelves - they won’t buy it. And: CBC reporting confirms Israel is slowly moving the so-called “yellow line” to cover more than 60 percent of Gaza – squeezing two million displaced Palestinians into an ever-shrinking territory. Also: Harry and Meghan stepped away from royal life – and the United Kingdom – six years ago and moved to California. Now – they’re packing up the kids, and moving back. Plus: Sixty days to Alberta’s referendum, the dangers of lithium-ion batteries, Edmonton marathon mistake, and more. 

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I mean, I do love bourbon. Don't get me wrong, but there's obviously a bad taste left in my mouth. A dilemma that many more Canadians could soon face. Several premiers say they've been asked by the Prime Minister to put American liquor back on store shelves. Those bans are a response to the U.S. trade war, and it's not clear that premiers are ready to toast to the contents of a tentative deal. This is Your World Tonight. It's Thursday, August 20th, just before 6 p.m. Eastern. I'm Kimberly Gale. Also on the podcast. You think it's Canada Day every day because there are brand new flags hoisted on barns, on farm fences and businesses and people's homes.

A consequential referendum in Alberta takes closer. It's now 60 days until Albertans have a say on whether the province should remain in Canada or hold a binding vote on separation. Dominic LeBlanc was back in Washington today for further talks with U.S. officials. The Canada U.S. Trade Minister and his team are trying to finalize a deal to avoid new tariffs and reduce existing export levies. But here in Canada, leaders and industry, experts aren't celebrating just yet. Tom Perry has the latest.

We're very close. We continue to make progress. Another day of shuttle diplomacy. Dominic LeBlanc back in Washington, D.C., emerging from a three-hour meeting with U.S. officials trying to lock down a deal that would see U.S. President Donald Trump drop his threat to impose new tariffs on Canada and reduce, but not eliminate existing tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and autos. The proposed agreement, getting a lukewarm response in Canada from some provincial premiers, including Manitoba's Wab Canoe. You know, very wise people have said you can't get a good deal with a bad person.

The U.S. is demanding concessions from Canada at the top of the list, that provinces that have banned U.S. alcohol lift those restrictions. Cano says Prime Minister Mark Carney practically begged premiers to do that in a conference call yesterday. The Manitoba Premier says he's still deciding what to do but would prefer a different approach. I think we should fight. I think Donald Trump is very weak. I think America is weaker around the world today than it was a year ago. He's about to get slaughtered in the midterms. Quebec Premier Christine Frasette, who's facing an election in October, says she had many questions about the proposed deal after the prime minister's call with the premiers.

Frischette says she spoke to Carney again today. And he had answers, answers to my questions. So we are now analyzing the answers he gave me and analyzing the impact on Quebec's economy. David Coletto of Abacus Data says it's not just premiers who will be asking questions about this deal. He says the Prime Minister will need to explain to Canadians why he's prepared to make concessions for an agreement that will still leave Canada facing some steep U.S. tariffs. The evidence is that there's not a lot of Canadians out there who are inclined to think that we should be making concessions. I mean, you have to understand that there's still deep animosity towards the Trump administration, the United States, that feeling of betrayal, I don't think is really left. Selling this agreement could prove to be a challenge, but the Prime Minister and some premiers argue this may be the best deal possible when dealing with the current U.S. administration.

Tom Perry, CBC News, Ottawa. U.S. booze, back on Canadian shelves. It's been a key demand from the Americans to move trade talks forward. With a new agreement in the works, the Prime Minister has reportedly asked premiers to lift the bans and help seal the deal. But as Alexander Silberman tells us, not everyone is ready to sign on. I mean, I do love bourbon. Don't get me wrong, but there's obviously a bad taste left in my mouth. Outside a St. John's liquor store, the possible return of U.S. booze to the shelves met with a frosty reception. We've got plenty of good alcohol here in Canada.

