Early humans, possibly even prehuman ancestors, appear to have been going to sea much longer than anyone had ever suspected. That is the startling implication of discoveries made the last two summers on the Greek island of Crete. Stone tools found there, archaeologists say, are at least 130,000 years old, which is considered strong evidence for the earliest known seafaring in the Mediterranean and cause for rethinking the maritime capabilities of prehuman cultures. Crete has been an island for more than five million years, meaning that the toolmakers must have arrived by boat. So this seems to push the history of Mediterranean voyaging back more than 100,000 years, specialists in Stone Age archaeology say. Previous artifact discoveries had shown people reaching Cyprus, a few other Greek islands and possibly Sardinia no earlier than 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. the archaeologists who found the tools on Crete noted that the style of the hand axes suggested that they could be up to 700,000 years old. That may be a stretch, they conceded, but the tools resemble artifacts from the stone technology known as Acheulean, which originated with prehuman populations in Africa. More than 2,000 stone artifacts, including the hand axes, were collected on the southwestern shore of Crete, near the town of Plakias, by a team led by Thomas F. Strasser and Eleni Panagopoulou. She is with the Greek Ministry of Culture and he is an associate professor of art history at Providence College in Rhode Island. They were assisted by Greek and American geologists and archaeologists, including Curtis Runnels of Boston University.
II. EARTHTIMES - Greek appointed to protect Serb religious heritage in Kosovo
A Greek diplomat serving in Pristina was appointed Tuesday to help restore and protect Serb heritage in Kosovo, the European Union and Greek missions said in a statement. Ambassador Dimitris Moschopoulos "will facilitate the development of integrated conservation policies for religious and cultural heritage and will actively engage in increasing awareness of and respect for cultural heritage," the joint statement said. Moschopoulos heads the Greek liaison office in Pristina. Greece, like Serbia a mostly Orthodox Christian country, is one of only five EU nations that have not recognized Kosovo, with its mostly Albanian and Muslim population. Kosovo declared independence two years ago, but Serbia, which sees the province as its heartland and cradle of the Serbian Orthodox Church, continues to fight the secession by diplomatic means. Albanians have destroyed many Serbian shrines since the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ousted Belgrade's security forces from Kosovo to end bloodshed in 1999. The most recent wave of destruction occurred in Kosovo-wide riots six years ago. The protection and restoration of Serbian cultural and religious monuments is a commitment Kosovo assumed when it declared its independence, with the backing of the United States and the majority of leading western nations. Some of the Serbian monuments in Kosovo are centuries old but must remain under protection of NATO peacekeepers. The 13th-century Decani monastery near Pec is, for instance, under the protection of UNESCO and also of Italian soldiers stationed there.
III. RADIOSRBIJA - Nine years since the massacre of Serbs near Podujevo
On the occasion of nine years since the massacre of 12 Serbs in a terrorist attack on a Niš ekspres bus near Podujevo, Serbian Orthodox Church bishops Atanasije and Teodosije held a memorial service in St Nicholas’ church in downtown Pristina. Another 40 passengers were wounded in that attack. The service was attended by some 150 Serbs. An explosion of a mine laid on the road near the Livadice village, in the vicinity of Podujevo, in northeastern Kosmet, on 16 February 2001, blew up the first of the six buses transporting displaced Kosmet Serbs going, in the company of KFOR, to Gracanica, to visit the graves of their family members. The only person charged with the terrorist attack was a Kosovo Albanian Fljorim Ejupi. In May 2001, he escaped from prison in the US Bondsteel base, and in 2004 he was arrested again in Tirana and taken back to Kosovo. He was convicted of the crime in first-instance proceedings, but the Supreme Court of Kosovo subsequently acquitted him due to an alleged lack of evidence. In June 2009, EULEX launched a new investigation. Members of the team conducting the investigation state they have not identified the perpetrators yet, but that they are aware of the fact that it was impossible for one person only to be behind such a brutal terrorist act. The Church of St Nicholas in Pristina, where the service was held today, was burnt down in Kosovo Albanian violence in March 2004 and has only partly been renovated.
