Indonesian volcano shoots ash, tourists urged to stay offMarch 7, 2013 - 10:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Indonesian scientists are closely monitoring a smoking volcano popular with tourists on Java island and are urging everyone to stay off the mountain's slope, The Associated Press reports. Government volcanologist Hendra Gunawan said Thursday that Mount Tangkuban Perahu in West Java province has spewed smoke and ash nearly 500 meters (1,640 feet) into the air since Monday. Scientists have put it on the second-highest alert level. Debris and lava have not tumbled far, and nearby towns and villages remain safe. Authorities are warning tourists to stay at least 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) away from the crater because of the poisonous gas inside. The 2,084-meter (6,837-foot) volcano is among Java's most popular tourist attractions. It last erupted in 1983. Visitors ordinarily can hike to the crater's edge to view boiling mud up close. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Police try to impede Armenian Church head’s access to war memorial Police tried to stop the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, from visiting a war memorial. Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. |