News

A failing asbestos mine in Quebec may be Canada’s ticket to Mars.

Canada’s space agency is interested in using the mine’s terrain to conduct simulation Mars missions.

Some say these test runs could increase Canada’s opportunities to participate in future space missions.

Scientists recently tested out the idea at Quebec’s Jeffrey Mine in the town of Asbestos.

The epic struggle for Palestinian statehood is set for another chapter.

Palestinian authority president Mahmoud Abbas is in New York this week trying to sway US opinion towards his people’s cause.

Abbas is planning to ask the UN to back a bid for non-member observer status for Palestine.

Israel opposes the plans based on the promises made at the 1993 Oslo Accords.

Abbas is adamant for Palestinian statehood after recent hostilities between Israel and Gaza claimed at least 158 people’s lives.

A relative calm descended over Gaza after an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire came into effect Wednesday evening.

The agreement put an end to eight days of violence between Israel and Hamas. Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets in celebration.

According to Al Jazeera, 162 Palestinians and five Israelis have died in the conflict.

Egypt appears to be facilitating negotiations between the two sides.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has warned that Israel is prepared to resume military operations in response to any provocation.

STORY WRITTEN BY: ALEX MASSE

Read by: Catlin Spencer

Stories by:Patrick Miller, Nikita Smith, Chloe Deneumoustier and Carlo Spiridigliozzi

Produced by: Alyssa Tremblay

A recent poll shows a significant loss of confidence in the engineering profession—while 83 percent of Quebecers said they trusted engineers in 2007, numbers from about a year ago show that now only around 65 percent of Quebecers would trust engineers.

In a report by the Canadian University Press, new information from Justice Charbonneau’s inquiry into corruption in Montreal’s construction industry reveals strong arguments for this loss of confidence.

Hosted by Sarah Deshaies

Produced by Nikita Smith

Stories by Sarah Deshaies, Niki Mohrdar, Jaime-Lee Gordon, and Audrey Folliot 

Twenty years ago, women were allowed to become priests, but today they are still kept from holding higher ranks in the clergy.

There was a motion proposed to allow women to become bishops, but the general synod of the Church of England has narrowly voted against it, reports the BBC.

Narrowly because it passed amongst the synod’s House of Bishops, but the House of Laity has rejected it, with only six votes missing for it to pass.

Some Archbishops and bishops in favour of a “yes” vote said this was a “grim day”, especially for women priests and supporters.

Among those who voted against, Canon Simon Killwick said that this legislation was “flawed”.