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JAKARTA — Indonesia's Ibu volcano erupted on Monday morning, spewing thick columns of grey ash several kilometers into the sky, the country's volcanology agency said. The volcano on the remote island of Halmahera erupted at 9:12 a.m. for about five minutes, projecting ash into the sky as high as 5 kilometers, officials said. A smaller eruption was also recorded on Friday. The alert status of the volcano remains at the second-highest level, Hendra Gunawan, head of Indonesia's Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Centre, said in a statement. All activities within a 5-kilometer radius of the volcano were prohibited, he added. "If it starts to rain ash, we recommend people who are near the volcano to wear a mask and glasses," Hendra said. Footage of the eruption shared by the center showed clouds of gray ash billowing from the crater. The official said a booming noise was also heard. No evacuation of residents has been reported so far. Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and has 127 active volcanoes, according to the volcanology agency.  In recent weeks North Sulawesi's Ruang volcano has erupted, spewing incandescent lava as lightning flashed from its crater. The eruption prompted authorities to evacuate more than 12,000 people living on a nearby island. In December, more than 20 people were killed after Marapi volcano, one of Sumatra's most active volcanoes, erupted and belched gray clouds of ash as high as 3 kilometers.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a new defense minister, nominating civilian Andrei Belousov, a former deputy prime minister who specializes in economics, for the job more than two years into the Ukraine war. Putin wants Sergei Shoigu, defense minister since 2012 and a long-standing ally, to become the secretary of Russia's Security Council replacing incumbent Nikolai Patrushev. We talk to Rajan Menon, director of the Grand Strategy program at Defense Priorities and Sergey Sanovich is a Hoover Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday delivered some of the Biden administration’s strongest public criticism yet of Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza, saying Israeli tactics have meant “a horrible loss of life of innocent civilians” but failed to neutralize Hamas leaders and fighters and could drive a lasting insurgency. Israeli forces pushed deeper into Rafah.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

The United States has two main political parties – Democrat and Republican. A third-party candidate is a term used for someone who runs as a candidate for a party that forms outside of the two main political parties. A third party is most often discussed during a presidential campaign.

With Chad recently confirming Mahamat Déby as civilian president after a long-delayed election, Western powers are watching to see what role, if any, they will play in countering terror threats in the Sahel region. Henry Wilkins has more on the election, which follows a series of military coups in the region.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Mexico City — A mass shooting in a mountain township beset by crime just south of Mexico City resulted in several deaths, authorities said Sunday. Local and state officials did not give a specific death toll, saying only that there were some deaths. But Mexican news media, including the national newspapers Reforma, Milenio and El Universal, reported that eight people were slain. The government of the state of Morelos, which borders Mexico City, said the attack occurred late Saturday in Huitzilac. The forested mountain township has been plagued by illegal loggers, kidnappers and drug gangs, in part because it provides the closest rural hideout near Mexico's capital. The town's mayor, Rafael Vargas, called the attack "a terrible violent act" and said that "several people" were killed. "Right in the center of town, several people were attacked and killed," Vargas said. Apparently aware of the town's rough reputation, he added: "The violence should stop. We will denounce all types of slander that seek to damage our people."

LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigeria's fashion and traditional dances were at full display on Sunday as Prince Harry and Meghan arrived in its largest city, Lagos, as part of their three-day visit to the country to promote mental health for soldiers and empower young people. The couple, invited to the West African nation by its military, were treated to different bouts of dancing, starting from the Lagos airport where a troupe's acrobatic moves left both applauding and grinning. One of the dancers, who looked younger than 5 years old, exchanged salutes with Harry from high up in the air, standing on firm shoulders. Going with Meghan's white top was the traditional Nigerian aso oke, a patterned handwoven fabric wrapped around the waist and often reserved for special occasions. It was a gift from a group of women a day earlier. The couple visited a local charity – Giants of Africa — which uses basketball to empower young people. There, they were treated to another round of dancing before unveiling a partnership between the organization and their Archewell Foundation. "What you guys are doing here at Giants of Africa is truly amazing," Harry said of the group. "The power of sport can change lives. It brings people together and creates community and there are no barriers, which is the most important thing." Masai Ujiri, the charity's president and an ex-NBA star, wished Meghan a happy Mother's Day and acknowledged how hard it can be "for us to be away from our kids and family to make things like this happen." "To do so shows dedication (and) we truly appreciate it," he told the couple. Meghan and Harry later attended a fundraiser for Nigeria's soldiers wounded in the country's fight against Islamic extremists and other armed groups in the country's conflict-battered north. The event was related to Harry's Invictus Games, which Nigeria is seeking to host in the future. The couple were also hosted at the Lagos State Government House, where Meghan received another handwoven Nigerian fabric. "We've extended an additional invitation to them that they can always come back when they want to," Lagos Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu told reporters.

As generative AI technologies like ChatGPT rapidly gain popularity, they are beginning to change the future of the job market. Some fear mass unemployment, but others see a bright future for human-AI cooperation. Maxim Adams has the story.

