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Emergency declared in Peru as Mt. Ubinas threatens to erupt The government of Peru has declared a state of emergency over threat of Mt. Ubinas erupting. The civil defence institute has recommended the total evacuation of the 3,500 residents of the district of Ubinas. Lawsuit sends Buffalo, N.Y. hotel proposal to New York Supreme Court Attorney Arthur J. Giacalone has filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court against the city of Buffalo's Common Council and Planning board. According to Giacalone the city approved the proposal "without giving meaningful consideration to either the impact on the adjoining residential neighborhood, or the unique character of this section of Elmwood Avenue."

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ANZAC Day marked throughout NZ, AU Australians and New Zealanders throughout the world stood still and turned out in huge numbers for their national war memorial day on Tuesday.

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Abu Musab al-Zarqawi appears unmasked in a newly released video taunting the "crusade" by the American-led coalition and Iraqi authorities. At one point, he addresses U.S. President Bush. Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka: A suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bomber attacks the Sri Lankan Army headquarters in the capital, Colombo, killing 8. Twenty-seven have been injured, including the army commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, as the attacker detonates her concealed explosives near the military's hospital. The Sri Lankan military has begun aerial assaults on rebel positions in the north-eastern part of the island nation.

ANZAC Day marked throughout NZ, AU
Australians and New Zealanders throughout the world stood still and turned out in huge numbers for their national war memorial days in remembrance of the failed Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) — attack on Gallipoli, Turkey that began on 25 April 1915. The fateful attack was designed to end the First World War quicker by creating a supply line to Russia. A hundred thousand died in the battle, remembered every year as ANZAC Day by both nations. The British-directed battle of Gallipoli is often seen as a defining moment in the 'birth' of Australia and New Zealand. The battlefields of Gallipoli, where so much blood was shed, has become near-sacred soil.

This is the 91st anniversary of the attack. This is the first ANZAC day, where there have been no survivors left from World War I.

Around 10,000 people are turned out at the dawn service at Gallipoli.

Poppies are used as a symbol of remembrance to all fallen soldiers at war.

Meanwhile dawn services have been held throughout New Zealand. The numbers of veterans may be dwindling, but the numbers of those who come to pay their respects is not. In Auckland nearly 20,000 people attended the dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. During the service, a veteran of the Malayan campaign died, after he fell face forward on to the concrete, as the Last Post was sounded.

In Wellington, about 5000 people gathered at the Cenotaph near the Parliament buildings.

Speaking at the service Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association president John Campbell said, "We are honouring the Anzacs. We are not here to glorify war, but to remember that we value who we are and the freedoms we possess...They did not die in vain. They fought for peace, freedom and democracy."

The Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Silvia Cartwright addressed the crowd, at the Wellington service saying "Soldiers, veterans, all New Zealanders who are gathered here, around New Zealand and around the world to commemorate ANZAC Day. Today is the day we grieve for our fellow New Zealanders killed in war. It is the day we honour them, and remember their sacrifice". This is her last ANZAC Day as Governor-General.

2006 is the New Zealand Year of the Veteran, and the 90th anniversary of the organisation founded by those who did return from Gallipoli – the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association.

Australia and New Zealand commemorate the ANZAC Day public holiday on the 25th of April every year to honour the bravery and sacrifice of the members of the ANZAC's and of all those who served their country —

Lest we Forget.

Lawsuit sends Buffalo, N.Y. hotel proposal to New York Supreme Court
Buffalo, New York – Attorney Arthur J. Giacalone has filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court against the city of Buffalo's Common Council and Planning board, alleging that the proposed Elmwood Village Hotel was approved "without giving meaningful consideration to either the impact on the adjoining residential neighborhood, or the unique character of this section of Elmwood Avenue." Giacalone is representing Nancy Pollina and Patricia Morris, who operate the Don Apparel (a vintage clothing and collectibles shop at 1119 Elmwood Avenue), Angeline Genovese and Evelyn Bencinich, owners of residences on Granger Place which abut the rear of the proposed site, Nina Freudenheim, a resident of nearby Penhurst Park, and Sandra Girage, the owner of a two-family residence on Forest Avenue less than a hundred feet from the proposed hotel's sole entrance and exit driveway.

