The Current

Air Canada flight attendants say they will defy a federal back-to-work order and remain on strike, as more than 100,000 passengers face cancellations and disruptions. We hear from passenger Laurie Panagiotou, who spent thousands rebooking a family vacation, and aviation expert John Gradek on what's at stake for workers, the airline, and the government.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is anticipated to win today's byelection in Alberta's Battle River–Crowfoot, one of the safest Conservative seats in the country. But with more than 200 independent candidates on the ballot and separatist sentiment simmering in the province, analysts say the campaign offers clues on what to expect when Parliament returns this fall. We hear from former Conservative cabinet minister Monte Solberg and former Alberta NDP cabinet minister Shannon Phillips.

Researchers are uncovering new reasons why more women are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease than men and it's not just because they live longer. We hear from Fe Wyma, who cared for her mother with dementia for over a decade, about how that experience has changed her own approach to brain health. Plus, University of Toronto's Gillian Einstein and Toronto Metropolitan University's Natasha Rajah on how biology, menopause, and social factors all shape women's risk, and what can be done to prevent cognitive decline.

Southern Europe is in the grip of another summer of extreme heat, with temperatures soaring to record highs and wildfires burning across the region. The Guardian's Ajit Niranjan explains why Europe is heating faster than other continents, and what that means for people on the ground. Then, University of Waterloo's Daniel Scott on how the tourism industry is adapting to rising temperatures and why more travellers are booking “cool-cations” in cooler destinations.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska on Friday to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. We hear from Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, a Ukrainian MP who says leaving her country out of the talks is a win for Putin and ignores those living under Russian occupation. Plus, Brookings Institution foreign policy expert Michael O'Hanlon and Atlantic Council's Peter Dickinson on what the two leaders might hope to gain, and whether the talks could bring the war any closer to an end.

With drought gripping the U.K., the government is urging people to delete old emails and photos to cut the water used by data centres. Civil engineering professor Venki Uddameri explains the link between cloud storage and water consumption, why individual actions have limits, and how to better manage resources as AI and other data-heavy technologies expand.

Air Canada will begin cancelling flights today ahead of a possible weekend strike by more than 10,000 flight attendants. We speak with union leader Natasha Stea about the breakdown in negotiations over pay, work rules and unpaid hours — and what's at stake for passengers if no deal is reached.

U.S. politics has not slowed down this summer. President Donald Trump says Washington D.C. is a “nightmare of murder and crime,” despite violent crime numbers going down. So, he has put the police in the capital under federal power. We talk to Molly Ball from The Wall Street Journal, David A. Graham from The Atlantic, and Andrew Egger from The Bulwark about what this means for the rest of the U.S. — and more.

Picking up a camera taught Eldred Allen to look at his home in Labrador differently, from its dramatic coastlines to the shimmering northern lights. The self-taught Inuk photographer shares some portraits of his home, with a warning that its beauty is under threat from climate change.

Six journalists were killed by a recent Israeli strike in Gaza. Anas Al-Sharif, with Al-Jazeera, was one of them. He had become the face and voice of the war in Gaza for many Palestinians. We speak with his former colleague and friend, journalist Ahmed Zakot — and Sara Qudah from the Committee to Protect Journalists about the threats Al-Sharif had been receiving, and the allegations from Israel that he was an active member of Hamas's military wing.

Donald Trump often says 'tariff' is the most beautiful word in the dictionary. And it's been his favoured weapon in his global trade war. But it's not the only one. On Friday, the US commerce department announced a big hike in countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber. Combined with anti-dumping duties announced in July, Canadian lumber is now subject to duties of more than 35%. We talk about what this means for the industry.

There are more billionaires in the world now than ever before, and the power of those select few is also growing. In a conversation from June, the journalist Evan Osnos tells Matt Galloway about the influence and excesses of the 0.01 per cent, which he charts in his book, The Haves and the Have Yachts.

Wildfires are burning across Newfoundland and Labrador, prompting the provincial government to significantly increase fines and prison time for people who violate a fire ban. We speak to Scott Chandler, who lost his home in Conception Bay North, and ask Premier John Hogan about investigations into allegations of arson — and the latest on the firefighting effort. Plus, we hear from Janet Barlow of Hike Nova Scotia about the province's sweeping ban on activities in wooded areas and the impact on outdoor recreation.