Ward Groves says he won't buy any American booze. They've proven not to be our friends on this is to their advantage. And Groves is not alone. 69% of Canadians say they aren't likely to, according to Nanos Research Poll published last month, Chris Lamar will be sticking to local alternatives. Anything that disappeared, we found options outside of the American liquor. On liquor store shelves across Canada,

the absence of American booze has been a point of leverage in the trade talks. But now, the products could soon be restocked as part of a deal. Prime Minister Mark Karn. asked provincial leaders to resume sales, according to several premiers. So we are now analyzing. Quebec Premier Kristen Frischett says she wants to protect her province's interests. She's now taking a closer look at the provisions of a tentative U.S. trade deal. And if it's globally positive, it is possible that we put back the alcohol on the shelf.

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt is holding off. Holt says she wants tariffs to be lowered first. for hard-hit industries like softwood lumber. And other sectors, whether it's cabinets or the folks who use steel inputs, have been paying a price, so we need relief from the tariffs. Manitoba Premier Wab Canoe, with no decision yet, but a defiant message for shoppers if American alcohol returns. Leave it there. If we put the booze back on the shelves, don't buy it, let it sit.

The booze bans caused Canadian imports of American beverages to plummet by roughly 81%. That drop from March 2025 to February 26 compared to the same period a year prior. A loss valued at nearly $1 billion Canadian, according to the Toast Not Tariffs Coalition, an American Industry Group. I just hope they don't push the smaller Ontario producers off those shelf space to give it back to the US. Jessica Chester is the owner of Laneway Distillers, a craft gin and vodka distillery in Toronto. She says the absence of American products helped her small business get discovered. I think consumers are like, yeah, Canada's got some great products.

We need to support Canadian. I don't think it's going to switch back. It's unclear when American booze could start to return to liquor store shelves across the country. With the provinces, still considering the details, as talks to finalize a trade deal continue. Alexander Silberman, CBC News, Montreal. The man who was once the richest in Asia has been sentenced to life in prison by a court in China. Hoy Kayyan founded Property Development Company Evergrand in 1996. The company grew to become China's most valuable property developer,

but it collapsed and now owes hundreds of billions of dollars. Hoy pleaded guilty in April to eight charges, including fraud. Five executives were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to 18. years. Coming up, referendum countdown, the campaigns for and against remaining in Canada ramp up 60 days before the vote in Alberta. Plus, the growing problem of explosive fires caused by lithium-ion batteries. And later, we'll have this story. It's a royal turnaround. Six years after their shocking departure, Prince Harry and Megan are moving their family back to the UK. The news catching Royal Watchers off guard.

Well, I was quite shocked and surprised. What's behind the big move? I'm Magde Geberra Salase. I'll have that story coming up on your world tonight. Canada has joined six other countries to condemn Israel's decision to push ahead with settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel is seeking bidders to build what's called the E1 settlement.

The joint statement says Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law. and the E1 settlement would drive a wedge through the West Bank, undermining the prospect of a two-state solution. A CBC investigation has found evidence of Israel's efforts to increase control over Palestinian land in Gaza. Despite agreeing to withdraw its troops to the so-called yellow line, Israeli forces are moving farther into the territory,

expanding their control and displacing Palestinians even more. Sasha Petrissik has the details. Palestinians crowd Gaza's beaches, grateful for peaceful pauses in a war that's dragged into its third summer, living for the moment. This war has taught me to be afraid of hope, says Tamar al-Shake, because the conflict always continues. So does the scramble for survival for displaced Gazans, fleeing Israel's advancing yellow line. That's the front that was supposed to leave Israel's military footprint frozen at less than 50% of Gaza, based on October ceasefire agreement. Instead, research by the CBC Visual Investigation Team using satellite imagery shows it's grown to more than 60%, squeezing 2 million Palestinians into an ever smaller remaining area. Suddenly, at 6 a.m., I saw the stones had moved.

says Hala Mustaha on Sal al-Din Street in Gaza City. Palestinians regularly wake up to find the big yellow cement markers right next to their shelters, with Israeli forces not far behind. Esam Daula had to move his family four times. The tanks came to shoot at us, says Daula. Then came the helicopters with bullets flying. You can't imagine the panic. The Israeli military tells us.