Abkhazian President Sergey Bagapsh paid an official visit to Moscow at the invitation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. On August 26, 2008, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree recognizing Abkhazia. It followed Georgia's attack against another Caucuses republic, South Ossetia. The republic was also recognized by Venezuela, Nicaragua and the tiny Republic of Nauru, the world's smallest island nation, in the South Pacific. However the Georgian government and most of the world powers still consider Abkhazia part of Georgia's territory. According to Bagapsh, although his republic continues to strive for its recognition, “it’s not going to beg anyone to recognize it. We are going to establish our political situation in the country, our economy and further development, in a way that would leave no questions about whether to recognize us or not,” the Abkhazian President said. On September 17, 2008 in Moscow, Medvedev and Bagapsh signed a treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance which laid the foundation for long-term cooperation. And in September 2009, the sides signed an agreement on military cooperation. In line with that document, Russia has the opportunity to build, use and update military infrastructure and military bases in Abkhazia as well as set up a joint group of forces for times of both war and peace. Bagapsh said his country can’t allow ethnic Georgian refugees to return from Georgia, as it may lead to war. He also noted that his country will not cooperate with Georgia’s current government. “We are open to a dialogue with any state,” Bagapsh said. “But I want to underline it straight away, any cooperation, dialogue or economic relations with the current Georgian administration is out of the question.”
The White House's lead spokesman is declining to confirm the capture of the Taliban's top military commander. Unnamed officials in Pakistan had said earlier Tuesday that a joint CIA-Pakistani operation captured Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Karachi. At the White House, press secretary Robert Gibbs said he would not speak on the matter. Gibbs told reporters the fight against extremists involves sensitive intelligence matters and he believes it's best to collect that information without talking about it. Gibbs said reports that Baradar was arrested 10 days ago and was talking to his interrogators were "not helpful." Baradar is the most senior Afghan Taliban leader arrested since the beginning of the Afghan war in 2001.
VI. DEUTSCHEWELLE - Libya slaps visa ban on European countries
The European Commission, the EU's executive body, has criticized Libya's decision to suspend issuing visas to citizens from the bloc's Schengen area as "unilateral and disproportionate." "The Commission also regrets that travelers who legally obtained visas before the suspension measure were refused entry when arriving in Libya," said EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom. She added that EU and Schengen countries would discuss the matter this week to "consider the appropriate reaction." A spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry said the decision by Libya was "regrettable," adding that the government expected the suspension to be cancelled. The move by Tripoli appears to be in response to an announcement by Swiss authorities on Sunday that 188 Libyans, including leader Moammar Gadhafi and his family, are banned from visiting Switzerland. While Switzerland is not a member of the EU, it is one of the 25 European countries in the border-free Schengen area. Citizens of Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania, which are EU members but not in the Schengen zone, were exempt from the decision.
VII. PRAVMIR - Seven testaments of the Great Lent
The Season of Great Lent has begun. It is time of renovation, repentance and joy. It is not yet the time of triumphant Easter delight, but a time of quiet and, yet, at the same time, profoundly deep joy, which is not visible at first glance. Perhaps it is due to the fact that during the fast, we once again hope to tear ourselves away from the concerns and worries that have enslaved us within our daily lives. We hope to find our real selves. The Great Lent prepares us for that greatest of celebrations: Easter. It is a real journey. It is the springtime of the spirit. And this spring pilgrimage should bring us to the proper end point, where we will become better then we were at the beginning. How can we go properly through the great fast? (1) To eat well. Before we start talking about the spiritual meaning of the fast, it is important to clarify what exactly our food is. The differences between foods becomes more visible precisely during this fast. The meaning of the fast is not refusing meat or dairy. Food itself does not bring us any closer to God, or take us further away from Him. As we are creatures content on bones and blood, the subject of our nutrition is quite important. There is a general rule: we have to eat “easy” food (namely, we must strive to eat food that gives our bodies and souls a sense of lightness). But it is just as possible to burden yourself with easy food too. Try not to get obsessed with it. Also, there is no need to look for the abundant special fast recipes on the Internet. Perhaps one should try to spend less time cooking your meals. Spend less money