Following decades of colourism shaped by colonialism, racism, and media, lighter skin was often seen as more desirable, even within Black communities. Now, that idea is experiencing “The Great Shift” on social media. We talk about the cultural turn where darker skin tones are being embraced, and the long-term health risks of skin-lightening creams and drugs.

They're cheap, ecofriendly, and fun. E-scooters are growing in popularity across Canada, but they are also safety concerns. A new report shows injuries caused when riding two-wheeled vehicles are higher than ever before. We talk about what needs to be done to regulate e-scooters better and keep riders safe.

When Canada was imposed with 35 percent tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump last week, Mexico received a 90-day extension on trade talks. So, in the face of two very different trade talks with the U.S., Canada is working to strengthen its economic ties with Mexico. We discuss what closer trade ties between Canada and Mexico could entail, and how Canada should adjust its approach to trade talks with PresidentTrump.

For months, getting aid into Gaza has been near impossible. This week, Canada made its first humanitarian airdrop during a multinational mission led by Jordan. CBC's international correspondent, Susan Ormiston, was on board the Jordanian plane. She brings us that story and explains how these aid drops compare to the real need on the ground in Gaza.

Victoria Mboko is only 18 years old, and she has already become a tennis sensation — and is capturing the hearts of millions of Canadians. At the Women's National Bank Open semi-finals in Montreal Wednesday night, she won against the former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, becoming one win away from taking the title. We discuss how the only Canadian woman left in the tournament rose to the top and how she is just getting started.

When was the last time you looked up at the stars on a clear night? Since time immemorial, humans have looked to the night sky for their survival. It signalled when to harvest. And helped explorers navigate the seas. But these days, if you're in the bright lights of the city, you may have to travel far to see the Milky Way. Now, remote communities across Canada are looking to their dark skies for potential economic opportunities - something called "astrotourism."

Last week, the Trump administration announced that the E.P.A. planned to rescind the 2009 declaration, known as the endangerment finding. The proposal would eliminate limits on greenhouse gas emissions, particularly for cars and trucks. Guest host Sean Henry speaks with scientists both in the US and in Canada about the consequences for the fight against climate change.

It is a Summer to remember. 18-year-old Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh continues to dominate after she won four gold and a bronze at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships. We talk to her former coach about what makes her keep breaking records, and how she's keeping her champion mindset alive.

U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs on some Canadian goods to 35 percent last week, after a trade deal with Canada wasn't reached. Canadian negotiators, however, continue to work on a deal. Our experts discuss what to expect next from Trump's tariffs and how they will impact Canadians — and their wallets.

Ohio doctor David Sabgir realized that asking his patients to get out and exercise wasn't working. So, he laces up his running shoes and hits the pavement with them. The program, called Walk With A Doc, has spread to more than 500 communities around the globe. Dr. Sabgir explains the difference walking has made for his patients — and his own practice.

Everyone's getting older, but not everyone wants to think or talk about it. In a new series, The Current looks at aging well and the hard choices facing older adults and their loved ones. We start with a conversation many people have been avoiding: how to talk to our aging parents about getting older.

Burnout is a very real challenge faced by caregivers for aging folks. That's why educators are finding innovative ways to help caregivers better understand the conditions their patients or loved ones are living with. As part of our ongoing series As We Age, Matt Galloway visits an aging education centre for himself — and test drives a dementia and frailty simulator.

In the conclusion of our series As We Age, we bring together a panel of guests navigating emotional and complex conversations — from how to care for their aging parents, negotiating moves into retirement homes, to what it means to grow old yourself while caring for someone else. It's an intimate look at the realities many Canadians are quietly managing behind closed doors.

No deal. After months of back and forth, the deadline for a trade deal is here – and the United States is hiking tariffs on a dozen countries, including Canada. The U.S. president Donald Trump signed an executive order to have 35% tariffs on some Canadian goods. We talk to Goldy Hyder, the president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada about what this means for Canadian jobs, and economy — and if there's any chance a deal can be worked out with the U.S..

ICE raids in Los Angeles are tearing families apart and leaving undocumented workers living in fear. In the last few months, the city has seen multiple immigration raids where the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up to food trucks and take workers. We talk to Janette Villafana, a reporter at L.A. Taco, a magazine that's always been focused on the food scene of the city — but now, switched their focus to report on the ICE raids.