CBC News, its measures are necessary to prevent infiltrations and protect troops and communities in Israel from Hamas militants. The impact on Gaza's civilians has been profound. Ten cities like Halawa in the north have swollen to 20 times their size since October. Israeli military structures, many appearing permanent in satellite images, have sprung up, including earthen berm stretching 23 kilometers and fortified military compounds. Entire neighborhoods have been flattened even after the ceasefire went into effect, with UN experts calling it re-engineering the geography of illegally occupied Gaza by Israel. Israel is trying everything to push the people to leave Gaza.

Allah Hajaj is a teacher, now living with his family in a tent, in northern Gaza, his home destroyed behind the line. For myself, I am not going to leave Gaza, whatever happens. This is my home. Officially, the Israeli government denies it's trying to push out Palestinians or annex Gaza. But there is strong political pressure to do so from settler groups and even cabinet ministers who march to the Gaza border. Gaza is ours, like National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvier did last month.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself says he's ordered the military to increase its hold on Gaza to 70 percent, leaving Palestinians afraid they're being pushed into the sea. Sasha Petrosseek. CBC News, Toronto. Officials in the Central African Republic say a gold mine collapse has left more than 100 people dead. It happened near the country's western border with Cameroon. Investigators say they believe several underground tunnels collapsed and more people are trapped. So-called artisanal mines are a main source of income for many in the region.

Working conditions are poor and collapses are not uncommon. 60 days from now, Albertans go to the border. polls to decide whether the province should move one step closer to separation. As Brian Labby reports, campaigns for the stay and leave sides are hoping to connect with voters over the next two months with rallies, tours, and direct engagement. Thank you so much. Volunteers with Forever Canadian handing out lawn signs in Erdry, Alberta, emblazoned with a flag and the message, Forever Canadian, Choose Unity. The group says it has 18,000 volunteers across the process. including Dorothy Zaharco.

This all started happening last year. I was sitting at home, feeling quite disturbed about what's happening and is everything not working anymore? And then I thought, maybe I should do something about that. Her concern comes as Albertans prepare to answer 10 questions in an October referendum. The most consequential whether Alberta should remain in Canada or begin the legal process toward a second binding referendum

binding referendum on separation. Can't see first. Come on, I'll give you some stickers. Thomas Lukazik is an organizer with Forever Canadian. He's meeting supporters and volunteers at his office in Edmonton. I think we're in the sort of second period of a hockey game. Lukazek is focusing on spreading a pro-Canada message. He says his so-called Unity Bus has visited every municipality in Alberta with more stops planned.

And as I drive the bus, you know, you think it's Canada Day every day day because there are brand new flags hoisted on barns, on farm fences and businesses and people's homes. If you are the future of Alberta, we can do this. Keith Wilson is one of the pro-independence leaders. He started the group Let Alberta Decide. We're 60 days out and there's a lot to do. The group has raised more than $400,000 so far.

The focus now, he says, making sure fellow separatists get out to vote and fine-tuning digital ads and messaging. You can have more nuanced messages that are more focused, for example, on young men in their 20s who are struggling to make rent and feeling they may never hone of home. Oh, it's massive. When you think about administering a referendum of this magnitude. Keith Archer, BC's former chief electoral officer, warns voters could face delays in casting a ballot and getting the results. Part of the reason all 10 questions will be on 10. separate ballots. That's about 15 million to 17 million ballots to be handed out and processed, and then those ballots to be counted in a very short time period. Elections Alberta says it's

received 30,000 applications for 60,000 positions it needs to run the vote on October 19th. Brian Labby, CBC News, Calgary. They start without warning and burn hotter and faster than most residential fires. Blazes sparked by lithium-ion batteries are on the rise across Canada. And there's an added level of danger beyond the destruction they cause. Philip Lee-Shanock reports. The gases inside the building itself are going to be the really toxic ones. Firefighter Christy Alcorn has seen her share of lithium-ion battery fires. In Toronto alone, there have been 80 this year. She says while battery fires burn faster and hotter than other fires, what you don't see is also deadly.

