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Turkish government ‘blocks Twitter and Facebook’ as part of alleged media ban following Ankara blast
The Turkish authorities have reportedly imposed media restrictions and residents are describing limited access to social media in the aftermath of an explosion in the capital, Ankara. THE INDEPENDENT

Rights group calls on Egypt to reverse blasphemy conviction
Human Rights Watch called on Egypt to drop prison sentences against four Coptic Christian teenagers convicted of blasphemy, an appeal made one day after the justice minister was sacked for saying he would imprison the Prophet Muhammad if he committed a crime, remarks widely seen as blasphemous. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

European rights body says to review Poland’s new surveillance law
The Venice Commission said it would review a newly amended Polish surveillance law, in a fresh challenge to the conservative government that reflects international concerns over Warsaw’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law. REUTERS

Egypt court sentences blogger to three years in prison
Taymour El-Sobky was charged on Saturday for insulting women in the North African country by saying that roughly 45 per cent of married Egyptian women cheat on their spouses. El-Sobky made this remarks on a talk show in December. AFRICA NEWS

Bosnian journalists attacked at Chetnik commemoration
Adisa Ibrahimovic from the regional N1 TV station told BIRN that she was attacked on Sunday while covering the Chetnik commemoration by a man who hit her cameraman with his camera and hit her with her microphone. BALKAN INSIGHT

Singapore blogger gets 17 years to pay libel damages to PM
Activist blogger Roy Ngerng was ordered to pay S$150,000 in libel damages to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will make payments in installments over the next 17 years, his lawyer said Monday. BANGKOK POST