LOS ANGELES — "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" reigned over the weekend box office with a $56.5 million North American opening, according to studio estimates Sunday, giving a needed surge to an uncertain season in theaters. The film from 20th Century Studios and Disney that built on the rebooted "Apes" trilogy of the 2010s had the third highest opening of the year, after the $81.5 million debut of "Dune: Part Two" in early March and the $58.3 million domestic opening of "Kung Fu Panda 4" a week later. The strong performance for "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" — it played even better internationally with a global total of $129 million — comes a week after a tepid start for Ryan Gosling's "The Fall Guy" signaled that the summer of 2024 is likely to see a major drop-off after the "Barbenheimer" magic of 2023. "Planet of the Apes" easily made more than the rest of the top 10 combined. "The Fall Guy" fell to No. 2 with a $13.7 million weekend and a two-week total of $49.7 million for Universal Pictures. Zendaya's "Challengers" was third with $4.7 million and has earned $38 million in three weeks for Amazon MGM studios. The opening for "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," helmed by "Maze Runner" director Wes Ball, was the second best in the series, after the $72 million opening weekend of 2014's "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes." It's the 10th movie in the "Planet of the Apes" franchise that began in 1968 with the Charlton Heston original with a twist ending. "This franchise has never been allowed to lose its momentum," said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. "There are very few franchises that have this kind of longevity." And it really is the property itself. The new film shares no central actors or characters with its predecessors. "There's just this love for the way it melds sci-fi with social commentary and straight-up popcorn entertainment," Dergarabedian said. "Kingdom" came with strong reviews and positive buzz (80% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and a "B" CinemaScore). It was especially praised for its visual effects and the way its CGI has caught up with its primates-on-horseback aesthetic even since the last film, 2017's "War for the Planet of the Apes." Mark Kennedy of The Associated Press called it "thrilling" and "visually stunning." The shot in the arm is welcome for the movie business, but there is little certainty in the forthcoming summer. The year so far, lacking an early Marvel movie like 2023's "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," is running 21% last year's mid-May total. While there are potential blockbusters that feel like safe bets including "Despicable Me 4" and "Deadpool & Wolverine" in July, others like "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" later this month and "Twisters" later in the summer feel like they could break either way. Pixar once brought almost guaranteed hits, but June's "Inside Out 2" may not thrive like the 2015 original. "There used to be sure bets we cannot necessarily bank on anymore," Dergarabedian said. "It is going to be a bit of a hit-or-miss slate." Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday. 1. "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," $56.5 million. 2. "The Fall Guy," $13.7 million. 3. "Challengers," $4.7 million. 4. "Tarot," $3.45 million. 5. "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," $2.5 million. 6. "Unsung Hero," $ 2.25 million. 7. "Kung Fu Panda 4," $2 million. 8. "Civil War," $1.8 million. 9. "Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace," $1.5 million. 10. "Abigail," $1.1 million.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

TORONTO — The season's first major wildfires have spread to roughly 10,000 hectares (24,710 acres) across Western Canada on Sunday as authorities issued an evacuation order for a community in British Columbia and warned of poor air quality across provinces. In British Columbia, thousands of residents in Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and Fort Nelson First Nations were evacuated as the nearby blaze nearly doubled to 4,136 hectares. Fort Nelson First Nation, 7 kilometers (4.35 miles) from the town, also issued an evacuation order for Fontas, an Indigenous community. Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Mayor Rob Fraser in a TV interview said most of the 3,500 residents in and around Fort Nelson had been evacuated. Across the border in Alberta, residents of Fort McMurray, an oil hub, faced extensive damage from wildfires in 2016, were asked to prepare to leave. Alberta said two wildfires were extreme and out of control and recorded 43 active fires, including one located 16 kilometers southwest of Fort McMurray. It grew significantly over the weekend to 5,500 hectares, much larger than what was reported on Friday. On Sunday, authorities said the fire had subdued but was expected to increase as the temperatures soar. Winds from the southeast are expected to push the wildfire away from a major highway and toward the Athabasca River. Fraser said the fire was started by a tree blown down by strong winds falling onto a power line. Six crews of wildland firefighters, 13 helicopters and air tankers were taming the fire on Sunday, said Alberta authorities. Evacuation alerts were in place for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates and expanded to Gregoire Lake Estates and Rickards Landing Industrial Park. Although there is no immediate risk to these communities, the alert ensures residents are prepared to evacuate if conditions change. Smoke in Fort McMurray on Saturday was coming from fires in northern British Columbia, Alberta said. Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement that extends from British Columbia to Ontario on Sunday. Last year, a veil of smoke blanketed the U.S. East Coast, tinging the skies a fluorescent orange as smoke reached parts of Europe as hundreds of forest fires burnt millions of acres of land and forced about 120,000 people to leave their homes. The federal government has warned Canada faces another "catastrophic" wildfire season as it forecast higher-than-normal spring and summer temperatures across much of the country, boosted by El Nino weather conditions. Canada experienced one of its warmest winters with low to non-existent snow in many areas, raising fears ahead of a hot summer triggering blazes in forests and wildlands amid an ongoing drought.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Barcelona, Spain — Commuter rail service for Barcelona and northeastern Spain has suffered major disruption because of the theft of copper cables from a train installation, Spanish rail authorities said Sunday. Thousands of commuters were stranded at train stations in and around Barcelona after trains couldn't run on several commuter lines. The disruption to local transport came while more than 5.7 million voters were eligible to participate in a regional election in Catalonia. Spain’s state-owned railway authority ADIF said that the theft of electrical cabling from a station just north of Barcelona in the town of Montcada caused “several fires in the cables of the signaling system.” It said that the incident around 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) caused a “serious” impact to the local train service and affected all the rail lines. Catalonia’s commuter rail service suffers regular delays, some because of similar acts of theft.