International

Indonesia’s Mount Semeru erupted on Sunday spewing hot ash clouds a mile into the sky and sending rivers of lava down its side, sparking the evacuation of nearly 2,000 people exactly one year after its last major eruption killed dozens. The eruption of the highest mountain on Indonesia’s main island of Java, around 800 kilometres southeast of the capital Jakarta, prompted authorities …

RAMALLAH: An Israeli offi­­cer shot dead a Pales­tinian suspected of preparing an attack in the occupied West Bank on Friday, an incident which the Palestinians denounced as an execution. The man had allegedly stabbed and lightly wounded an Israeli border policeman after which a colleague overpowered him. The Palestinian then fought with the other policeman and tried to snatch his …

KYIV: Ukraine’s embassy in Madrid received a parcel containing animal eyes on Friday, the latest in a series of similar “bloody packages” sent to its diplomatic missions across Europe, Ukrainian and Spanish officials said. Police cordoned off the compound in the Spanish capital and started searching the area with sniffer dogs. The packages, soaked in a liquid with a distinctive …

WASHINGTON: Gen Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of the US Central Command (Centcom), conducted a video teleconference on Friday with Pakistan’s new army chief Gen Syed Asim Munir, and the two military leaders talked about strengthening security cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. A brief statement, issued by the Centcom headquarters in Tampa, Florida, said Gen Kur­illa spoke with …

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure were “inevitable” as the Kremlin rejected US President Joe Biden’s terms for talks and warned the assault would continue. After suffering military defeats during what has become the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II, Russia began targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure in October, causing sweeping blackouts. …

BRUSSELS: China’s President Xi Jinping suggested in talks with EU chief Charles Michel that the spread of the less lethal Omicron strain of Covid-19 may allow Beijing to ease lockdown rules, European officials said on Friday. Michel met the Chinese leader in Beijing on Thursday. According to an account of the meeting from a senior European official, Xi told Michel …

WASHINGTON: The United States plans to unveil this week the B-21 Raider, a high-tech stealth bomber that can carry nuclear and conventional weapons and is designed to be able to fly without a crew on board. The B-21 _ which is on track to cost nearly $700 million per plane and is the first new US bomber in decades — …

WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday placed Pakistan on a list of countries that “engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom” during 2022. “Around the world, governments and non-state actors harass, threaten, jail, and even kill individuals on account of their beliefs,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken while announcing the designations. “In some instances, they stifle …

The United States on Friday unveiled the B-21 Raider, a high-tech stealth bomber that can carry nuclear and conventional weapons and is designed to be able to fly without a crew on board. The slickly choreographed ceremony at B-21 manufacturer Northrop Grumman’s facility in Palmdale, California opened with the US national anthem as older bombers roared over a crowd that …

Prince William greeted US President Joe Biden at Boston’s waterfront on Friday, the final day of a visit by British royals trying to focus attention on tackling environmental issues. William and his wife, Kate, attempted to keep the spotlight on climate and other causes they champion on their first overseas trip since taking on the titles of Prince and Princess …