Julian Assange was given permission to have a full appeal over his extradition to the United States after arguing at London’s High Court that he might not be able to rely on his right to free speech at a trial.
A volcano on the remote Indonesian island of Halmahera, Mt. Ibu, erupted on Saturday evening, sending a 4 km high ash cloud into the sky. Authorities evacuated people from seven nearby villages. The volcano’s alert level was raised to the highest level earlier in the week after multiple eruptions. Indonesia, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” has 127 active volcanoes.
Indonesia’s Ruang volcano erupted on Tuesday, prompting the evacuation of over 12,000 people on a nearby island. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation warned of a potential tsunami from volcanic material collapsing into the ocean. The eruption reached a height of 5 kilometers and caused authorities to raise the alert status to the highest level. Residents living on Ruang island were relocated to Manado, while those on Tagulandang island were moved to Siau island. The eruption led to the closure of the airport in Manado due to volcanic ash.
A huge blast at a military base in Iraq killed a member of an Iraqi security force that includes Iran-backed groups. The Iraqi military is investigating the cause of the explosion, which killed one person and wounded eight others. The incident occurred in Babil province amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, including recent attacks between Iran and Israel. The PMF, which includes Iran-backed groups, has previously targeted U.S. troops and Israel, claiming support for Palestinians. The U.S. military denied reports of carrying out airstrikes in Iraq.
A volcano in southwest Iceland erupted, causing lava flows that initially threatened nearby infrastructure, including a fishing town. The eruption, which began on Saturday evening, was the fourth since December and occurred at the same location as the previous one in February. The fissure from which the lava flowed was approximately 3 km long. Authorities had anticipated the eruption due to underground magma accumulation. Lava flows slowed by Sunday, and man-made barriers were effective in diverting the lava away from the town and towards the sea. Some residents of Grindavik, a nearby fishing town, were evacuated. The Icelandic Meteorological Office monitored the situation, including lava flow towards a geothermal power plant. The eruption was a fissure eruption, which typically does not cause large explosions or significant ash dispersal. By Sunday noon, the eruption’s activity had decreased, with lava flowing from three locations. Keflavik Airport and regional airports remained operational, while the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa closed. The February eruption had disrupted heating for over 20,000 people by destroying roads and pipelines.
– Lava flows from a volcano in southwest Iceland slowed on Sunday after lighting up the night sky on Saturday.
– The eruption, the fourth since December, began at 2023 GMT on Saturday from a 3 km-long fissure.
– Authorities had predicted the eruption due to magma accumulation under the Reykjanes peninsula, near Reykjavik.
– Seismic activity decreased since the eruption began.
– Lava flowed close to Grindavik, a fishing town of about 4,000 residents, which was evacuated.
– Barriers redirected lava flows away from key infrastructure.
– Authorities monitored lava nearing the Svartsengi geothermal power plant.
– Some residents of Grindavik evacuated on Saturday.
– Keflavik Airport and regional airports remained operational.
– The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa closed due to the eruption.
– The February eruption disrupted heating for over 20,000 people by destroying roads and pipelines.
Britain introduced a new definition of extremism in response to a significant increase in hate crimes against Jews and Muslims following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak highlighted the threat to Britain’s multi-ethnic democracy from Islamist and far-right extremists. Antisemitic incidents surged by 147% in 2023, reaching record levels, particularly after the Oct. 7 attacks, as reported by the Community Security Trust. Similarly, Tell Mama reported a 335% increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes since the attacks. The new definition of extremism, according to Communities Minister Michael Gove, aims to protect democracy and values of inclusivity and tolerance from extremist groups. However, critics argue it could infringe on freedom of speech. The definition specifies extremism as the promotion of an ideology based on violence, hatred, or intolerance, aiming to undermine the UK’s liberal parliamentary democracy or fundamental rights and freedoms. Groups identified as extremist will not face criminal action but will be excluded from government funding and engagement. No groups have yet been officially defined as extremist under the new or previous definitions.
Britain introduced a new definition of extremism in response to an increase in hate crimes against Jews and Muslims following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. This change has been criticized for potentially infringing on freedom of speech. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak highlighted the threat of extremism to Britain’s multi-ethnic democracy. Antisemitic incidents rose by 147% in 2023, reaching record levels, while anti-Muslim hate crimes increased by 335% since the Oct. 7 attacks. The new definition of extremism is described as the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred, or intolerance, aiming to undermine or replace the UK’s liberal parliamentary democracy or fundamental rights and freedoms. Critics, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and former Conservative government ministers, have expressed concerns about the potential impact on civil liberties. The government clarified that the definition would not restrict freedom of expression, religion, or belief, and named specific organizations for assessment under this new definition.
Fact: Former President Donald Trump is on the cusp of winning the Republican nomination for the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
A volcano in south-west Iceland erupted for the second time in the year, marking the sixth eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021. The previous eruption occurred on January 14 and lasted about two days, with lava flows reaching Grindavik town, leading to the evacuation of its nearly 4,000 residents and setting some houses on fire.