2 big stories

No prizes for guessing it’s Iran above the fold again today. After ruling out a votes recount, the ruling forces had this to say, which is of some interest to anyone who gets their political news online:

Following a crackdown on the foreign press, the Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s most powerful military force, warned online media of similar treatment over their coverage of the country’s election crisis.

In its first statement since the crisis broke out, the guards – an elite force answering to the supreme leader – said Iranian websites and bloggers must remove any materials that “create tension” or face legal action.

Much information about the protests has come from blogs and websites such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. The government yesterday barred foreign media from leaving their offices to report on the demonstrations.

Clegg’s Trident announcement has also made a fair few waves, generally the right sort of waves. Nick Robinson’s piece for News at 10 last night was as favourable a thing as I’ve ever seen towards us on the Beeb. Their written piece is here:

In the leadership contest of 2007, Mr Clegg clashed with his rival Chris Huhne – a firm opponent of Trident – over the subject.

Mr Clegg told the BBC he had “changed his mind” over the issue and he believed that, 20 years after the end of the Cold War, Trident was now clearly outmoded.

He now says a decision cannot be delayed any longer, given the desperate state of the UK’s public finances.

“We have to be realistic and candid about what we can and can’t afford as a nation,” he said.

2 must-read blog posts

Anders Hanson (thanks to m’colleague Alex for suggesting this gem wot I had missed) reckons being a Lib Dem organiser is a bit like being Mary, Queen of Charity Shops off the telly.

Andy Darley chalks another one up to the bastards, this time for exposing the identity of the police blogger Nightjack. He feels a bit better after he writes a letter to the Times. I wish I did.