Your World Tonight – November 26, 2025

Host: Susan Bonner (CBC)
Episode Theme:
A fast-paced wrap of the day’s top news stories, from the deadly Hong Kong high-rise fire to economic support for Canadian industries, a D.C. shooting, surging food bank demand, pipeline politics, military procurement, para hockey inspiration, and a musical estate auction.

Main Theme or Purpose

This episode delivers an in-depth contextual catch-up on major global and Canadian events, focusing on:

• The catastrophic Hong Kong high-rise fire and ongoing rescue challenges
• Aid measures for Canada’s steel and lumber sectors amid a trade war
• Food insecurity as food banks brace for record demand
• The fallout of a targeted shooting near the White House
• Pipeline politics and internal tensions within Canada’s Liberal caucus
• Federal fighter jet procurement decisions
• The remarkable story of Rafael Toussignan, para-hockey star battling cancer
• Gordon Lightfoot’s estate auction

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Deadly Hong Kong Fire

[00:44–05:09]

• At least 40 residents killed, ~300 missing after major fire at Wong Phuk housing complex, Taipo district.
• Rescue efforts hampered by “very high” internal temperatures and the height of buildings.
• Official statement from Hong Kong Fire Department:

  "It's quite difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operation."
  — Derek Armstrong Chan, Hong Kong Fire Department [04:07]

• Fire started on external bamboo scaffolding, a material being phased out for safety.
• Community grief is palpable, with hundreds spending the night in shelters.
• Three arrests have been made relating to the incident.

Memorable moment:

"It was just burning and burning. It burned until it exploded. Things were exploding and falling down." — Resident [02:56]

2. Shooting Near the White House

[05:09–07:58]

• Two National Guard members shot in what officials call a targeted, "brazen" ambush near a D.C. Metro station, close to the White House.
• Suspect is in custody after being shot in the exchange.
• Public reaction captured through on-the-ground experiences:

  “I heard boom boom, two boom booms... so many people running…It was little, little children too.” — Stacey Walters, local nurse [06:07]

• Conflicting reports about the condition of the guards; initially reported dead, later said to be in critical.
• Debate continues over the necessity and effectiveness of the ongoing National Guard deployment in D.C.

3. Election Interference Case Dismissed

[08:00–08:56]

• Georgia prosecutor drops case against US President Donald Trump from 2020 election interference due to previous DA's inappropriate relationship with a prosecutor.

4. Economic Support for Canadian Steel and Lumber

[09:29–11:53]

• PM Mark Carney announces new measures to aid steel and lumber sectors battered by US tariffs:
  • Limits on foreign steel imports (even from some FTA countries)
  • New 25% tariff on imported steel products like wires and prefab buildings
  • Canadian steel prioritized in housing projects, and cross-country transport costs by train cut by half
  • Additional $1B in loans/support on top of prior $1.2B for lumber
• Welcomed by industry:

  “What China is trying to do is swamp domestic industries and thus basically killing them. So what we need is these types of measures to be able to protect the industry.”
  — Keenan Loomis, Canadian Institute of Steel Construction [10:48]

• Calls for more rapid disbursement of aid (“get the money out the door” — Derek Nybor, Forest Products Association [11:39])
• Carney to meet with President Trump next week regarding trade.

5. Pipeline Politics and Liberal Caucus Tension

[12:06–15:14]

• Mark Carney's pipeline plan to the B.C. coast faces:
  • Pushback from opposition and B.C. Liberal MPs, who learned of it through media.
  • Tensions within caucus, including lifelong environmentalist Minister Steven Guilbeault rumored to consider resigning.
  • Concerns from coastal First Nations about consultation and environmental risks.

    “I don't think that leaking to the Globe and Mail and the CBC is First nations engagement, and I don't think it's helpful.”
    — Marilyn Slutt, Chief Councillor, Heltzig Tribal Council [14:33]

  • Critics point to lack of consultation and risk to the coast.
• Carney keeps language broad:

  “It's about building this economy. It's about making Canada more independent, and it's about making Canada more sustainable.” [13:54]

• No guarantee pipeline will be built; focus is on creating the conditions for its possibility.

