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** Reliable news increasingly critical as war escalates in Iran
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The war being waged by the United States and Israel against Iran — combined with Iran’s retaliatory attacks in parts of the Middle East — has made access to independent, reliable information more important than ever. But trustworthy news is under serious threat ([link removed]) . Working conditions for journalists in Iran were already a source of great concern. Now, as tensions intensify and the country’s near-total media blackout continues, it’s virtually impossible to obtain information on the news professionals who are detained or endangered by air strikes. With political divisions increasing state pressure on the media, how can journalists carry out their work independently and safely?


** NEWS BRIEFS
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Investigation: what happened to Gaza journalists Nidal al-Wahidi and Haytham Abdel Wahed, missing since 7 October 2023?

After setting off for the northern border of the Gaza Strip on 7 October 2023 to cover the Hamas attacks and Israeli response, Asharq Business correspondent Nidal al-Wahidi and Ain Media photojournalist Haytham Abdel Wahed never returned. We retraced their last known movements in a brand new investigation ([link removed]) .

Criminal groups attack journalists after death of cartel leader in Mexico

On 22 February 2026, while covering the violent unrest following the federal operation that killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — known as “El Mencho” — at least eight journalists ([link removed]) were assaulted, threatened, or robbed of their equipment by members of criminal organisations. These incidents, which took place in the states of Jalisco, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas, underscore the extremely dangerous environment faced by journalists in Mexico, where more than 162 journalists have been killed since 2006.

A win for reliable news in Czechia

Czechia is one of the few countries whose digital landscape isn’t entirely dominated by major tech giants like Google and Meta. Now, Seznam.cz, the newsfeed service that reaches around 90% of the country’s online population, has decided to include ([link removed]) the Journalism Trust Initiative ([link removed]) (JTI) certification among the selection criteria for outlets seeking to be featured in its portal — a brave new benchmark for promoting reliable information.

In Ukraine, the probe into the smear campaign against environmental journalist Olena Mudra stalls

It’s been nearly eight months since Ukrainian environmental journalist Olena Mudra filed a complaint for “obstruction of her work” and “invasion of privacy” after she was targeted by a smear campaign ([link removed]) , yet those responsible for the online harassment still haven’t been identified. The smear campaign, which involved fake videos and a doctored photo depicting her in a Russian uniform, began after the journalist published an investigation into the construction of a controversial wind farm in the Carpathian Mountains.


** VIDEO
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Three RSF correspondents in India speak out about attacks specifically aimed at women journalists. They describe ([link removed]) sexually explicit threats, slut-shaming campaigns and online harassment designed to tarnish these news professionals’ reputation and reduce them to silence.


** QUOTE
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“The final declaration of the New Delhi AI Impact Summit is full of clichés and sweeps issues related to the information space under the carpet. At a time when artificial intelligence is being used to produce deepfakes of journalists, and chatbots are an emerging, problematic way for the public to access information, the absence of these issues from the declaration is highly significant.”

Vincent Berthier ([link removed])

Head of the RSF Technology and Journalism Desk


** HOMAGE
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On 22 February 2026, Bangladeshi investigative journalist Saleem Samad ([link removed]) , a staunch defender of press freedom, died in Dhaka after a courageous battle with cancer. An RSF correspondent for more than 30 years, Saleem Samad never stopped covering the news, despite threats, arrests on sedition charges and exile. An icon of press freedom, he played a key role in RSF advocacy work in Bangladesh, significantly contributing to the development of the NGO's network and the support of dozens of journalists.


** HIGHLIGHT: NEW RSF ALBUM
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The new RSF album ([link removed]) will be released on Thursday 5 March 2026! Its 120 pages explore the work of Malian photographer Malick Sidibé (1934–2016), also known as “the eye of Bamako,” whose photos depict a generation of young people basking in the euphoria of their country’s independence.


** HIGHLIGHT: CARTOONING FOR PEACE
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A new report on threatened cartoonists around the world ([link removed]) was released on 2 March 2026, exposing the repressive environments that many of them must navigate. RSF is a partner in this report, which was produced by the international network Cartooning for Peace.

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