News in Brief -2023-12-20)

Volcano erupts in Iceland after weeks of quakes

REYKJAVIK, Dec 19: A volcano erupting close to an Iceland power plant shot geysers of molten lava into the dark winter sky Tuesday after weeks of intense seismic activity southwest of Reykjavik. The eruption only three kilometres (1.8 miles) from the evacuated fishing port of Grindavik on the Reykjanes peninsula began Monday at around 10:17 pm after an earthquake "swarm" of small tremors, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said. After weeks of warnings from scientists, the authorities built reinforcements around the Svartsengi geothermal plant, which is just two kilometres from the eruption. — AFP

Texas enacts law to arrest illegal migrants

TEXAS, Dec 19: Texas has enacted a law that will make border crossings illegal and punishable with jail time, one of the toughest immigration laws passed by any US state in modern times. Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, said it would "stop the tidal wave of illegal entry into Texas". Immigration advocates have said the law will lead to racial profiling. It comes amid rising illegal migration and public concern over US President Joe Biden's handling of the border. — BBC