It is the gases in there that are going to get you. You won't notice it right away. It could be 12 to 48 hours later. You'll get tightening of the jaw. You'll think you're having heart palpitations. And when you go to the hospital later, there isn't a correlation between, hey, I was just in a lithium ion fire.

I may have inhaled it. Randy Noreen is with Clean Corps research. He says when lithium batteries burn, water used to put the fire out create a chemical reaction. Hydropholic acid. It's a huge chemical using pharmaceuticals that could literally burn through your skin, our firefighter bunker gear, and it actually pits into steel. Used since the 1990s, lithium-ion batteries are preferred for their lightweight and energy density, but the chemical combination can be dangerously flammable. When they get hot enough, something called thermal runaway, a self-heating uncontrollable chain reaction occurs, resulting in an explosive fire. Professor Giselle Azimi studies advanced materials at the University of Toronto.

She says safer alternatives are being studied. Technologies such as sodium ion battery or aluminum iron battery are inherently safer than lithium mine batteries. But she says these technologies are another two to five years from being commercially available. In the meantime, battery consumers and manufacturers need safety guidelines. At the moment, there is no regulation. for battery treatment, battery safety in Canada. Ken McMullen is president of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. This is a national issue.

People are not following the rules as set out by the manufacturer. There is not an enforceable regulation that says that the product must meet all of the specifications for the product that you're putting it into. Health Canada is working on regulations, but in the meantime, consumers need to be educated, not to use incompatible chargers, modify or use damaged batteries. And another simple rule, when a battery is fully charged, unplug it. Philip Lee-Shannock, CBC News, Toronto.

Running a marathon is grueling on a good day. But a massive calculation error at the Edmonton Marathon forced competitors to run even farther, ruining finishing times across the board. Organizers initially denied the mistake, but have now issued a full apology. As Julia Wong reports, this blunder could cost athletes a lot more than just their personal best. So I spent a year prepping for this race, this route, and everything around it. Mitch Walls was feeling good on Sunday running the Edmonton Marathon. The Alberta man said he was having a perfect race, but near the end realized something was off.

I ran it last year, so I knew where I should have been and I wasn't. where I should have been. Walt says he knew he ran a distance longer than a marathon. He finished with a time of three hours and three minutes, four minutes past his goal. You know, I was struggling keeping my pace, my mind on what I needed, and I lost about a minute in those last three kilometers. And he isn't alone.

Go chase! Chase LaRose is the founder of an Edmonton area running club. He was running the half marathon that day and could also tell something wasn't adding up. When I hit the half marathon point on my watch, it took a couple more minutes to get to the finish line. That's where I felt this doesn't seem right. Monday, the Edmonton Marathon said the course was measured correctly. Tuesday, it did a 180, admitting it added more than 670 meters to the half marathon and marathon routes.

An error made, it says, trying to accommodate a construction detour. The marathon's race director declined an interview request. For runners like Walls, the mistake is a big deal. He was trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Had the course been correct, I think the odds were better than not that I'd have a really good chance of making it, and now it's sort of the reverse of that. Kevin McKinnon has worked in the endurance industry for more than 35 years and is the lead announcer at the Toronto Marathon. I have not heard of it happening very often.

