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TEHRAN, IRAN -- Iranians were voting for a new parliament Friday, with turnout seen as a key measure of support for Iran's leadership as sanctions weigh on the economy and isolate the country diplomatically. The disqualification of more than 7,000 potential candidates, most of them reformists and moderates, raised the possibility of lower-than-usual turnout. Source

The charter plane carrying more than 200 Canadian passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship has landed at CFB Trenton in Ontario. The plane, which touched down just after 2 a.m. ET, was carrying passengers from the cruise liner that was quarantined in Yokohama, Japan since early February due to an outbreak of COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus. Source

SALT LAKE CITY -- His aura suddenly shattered, a defiant Michael Bloomberg sent a pointed message Thursday to a political world grappling with his underwhelming presidential debate debut: He's not going away. The New York ultra-billionaire lashed out at leading Democratic rival Bernie Sanders and U.S. Source

TORONTO -- As a plane of relieved Canadians evacuated from the virus-plagued cruise ship in Japan flies back home, dozens of others are being left behind. Rose and Greg Yerex from Port Dover, Ont. tested positive for COVID-19 in their final days aboard the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship. Source

TORONTO -- A group of Metis travellers have embarked on a journey 150 years in the making to honour the man considered a founding father of Manitoba. The group is travelling from Kenora, Ont. to Winnipeg using dog sleds and horse-drawn carts to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Manitoba’s founding. Source

VANCOUVER -- Brothers and sisters of Kyaw Din stood solemnly Thursday outside the Surrey office tower that houses the Independent Investigations Office, holding enlarged, laminated photos of Din. The Maple Ridge man was shot and killed by RCMP on Aug. Source

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND -- Warning: Details in the story may be disturbing to some The New Zealand man convicted of murdering a British backpacker he met on a dating app has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years. Source

Syrian rebels and Turkish forces fought government troops in northwest Syria on Thursday as Russian warplanes struck back in a sharp escalation of an intense battle over the last rebel bastions of Syria. The recent escalation in fighting has left one million civilians — mostly women and children — to desperately flee the relentless bombing and fighting. Source

WASHINGTON -- Intelligence officials say Russia is interfering with the 2020 election to try to help U.S. President Donald Trump get reelected, The New York Times reported Thursday. The Times said intelligence officials told lawmakers about the interference in a Feb. Source

WASHINGTON -- Intelligence officials have warned lawmakers that Russia is interfering in the 2020 election campaign to help U.S. President Donald Trump get reelected, three officials familiar with the closed-door briefing said Thursday. The warning raises questions about the integrity of the presidential campaign and whether Trump's administration is taking the proper steps to combat the kind of interference that the U.S. Source