Excitement is growing in Vancouver as the city prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but this excitement also brings some concerns. A newly revealed contract between FIFA and Vancouver is raising questions about what some of the security demands will mean for people and businesses in that city. We discuss what Canada has committed to, and are we prepared to handle it.

Canada will now recognize Palestinian statehood, but under certain conditions. Many in the Canadian Jewish community say this is not the right time. Palestinians believe this is long overdue. And what does this dramatic policy shift mean for Canada's relationship with the U.S., as we negotiate a trade deal?

The number of Canadians returning from trips to the U.S. by air fell by about 22 per cent in June compared to a year ago, according to Statistics Canada. Canadian return trips from the U.S. by car dropped by about a third. And domestic tourism spending is up, which means a boost for the Canadian tourism industry. Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks with Captain Walter Flower about the boom in his whale watching tours off the coast of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

It's been over two years since fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Force broke out. Since then, upwards of 12 million people have been displaced – 8 million within the country--the rest made their way out to neighbouring countries like South Sudan and Chad. Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks with Saydah Mustafa, a Sudanese-Canadian, about fleeing Khartoum and how she is rebuilding her life two years later.

Some aid is being allowed into Gaza, but humanitarian agencies say it's not enough. The World Health Organization says the people in Gaza are suffering from man-made starvation. We discuss what further actions the Canadian government can take, and the latest developments in the conversation about Palestinian statehood.

Palm trees, citrus trees, pomegranates, and avocados; those might not be the first things that pop into your mind when you think of the Canadian growing season. But with a changing climate, all sorts of new varieties of fruits and vegetables are possibilities for gardeners in Canada. We discuss the opportunities and challenges that warming temperatures can bring to your backyard.

The comedian Phil Hanley remembers his school teachers calling him lazy and stupid when, in truth, he was struggling with dyslexia. In his new memoir Spellbound: My Life as a Dyslexic Wordsmith, Hanley writes about how his mother defended him in an unsympathetic education system, and why he doesn't want dyslexic kids today to feel the shame he did.

A deadline for a trade deal with the U.S. is looming, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre is trying to find a path back to the House of Commons, and the push to get big new nation-building projects going is hitting a sour note with some First Nations leaders. Our guest host Catherine Cullen unpacks it all with our national affairs panel: Stephanie Levitz from the Globe and Mail, Niigaan Sinclair from the Winnipeg Free Press, and CBC's Kathleen Petty.

Do you think a baby can tell good and bad behaviours apart? And if they can, do you think they would have a preference between moral and immoral beaviours? We have some insight. A new study from a Sicilian hospital looked into exactly that, and one of the leads on the study is UBC professor Kiley Hamlin. She joins us to give us a peek into a newborn's mind.

Not guilty on all charges, that's the judge's decision for the five former Junior World Hockey players who have been on trial for sexual assault. This has been a case that shook the hockey world, and ignited conversations across Canada. The judge said that she did not find, E.M., the complainant's evidence "credible or reliable.” We speak to law professor Daphne Gilbert, about the judges' ruling and how the courts handle sexual assault allegations.

For some, soccer is just a sport, but for these refugees and asylum seekers it is much more than that. The Refugee Soccer Cup is an initiative that started five years ago, and its goal is to help newcomers to Canada find a way to connect. The Current's producer Niza Nondo takes us to the field to hear their stories from this year's Refugee Soccer Cup.

Jula inherited 10,000 vinyl records from her dad when he died. Now, she's listening through them to make sense of her grief — and sharing that connection to her father with millions of people on her social media account @soundwavesoffwax.

Canada's 13 Premiers, and Prime Minister Mark Carney, met in Ontario's cottage country this week. Not to have a relaxing summer break, but to discuss big issues that face this country. The most pressing one; the looming deadline for a new trade agreement with the United States. Susan Holt is the Premier of New Brunswick, she tells us what was accomplished in that room, and how a deal can be reached with the U.S. President Donald Trump.

Everyone knows about the O.J. Simpson Trial, but do you know about the Scopes Monkey Trial?' It was a case about evolution, education, religion, and law that happened 100 years ago, and resonates in today's America. We discuss how the issues of a 1925 trial are once again at the forefront of American education, and why the lessons from that trial are worth revisiting.