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Partial skull found in Israel dated to 55,000 years ago

The partial skull of a modern human (Homo sapiens) (C) is placed between a Neanderthal (R) skull and a complete modern human skull (L) on display outside the Manot stalactite cave in northern Israel on Wednesday. The 55,000-year-old skull was discovered marking what the Israeli Antiquities Authority says is 'one of the most important discoveries in the study of human evolution.' The skull is of a modern human, or 'Homo sapiens,' and is the earliest fossilized evidence outside of Africa indicating that the human population originated in Africa and emigrated from there 65,000 years ago, shedding light on modern human evolution in the 'out of Africa' theory and putting modern humans in a wave of migration that replaced indigenous populations such as Neanderthals in Europe and Western Asia. The partial skull was dated by means of uranium-thorium (EPA)

Local News January 28, 2015

New bill underway for animal welfare agency

By Constantinos Psillides

A BILL setting the guidelines for the creation of an animal welfare agency is expected to be proposed to the Cabinet by the end of the month.

A government announcement said that discussion among stakeholders has already begun at the presidential palace, chaired by the head of the president’s office Panayiotis Antoniou, with the aim to finalise the proposal by the end of the month.

Present at the meeting were Environment commissioner Ioanna Panayiotou, Volunteerism commissioner Yiannis…

Football Sport January 28, 2015

Eriksen double sends Spurs into League Cup final

By Toby Davis

Tottenham Hotspur reached the League Cup final after suppressing a late uprising from third tier Sheffield United as Christian Eriksen struck twice to seal a 3-2 aggregate win on Wednesday night.

Tottenham, who will face Chelsea in the final at Wembley on March 1, appeared to be cruising when they took a first-half lead through Eriksen’s stunning free-kick which took their aggregate advantage to 2-0.

Sheffield United teenager Che Adams came off the bench, however, to turn…

Local News January 28, 2015

Defence tries to debunk Aristo kickback claims

By Constantinos Psillides

THE trial of Aristo Developers founder Theodoros Aristodemou, his wife Roula, draftsman Christos Solomonides, and former Paphos municipal engineer Savvakis Savva entered its second day on Wednesday with the defence cross-examining officer Andreas Tsekouras, who is part of the task force investigating the case.

The defendants are on trial relating to a suspicious land-zoning deal, regarding the demarcation of 177 land plots in Skali, Paphos.

Police claims that the plans for which the demarcation permits were issued…

Local News January 28, 2015

Debate on hemp cultivation bill to start next week

By Constantinos Psillides

A DRAFT of the much-hyped hemp cultivation legalisation bill has been finalised and it will be up for discussion before the competent authorities by next week, according to the Greens’ party who have been lobbying to legalise hemp along with medicinal cannabis.

The Greens said in a statement on Wednesday that legalising hemp will open up new possibilities in both the agriculture and industry sectors.

“It is time to shutter taboos and enter a new era. Examples…

Football Sport January 28, 2015

Chelsea’s Costa charged over alleged semi-final stamp

By Toby Davis

Chelsea striker Diego Costa could miss Saturday’s top-of-the-table Premier League clash against Manchester City after being charged with violent conduct by the FA for an alleged stamp on Liverpool’s Emre Can.

The Brazilian-born Spain striker faces a potential three-game ban after he appeared to tread down on the 21-year-old German early in the first half of their League Cup semi-final, second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

He was later involved in a second stamping furore…

Football Sport January 28, 2015

Cyprus Cup results

The results of the Cyprus Cup Round of 16, 2nd Leg matches played on Wednesday, January 28, are as follows:

Ethnikos Achnas 2-2 AEL
Aggregate: 2-3

Othellos Athienou 2-1 Apollon
Aggregate: 3-2

APOEL 3-0 Olympiakos
Aggregate: 4-0

Already through to the last eight are Karmiotissa, Ermis Aradippou and AEK Larnaca.

The Round of 16, 2nd Leg games still to be played are:
Wednesday, February 4:
Ayia Napa vs Omonia (0-4)
Anorthosis vs Digenis Oroklinis…

Local News January 28, 2015

Hospital turning patients away due to lack of beds

By Angelos Anastasiou

PROBLEMS at the Nicosia General hospital came to a head on Tuesday night, when staff shortages and increased patient intake at the emergency department left nursing staff unable to provide care to many, the nurses’ union head Prodromos Argyrides said on Wednesday.

According to Argyrides, the issue has been ongoing for the past one or two months, but not to the extent observed on Tuesday.

“Despite the problems, we had been able to cope until Tuesday”, Argyrides…

Local News International News January 28, 2015

Erdogan wants own oil platform in East Med

By Staff Reporter

TURKEY intends to press ahead with exploring for hydrocarbons in the eastern Med by acquiring its own drilling platform, Turkish media reported on Wednesday.

According to daily Sabah, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan informed the country’s National Security Council of plans to either purchase a platform or, if need be, manufacture one.

The platform, with a $1.5bn price tag, would be purchased by Turkish state company TPAO, Erdogan was cited as saying.

The Turkish leader reportedly outlined to…

International News January 28, 2015

Trade union turns lights off on French prime minister

An inquiry was under way on Wednesday after French trade unionists turned the lights off on a keynote speech by Prime Minister Manuel Valls in protest at planned energy reforms.

