Rival Palestinian factions reached a tenuous détente in Islam's holiest city Thursday. The agreement between Hamas and Fatah should slow the weeks of violence that have wracked the region. But according to the New York Times, it may not be enough to persuade Israel and other donor nations, including Canada, to lift crippling sanctions imposed last year.

Meanwhile, in Beijing, North Korea "agreed in principle to take initial steps toward its eventual nuclear disarmament." In a gesture of goodwill, the United States announced they were testing new ways to prevent nuclear terror in New York.

Back on the home front, Canada's New Environment Minister (I'm capitalizing everything Tory just to be safe) told a Commons Committee to forget about Kyoto. And the city of Ottawa picked up a $73 million tab for a light-rail project he helped kill.

Finally, the Breast Cancer Society of Canada has rejected thousands of dollars raised by a group of women who wanted to commemorate the death of a colleague. The women in question happen to be exotic dancers. It takes a lot to make people who raise money for breast cancer research look petty. Congratulations Breast Cancer Society of Canada, you managed it.

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