Gwinnett Daily Post

Police recover Auschwitz gate sign damaged

WARSAW, Poland -- The three pieces of the infamous sign proclaiming ''Arbeit Macht Frei'' (''Work Sets You Free)'' will be welded together and restored to the main gate at the former Auschwitz death camp after an improved security system is put in place to guard against another theft.

Officials at the Auschwitz memorial museum said Monday the new system would be aimed at better protecting not just the recovered sign but many other objects testifying to Nazi crimes -- from two tons of human hair to a trove of written documents to the ruins of gas chambers now sinking into the earth.

''The location of the sign is its only authentic one, above the gate of the former Auschwitz I camp,'' museum director Piotr Cywinski said. ''The sign will return there as soon as possible, after ensuring the protection of its site against damage and burglary.''

Philippine volcano could erupt soon

LEGAZPI, Philippines -- Philippine troops on Monday pressed the last 3,000 villagers who have refused to heed government warnings to leave the danger zone around a volcano that experts said is ready to erupt.

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from the foothills of Mayon, which on Monday emitted lava fountains, powerful booming noises and other signs of an approaching eruption. But authorities are having trouble keeping villagers away from their homes and farms, said Gov. Joey Salceda.

After a week of puffing out ash and sending bursts of lava trickling down its steep slopes, the 8,070-foot mountain shook with nearly 2,000 volcanic earthquakes and tremors between Sunday and Monday, state volcanologists said.

Mexico City lawmakers OK gay marriage

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico City lawmakers on Monday made the city the first in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage, a change that will give homosexual couples more rights, including allowing them to adopt children.

The bill passed the capital's local assembly 39-20 to the cheers of supporters who yelled: ''Yes, we could! Yes, we could!''

Leftist Mayor Marcelo Ebrard of the Democratic Revolution Party is widely expected to sign the measure into law.