It’s been an eventful month, but with our attention turned to our Southern partner’s political circus it was difficult to look away. Here’s a briefing of some important events that have occurred in the past month:

July 3: Bombings in Baghdad kill almost 300

Two attacks were the deadliest since a major US-backed Iraqi victory in expelling the Islamic State from their nearby stronghold Falluja last month. One bomb was reported to be a refrigerator van packed with explosives while the other was a roadside device. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. 

July 9: Steinbach hosts first ever Pride Parade with PM’s support

Steinbach, Manitoba, known as Canada’s most charitable community with the exception of LGBT rights, hosted its first ever Pride Parade. Despite local officials not attending, Justin Trudeau, who had become the first sitting PM to march in Toronto’s Pride Parade only days earlier, tweeted his support to the community.

July 8: NATO summit sees Canada take a leading role

Canada joined the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany as the fourth “framework” nation to form a multinational, high-readiness military brigade in Eastern Europe. Canada will deploy at least 450 troops in Latvia as a part of a 1,000 strong NATO battle group. 

July 14: Terror attack in Nice, France leaves 84 dead, 304 injured

Three days of national mourning overtook the capital of the French Riviera after a cargo truck was driven into crowds celebrating Bastille Day on the Promenade des Anglais. The driver was shot by police attempting to halt the vehicle. 

July 15: Military attempts power coup in Turkey 

The Turkish military attempted to takeover the Turkish government but failed when President Tayyip Erdoğan called for his supporters to take to the streets in opposition to the military. Over 15,000 people were detained, over 8,000 arrested and over 60,000 fired or suspended including judges, journalists, prosecutors, police and teachers, according to CNN.  

July 18–24: Four attacks in Germany occur in the span of a week

July 18: A 17-year-old asylum seeker armed with an axe and knife injured four people on a train in the south of Germany.  

July 23: Beginning outside of a McDonald’s, an 18-year-old gunman made his way into a shopping centre in Munich where he killed nine people. 

July 24: A 21-year-old Syrian refugee killed a woman and injured two other people with a machete. He was arrested after being hit by a vehicle. 

July 24: Although denied asylum, a 27-year-old Syrian living as a refugee killed himself and wounded 15 others with a bomb at a wine bar in Ansbach.

July 28: German Chancellor Angela Merkel reaffirms migrant policy despite attacks 

“All of this puts a great test before us,” Merkel said of the attacks in Germany, while reaffirming her goal of integrating hundreds of thousands of refugees, a task she called “historic.”  

August 5: Rio Olympics set to begin, despite multiple issues 

Despite multiple issues — the Petrobras oil scandal which wreaked chaos among high-ranking politicians and business people, untreated sewage in the bay used for sailing and swimming events, the Zika virus outbreak and concerns over a terror attack — the 2016 Rio Olympic Games are set to go forward as planned. After a turbulent month, the triumphant stories of athletes achieving their dreams will be a welcome event.