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Cate Blanchett plays Lydia Tár in the Oscar-nominated film ‘Tár,’ that explores power, gender and sexuality. (Focus Features)

Why we are fascinated by Oscar-nominated ‘Tár,’ a story of rare female power in classical music

‘Tár’ shines a spotlight on the challenges of working in the ultraconservative world of classical music, including complex social issues such as misogyny, racism and homophobia.
In this photo provided by Chad Fish, the remnants of a large balloon drift above the Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of South Carolina, with a fighter jet and its contrail seen below it. (Chad Fish via AP)

China violated international laws and standards with its surveillance balloon

Despite China’s complaints about the United States shooting down its balloon, the U.S. was within its rights — and China has done the same thing in the past.
Canadian and German troops take part in a Canadian flag-raising ceremony as the first Canadian troops arrived at a UN base in Gao, Mali, in June 2018. Was the initiative just an exercise in box-checking for Justin Trudeau’s government? THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Is Canada back on the world stage — or irrelevant?

Far from Canada being back as a major player on the world stage, its presence has been diminished under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
A pumpjack draws oil from underneath a canola field as a haze of wildfire smoke hangs in the air near Cremona, Alta., in July 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

How to win over Alberta on the ‘just transition’ to a low-carbon energy sector

Canada has no choice but to adapt its energy sources and industries in a ‘just transition.’ If it doesn’t, the inevitable transition will be much more disruptive — and much less just.
Kate Winslet promoting ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ in London in December 2022. Winslet held her breath for over seven minutes during filming of the movie. (Shutterstock)

How could Kate Winslet stay underwater for over 7 minutes in Avatar 2?

Kate Winslet held her breath for an impressive 7 minutes and 15 seconds while filming, but the current world record is over 24 minutes. Here’s how people learn to stay underwater for extended periods of time.
Canada has a shortage of doctors. That’s why making it difficult for internationally trained doctors to practise here is so mystifying. (Francisco Venancio, Unsplash)

Why is Canada snubbing internationally trained doctors during a health-care crisis?

Canada is sidelining qualified doctors while many Canadians struggle to find health care. Here’s what we can and must do better for internationally trained physicians.
Exemptions from funding cuts are needed to ensure trans and non-binary people can get medical care. (Shutterstock)
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Ontario telehealth cuts mean fewer trans people will have access to life-saving health care

The closure of the virtual Connect-Clinic means fewer trans and non-binary people will get the vital health-care services they need.
As Canadians weigh the pros and cons of alcohol use, they should be thinking not just about the risks to their physical health, but also to their mental health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Drinking and suicide: How alcohol use increases risks, and what can be done about it

Public policies should be looking to increase awareness of the link between alcohol and suicide and to assess and treat problematic alcohol use as a way to prevent suicide.
A driver charges his electric car at a Tesla Supercharger station in Miami, Fla. In areas where multi-unit residential buildings cannot adopt EV charging infrastructure, public vehicle charging stations are crucial. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Electric vehicles are now trending. But where can we charge them?

Canada’s zero-emissions vehicle sales target will need hundreds of thousands of EV charging points to be installed in homes, workplaces, retail spaces and along highway corridors in the coming years.
In elementary school, algebra involves using mathematical models to represent and analyze mathematical situations. (Shutterstock)

‘Numberless math’ gets kids thinking about and visualizing algebra

Working with moveable pictures can help children learn an algebra rule: Whatever you do to one side of the equation, you need to do to the other. Here’s how teachers or caregivers can lead this.
A temporary foreign worker from Mexico works on a berry farm in Mirabel, Que., in May 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

New regulations on migrant farm workers should tackle employer/employee power imbalances

Amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations fail to address the power imbalances at the heart of the temporary foreign worker program.
People in Montréal attend a demonstration on May 15, 2021, to denounce Israel’s military actions in the Palestinian territories. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

University presidents’ trip to Israel undermines academic freedom and democracy

When universities are seen as favouring one position on the Palestine/Israel issue, their ability to uphold academic freedom as a fundamental tenet of democracy is jeopardized.

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