The Insider "Meet Xi Jinping, China's heir apparent - the cleanest, least offensive, most loyal politician the party could find. Though the stately, plump Vice President still needs to officially stand for the position of general secretary to replace President Hu Jintao in October, the result - barring disaster - seems pretty certain."
Kerimov, the secret oligarch "Some have wondered whether there may be more to the mysterious Kerimov than meets the eye. Much speculation has rested on whether he sometimes invests funds for other silent partners - in particular, the Kremlin... Known for his lavish parties, Kerimov is in some ways a Russian Gatsby of his time."
Turkmenistan's president wins 97% of the vote "All of Berdymukhamedov's seven opponents praised his leadership in their campaigns, making the authoritarian leader's victory a mere formality. Berdymukhamedov improved on his 2007 performance, in which he secured 89 per cent of the vote."
Priming Australia's ethanol pump "A monopoly, a subsidy and a mandate forcing consumers to buy your product; the Manildra business model is hard to beat."
My debt to Ireland "Ireland was at one time one of the most densely populated places in Europe. In the 1830s, there were more people living there than today. What you see in the open spaces the island is famous for are hundreds and hundreds of years of Irish dying and fleeing in large numbers." (John Jeremiah Sullivan)
