JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Mount Sinabung on Indonesia erupted Monday, spewing a column of black ash and smoke 3,500 meters (11,482 feet) from the top of the mountain into the sky over Sumatra island.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, evacuations or disruptions to flights in the region. But residents, visitors and tourists were advised to refrain from activities in nearby villages in Karo district in North Sumatra province and areas within 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) of the summit.
Roads, vehicles and buildings in several villages in Karo affected by the eruption were covered in gray ash. Local authorities distributed masks to residents to protect themselves.
Officials raised the volcano alert level to “Watch,” the second-highest level for volcanic activity, which expanded the safe zone around the 2,600-meter (8,530-foot) mountain.
“This eruption is considered an initial eruption, and it is possible that a larger eruption could occur,” Lana Saria, chief of Indonesia’s Geological Agency, said in a statement Monday.
The agency previously recorded visual evidence of Mount Sinabung's increased activity in mid-August including dozens of earthquakes and expanded the recommended radius for public activities.
About 30,000 people have been forced to leave their homes around Sinabung in the past few years because of volcanic activity.
Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 280 million people with frequent seismic activity and Sinabung is among more than 120 active volcanoes. The country is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.
In this photo released by the Geological Agency (Badan Geologi) of Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mount Sinabung releases volcanic materials into the air during an eruption in Karo, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (Badan Geologi via AP)
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda entered a deal to jointly develop computer parts and software for vehicles set to enter the market in fiscal 2029, both sides said Monday.
Under the deal, Nissan, based in the port city of Yokohama, and Tokyo-based Honda will share standardized parts in “core ECUs,” or electronic control units, as well as software.
Nissan and Honda started talks in 2024 to work together in developing electric vehicles and auto intelligence technology.
Nissan makes Leaf electric cars and Infiniti luxury models, while Honda makes the Accord sedan, Civic compact and Odyssey minivan.
Monday’s agreement did not specifically mention EVs, or any model names, and was focused on so-called software-defined vehicles, which could include EVs. These vehicles have functions and features that can be updated and controlled by software, rather than the mechanics of hardware.
The global competition in the auto industry is increasingly intensifying as it moves into various technologies, such as automated driving and zero emissions. Each vehicle is starting to be more like a computer packed with electronic parts and software rather than the old image of the gas-guzzling engines.
Sharing components and collaborating on research will help cut costs and speed up development, as well as add efficiency in economy of scale once the vehicles go into production.
European makers Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis are working together in software development so they can share the same operating system.
Both Nissan and Honda are overshadowed by Toyota Motor Corp., the top Japanese automaker, and working together could be a plus in competing against Toyota.
However, Toyota has been mentioned in the past as engaging in the software talks with Nissan and Honda, although it was not part of Monday’s announcement.
Toyota is working on software with other companies like Subaru, which is part of the Toyota group, and U.S. autonomous driving technology company Waymo.
As part of their strategic partnership, Nissan and Honda will continue to explore other opportunities for collaboration across a range of areas, including zero-emissions and decreasing traffic fatalities.
Both sides stressed that the use of intelligence and electrification technology is an important focus for working together.
“Recognizing the need to strengthen competitiveness through faster development cycles and more efficient investment, the two companies have conducted extensive studies on potential collaboration in the software domain,” they said in a statement.
Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama
FILE - The Honda and Nissan dealerships are shown in Carmel, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
