Bahrain Feature: The Long Tentacles of the Regime's PR Octopus (Owen Jones)

The CEO of Bell Pottinger PR with Bahrain's Minister of EnergyThe BBC World Service show "World Have Your Say" broadcast a show last week that concerned the media war in Bahrain. Among the topics discussed was the government PR machine, though unbeknownst to the BBC, one of the guests on the show is the managing director of a company who receives money from the government to do PR. Another guest on the show was also suggested to the BBC by a PR company connected to the royal family, though the BBC were quick to emphasise that she was not representing the royal family.

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Iran 1st-Hand Video: A 53-Minute Look at Life, Politics, and the Economy (Rezaian)

Jason Rezaian, an Iranian-American journalist based in Tehran, speaks for 53 minutes in a wide-ranging and candid --- despite the likelihood that Iranian security forces were listening --- interview on Bloggingheads. His views offer a lot for discussion and reflection about the nuclear situation, the battle within the Iranian establishment, and the Green Movement.

Sudan 1st-Hand: Protests and Raids at the University of Khartoum

They brought all the students to the open space, then practiced physical abuse and various types of psychological terror. They used electrical sticks and loaded their guns while saying, “We will take you to camps and you will never return to your homes.” They used offensive and racist words, the least offensive that I can repeat, “Are these the looks of students? You are tramps, all what you’re good at is drinking (alcohol). You nigger, are you claming to be a student?”

The ground floor rooms were turned into investigation rooms. Tthey took all of our info including phone numbers. We were then deported by trucks to different police stations of Khartoum state.

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The Latest from Iran (23 February): Don't Panic!

See also Iran Snapshot: The World's Worst Pundit Today --- Mr Tucker Carlson
Iran Snap Analysis: Nuclear Postures and "War is Coming!"
The Latest from Iran (22 February): Rafsanjani Far from Finished?

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2134 GMT: A Warning to Ahmadinejad. Prominent cleric Mehdi Taeb, the brother of an important Revoutionary Guards commander, has put out a wide-ranging statement. He said oil sanctions against "impossible" and declared that the Islamic Constancy Front, vying for influence in the Parliamentary elections, has no relation with the "deviant current". That deviant current "has swallowed Satan", and the "2009 fitna (sedition) was one of their invisible actions".

Most interesting, however, was Taeb's message for the President. He said Ahmadinejad's right-hand man, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai, is seeking his downfall, although the Iranian people are too intelligent for this. He continued that "most elites have deserted Ahmadinejad, but most people accept him with Ayatollah Khamenei if not with Rahim-Mashai".

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Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: The Deaths of The Journalists

The award-winning photograph from Libya by Remi Ochlik, who died on Wednesday in Syria

See also Journalism Feature: Marie Colvin Remembered --- "To Report These Horrors of War With Accuracy and Without Prejudice"
Syria Video Feature: Life and Death in Homs
Wednesday's Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: The Death of A Journalist

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2140 GMT: In Palmyra in Syria, a cameraman films a man firing a rocket-propelled grenade, which strikes far too close for comfort:

2120 GMT: Back from a break to find the report of the Local Coordination Councils of Syria that 101 people, including 14 children, died across the country today --- 47 in Idlib Province, 26 martyrs in Hama, nine in Deir Ez Zor, seven in Daraa, five in Quneitra, four in Homs, two in Raqqa, two in the Damascus suburbs, and one in Aleppo.

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Journalism Feature: Marie Colvin Remembered --- "To Report These Horrors of War With Accuracy and Without Prejudice"

Marie Colvin, Chechnya, 1999

Our mission is to report these horrors of war with accuracy and without prejudice. We always have to ask ourselves whether the level of risk is worth the story. What is bravery, and what is bravado?

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Iran Snapshot: The World's Worst Pundit Today --- Mr Tucker Carlson

In my opinion, Tucker Carlson has proved that anyone who is loud, well-connected, and wearing a bowtie can appear on American television as a pundit, regardless of his/her idiocy.

Normally, this would not be worth a mention, but Carlson has exceeded himself in an interview with Fox News: "Iran deserves to be annihilated. I think they’re lunatics. I think they’re evil."

A sequel is posted below. Meanwhile, let's tip our hat again to Jon Stewart of The Daily Show who single-handedly decimated Carlson's short-lived career on CNN's Crossfire in 2004:

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Syria Video Feature: Life and Death in Homs (Mani/Channel 4)

Britain's Channel 4 presents the coverage of life and death in Homs in Syria by French photojournalist "Mani":

Iran Snap Analysis: Nuclear Postures and "War is Coming!"

The signal could not have been clearer or louder. Steve Forbes, one of America's most prominent businessmen, has used the pages of his magazine to declare, "War with Iran is Coming!"

In the heat of battle the ayatollahs may not be able to contain themselves. Iran will also attempt to have its agents carry out terrorist acts around the world, particularly in the U.S....Israel will find itself embroiled in a horrific conflict....Much as the White House might wish otherwise, the U.S. will become involved. In fact, President Obama could well respond to the conflict the way he did when he went after Osama bin Laden: give U.S. forces the green light to do whatever is necessary on water and in the air to help the Israelis. 

Having set out Armageddon, Forbes then advised, "This conflict will obviously also roil the financial markets. Best advice to investors: Don’t panic."

On Wednesday, two developments on the nuclear front guaranteed that this chatter will get louder.

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The Latest from Iran (22 February): Rafsanjani Far from Finished?

1905 GMT: Economy Watch. Iran's Statistics Center has said that the unemployment rate is 11.8%. Among 15- to 29-year-olds, the rate is 23.9%.

Unemployment is higher for women than men and in cities versus rural areas.

1715 GMT: Nuke Watch. More on the tension between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran, after Tehran restricted the movement of inspectors on a two-day visit --- a diplomat in Vienna says that the Islamic Republic asked the IAEA team to sign a document regulating their activists. They refused.

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