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A new report is advising the Quebec government to toughen up if it wants to make French the number one language in the province.

According to the Montreal Gazette, the report suggests the government should crack down on English in the work place.

It also encouraged promoting French amoung immigrants and in schools, and rejected the idea that bilingualism should be a job requirement in Quebec.

The report was written by the Conseil supérieur de la langue française.

The president of the organization presented the report to the Parti Quebecois government on Wednesday.

Public hearings on Bill 14, the PQ’s proposed update to Bill 101, begin today at the National Assembly.

STORY WRITTEN BY: ALYSSA TREMBLAY

The United Nations Refugee Agency is warning that resources for helping Syrian refugees are quickly diminishing.

The New York Times reports the number of Syrian refugees passed the one million mark on Wednesday.

Almost three years after the Syrian conflict began, over 7,000 Syrians flee the country daily.

More than half are children, many under the age of eleven.

Many have fled to neighbouring countries including Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, and North Africa.

Displaced Syrians are putting a strain on these countries.

Lebanon’s population has grown by 10 per cent and Turkey put $600 million into building refugee camps with more on the way.

The UN says it has only received 20 per cent of the $1.5 billion it sought to aid Syrians in and out of the country.

Relief agencies worry that money received from donors cannot keep pace with growing refugee needs.

Flickr Photo by: lynnefeatherstone

STORY WRITTEN BY: AISHA SAMU

Venezuela announced an official seven day mourning period, in honoured of their fallen president, Hugo Chavez.

In a report by BBC News, the Venezuelan strongman passed away on Tuesday from cancer. He had battled the illness for just over a year and it prevented him from taking oath after winning another term following elections last October.

Chavez was a controversial figure, constantly speaking out against the U.S. and led a left-wing revival across Latin America. Thousands of supporters took to the streets of Caracas to express their grief.

A state funeral is planned for Friday and Vice-President Nicolas Maduro has taken the reigns of power until an election is called , which should be within the next 30 days.

There were instances of violence in the capital where students were demanded more information on Chavez's passing. There aren't any reports of injuries in these incidents.

Flickr Photo by: zennie62

Most people in Quebec don’t know anything about it. Yet, the province is Canada’s hotbed for uranium mining.

Recently, the debate over expanding Quebec’s uranium exploration has intensified. 

According to the Gazette, a poll of 1000 Quebecers in all regions of the province revealed 78 per cent believed an independent study into the economic, environmental and social impacts of uranium should be done before mining begins.

Quebec’s Environment Minister Yves-Francois Blanchet said last month that he wants to order a consultation on the matter and said not to do so would be irresponsible.

Flickr Photo by: NPCA Photos

STORY WRITTEN BY: JAMIE-LEE GORDON