The Elmwood Village Hotel is a 72-room, seven-million-dollar hotel proposed by Savarino Construction Services Corporation and designed by architect Karl Frizlen of the Frizlen Group. Its construction would require the demolition of at least five buildings, currently at 1109-1121 Elmwood, which house several shops and residents. Although the properties are "under contract," it is still not known whether Savarino Construction actually owns the buildings. It is believed that Hans Mobius, a resident of Clarence, New York and former Buffalo mayoral candidate, is still the owner. The hotel is expected to be a franchise of the Wyndham Hotels group.

The lawsuit, filed in State Supreme Court, is seeking annulment of the City of Buffalo's rezoning and site plan approvals for the hotel.

"Had the Common Council members complied with State law and waited to receive comments from the County's planning agency, they would have been obliged to address the County's concerns regarding the replacement of former residential buildings with 'a much larger commercial structure', the health effects of placing a 55-vehicle parking area next to existing homes, and the absence of a traffic study to assess the likelihood that the project would add 'considerable congestion' to the Elmwood/Forest intersection," said Giacalone.

"The four-story hotel will overshadow the neighboring homes and backyards, impacting quality of life and property values. Equally as important, the project will displace a unique and diverse group of businesses that have served nearby college students and Buffalo's arts and theater community for many years, and replace them with upscale retail establishments that will cater, not to local residents, but to affluent tourists and business travelers," added Giacalone.

On March 22, 2006 the city's Common Council approved the rezoning for the proposed hotel and on March 28, the Planning board approved the design and site plan of the hotel.

The lawsuit, entitled Pollina et al. v. Common Council of the City of Buffalo et al., [Index No. I-2006-3885], has been assigned to the Honorable Rose H. Sconiers, and is scheduled for oral argument at 9:30 A.M. on Thursday June 8, 2006.

Clashes in Athens during Condoleezza Rice's visit to Greece
Greek leftist groups of masked youth demonstrators clashed with Greek police and riot squads in Stadiou Avenue, in Athens, during Condoleezza Rice's meetings with Greek officials. Anarchist mobs hurled Molotov cocktail bombs and the police-riot squads fired tear gas. According to police information, the youths smashed some 20 store fronts and set six vehicles alight.

Police had thrown a cordon around central road arteries of the city since Tuesday morning, while two street protests - organized by the KKE and Synaspismos leftist parties - were staged at Propylea on Panepistemiou Street as well as on Klathmonos Square. Moreover, yesterday, a team of about 15 members of the Greek Communist party, climbed on the top of Athens' Concert Hall, just metres away from the U.S. Embassy, in order to hang a huge banner with the message "Condoleezza Rice go Home".

In her short stay in Greece, the leader of American diplomacy met with the Greek Premier Costas Karamanlis in Maximus Palace as well as with her counterpart, the Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis. The agenda of their discussions included Iran's nuclear programme, the Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus and Macedonian issues as well as the co-operation between the United States and Greece.

Russian commander: Tu-160s penetrate US airspace undetected
A senior Russian air force commander has claimed that new, upgraded Tu-160 bomber aircraft were unchallenged by US air defense systems when they penetrated a radar zone near the Canadian coast in US territory during an April training exercise, reports the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

Commander of Russia's long-range strategic bombers, Lieutenant General Igor Khvorov said that the bombers successfully carried out four mock Tu-95MS cruise missile launches, 200 mock bombings, and 53 mock sorties during the exercise. The RIA Novosti reported that the US Air Force is currently investigating how the Tu-160's escaped detection.

Lieutenant General Igor Khvorov said, "They were unable to detect the planes either with radars or visually."

Khvorov denies any link of the tests to the current US-Iranian tension, saying, "Of course, our exercises did not have anything to do with the situation in Iran, but their organization indirectly echoed in that region."

The Tupolev Tu-160 is a strategic bomber introduced in 1987. It resembles the North American B-1B Lancer, but is larger and faster, being powered by four NK-32 afterburning turbofans, the largest in any combat aircraft. It is not considered to be a stealth aircraft due to its exposed engine inlets and broad wing gloves.

