Palin quitting early as Alaska governor

Announcement likely to fuel speculation Palin will seek presidency in 2012, CNN reports here: Sarah Palin said Friday that she will step down as Alaska’s governor by the end of the month. She will not seek election to a second gubernatorial term in 2010. Palin, a Republican, was elected governor in 2006. She was tapped as Sen. John McCain’s vice presidential running mate last year.


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EU Court Allows Dutch ‘Bavaria’ Beer

Spiegel Online reports here: The Bavarian fondness for a glass of local beer is legendary. But brewers in the picturesque southern German state are up in arms about a leading brand of Dutch beer — called Bavaria. After years of legal wrangling, Europe’s highest court has ruled that the Dutch brand can retain its trademark name.


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Honey can have powerful antibacterial properties

CNN reports here: Honey has been used to treat wounds since ancient times, but recent years have seen a surge of medical interest in the sticky stuff.


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How German Banks Are Cashing In on the Financial Crisis

Spiegel Online reports here: Central banks are making trillions in unusually cheap money available to banks in a bid to restore liquidity to the financial system. But institutions are not passing on the cash to their customers, choosing instead to invest it and make a fat profit.


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Vegetarians ‘avoid more cancers’

BBC News reports here: Vegetarians are generally less likely than meat eaters to develop cancer but this does not apply to all forms of the disease, a major study has found.


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Tea ‘healthier’ drink than water

The researchers recommend people consume three to four cups a day, BBC News reports here: Drinking three or more cups of tea a day is as good for you as drinking plenty of water and may even have extra health benefits, say researchers.


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US passes million swine flu cases

Dr Anne Schuchat of the CDC says swine flu may worsen come autumn, BBC News reports here: US health officials estimate that at least one million Americans have been infected with swine flu since the H1N1 virus emerged nearly three months ago.


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New cancer drug ’shows promise’

BBC News reports here: Researchers say a new type of cancer treatment has produced highly promising results in preliminary drug trials.


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‘Limits for Freedom of Expression on the Internet’

Spiegel Online reports here: A German court has ruled that pupils can rate their teachers online, rejecting a bid by one instructor to shut down a Web site that gave her a low grade. The judges said that freedom of expression was more important, a sentiment that German commentators largely agree with.


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