“A British aid worker and her parents were whisked out of the Gaza Strip by British diplomats on Saturday, hours after being released by Palestinian gunmen. ”
Full Story: NDTV.com.
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High doses of vitamin D can reduce the risk of developing some common cancers by as much as 50%, US scientists claim.
Researchers reviewed 63 old studies and found that the vitamin could reduce the chances of developing breast, ovarian and colon cancer, and others.
Full Story: BBC.
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Significant advances have been made in women’s health in 2005, particularly in breast cancer treatment and detection, according to the December issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource.
Large clinical trials have shown that two types of breast cancer drugs help prevent reccurence of the disease and improve survival rates, reports Newswise.
Full Story: All Headline News.
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Tuesday was the deadline for ProtectMarriage.com to submit the signatures needed to qualify for the June primary ballot one of two overlapping initiatives that would outlaw same-sex marriage and restrict domestic partnership rights.
Andrew Pugno, the group’s legal adviser, said the signature drive had fallen about 200,000 voters short of the requirement for 591,105 signatures.
Full Story: […]

Honda Motor said Monday it will begin mass producing next-generation solar panels for household use from 2007, halving the carbon-dioxide emissions of the already eco-friendly technology.
The Japanese giant declined to disclose the amount of new investment but the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said the auto and motorcycle maker would spend some 86.5 million dollars on its […]

The International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) has said that through its implementing partners, it has withdrawn 2,000 children from various forms of child labour.
The children were withdrawn from fishing, mining and quarrying communities, as well as head-portage nicknamed “kayayei” and commercial sex activities and are being trained in formal school or […]

Best technology-related good news of 2005:

Michael Robertson hires DVD Jon
The $100 laptop
Katrina, blogged
The Pirate Bay redesign
“Hot Coffee” boils
Intelligent design expelled from biology class
Lost opens the hatch, finds an Apple II
Broadcast flag defeated
Ancient telegraph operator beats teen texter in speed contest
NASA rovers survive a full Martian year
Full Story: Wired News.
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As Editor & Publisher recently reported, the idea of impeaching Bush has entered the mainstream media’s circulatory system–with each day producing more op-eds and articles on the subject. Joining the chorus on Christmas Eve, conservative business magazine Barron’s published a lengthy editorial excoriating the president for committing a potentially impeachable offense. “If we don’t discuss […]

So the police state’s not quite so bad:

The UMass Dartmouth student who claimed to have been visited by Homeland Security agents over his request for “The Little Red Book” by Mao Zedong has admitted to making up the entire story.
The 22-year-old student tearfully admitted he made the story up to his history professor, Dr. […]

Politics:
Student admits he lied about Mao book.
IMF Writes Off $82M in Debt for Cambodia.
Democrats strike back.
US, Britain to reduce troop levels. This is a cheap political ploy to create the illusion of progress. Regardless, fewer troops over there is a good thing.
Diebold news round-up.
New Yorkers Support the Transit Strike.
Senate rejects drilling in Alaska wildlife […]