This roundup summarises the most important news stories around the world in the last month (July 2026).

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Hundreds of thousands in France and Spain fled and evacuated as wildfires raged, after over 5,700 excess French deaths were recorded during the June heatwave. In France too, a reconciliation committee of the country’s parliament agreed on a bill which would ban access to social media for those under 15 years old. The new law also bans cellphone usage in high schools.

There were other disasters around the world. In Germany, a 21-year-old suspect was fatally shot after he carried out a vehicle-ramming and stabbing attack at Berlin Pride. In Japan, an earthquake killed dozens. And in Thailand, a bar fire in Bangkok killed dozens.

Leadership transitions

In India, tens of thousands of protestors marched toward parliament with demands for the education minister’s resignation, following repeated examination paper leaks. The education minister later bowed to mounting pressure and resigned. In Peru, after weeks of reviews, protests, and fraud accusations, conservative Keiko Fujimori was declared the official winner of the country’s presidential race with 50.135 per cent of the vote. In the United Kingdom, new Labour Party leader Andy Burnham was installed as leader before becoming the new prime minister. And in Ukraine, protests erupted after the popular defence minister was removed from his post, leading to the president removing his top general.

Relatedly, member states of the International Criminal Court voted to dismiss its chief prosecutor, following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Other political news

• In Iran, a crowd of millions gathered for the funeral of the country’s assassinated ayatollah.
• The Israeli parliament dissolved ahead of elections.
• The Nicaraguan president said the country will “never again” hold elections, pledging to extend his 20-year rule.

Finally, the United States (US) said it will not renew the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which President Donald Trump signed in 2018. Also in the US, South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham passed away unexpectedly from an aortic rupture related to cardiac disease.