The Current

The Current for April 12, 2019

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.
Gillian Findlay is guest host of The Current.

Full Episode Transcript

Today on The Current:

  • 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?
     
  • 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?
     
  • 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.