Valls was starting a speech to about 700 people in support of his Socialist party’s candidate for a by-election on Tuesday night when the lights went out and his microphone turned silent.

The electricity stayed off for about an hour, not just at the venue, but in the whole neighbourhood…

International News January 28, 2015

Snowden files show Canada spy agency runs global Internet watch -CBC

By David Ljunggren

Canada’s electronic spy agency has been intercepting and analyzing data on up to 15 million file downloads a day as part of a global surveillance program, according to a report published on Wednesday.

The covert surveillance dragnet, nicknamed Levitation, has included allied countries and trading partners such as the United States, Britain, Brazil, Germany, Spain and Portugal, the report by CBC News and journalist Glenn Greenwald said.

The spying initiative was revealed in 2012 documents obtained by…

International News January 28, 2015

Jordan proposes prisoner swap, fate of Japanese IS hostage unclear

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

Jordan offered on Wednesday to hand over an Iraqi woman on death row for her role in a 2005 suicide bomb attack if a Jordanian pilot captured by Islamic State was released.

Government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani made no mention of Japanese hostage Kenji Goto, a veteran war reporter who is also being held by the militant group.
“Jordan is ready to release prisoner Sajida al-Rishawi if the Jordanian pilot Lieutenant Muath al-Kasaesbeh is released and his…

Football Sport January 28, 2015

Figo launches bid for FIFA presidency

By Mike Collett

Former Portugal international Luis Figo said on Wednesday he wanted to stand for the FIFA presidency revealing his plans one day before nominations close to enter the race.

The former Real Madrid and Barcelona forward announced his intention to run against incumbent Sepp Blatter in an interview with CNN and said he had the five nominations needed for an official campaign.
Figo, 42, was twice voted World Player of the Year.

“I care about football,…

International News January 28, 2015

EU to extend sanctions on Russia to end-2015

The European Union will extend asset freezes and travel bans imposed on dozens of Russians and Ukrainians after Moscow’s annexation of Crimea to the end of this year, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

A draft statement, prepared for an extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers on Thursday and seen by Reuters, said sanctions imposed from March last year on people undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty would be extended until December 2015.

An earlier version of the draft…

International News January 28, 2015

Obama: Netanyahu meeting before Israel election ‘inappropriate’

U.S. President Barack Obama said he declined to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu during the Israeli leader’s visit to the United States in March because it would be “inappropriate” two weeks before an election in that country.

Netanyahu’s trip has become a diplomatic sore point with political overtones on both sides. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, invited the Israeli prime minister to address Congress without informing the White House or congressional Democrats.

A meeting so close to…

Local News Business January 28, 2015

Following Tsipras’ policies would be suicidal for Cyprus

By Stelios Orphanides

Cyprus would possibly commit a fatal mistake to apply policies propagated by the new Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras, who is also leader of the left populist Syriza party, an economist said.

Tsipras who was sworn-in two days ago and appointed a cabinet with people known for their anti-austerity beliefs, such as the new finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who compared austerity with “fiscal waterboarding,” pledged to renegotiate the terms of Greece’s bailout with international creditors and seek…

Local News Business January 28, 2015

CyTA unions reiterate opposition to privatisations

By Angelos Anastasiou

The state telecoms company (CyTA) employee unions expressed their opposition to the planned privatisation of the organisation on Wednesday in a meeting with Troika technocrats, and demanded that they be engaged in dialogue with the government with regard to CyTA’s future.

“CyTA’s union movement has unanimously expressed its frustration and protest on the procrastination displayed by the government since last March in forming the Joint Advisory Committee … before discussing employees’ labour and pension rights,” union rep…

Local News January 28, 2015

Government in discussions with Noble on developing Aphrodite prospect

By Elias Hazou

The government has begun discussing with Noble Energy how the company plans to develop their offshore Aphrodite prospect, energy minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis said on Wednesday.

The minister confirmed that talks with the US outfit are now ongoing and that a meeting with Noble reps would be taking place on Wednesday.

“It is the second such meeting on a technocratic level, many more will follow, the objective being to agree a development plan for Aphrodite for its commercial…

Football Sport January 28, 2015

Top 10 keepers in the Premier League

Let’s take a look at the best ‘Number 1’s in English football

For more articles and the latest soccer news, check out 90min.com

International News January 28, 2015

German minister warns Greece against breaking agreements

German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel told Greece on Wednesday that it needed to stick to its agreements with international lenders and suggested the euro zone could cope if Athens decided to leave the single currency bloc.

Gabriel said the aim was to keep Greece in the euro zone for political, economic and cultural reasons but added that this would require the new anti-bailout government to implement measures agreed with international lenders. He warned that Athens would have to pick up…

Local News January 28, 2015

Pub standoff suspect remanded in custody

Constantinos Psillides

A 43-year old who shot and injured his estranged wife and then locked himself inside his pub for 30 hours, threatening to take his life, has been remanded in custody for six days.

He is held in connection with attempted murder and illegally carrying a firearm with the intent to cause harm.

It all started on Monday morning when the man got into an argument with the 41-year-old woman over child support.

The suspect claimed he lost his…