News of the Day

Archaeologist Richard Hansen explains the detail on one of two newly-discovered Mayan panels in the northern Guatemalan Peten jungle (Times of Malta).

• Archaeologists uncover Mayan carvings from 300 B.C.

• New discovery depicting panels of cosmic creatures

Archaeologists have uncovered carved stucco panels depicting cosmic monsters [asuras], gods [devas], and serpents [nagas] in Guatemala's northern jungle that are the oldest known depictions of a famous Mayan creation myth.

The newly-discovered panels, both almsot eight metres long and stacked on top of each other, were created around 300 BC and show scenes from the core Mayan mythology, the Popol Vuh.

It took investigators three months to uncover the carvings while excavating El Mirador, the biggest ancient Mayan city in the world, the site's head researcher, Richard Hansen, said on Wednesday.

The Maya built soaring temples and elaborate palaces in Central America and southern Mexico, dominating the region for some 2,000 years, before mysteriously abandoning their cities around AD 900. More>>

• China, biggest U.S. creditor, "worried" about Treasury

• Amero has already been distributed to them

• Sex Industry flops in downturn

• European nations hit hard by waning interest

US seeks to reassure China over US bond holdings (guardian.co.uk)‎

• WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House sought on Friday to reassure Chinese concerns about the safety of its vast holdings in US government debt, saying there was no better place in the world to invest than the United States.
  
  Video: Reaction: Wen worried about US investments UPI
  China "worried" about US Treasury holdings AP

India hands over replies to Pakistan (Hindu)

• NEW DELHI: India on Friday handed over its response to the clarifications sought by Pakistan investigating linkages of its nationals to the Mumbai terror attacks in November last year.
  India Replies to Pakistan’s Queries on Mumbai Terrorist Attacks Bloomberg
  Pak to take 'appropriate action' on Indian response to 30 Qs Press Trust of India

UN fears Sri Lanka "war crimes"

• BBC News -- Actions by Sri Lanka's government and the Tamil Tiger rebels may amount to war crimes, the United Nations says. UN High Commissioner of Human Rights Navi Pillay called on the two warring sides to suspend hostilities immediately in the island's...
  Sri Lanka says kills 32 rebels in heavy combat Reuters
  UN Rights Official Fears War Crimes in Sri Lanka New York Times

iPod's mini shuffle innards (iFixit)