6. Canadian Fighter Jet Procurement

[15:27–18:29]

• Defense Department report shows overwhelming Air Force preference (95% acceptability) for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 over Saab’s Gripen (33%), influencing the government’s procurement reversal.
• Ongoing issues with F-35 software updates (Block 4); critics question if new issues lessen the gap.

  "The capability assessment here says that there is a clear cut winner, like no contest, no ambiguity."
  — Dave Perry, Defense expert [16:23]

• Software’s importance for modern aircraft emphasized.
• Broader discussions include industrial benefits and jobs, not just technical specs.

7. Record Demand at Food Banks

[18:29–21:37]

• Food insecurity surging; food banks prepping for record holiday demand as cost of living rises.
• Anecdotes highlight the spectrum of need:

  “You could see a mom with a stroller and her kids. You could see somebody in a suit. You could see young adults…”
  — Brody Dawson, food bank user [20:08]

• Food Banks Mississauga CEO, Megan Nichols: progress made after city declared “food insecurity” an emergency, but more is needed.
• Research:

  "Many people are having increasingly difficult time affording both rent and food, both of which have increased by over 25% since 2021."
  — Richard Matern, Food Banks Canada [21:04]

• Calls for federal action (a groceries and essentials benefit).

8. New Weather Alert System

[21:37–22:29]

• Environment Canada introduces three-tier color-coded alert system for storms:
  • Yellow: disruptive
  • Orange: risk of serious damage
  • Red: potentially life-threatening

9. Rafael Toussignan: Para Hockey and Resilience

[22:29–25:05]

• Rafael Toussignan: top Canadian para hockey player, first woman on the mixed national team, now faces breast cancer diagnosis while aiming for the Paralympics.
• Her determination:

  "I just want people to know and if I can inspire other people, I'll be glad." [23:46] “There's one thing in my life that I always tried and I'll keep showing up, I'll keep working hard…manifesting it. That's what I want.” [24:39]

• Peers and mentors echo her courage and relentless spirit.

10. Gordon Lightfoot Estate Auction

[25:05–26:56]

• Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter’s memorabilia, including yearbooks, lyric sheets, and a Martin guitar, auctioned in Toronto ($380,000 winning bid for the guitar).
• Notable artifact: a note signed by Bob Dylan.
• The guitar, classified as Canadian heritage, must stay in Canada.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Everyone was shouting that there was a fire. Get out, get out.”
  — Resident, Hong Kong [02:38]

• “I'm devastated…There are so many neighbors and friends, I don't know what to do.”
  — Jason Kong, resident [03:15]

• “I heard boom boom, two boom booms...so many people running the opposite direction.”
  — Stacey Walters, D.C. nurse [06:07]

• “What China is trying to do is to swamp domestic industries and thus basically killing them.”
  — Keenan Loomis [10:48]

• “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.”
  — Derek Nybor [11:39]

• “I don't think that leaking to the Globe and Mail and the CBC is First nations engagement.”
  — Marilyn Slutt [14:33]

• “The capability assessment here says that there is a clear cut winner, like no contest, no ambiguity.”
  — Dave Perry [16:23]

• “We do not bring food security for people on a year round basis.”
  — Megan Nichols [20:36]

• “Many people are having increasingly difficult time affording both rent and food…both have increased by over 25% since 2021.”
  — Richard Matern [21:04]

• “There's not enough story of athletes or very active person going through it…So I just want people to know and if I can inspire other people, I'll be glad.”
  — Rafael Toussignan [23:46]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:44] Hong Kong fire reports & analysis
• [05:09] D.C. shooting near White House
• [08:00] Trump election interference case update
• [09:29] Steel & lumber trade aid
• [12:06] Pipeline politics in Liberal caucus
• [15:27] Fighter jet procurement
• [18:29] Food banks & food insecurity
• [21:37] New Environment Canada weather alerts
• [22:29] Rafael Toussignan’s para hockey & cancer battle
• [25:05] Gordon Lightfoot’s estate auction

Concluding Tone & Flow

The episode maintains CBC’s signature serious, empathetic, and deeply informative tone, blending hard political and economic news with stories of individual determination and broader community trends. For listeners, it offers both a timely catch-up and thoughtful context on “what’s real, what’s relevant, and what’s truly new”—and brings touching human moments into the day’s top news.