Public Relations firms have been working in the United States and the UK on behalf of governments across the Middle East. What is the job of these PR companies? And how do they justify working for repressive regimes, even as they fall? BBC correspondent, Gabriel Gatehouse, has been reporting on PR companies that are working for governments across the troubled region.

Meet the new government of Iraq. Is it the same as the old one? It's round two of the post-Saddam era.

After nine months of disagreement and deadlock, Iraq has a new government. But is this a sign that the country will be able to move forward, or will the government descend into chaos while trying to appease all factions? Gabriel Gatehouse, reporting for our partner the BBC, gives us the latest news from Baghdad, and looks back on his year spent reporting from Iraq.

On August 31, President Obama announced the end of combat operations in Iraq. "Operation Iraqi Freedom is over," he said from the Oval Office, as he ordered the withdrawal of all combat forces from the country. Now, only 50,000 troops remain, tasked with handing security operations over to the Iraqis.

The images we often associate with Iraq are of destruction, war and dysfunction. But one man hopes to show people another side of the country, with a lovely tour down a Kurdistan river.  

More than 40 people were killed by a suicide bomber yesterday in Baghdad as they lined up outside an Iraqi army base to receive their paychecks. Those killed were mainly members of the Awakening movement, an organization composed mostly of Sunni former insurgents, who switched sides to fight alongside American forces. The attacks, along with America's withdrawal from Iraq are leaving those in the Awakening movement with a sense of desertion. The BBC's Baghdad correspondent, Gabriel Gatehouse, has the details.

The United States transferred the last American-run prison to Iraq in a significant move as the U.S. winds down its war there. The transfer of Camp Cropper, renamed Karkh Prison, also marks the end of a troubling chapter in America's relationship with Iraq, marred by the prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib.

Security officials in Iraq say that at least three people have been killed and more than 30 injured in the latest bomb attack. Today marks the death of the Imam Kadhim, the seventh of twelve holy figures who defined the Shiite faith. This follows yesterday's suicide bombing that killed more than 50 people at a police checkpoint in Baghdad. They were among the hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims taking part in the annual precession to Kadhimiya's shrine to honor the eight century Imam.

Election officials in Iraq have begun a partial recount of votes cast in last month's parliamentary election. The count, which is being conducted by hand, will cover around 2.5 million ballots cast in the capital and surrounding area. The process is expected to last several weeks and will further delay the formation of the government.

A new ruling by election officials in Iraq means that the current prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, who narrowly lost the election, may actually be the winner. The victory is a result of the disqualification of a parliamentary candidate who has been barred by the court because of links to Sadam Hussein's Baath party.

Today marks the start of election week in Iraq. After a two-month delay and the banning of more than 500 candidates, voters across the country will go to the polls in the country's first election since 2005. But far more than the 325 seats at stake is the future of a successful democracy.

Iraq's elections, scheduled for March 7, have already led to a spike in violent attacks throughout the country. Now, in Washington, there's concern that Iran is attempting to influence those elections.

How much better is the security situation in Iraq now that American forces have moved out of the cities? The Takeaway talks to BBC Correspondent Gabriel Gatehouse, who has spent the last week embedded with both U.S. and Iraqi troops in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

The head of the Russian utility giant, Gazprom, says gas shipments to Ukraine could resume today meaning Europe could start cranking their heaters again. However, the only way Russia will agree is if the E.U. deploys monitors to observe Ukrainian pipelines. Reportedly, no progress has been made on a new contract between the Ukraine and Russia. Here with all the details is the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse.