World Politics: 2026 Tracker

1.1 Who became Prime Minister, and when?

Andy Burnham became the UK’s Prime Minister on Monday 20 July 2026. Keir Starmer resigned to King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, and the King invited Burnham to form a government.

No general election was held. The next one does not have to be held until 2029.

1.2 How did Burnham get back into Parliament?

He had been Mayor of Greater Manchester. He left that job to stand in the Makerfield by-election.

A by-election is a vote held in one seat when its MP leaves between general elections. Polling day was 18 June. Burnham won with 24,927 votes and a majority of 9,231.

The law does not require a Prime Minister to be an MP. Still, the job has long gone to someone from the House of Commons.

1.3 Why did Starmer go?

Starmer announced his resignation on Monday 22 June, a few days after the by-election. Labour had lost heavily in the May 2026 local elections.

He stayed in office until his party chose a successor.

1.4 How does a party pick a new leader?

A candidate needed the backing of one-fifth of Labour MPs to stand. Burnham was the only candidate, so he won unopposed.

Labour confirmed him as leader on Friday 17 July.

1.5 Why does a party leader become Prime Minister?

In Britain, voters choose an MP, not a Prime Minister.

The party with a majority picks its own leader. So a change of leader can change the Prime Minister, without a general election.

1.6 What is a common slip?

Students write that Burnham won a general election. He did not. He won a by-election in one seat, then won his party’s leadership unopposed.

2.1 How did the ceasefire start?

A US–Iran war began in 2026. A ceasefire is an agreement to stop fighting for a set time. Pakistan acted as go-between, and a two-week ceasefire began on 7–8 April.

On 21 April, President Trump extended it hours before it ran out. The extension did not say how much longer it would last. The US kept its naval blockade of Iranian ports.

2.2 What was the Islamabad Memorandum?

A memorandum of understanding is a written promise between governments. It is not a treaty, so it lasts only while both sides keep to it.

Trump and Iran’s President Pezeshkian signed it on 17 June 2026. Trump signed at a dinner with President Macron at Versailles.

2.3 What did the memorandum promise?

It opened a 60-day window to reach a final deal. The window could be extended if both sides agreed. For those 60 days, ships were to pass freely through the Strait of Hormuz. The US was to start lifting its blockade at once and end it within 30 days.

The hard questions waited for the final talks: Iran’s nuclear programme, the future running of Hormuz, and Iran’s frozen funds.

2.4 What is the Strait of Hormuz, and why does it matter?

It is a narrow sea lane between Oman and Iran. About one-fifth of the world’s oil use passed through it in 2024.

2.5 How did it fall apart?

Around 7–8 July, Iran hit three ships in the Strait. The US Central Command struck more than 80 targets in reply. On 8 July, Trump told the NATO summit in Ankara that the memorandum was “over”.

On 18 July, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran was suspending its commitments.

2.6 How did the 60 days end?

The window expired on Monday 17 August with no final deal and little sign that either side would extend it. By 16 August, Hormuz had still not reopened.

2.7 What is a common slip?

Students write that the ceasefire collapsed because both sides broke it. The sources show a sharper order. Iran hit ships, the US struck back, and Trump declared the deal over on 8 July.

3.1 What happened on 3 June 2026?

The UN General Assembly elected five countries to the Security Council for 2027–28. They are Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe.

Their two-year term runs from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028.

3.2 What does the Council look like?

The Security Council has 15 members. Five are permanent and hold a veto: the US, UK, France, Russia and China. A veto lets one permanent member block a decision.

The other 10 are elected for two years each. They have no veto. A candidate needs a two-thirds vote in the General Assembly.

3.3 Who won, and by how much?

Source: UN Meetings Coverage.

Germany ran for a Western European seat and lost with 104 votes. Kyrgyzstan beat the Philippines 142 to 49 after extra rounds of voting.

3.4 Who is new, who stays, who leaves?

Kyrgyzstan had never sat on the Council before. Austria and Portugal have each served three times.

Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia leave on 31 December 2026. Bahrain, Colombia, DR Congo, Latvia and Liberia stay through 2027.

3.5 Where does India stand?

India’s last term on the Council was 2021–22. India is not a permanent member. It works with Brazil, Germany and Japan in a group called the G4. The four back each other for permanent seats.

In New York in September 2026, the G4 foreign ministers called for early reform of the Council.

3.6 What is a common slip?

Students think elected members have a veto. They do not. Only the five permanent members do.

4.1 What was the G7 summit at Évian?

The G7 is a group of seven rich democracies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. Its 52nd summit met in Évian-les-Bains, France, from 15 to 17 June 2026.

India is a guest, not a member. President Macron invited Prime Minister Modi during his India visit in February 2026.

4.2 What did India do there?

Modi joined the session on 16 June called “Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity”.

4.3 What was the SCO summit at Bishkek?

The SCO is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a group of Eurasian states. Its 26th summit met in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from 31 August to 1 September 2026.

On 1 September, Pakistan took over the SCO chair for 2026–27. Pakistan will lead the group into 2027.

4.4 What is a common slip?

Students call India a G7 member because Modi attends. He attends only as an invited guest.

5.1 What are the Special Representatives talks?

India and China each name a Special Representative to talk about their disputed border. For India it is NSA Ajit Doval. For China it is Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The 25th round took place in Beijing on 25 August 2026. The 23rd was in Beijing in December 2024, and the 24th in New Delhi in August 2025.

5.2 What did they agree?

• Two more meeting points for senior military commanders, under the General Level Mechanism.
• Two more border hotlines, for the Eastern and Middle Sectors.
• More batches of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims, and border trade through three passes.

5.3 What is the Expert Group?

The Expert Group on Boundary Delimitation sits under the WMCC, the India–China border consultation body. It was set up at the 24th round in August 2025.

At the 25th round it was given a task: an “Early and Substantial Harvest”. That means settling the easier parts of the boundary first. It will begin by drawing up its terms of reference.

5.4 When is the next round?

The 26th round will be held in India in 2027.

5.5 What is a common slip?

Students write that the 25th round formed the Expert Group. The group already existed. The 25th round gave it a task.