1. Iran ex-president Rafsanjani dies

    Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a pugnacious* moderate* who survived for decades despite challenging his own turbaned* elite, died on Sunday after suffering a heart attack.

    Rafsanjani, who was 82, was a pivotal* figure in the foundation of the Islamic republic in 1979, and served as president from 1989 to 1997. The government announced three days of mourning, making yesterday a public holiday for his burial, according to the official IRNA news agency. Heartfelt tributes poured in from Iran’s leadership, including the all-powerful Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, despite the differences between the two.

    2. 21 killed in Thai floods

    Widespread flooding in Thailand’s south has killed 21 people, hit rubber production in the region and shut down infrastructure, officials said on Monday, as the military government increased aid to flood-affected areas.

    Thailand’s wet season usually ends in late November and heavy rain and flooding are rare in January. Unseasonably heavy rain has hit 12 out of 67 provinces, officials said.

    “We have sent soldiers, police and the Ministry of the Interior to ease the situation,” Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters.

    3. American arrested in shooting of officer

    Mexican authorities arrested an American in the brazen shooting of a U.S. consular officer in the Pacific coast state of Jalisco, officials said on Sunday.

    In a joint statement, Mexican federal authorities said the suspect, who was not identified, was being returned to the United States for the “cunning* and cowardly attack.”

    The victim, who also was not identified, was in stable condition, the joint statement said, and recovering from what Secretary of State John Kerry called a “heinous attack” in a statement issued on Sunday.

    4. Monk sets self on fire at anti-Park rally

    A South Korea Buddhist monk is in critical condition after setting himself on fire during a mass protest against the impeached President Park Geun-hye, officials said on Sunday.

    The monk, in his 60s and whose name was not released, set himself alight on Saturday night in central Seoul where hundreds of thousands returned to the streets for the 11th week to demand Park’s ouster.

    He left a note urging authorities to arrest the scandal-hit president for committing “treason*,” the Yonhap news agency reported.

    5. Heavy snow, icy weather grip Europe

    Heavy snowfall and below-freezing temperatures continued to sweep the European continent on Saturday, causing more than a dozen deaths, grounding airplanes and crippling ferries in Italy and Turkey.

    At least 10 people have died in the cold that has gripped Poland in recent days, including seven men aged between 41 and 66 who died on Friday, authorities said. A 51-year-old died of asphyxiation* by carbon monoxide* from a malfunctioning heater.

    6. Japan urges S. Korea to remove statue

    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on South Korea on Sunday to remove a statue of a “comfort woman,” which has reignited a diplomatic row over Tokyo’s wartime sex slavery.

    Tensions spiked on Friday when Tokyo recalled its ambassador over the statue, which was placed outside its consulate in Busan last month, symbolizing women forced to work in Japanese military brothels mostly during World War II.

    Japan argues it is against a 2015 agreement between the neighbors meant to put an end to the hugely emotional and decades-long “comfort women” issue with a Japanese apology and payment of money.(SD-Agencies)