NEWS OF THE DAY

From Around the World

_1 Pakistan protests: Nationwide protests spurred by a Christian woman’s acquittal on blasphemy charges have ended after an overnight deal between Islamists and the government, authorities said Sunday. Under the agreement, Asia Bibi may not leave the country until the Pakistan Supreme Court reviews its ruling. Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri announced that authorities will now not allow Bibi to leave the country until the final review of the verdict. Bibi spent eight years on Death Row. Her family has always maintained her innocence and says she never insulted Islam’s prophet. International rights groups have called for her release. _2 Syria aid: A convoy of 78 trucks carrying life-saving assistance reached a remote camp for the displaced on Syria’s border with Jordan on Saturday, where tens of thousands of people are stranded in the desert amid dwindling supplies. The United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent said their joint convoy reached Rukban camp and would deliver assistance to 50,000 people. At least four people have died in the past month because of malnutrition and lack of medical care as regional powers trade blame over who is responsible. People started gathering in Rukban three years ago, fleeing Islamic State militants and air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition, Russia and Syria.

3_ Myanmar elections: Voters in several parts of Myanmar went to the polls Saturday in 13 regional elections seen as a test of support for leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her ruling party. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in the 2015 general election, putting an end to decades of rule by the military and its proxies, though the army retains considerable power under a constitution it implemented. The 13 parliamentary seats at stake represent a fraction of the 1,171 national, regional and state assembly seats nationwide. The next general election is in 2020. _4 Tiger killed: A man-eating tiger that stalked the hills of central India for more than two years, eluded capture many times and was suspected of killing at least 13 villagers was felled by a bullet Friday night, officials said. The plan had been to tranquilize the female tiger, called T-1. But according to the hunters who tried to capture her in Maharashtra state, she roared and charged after being hit by a tranquilizer dart at short range, and there was no choice but to shoot her dead. Villagers in the area terrorized by T-1 erupted in joy when they heard about her death, shooting off firecrackers, passing out sweets and pumping their fists in the air. But wildlife activists were furious. “This is a coldblooded murder,” said Jerryl Banait, an animal rights advocate. _5 China diplomacy: The Dominican Republic opened an embassy in Beijing on Saturday, months after cutting ties with Taiwan amid a Chinese diplomatic offensive that aims to politically isolate the island it claims as its own territory. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Caribbean island nation’s decision to switch diplomatic relations to Beijing “serves the fundamental interests of the Dominican people and completely conforms to the trend of the times.” Also present was Dominican President Danilo Medina, who met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. Both the Dominican Republic and El Salvador broke diplomatic ties with Taiwan this year as Beijing steps up up diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who has refused to endorse its stand that Taiwan is a part of China.