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How the Taliban tried to destroy Afghanistan's film heritage, and the secret plan to stop them
Director Ariel Nasr's documentary The Forbidden Reel explores a secret effort to conceal an archive of Afghan films from the Taliban, who were destroying cultural artifacts in the late 1990s.
The Current for June 4, 2020
Today on The Current: Farm workers and COVID-19; Accusations of inaction after MMIWG inquiry; Disabled people feel left behind in pandemic supports; The Afghan films that survived the Taliban
Ottawa police chief open to talk of police funding changes, but 'not out of retribution'
Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly says he's open to conversations about how police funding is spent, and how the service operates.
Protests just as important as voting to counter anti-black racism, says historian
As widespread protests over anti-black racism and police brutality continue, some are calling on demonstrators to get out and vote in the upcoming U.S. presidential election — and one historian says both approaches need to co-exist.
The Current for June 3, 2020
Today on The Current: Democracy and protests in U.S.; Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly; Vancouver Island man grieves brother and cousin killed in Chicago; National affairs panel on political response to anti-racism protests; Disinformation online about the unrest
The Current is committed to covering anti-black racism
We can always do better in the representation of diversity on our staff and in how we approach and treat stories, but we want to share some background on how we’ve done things these past two weeks.
This Yukon woman wanted to live off local food for a year. That meant getting her teenagers on board
Suzanne Crocker's new film, First We Eat, explores her year-long experiment in eating only food produced locally in the Yukon — and how she got her family on board.
The Current for June 2, 2020
Today on The Current: Are U.S. protests a turning point in black lives? André Picard on COVID-19 and anti-racism protests; Preserving the pandemic for future generations; Suzanne Crocker’s film First We Eat; Legacy of Silver Donald Cameron
Police brutality continually treated like a 'one-off' in Canada, says Desmond Cole
Journalist and activist Desmond Cole says it's time to disarm and defund the police and switch funding to care and prevention.
Faced with coronavirus misinformation, Twitter was 'forced' to start fact-checking Trump, says media scholar
COVID-19 has forced Twitter's hands to respond to misinformation spread by U.S. President Donald Trump who has long tweeted with impunity, says a media scholar.
The Current for June 1, 2020
Today on The Current: Racism in Canada and the U.S.; Trump versus social media companies; Open letter calls on Quebec Premier to join frontlines in long-term care homes
Trump's 'looting' tweet should come as no surprise — racism in U.S. runs far deeper: scholar
Ricky L. Jones, a professor of Pan-African Studies, says repeated killings of black people are not individual incidents, but show U.S. must face up to "overall system of white supremacy."
Garneau says Iran still hasn't released black boxes from airliner shot down in January
Canada and four other countries are still trying to pressure Iran to release the flight recorders from the Ukrainian passenger plane its forces shot down on Jan. 8, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said today.
This choir for people with dementia was forced apart by the pandemic. Now they're finding new ways to sing
Being unable to meet in person has been a particularly unique challenge for Voices In Motion, a group of choirs for people with dementia. But according to artistic director Erica Phare-Bergh, the choir has risen to the challenge.
The Current for May 29, 2020
Today on The Current: Political fallout of disturbing long-term care reports; Ricky L Jones on America and the problem of white supremacy; Director Steve James on City So Real; How a choir helping dementia patients is overcoming pandemic restrictions
As pandemic plays out, Trump sowing mischief and mistrust around re-election bid, says David Frum
Author David Frum says the 'massive economic damage' of COVID-19 could have an impact on Trump's re-election bid, but that doesn't mean Democrat Joe Biden is a certain winner.
The Current for May 28, 2020
Today on The Current: Canada and China’s complicated relationship; David Frum on Trump’s re-election bid; Calgary teens set up joke hotline for seniors; Should for-profit model of long-term care be replaced
Without data, press releases of COVID-19 vaccine findings create 'false impression' of progress: expert
Former Harvard professor William Haseltine says publishing early results of COVID-19 research could be damaging if not properly peer reviewed.
McNeil rejects 'offensive' idea he's avoiding shooting inquiry for political reasons, urges feds to take lead
Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil is renewing his call for Ottawa to lead any inquiry into last month's mass shooting in the province, adding the suggestion his government is avoiding the issue for political reasons is "offensive."
The Current for May 27, 2020
Today on The Current: Disturbing report on long-term care home conditions; Concerns over rushing COVID-19 vaccine; Calls for an inquiry into Nova Scotia mass shooting
Minister of rural development 'open' to internet access becoming public utility
Minister for Rural Economic Development Maryam Monsef says internet access is an essential service, and the idea of it becoming a public utility, funded like water or electricity, is not out of the question.
The Current for May 26, 2020
Today on The Current: How provinces differ on COVID-19 testing; Rural internet access; André Picard on public gatherings; Frustration over refunds for cancelled flights
As 'the worst may be yet to come,' WHO assistant chief stresses global unity with vow to review
World Health Organization Assistant Director-General Peter A. Singer says no country in the world will be safe until all countries have curbed COVID-19. That means a global effort, he says.
The Current for May 25, 2020
Today on The Current: WHO special advisor Peter A. Singer on agency’s pandemic response, Reopening Italy, Kids write about lockdown, and end of life planning spurred by COVID-19.
Without more support for child care, economic recovery will be slow, says expert
Economist Armine Yalnizyan said we need an economic “she-covery” — one that focuses on getting women back to work and increasing child-care support for working parents.
