I am back at my desk. Nothing much has changed. The weather is still mediocre. The buskers outside my office window are still infuriating me by playing the same snatch of Mozart, a hundred times a day. I now hate Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Still, at least, the world’s leaders have followed my wishes and not unleashed any major wars during my summer holiday.

Of course, I kept reading the newspapers and the internet while I was away – addictions are not kicked that easily. So, in the absence of small wars. what have been the major world events over the last three weeks? The Japanese have finally got rid of the LDP. Afghanistan has had its election and Karzai seems to have won. But US and UK casualties are now running at levels that are threatening support for the war. Read more

I will be on holiday for the next three weeks – and will take a break from blogging. If war breaks out somewhere in the world, I will stagger to the nearest internet cafe and try to post something wise. Last August Russia invaded Georgia and I felt obliged to re-start the blog. So here’s hoping for a peaceful next three weeks that can safely pass without comment. Read more

Ever wondered how long it will take for the drug-related violence and chaos in Mexico to spill across into the US? According to some observers, it is already happening on quite a large scale. A Latin American politician recently pointed out to me that last year there were more drug-related kidnappings in Phoenix, Arizona, than in the whole of Colombia. I have checked the news reports and this factoid appears to be true.

According to some reports, the police in Phoenix are worried that the problem will sooner or later spread from the drug-dealing community into the population as a whole. Certainly once grannies start being nabbed on their way to the golf course, you can expect more of a fuss. Read more