Iran to hold drills for protecting atom facilities

By Fredrik Dahl and Hashem Kalantari TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will stage large-scale air defense war games next week to help protect its nuclear facilities against any attack, a senior commander was quoted as saying on Saturday. Brigadier General Ahmad Mighani also... more

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• China mine explosion kills 31, traps 78
• Afghan government would fall if NATO withdraws: UK minister

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Stars forward Neal suspended for two games

TORONTO (Reuters) - Dallas Stars forward James Neal has been suspended for two games for a dangerous hit against Derek Dorsett of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the NHL said Friday. Neal struck Dorsett from behind, banging the head of the Blue... more

• Heatley hat-trick helps Sharks take down Flyers
• U.S., Cuba players find friendship in softball
• Carter scores 26 points to lead Magic past Celtics

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Michael Jackson's doctor says others gave him propofol

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Michael Jackson's personal physician told investigators he was not the first doctor to give the pop star propofol, the powerful anesthetic that was one of the drugs to cause his death, according to court papers unsealed... more

• Taylor Swift's dream year brings out naysayers
• LA attorneys distance Polanski from French lawyer
• "New Moon" rises to No. 1 at midnight box office

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Hundreds evacuated in Cowichan after state of emergency declared because of flooding

Municipal officials have called a state of emergency early Friday morning, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people as flood waters caused one of Cowichan’s biggest disasters in decades. Volunteers were busy sandbagging areas in and around Duncan while the Island... more

• Welfare of our kids still needs work
• Locals pull together in wake of Friday's flooding emergency
• Craig Street reopening bash postponed as city handles flooding crisis

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Tories, Liberals slip as NDP surges: poll

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's ruling Conservatives and the main opposition Liberals both lost ground in a poll published on Friday as the left-leaning New Democrats enjoyed a surprising surge in public support. Backing for the second-largest opposition party in Parliament, known... more

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• Lesbian U.S. deserter to get new Canada hearing

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Honduras de facto leader says will step aside

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras's post-coup de facto leader said on Friday he would give up his presidential duties for a week, a step Washington welcomed as a way to help ease a five-month-old political crisis. Roberto Micheletti, who took power after... more

• Putin announces more aid as Russia exits crisis
• Colombia says will not be provoked by Venezuela
• Azerbaijan says Karabakh talks last chance for deal

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Diplomats arrested for cigarette smuggling

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Swedish police have arrested two North Korean diplomats on suspicion of smuggling 230,000 cigarettes into the Nordic country, the Swedish Customs Office said Friday. The pair, a man and a woman who have diplomatic status in Russia, were... more

• Ageing Santa gets $100,000 facelift for Christmas
• Gang accused of killing to sell human fat
• New fossils reveal a world full of crocodiles

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• Two worlds
• The quest for a local apple
• The Den Report, Lions beat 'Riders, now 2-4
• The Den Report, Logan impressing in NFL camp
• The Den Report, Lions sign three
• Everything I like is bad for me
• The Den Report, Stopping the presses on Printers; Ebell released
• The Den Report, Lions stomped 48-10 by Stamps
• The Den Report, Week 4
• The Den Report, Lions maul Esks 40-22

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