Jordanian columnist is fatally shot
AMMAN, Jordan — A Jordanian writer and columnist was fatally shot on Sunday morning outside a court here, according to a statement released by the official Petra news agency.
The writer, Nahed Hattar, 56, was shot three times, and a suspect was arrested near the scene, according to Petra. Mr. Hattar, a Christian, was arrested in August and charged with inciting sectarian strife and insulting Islam after sharing a cartoon on Facebook that showed a bearded man in bed with two women ordering God to bring him some wine and cashews.
S. Korean activist dies
SEOUL, South Korea — An activist farmer who was expelled from school twice for protesting the rule of the military dictator Park Chung-hee of South Korea died on Sunday as a result of injuries he sustained while opposing Mr. Park’s daughter, President Park Geunhye.
The farmer, Baek Nam-gi, 68, was struck by a police water cannon last November during the largest antigovernment demonstration under Ms. Park. He had remained in a coma at Seoul National University Hospital since, becoming a symbol of what government critics call rising police brutality and the erosion of freedom of assembly under Ms. Park.
Manhunt for bomb suspect
BUDAPEST — Hungarian authorities staged a manhunt Sunday for the principle suspect in a bomb attack that seriously wounded two patrol officers late Saturday, with authorities saying the homemade device had been planted in an apparent attempt to target police.
The incident comes as countries across Europe are on edge following a series of attacks by suspects linked or inspired by Islamist extremists, as well as an increasing number of acts of violence carried out by the far-right.
Iran campaign to go on
KOYA, Iraq — The main Kurdish insurgent group in Iran will keep up its guerrilla campaign against security forces “to protect and defend” Kurds living there, its deputy leader said, calling the fight necessary after the Islamic Republic’s nuclear deal with world powers.
A string of recent attacks by the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan mark the end of a 20-year cease-fire between its fighters and Iran, though Kurdish separatists have agitated for freedom for decades in the country’s northwest.
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Iceland and Sweden share the top slot with Singapore as world leaders when it comes to health goals set by the U.N., according to a report published in the Lancet; the U.S. ranks No. 28 . ... Struggling with extremism and economic woes, Tunisia now faces persistent drought across several regions that is creating new social tensions and threatening farming, a pillar of the economy . ... Former French rogue trader Jerome Kerviel will not have to pay 4.9 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in damages to the bank that used to employ him, but a more modest 1 million euros ($1.1 million), a court ruled Friday.