International News Bulletin — June 25, 2026

Politics

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigns – Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday, June 22, opening a leadership contest within his party. Former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is seen as the frontrunner and would become the UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade.
US and Iran agree on a 60-day roadmap to a nuclear deal – Washington and Tehran have committed to a “roadmap” aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days. The head of the UN’s atomic agency said Iran’s enrichment sites would be inspected as part of the interim deal, a notable de-escalation after recent Middle East hostilities.
Colombia swings sharply to the right – Colombia woke up to a major political shift after Abelardo de la Espriella’s preliminary election victory. The result is expected to redraw the country’s approach to security, the economy, and the peace process.
G7 summit tests transatlantic unity – Leaders gathered for a G7 summit overshadowed by divisions on trade and AI governance. Widening gaps over relations with China, NATO commitments, support for Ukraine, and the Middle East are likely to limit consensus.

Federal Reserve holds rates but signals a hawkish turn – The Fed left its target range unchanged at 3.50%–3.75%, but updated projections leaned hawkish, with nine of 18 officials penciling in at least one rate hike in 2026. The Bank of England separately kept its base rate steady at 3.75%.
Markets rally on AI optimism as oil slides – Renewed enthusiasm for AI followed Micron’s stronger-than-expected outlook, lifting chip and tech stocks. The Nasdaq Composite gained 2.43%, while global oil prices fell to their lowest level since before the US-Iran conflict.
World Bank cuts global growth forecast – Global growth is now projected to slow from 2.9% in 2025 to 2.5% in 2026, the weakest pace since the pandemic. The downgrade reflects weaker prospects for energy-importing economies and those hit by regional hostilities.
China’s property slump persists – Property investment in China fell 16.2% year over year in the first five months of 2026, continuing to weigh on activity. The People’s Bank of China announced fresh financial-sector measures, including greater use of overnight reverse repo operations.

Ebola outbreak spreads in eastern DR Congo – An Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed more than 1,000 cases and over 250 deaths in just over a month. Health experts warn it could become one of the largest outbreaks in recent years.
Deadly earthquakes strike Venezuela – At least 164 people were killed after two earthquakes above magnitude 7 struck Venezuela. The first quake measured 7.2 at a depth of about 22 km, according to the USGS.
Record-breaking heatwave grips Europe – Britain recorded its hottest-ever June temperature at 36.1°C in southern England, with France also poised to break June records. Oxford Economics estimated the heat could cut UK labour productivity by around 1.5%.
World Cup 2026 group stage reaches its climax – The final round of group matches is under way at the 2026 World Cup, with Scotland falling 3-0 to Brazil. Group E sides are now battling for the remaining knockout places.

Bulletin automatically generated on June 25, 2026.