I reckon he has left CNN by Oct 2011 - too much trouble for CNN given the benefits he brings, plus it’s a good chance to stick the knife into News Corp by proxy. Piers really should read his own book, plus remind himself of the hoax photos of soldiers torturing Iraqis (faked) that led to him leaving the Daily Mirror. Watching this dictatorship story unravel with interest.

Quite a supportive piece from the WSJ, really - positioning for transition months out. Change of title, loyal VP as stand-in, sons hovering about… Shame about the ending, Rupert & Co. Contagion’s a bitch

Family business, sense of entitlement, handing down to own children, inside deals like buying his daughter’s firm, cover up to stop getting caught, covering up the cover up, super-BFFs with police chiefs and politicians…

Unfortunately all this means that the shares trade at a discount.

I fundamentally believe that the same ‘Dictator Discount’ applies to countries. Syria, Libya, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Belarus, Angola, Senegal, etc. All these countries have great potential, but none will be realised until their leadership deficit is reversed.

Great business opportunity, as it happens ;)