According to Khvorov over the course of this year, two additional Tu-160s will be commissioned for the long-range strategic bomber fleet with the numerous upgrades, including the ability to launch cruise missiles, aviation bombs, and satellite communication.

Emergency declared in Peru as Mt. Ubinas threatens to erupt
The government of Peru declared a state of emergency in the vicinity of the Ubinas volcano on Saturday as it began to spew out ash and smoke over a 6km area, indicating a possible eruption in the near future. The civil defense institute has recommended the total evacuation of the 3,500 residents of the district of Ubinas.

The Peruvian military has been ordered to aid in the evacuation of civilians from the area. Aid shipments of tents, water and powdered milk are being sent to the affected area.

Those who decided to evacuate were brought to the town of Querapi by bus. Others who reside near the volcano chose to stay behind to protect their livestock and belongings.

No human deaths have been reported so far, but llamas and alpacas have died after eating grass contaminated by volcanic pollutants. People have reported eye and breathing problems following exposure to the acid-laden ash and smoke.

The 18700-ft. high Ubinas is Peru's most active volcano, with 23 eruptions recorded since 1550. The current activity follows a 40-year dormant period. Scientists at the Institute of Geophysics have warned that a dome of incandescent lava appears to be building up in the volcanic crater.

Cyclone Monica misses Darwin
Tropical Cyclone Monica has missed Darwin, dissipating into a category one cyclone at 1030 AEST (0030 UTC). The cyclone was originally expected to hit Darwin as a category five, but lost power as it traveled across the Northern Territory, moving further south than anticipated. While this may bring relief to many residents fearing a return of the infamous Cyclone Tracy, authorities have warned that Monica still packs a punch and will bring 90 kph winds to the region. Northern Territory police commander, Bert Hofer, has advised residents to "stay where they are," for the time being. Australian airline Qantas is resuming its flights to Darwin as of 1945 AEST today. All ANZAC Day dawn services were cancelled in the Northern Territory's capital.

Linux distributors agree on standard for desktop software
Major distributors of the operating system Linux have agreed on a new standard that includes common elements for desktop software, in a move to make Linux a more effective competitor to Microsoft Windows.

The Free Standards Group (FSG) will unveil the Linux Standard Base (LSB) 3.1 on Tuesday at the Desktop Linux Summit in San Diego. The first distribution to include LSB 3.1 support, Xandros, is expected to be released on May 1, followed shortly by versions by Red Hat, Novell, and others. The status of Ubuntu's upcoming version is still unclear [1].

The standards aim to resolve difficulties that programmers face in developing software for Linux. Because Linux, developed by Finnish programmer Linus Torvalds, defines the kernel or core of the operating system, there is a wide variety of graphical interfaces for it and differing software libraries. LSB 3.1 standardizes core pieces of Linux to make development easier.

"One of the big things that's difficult is consistency, and that's Windows' biggest strength," Jim Zemlin, executive director of the Free Standards Group, told the Associated Press. "If you buy a Windows program, you know it will run on a Windows computer, and Linux needs to work the same way. [...] If you really want to become a broadly adopted and used technology, you have to have that degree of standardization," he said.

Today in History
1478 - The Pazzi Conspiracy: Lorenzo and Giuliano of the Medici family were attacked in Florence.

1865 - Boston Corbett shot and killed John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

1937 - Spanish Civil War: The bombing of Guernica in Spain by the Condor Legion of the German Luftwaffe resulted in a devastating firestorm.

1964 - Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form Tanzania.

1986 - Chernobyl accident: A nuclear reactor in Chernobyl, Ukraine suffered a steam explosion, resulting in a fire and a nuclear meltdown.

April 26 is Administrative Professionals' Day in Canada and the United States (2006), World Intellectual Property Day.

Quote of the Day

"Search men's governing principles, and consider the wise, what they shun and what they cleave to."
~ Marcus Aurelius

Word of the Day

plethora; n

Definition

An excessive amount or abundance.

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