While most TV news journalists are in Tampa, Charlotte, Louisiana or Mississippi this week, FBN’s Melissa Francis opted to go somewhere a bit more… exotic. Francis is in Bahrain on the Strait of Hormuz, where she will anchor her FBN program today at 5 PM.

Not surprisingly, given the Strait’s strategic importance, Francis will be spending time on her show talking about key issues relating to the region, including defending the Strait and the implications on the oil markets if the Strait gets shut down.

More pictures, after the jump.