JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — An explosive eruption of Mount Dukono on a remote Indonesian island killed three hikers, authorities said Friday. About 20 climbers set out Thursday to ascend the nearly 1,355-meter (4,445-foot) volcano on the island of Halmahera, in defiance of safety restrictions, said North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu. They became stranded when …
MOSCOW, May 8 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to negotiate with “everyone”, including the Europeans, the Kremlin said on Friday after the Financial Times reported that European Union leaders were preparing for potential talks. The FT reported on Thursday that the shift by the EU was prompted by European frustration with negotiations …
VATICAN CITY, May 8 (Reuters) – A Vatican statement after Pope Leo’s meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which said the two had pledged to improve bilateral relations, was a recognition of unprecedented tensions, insiders and analysts said. Rubio’s meeting on Thursday with Leo, the first U.S. pope, garnered wide public attention as …
Japan confirmed Friday the first fatal bear attack of 2026 after a record 13 deaths last year, with reports pointing to a jump in sightings as the animals emerge hungry from hibernation. A spate of bear encounters, including at hot spring resorts and in supermarkets last year, sparked alarm, with the government deploying troops to …
FRANKFURT, May 8 (Reuters) – German police said on Friday several people, including one cash transport driver, had been taken hostage at a savings bank branch in the western town of Sinzig. “It is currently believed that there are several perpetrators and hostages inside the bank,” police said in a statement, adding that the situation was currently …
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — An Islamic State-affiliated group has attacked villages in Congo near the border with Uganda, killing at least 40 people, a local civil society group said on Friday. The attacks were carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces overnight from Wednesday through Thursday afternoon, according to Charité Banza, the leader of the …
By Guglielmo Mangiapane and Joshua McElwee POMPEI, Italy, May 8 (Reuters) – Pope Leo asked that God would inspire world leaders to calm global tensions and reduce hatred in an address on Friday to mark his first anniversary as head of the Catholic Church, a day after he met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio …
By Lewis Jackson and Sam Li BEIJING, May 8 (Reuters) – China’s foreign ministry confirmed on Friday that an oil products tanker carrying Chinese crew was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, and expressed deep concern about vessels affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. There are Chinese nationals aboard the vessel, but …
Three hikers — two Singaporeans and a local — who were in an off-limits area died Friday in an eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Dukono volcano, officials said. Several others were missing. The eruption on Halmahera island sent an ash cloud about six into the air, but no towns or villages were close enough to face …
BRUSSELS, May 8 (Reuters) – European Union foreign ministers are expected to adopt new sanctions on Monday related to the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, two EU sources said on Friday. Ukraine says close to 20,000 children have been illegally sent to Russia and Belarus. “There will be a meeting on the margins of …