REYKJAVIK

Volcanic activity concerns of larger eruptions nearby

Blasts of lava and ash shot out of a volcano in southern Iceland on Monday and small tremors rocked the ground, a surge in activity that raised fears of a larger explosion at the nearby Katla volcano.

Scientists say history has proven that when the Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupts, Katla follows — the only question is how soon. And Katla, located under the massive Myrdalsjokull icecap, threatens disastrous flooding and explosive blasts when it blows.

Saturday’s eruption at Eyjafjallajokull — dormant for nearly 200 years — forced at least 500 people to evacuate.

Iceland’s Laki volcano erupted in the mid-1780s, freeing gases that turned into smog. The smog floated across the jet stream, lowering temperatures and changing weather patterns. Many died from gas poisoning in the British Isles. Crop production fell in western Europe and famine spread.

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MOSCOW

AIDS outbreak at hospitals for children has killed 14

An AIDS outbreak at two children’s hospitals in Uzbekistan has killed at least 14 children and left 133 infected with HIV, according to a documentary posted on a respected Central Asian news Web site on Monday.

The editor of Ferghana.ru said the 2007 outbreak was first reported in an official documentary produced by Uzbek prosecutors for government television.

But, he said, the video never aired because authorities had second thoughts about broadcasting it, fearing that it would provoke a public outcry and unfavorable international publicity.

VIENNA

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Boys’ choir head apologizes as charges of abuse rise

The president of the Vienna Boys’ Choir apologized Monday on behalf of the famed institution as the number of abuse allegations rose to 11, up from eight last week.

President Walter Nettig also pledged to hold more in-depth conversations with all potential victims and offered support to anyone who wanted counseling.

“And we apologize in the name of the institution,” he said.

According to Nettig, most of the callers to the choir’s hot line reported overly harsh discipline methods rather than sexual abuse.

The sexually related allegations revolve around abuse attempts rather than actual assaults, he said. Some alleged incidents date back 40 or 50 years.

 


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