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Syria’s Bashar Assad blames journalist Marie Colvin for her own death
Less than a week after the family of renowned American journalist Marie Colvin sued the Syrian government for her death, Syria’s Bashar Assad shot back with his own version: It was all her fault. Her family maintains that the Syrian government ordered her killing “as part of its effort to crush political opposition.” THE HUFFINGTON POST

Massachusetts courts cut online access to criminal cases
Earlier this month, Massachusetts courts suddenly halted online access to basic data in most superior court criminal cases, making it harder for attorneys, as well as journalists and prosecutors, to keep tabs on ongoing court cases or to verify the outcome of old ones.
THE BOSTON GLOBE

Senior EU lawyer backs French woman sacked for wearing hijab
Senior EU lawyer Eleanor Sharpston found that Asma Bougnaoui, a French design engineer who was dismissed for wearing an Islamic headscarf, should have been allowed to cover her head at work. The advocate general has advised that the Muslim woman’s dismissal amounted to discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief. THE GUARDIAN

Armed men kill South Sudan journalist
Armed men have shot and killed local radio journalist John Gatluak during clashes in the capital, according to the Internews media organization. Those who knew him said it appears he was targeted because of his ethnicity. Gatluak was killed Monday at the compound of the upscale Terrain Hotel, where he had been taken for his safety after he was briefly arrested Friday night. SAINT LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Chinese censors are making sure social media only shows positive flooding news
Social media has played a key role in the aftermath of disasters that have struck China, particularly as a place for citizens to publish their own observations and reporting, even if China’s strict censors delete them. The Chinese Communist Party believes that disaster news should be positive and in alignment with their ideology, thus lacking critical or hard-hitting information. GLOBAL VOICES ADVOX

Zimbabwe court frees pastor detained over protests against Mugabe
Rev. Evan Mawarire, who has emerged as a leading voice against the government of President Robert Mugabe, was freed on Wednesday after a court ruled that the state’s efforts to increase the severity of the charges against him were unconstitutional. The pastor spent one night in jail after being arrested on Tuesday. THE NEW YORK TIMES