INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Politicians go on holiday, governments shut down, people head for the hills or the beach
The world this month is experiencing an extraordinary peaking of volatility, instability and insecurity, unprecedented in recent times
cost of living crunches, violent riots and unfathomable market panics come not as single spies but in battalions
beckon anew.In truth, the idea of idle, becalmed August has never really held water
The First World War erupted in August 1914
In 1997 Diana, Princess of Wales died in a car crash.In contrast, in August 2024 no particular world-shattering event stands out
late-life autocrat, did not merely lose her job
Then the actual votes started coming in
Appalled, he belatedly realised he was losing
Publication of results was abruptly suspended, Maduro claimed a bogus victory, and the familiar lies, crackdowns and violence began.Except,
Vote tallies have not been released, so no one believes him
Even friendly leftwing governments in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico are jibbing
Hundreds have been arrested, dozens have died
Poverty, lack of opportunity and official corruption roil the global street
Youthful insurrection is not confined to a single calendar month
hypocritical indignation.In the Middle East, matters go from bad to seriously worse, fuelling fears of region-wide war
Western countries conduct emergency evacuations
Israel, backed by the US, prepares to strike back
Nervous Arab leaders urge restraint, as is their wont.skip past newsletter promotionAnalysis and opinion on the week's news and culture
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evenings of anti-migrant riots are a reminder of how disruptive an issue migration is in all the western democraciesHorrors grow familiar by
repetition, losing power to shock
Yet some outrages cut through
medical care, and deprivation of basic needs
The findings echo those of UN experts
Nearly 10,000 Palestinians are in Israeli jails, many held without charge
divisive an issue migration is in all the western democracies
the opposite end of the spectrum, the wealthy wolves of Wall Street and other financial centres were busy making their own contribution to
Harris v Trump is shaping up to be the knock-down, scratch-your-eyes-out, photo-finish fight of the century.Who knows? Maybe September will
be calmer.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a letter of up to 250 words to be
considered for publication, email it to us at observer.letters@observer.co.uk
This article first appeared/also appeared in theguardian.com
