International

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Monday recommended jettisoning life's "useless baggage" in 2018, including what he called "empty chatter" and banal consumerism, and focusing instead on building a peaceful and welcoming world, particularly for refugees and migrants.

NEW YORK (AP) — CNN fired anchor Chris Cuomo on Saturday less than a week after new information emerged about how he assisted his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as the politician faced sexual harassment allegations earlier this year.

CIANJUR, Indonesia (AP) — Rescuers searched for bodies and survivors Tuesday in the rubble of buildings that collapsed in an earthquake that killed at least 162 people on Indonesia's main island of Java and injured hundreds more, overwhelming hospitals.

LHASA (Xinhua) — The first planetarium in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has opened for trial operation.

WASHINGTON — FBI Director James Comey told Congress in a letter sent Sunday that a review of newly discovered Hillary Clinton emails has "not changed our conclusions" from earlier this year that she should not face charges.

LOS ANGELES — Demonstrators from Los Angeles to New York marched in support of female empowerment and denounced President Donald Trump's views on immigration, abortion, LGBT rights and women's rights on Saturday, the anniversary of his inauguration.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Women in Afghanistan can continue to study in universities, including at post-graduate levels, but classrooms will be gender-segregated and Islamic dress is compulsory, the Taliban government's new higher education minister said Sunday.

CANBERRA, Australia — Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi was welcomed to Australia's Parliament House on Monday for the official start of a state visit that has provoked protests over her muted response to a military crackdown against Rohingya Muslims.

NEW YORK — An ancient stone sculpture of Buddha's footprints that was smuggled into the United States and had been expected to sell for more than USD$1 million was returned to the government of Pakistan on Wednesday.

POKHARA, Nepal (AP) — A plane making a 27-minute flight to a Nepal tourist town crashed into a gorge Sunday while attempting to land at a newly opened airport, killing at least 68 of the 72 people aboard. At least one witness reported hearing cries for help from within the fiery wreck, the country’s deadliest airplane accident in three decades.