on buying your food during the fast. Taking this aspect into account, there is something to think about – such as how reasonable it is to buy special seafood that is allowed by church discipline. At the same time, certain exemptions do indeed exist for certain groups of people (such as those who are ill, hard workers, pregnant and breast-feeding women, and so on). In this case, it would be prudent to get advice from your spiritual leader. If you do not have an opportunity to do that, you need to make your own decision. It is well known that it is better to under-fast then to over-fast. Temperance is a golden rule. (2) To give up bad habits, or addiction to something. Fast is a time of relief. We are being released from those things which enslaves us. In this time, we can make serious attempts to give up our various bad habits or addictions. Everyone has to perform their own good deeds. Someone during this time may give up an addiction to drink or to smoke; someone else will just as likely give up watching of a television series. There is no need to ask the others to perform a kind deed, just try to perform it yourself. (3) To pray regularly. Fasting without prayer is not a true fast, but try to find just 15 or 20 minutes for prayer in the evening and in the morning during the fast. You can read normal prayers for mornings and evenings together with the Gospel. But during Lent, it would be better to add one more short but essential prayer that sets the tone of the fast such as one by Ephraim the Syrian. (4) To read the Holy Bible. During the Great Lent there are three Old Testament books read during the Pre-sanctified Liturgies; Genesis, Isaiah and Proverbs. There is also a tradition during this time to read all Four Gospels at home on your own. It is difficult to be a Christian without knowing the Gospel. If you have not read the Old and The New Testaments yet, try to do so during the next forty days of Lent. Even if you have previously read the whole Bible, please don’t think it’s enough. Our memories are never truly as rock-solid as they seem, and we forget much. Try to read the Gospel regularly. It would be better if you do this every day, after finding a quiet time so that you can concentrate on what you are reading. It would be even better if you can find some time after reading to think about it, and then compare it with your own life and experience. (5) Attend the liturgies. The time of Great Lent is a special time in the order of Church’s routine. One can feel it only by going to church for weekday services, along with the services regularly served on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Alexander Schmemann referred to this time as that of “a light sorrow”. It is the special tone of this time which you can feel only during the beautiful quiet liturgies during the week. Try also to visit the liturgy once or twice during the reading of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. This canon is the longest of all canons of the Orthodox Church. It comes from the depth of the confession and runs throughout with a hope for the Love of Our Father. The Orthodox Church reads this canon by parts in the evenings starting on Monday till Thursday on the First week of Great Lent, and then repeats it all on Wednesday evening of the Fifth week. It is truly necessary to go to Church for Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts. If you can come to church where this liturgy is in the evening, then you can receive communion and feel the anxious expectation of meeting with Jesus Christ. Lastly, it is very important to come to church on the Days of the Passion, beginning from the Great Thursday’s evening. But this time is further away, and it is better to speak about it later. (6) To clear your mind from vanities. During the period of Lent, everyone decides themselves if it would be better to stop completely watching TV, or to avoid visiting blogs, forums and other social networks on the Internet. Truthfully, to read at least one book on a Christian subject would be far more useful. It could be a book about history of the Church, basics of religious doctrine, the interpretation of Holy Bible or something else entirely. It is very necessary to choose a book carefully, due to the variety of the books in existence, and lack of spiritual quality of many of them. Reading books of classical world literature might also be useful as it will keep your mind away from the concerns and worries of everyday life. (7) Try to achieve what you had planned or wanted to achieve. Try to remember your plans and aims. The period of the fast is a time with a positive tone. The main purpose of all restrictions like those found relating to food and pleasures is to give us time and the power to unite ourselves to Christ. This means you should strive to do good things, to love God and to love other people—and sometimes harder yet, yourself. Try to do something that will please not only you but others as well. We all hear the words of Christ before Lent: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” Besides, you could create your own “rules” of the fast. They could be different, but it is important to take it seriously. Fasting is a time that requires us to come to decisions, some of them difficult. It is a time that calls us to make our own conscious efforts to better our lives, and the lives of those around us.