The Currentwith Anna Maria Tremonti

The fire that ravaged Notre-Dame prompted an outpouring of sadness — as well as billions in funding pledged to restore the iconic structure. We speak to a medievalist about the life cycles of iconic monuments, and the idea that they are never destroyed, but live and change with the ages.

United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney won big in Alberta's provincial election Tuesday, seizing a majority and ending the province's first-ever NDP government. Our national affairs panel discusses what his premiership might mean for the election battle coming this fall.

Author Marq de Villiers speaks about how different cultures and different religions have approached the idea of damnation, and why he wanted to write a sinner's guide to eternal torment.

Today on The Current: Our national affairs panel looks at Alberta’s provincial election; plus, we speak to a medievalist about the Notre-Dame fire, and the idea that centuries-old churches are never destroyed, but live and change with the ages; and an author talks us through some things you might not know about hell, in his sinner’s guide to eternal torment.

The world watched in horror Monday as fire ravaged Notre-Dame in Paris, an international landmark that has withstood war and disaster for centuries. We speak to an eyewitness and a prominent French intellectual about the loss felt both in France and around the globe.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford takes his fight over the federal carbon tax to a Toronto courtroom this week, in a bid to have the measure ruled unconstitutional. We weigh up the arguments about provincial authority, and national health and the fight against climate change.

More than five years after a New Zealand nurse was captured by ISIS, her story is finally being told, as efforts to rescue her go public. We speak to two experts about why authorities fought to keep Louisa Akavi's name out of the headlines, and what's changed.

Today on The Current: We discuss a loss felt around the world, after fire ravaged Notre-Dame in Paris; plus, Ontario Premier Doug Ford takes his fight over the so-called federal carbon tax to court; and why authorities are finally going public with the search for a New Zealand nurse kidnapped by ISIS five years ago.

Netflix nature documentary Our Planet has provoked an angry response from people caught off-guard by a graphic scene of walruses falling from a cliff to their deaths. But the program's makers say the scene has an important message about climate change.

Teresa Wong and Amanda Munday both struggled with postpartum depression, a condition reported to affect as many as 20 per cent of Canadian mothers. Both women have written books about their experiences, from their feelings of inadequacy, to difficulties breastfeeding, and even being admitted to a psychiatric ward.

In the run-up to Alberta's provincial election Tuesday, we speak to three voters about what's on their minds — from the local economy to the province's relationship with Ottawa.

Today on The Current: We talk to Albertan voters ahead of Tuesday’s provincial election; plus, we look at the controversy surrounding a Netflix nature documentary that shows walruses plunging to their deaths from a cliff; and we speak to two mothers who have written about their experience with postpartum depression.

Students in New Brunswick have been learning about Chinese language, food and culture in weekly half-hour classes paid for by the Confucius Institute. What they're not taught is anything remotely controversial, such as China's record on human rights violations. Are the classes a lesson in soft power and propaganda?

The arrest of Julian Assange Thursday starts a new chapter in the saga of the Wikileak's founder. We ask how the world should view him and what will be his legacy: as a whistleblower, a free-speech fighter, or a traitor?

A military coup ended the 30-year rule of Omar Al-Bashir in Sudan this week, after months of protests on the streets of Khartoum. But the situation is far from settled. Demonstrators have rejected the decision to set up a transitional military council to run the country for two years, and vowed to continue protests until a civilian government is established. We speak to people on the ground about what happens next.

Today on The Current: We’re asking how the world should see Julian Assange: as a whistleblower, a free-speech fighter, or a traitor?; plus, do Confucius Institute programs in our schools offer our kids a class in Chinese language and culture, or a lesson in propaganda?; and we hear from protesters and experts on the situation in Sudan, and what happens next.

There is growing concern around Candida auris, a life-threatening and stubbornly drug-resistant fungus that has been showing up all over the world in the past decade.

When the UN's Chris Reardon found himself in Hani Al Moulia's old neighbourhood in Homs, Syria, he wrote a letter to share his observations. The two friends reconnect in a discussion with Anna Maria Tremonti, and Al Moulia, now settled in Canada, processes what's left of his old life.

Julian Assange was arrested and removed from the Ecuadorian embassy in London Thursday, where he has lived under asylum since 2012. His friend Vaughan Smith spoke to Anna Maria Tremonti about the developments.

Today on The Current: We speak to a friend of Julian Assange about the Wikileaks founder's arrest; plus, we look at the human cost of the high price of insulin; also, how a friendship between a Syrian refugee and a UN aid worker withstood the war; plus, an exhibition of artwork created by children in residential schools; and growing concern around Candida auris, a life-threatening and stubbornly drug-resistant fungus that is showing up all over the world.

What should governments and tech companies do to combat the online spread of white nationalism and other forms of extremism? We talk to tech entrepreneur Vidhya Ramalingam and analyst/professor Taylor Owen.

Do chimpanzees feel love the same way that humans do? Author and primatologist Frans de Waal says yes — and not only that, he says many animals feel a wide range of emotions that have historically been considered exclusive to the human race.