He says the course certification process is normally rigorous. They have basically a tape that measures a bike, and so the course has gone through again and again and again. In a statement, race director Tom Keio says the marathon is talking with other races, including the Boston Marathon, to see how race results can be recognized. But the Boston Athletic Association, which runs the marathon, tells CBC News, its long-standing policy states it cannot accept adjusted results if the distance was over or under, 26.2 miles. For LaRose, while he's proud of his efforts, the memory of this year's race will sting. I put everything into that race on Sunday, but I felt a little bit discouraged, knowing that I knew I hit that time,

but the same time it was discouraging that it was officially wasn't the case. But he and Walls are not closing the door on the race. Both runners say they plan to run in Edmonton again. Julia Wong, CBC News, Edmonton. Six years after their dramatic royal exit, Prince Harry and Megan are heading back to Britain, this time with their children. As Magda Gabor Salasa reports, the news has left many wondering, why now,

and what comes next for the couple? Well, I was quite shocked and surprised. Ringing in a royal return. Six years after fleeing the UK, Prince Harry and Megan Markle are now moving back. Ed Wang, a royal commentator in Vancouver, can't believe it. But I never anticipated that the family unit will be moving back to the United Kingdom at this point. On his mind, the pair's shocking exit in 2020.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from their royal duties and were stripped of their taxpayer-funded security. They moved to BC with their son Archie temporarily before making a home in Montecito, California. And in a shocking interview with Oprah, they aired concerns about racism, mental health and safety. Harry's saying they left because of lack of support and concerns over UK press. It was both. Both.

In the time since their daughter, Lillabet was born, Queen Elizabeth died. The pair explored business ventures with Spotify and Netflix. And Harry published a memoir detailing his strained relationship with his brother and father. Then there was a years-long court battle. He tried to get his police protection reinstated while in the UK and lost. For the time being, it's impossible for me to take my family back to the UK safely. So what change? Wang believes the pair's failed business ventures may be part of this. I think they've realized that in order to have the social credit, the attention and the ability to make content,

they really have to have more interactions with the royal family. Royal Family Health News may have played in. to this too. King Charles has been fighting cancer. Earlier this year, Prince Harry and his whole family visited with his father. Aaron Hill is a senior royal editor for People magazine. We do know their visit to see Charles over the summer the first time that Archie and Lillabet had seen their grandfather in four years was very successful. Now reports say the children will be attending a British school this September. So what about the family's security? The government doesn't seem to be pitching in for police protection, according to the UK's Prime Minister, Andy Burnham.

Well, this is a private matter. It's a matter for Harry and for Megan, and we wish them well in the move that they're making. But it seems Londoners are divided about welcoming them back. I'm not especially happy about it because they trashed the whole country numerous times, betrayed their family. I think it suggests hopefully they're in a happier place. Perhaps they feel more Welcome. What is clear, Harry and Megan won't be returning as working members of the royal family. Magdegebres-Salasa, CBC News, Toronto. And finally, a new barbershop in New Brunswick that is about much more than haircuts. I just thought it would be a good idea to incorporate indigenous values into barboring and into my business.

That's Nick Paul Jr., the owner of Two Nations Barbershop. It opened about a month ago, and Sedan Sisk First Nation, which is located within Fredericton. Ever since, he's been incorporating aspects of his identity and upbringing. With my experience being indigenous, community was a big thing. So with my shop, I wanted it to be a place where people could come and connect and build relationships with each other just to build a community and have a sense of belonging. His client, Ryan Harris, first met him five years ago at another barbers. shop and has remained loyal ever since.

It's very family and community-oriented. There's so many different people that walk in and out of his chairs, and it's wild how many people can come together here. Paul Jr. says he takes into account the importance hair holds in indigenous culture. The act of cutting it sometimes follows a major life change or significant loss. I have cut a few people's braids off, which is also I love. I love cutting hair, so it's great to be a part of that experience with them, and they usually take their braids with them to almost celebrate it, I guess,

that they have overcome that step in their life. Currently, Two Nations Barbershop is at one-person operation, but Paul Jr. says he hopes to soon add more barbers to his team to keep up with demand. I have tons of different races and cultures, so anybody's welcome here, and it's been good to see new faces and familiar faces. Thanks for being with us. This has been your world tonight for Thursday, August 20th. I'm Kimberly Gale.

Good night. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca.ca.