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PAKISTAN - Punjab: Christian maid burned alive to prevent her from reporting a rape (Mar 12)
Kiran George had burns on 80% of her body and died after two days of slow agony. The girl was raped by the son of her Muslim master. When she threatened a lawsuit, the young man killed her. In a second incident a Muslim mob burnt a Christian home and copies of the Bible.


TURKEY - SWEDEN - Ankara recalls its ambassador from Sweden. Still problems over the Armenian genocide (Mar 12)
As already the case with the United States and Canada. Erdogan cancels a trip to Stockholm. The Armenian diaspora against diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey.


CHINA - Lawmaker proposes 15 years in prison for petitioning (Mar 12)
Liu Qingning, deputy director of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Guangxi Regional People's Congress, wants the National People’s Congress to punish petitioners with stiff sentences. Wen Jiabao instead called for better petition procedures. In the meantime, social unrest grows in the country.


VATICAN - Pope: the priest, "speaks of God to the world and presents the world to God" (Mar 12)
In secularized society, says Benedict XVI, the priest is not a social worker, but " man of the sacred," not subject to the cultural fashions of the time. "True freedom" in belonging to God. The value of "celibacy"


INDIA – CHINA – SRI LANKA - Chinese aid to Sri Lanka could lead to conflict (Mar 12)
Fr Nithiya, the executive secretary of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, talks about Sri Lanka’s new, Chinese-funded airport. He blames outside power for turning the country into a colony, destroying peace; he points the finger at China, India and Pakistan.


CHINA - Priest arrested in Fujian for organizing winter camp for 300 university students (Mar 12)
Fr. John Baptist Luo was arrested on 3 March. Three other priests have been issued arrest warrants, but not yet detained. Another three have to pay a fine. Fr. Luo told AsiaNews: "I'm ready to go to jail. I would be happy to serve as a witness to Christ and follow the example of many holy martyrs. "


ISRAEL – PALESTINE - Tensions remain high as Israel shuts down West Bank crossings (Mar 12)
US Vice President Joe Biden, who is in Israel to re-launch the peace process through indirect talks, accepts Netanyahu’s explanation that the construction of East Jerusalem settlements was slated in a few years time. Is this a green light for more settlements? Abbas wants the United States to make sure plans are scrapped.


CHINA - Beijing, the list of arrests and convictions for the NPC (Mar 12)
As per routine, on the occasion of the National People’s Assembly the police makes raids against protesters and dissidents. The aim is to prevent public protests during one of the most sensitive national events.


MYANMAR – SOUTH AFRICA - Desmond Tutu and Aung San Suu Kyi agree, Myanmar elections “shameful”, a “farce” (Mar 12)
The South African archbishop is in favour of sanctions against the military junta, compares Burma’s opposition leader to Nelson Mandela. One day, he said, she will be “freely elected” to lead her country. The Burmese Nobel Peace Prize winner appeals to the people to stand up to the unjust law.


KYRGYZSTAN – UZBEKISTAN - Tensions rising between Bishkek and Tashkent, border sector closed (Mar 11)
Border incidents are on the rise with guards firing at each other. Uzbekistan wants to stop Kyrgyzstan from building a dam on the Naryn River, fearing it might reduce the volume of water flowing downstream.