ANAHEIM, Calif. — Human ancestors that left Africa hundreds of thousands of years ago to see the rest of the world were no landlubbers. Stone hand axes unearthed on the Mediterranean island of Crete indicate that an ancient Homo species — perhaps Homo erectus — had used rafts or other seagoing vessels to cross from northern Africa to Europe via at least some of the larger islands in between, says archaeologist Thomas Strasser of Providence College in Rhode Island.
The authorities set up an anti-human sacrifice task force in 2009, to try to combat the rise in the number of ritual child killings being performed by witch doctors.
Newsnight's Tim Whewell travelled to Uganda, where he met a former witch doctor now working to convert other witch doctors from their practices.
His report contains accounts that viewers may find disturbing.
Broadcast on Thursday 7 January 2010
By Amie Newman, Managing Editor
January 6, 2010 - 12:26pm
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 8:07 PM on 06th January 2010
A circus performer stood locked in a trance for hours after he accidentally hypnotised himself while practising his routine in a mirror. More here.
Madcap: Hannibal Helmurto marrying wife Joanne, who found him in a trance
 | Drummer Imran Malik and guitarist Basim Usmani of the Muslim Hindu punk band The Kominas rehearse in a basement in Wayland, Mass., on Dec. 19 More here. |
Secular campaigners publish series of anti-religious quotes and say they will challenge law if charged with blasphemy More here.
Björk's comment on Buddhism has been included in the series of anti-religious quotes published by Atheist Ireland. Photograph: Getty Images
TOKYO — For Atsushi Nakanishi, jobless since Christmas, home is a cubicle barely bigger than a coffin — one of dozens of berths stacked two units high in one of central Tokyo’s decrepit “capsule” hotels. More here.
He's very good at playing bad guys, so how will he handle a punk poet turned posthumous national treasure? More here.
Andy Serkis on Ian Dury: 'He was obnoxious, just an arse, you know.' Photograph: Spencer Murphy
Friday, January 1, 2010
Harold Camping lets out a hearty chuckle when he considers the people who believe the world will end in 2012.
"That date has not one stitch of biblical authority," Camping says from the Oakland office where he runs Family Radio, an evangelical station that reaches listeners around the world. "It's like a fairy tale."
The real date for the end of times, he says, is in 2011. More here.
Tennant, 38, who has been hailed by many as the best Doctor in the Time Lord's history, gave a hint about the big climax to the epic tale, which airs on BBC1 on New Year's Day. MORE HERE!
Outcry: Experts say online Scrabble games should use the game's official dictionary and not accept proper nouns such as Pernod, foreign words and archaic English. More here.
A figure in a black kimono and a wig with a man's topknot stands on stage, drawing a laugh from the crowd as it pretends to mistakenly stab itself in the hand with a metal truncheon. A quick trip to the wings and the figure reappears, this time sporting an ornate red hairpin. The figure -- obviously a woman now -- basks in the spotlight, and begins to strip off her clothes. More here!
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:46 AM on 29th December 2009
Chinese archaeologists have found what could be the tomb of Cao Cao, a skilful general and ruler in the third century who was later depicted in popular folklore as the archetypal cunning politician.
Archaeological officials say Cao's 8,000 sq ft tomb complex, with a 130ft passage leading to an underground chamber, was found in Xigaoxue, a village near the ancient capital of Anyang in central Henan province.
Historians say Cao Cao's outstanding military and political talents enabled him to build the strongest and most prosperous state in northern China during the Three Kingdoms period in 208 to 280 AD, when China had three separate rulers. More here.
The austere interior of Cao Cao's tomb. He ruled the Kingdom of Wei from 208 to 220 AD. More Here.
Kevin Smith tries on a hat before an auction. The items are collected by L.A. County, which tries to find heirs and wills. (Francine Orr, Los Angeles Times / November 14, 2009) More here.
