World briefs

INDONESIA Divers were grappling with light rain and rolling waves yesterday as they tried to reach what is believed to be the fuselage of AirAsia Flight 8501, resting on the ocean floor near three other large objects. So far, only 30 bodies have been recovered. Meanwhile, The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta has issued a warning to Americans about a potential threat against U.S. associated banks and hotels in Surabaya.

CHINA A senior Chinese diplomat has been removed from his position and is being investigated for an unspecified disciplinary violation. A two-sentence statement from the Foreign Ministry did not offer more details last week about the removal of Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Kunsheng. The China News Service reported that Zhang was the head of the ministry’s protocol department.

N KOREA Pyongyang yesterday criticized the United States for slapping sanctions on N Korean officials and organizations for a cyberattack on Sony Pictures — the latest fallout from a Hollywood movie depicting the fictional assassination of North Korea’s leader.

VATICAN Pope Francis has named 15 new cardinals, selecting the “princes of the church” from 14 nations, including far-flung corners of the world such as Tonga, New Zealand and Myanmar. Other cardinals hail from Ethiopia, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam. Francis said yesterday the new cardinals reflect the church’s diversity and will be formally installed on Feb. 14.

ISRAEL halted transfers of the tax revenue it collects on behalf of the Palestinians in retaliation for their move to join the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Israeli media reported. The Palestinians announced earlier this week that they are joining the International Criminal Court in the Hague to pursue war-crimes charges against Israel. The move is meant to pressure Israel into withdrawing from the territories that Palestinians demand for a future state.

USA Buddhist monks will lead a Chinese ceremony for Officer Wenjian Liu in NYC, followed by a traditional police ceremony with eulogies led by a chaplain. The funeral follows a somber wake the day before as mourners lined up for blocks on a cold, rainy day to pay their respects.

USA Abu Anas al-Libi, a man accused by federal prosecutors of being an al-Qaida member involved in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, died in New York awaiting trial of complications from a recent liver surgery. He was 50.

USA Mario Cuomo, the three-term New York governor who could never bring himself to run for president but inspired a generation of politicians with a loud and liberal voice and a story of humble beginnings as the son of Italian immigrants, has died. He was 82. Cuomo died last week of natural causes due to heart failure at his home.