GoI's Energy Policy and Other Recommended Readings

India is one of the largest importers & consumers of oil & gas in the world. The Government of India's energy policy, like most of its policies, has seldom been transparent. Eminent economic analyst Surjit Bhalla of Oxus Investments analyses the GoI's figure-juggling, and at times, convulated, energy policy.

Continuing the post-1991 Russian story of corruption, here's another story on how the Russian bureaucracy steals one-third of the annual budget.

Pervez Musharraf has seen better days. I guess the former General should cheer up for the worst is yet to come.

Check another incisive article on the Pakistani President; this time it is from the venerable Al Jazeera.

Essential Readings for May 2

Starting today, this blog will carry, in addition to my ramblings, links, with short commentaries, to some good reads on the web. So here we go.

In the last leg of the Olympic torch relay, the flame will pass through many parts of the host country including Lhasa. Check out this cool interactive feature to know the path of the torch relay in China.

Water is the elixir of life. Or so it is said. When a river passes through more than one country, it often turns into a source of conflict between the nations. It's not just that states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are fighting over sharing of river water; nations also are going to war. Today strategic thinkers say that the next round of civil wars or international wars would be fought over sharing of scarce water resources. Does water always lead to trouble? I strongly recommend this long but superb article on this important issue.

On the entertainment side, check out this picture slideshow of the $2 billion palace being built by Mukesh Ambani. The slideshow takes us right into the world's first billion dollar home.