Latest news bulletin | July 21st, 2026 – Evening
Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this July 21st, 2026 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.
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Thousands sign petition supporting Turkish governor after cycling tights row
No reason was given for Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli's removal, but it came after he was criticised for posting pictures on a bike wearing cycling tights.
D-Day nears for Unesco listing of Normandy landing beaches
The bid to have the D-Day landing beaches listed as UNESCO World Heritage has entered a decisive phase, with a decision due between 24 and 27 July. Beyond its symbolic value, the status could boost tourism while helping to protect this endangered heritage.
Firefighters battle major wildfire as thousands of hectares burn in central Spain
Firefighters battle a major wildfire in Spain's Guadalajara province as flames destroy thousands of hectares and force more than 1,200 people to flee.
Spain toughens its fight against tobacco: what does the new government law include?
The government has approved a bill to expand smoke-free areas, ban smoking by minors, treat e-cigarettes like regular tobacco and tighten rules on their sale, advertising and sponsorship.
Spain moves to ban smoking on terraces and beaches under new anti-tobacco law
The bill extends smoke-free areas, bans under-18s from smoking, treats vapes like tobacco and tightens rules on their sale, advertising and sponsorship.
Wildfire spreads in southeastern France as firefighters battle blaze
Firefighting aircrafts battled a fast-moving wildfire in southeastern France as the blaze spread across hundreds of hectares, prompting evacuations and threatening nearby communities.
Messi's strange pre-final video puzzles World Cup fans
Messi’s team talk before the 2026 World Cup final sparked theories online. Journalist Eduardo Feinmann relayed claims that Messi’s call to 'forget everything' was linked to rumours circulating before the match, although this has not been confirmed.
Brussels prepares first digital rulebook fine against Google, risking Trump's ire: media reports
German media reports say the EU executive is set to announce the fine against the tech titan on Thursday in a move that could escalate tensions with the Trump administration over digital services.
UK to remove 5% tax on electricity bills as Burnham holds first cabinet meeting
The UK's new prime minister, Andy Burnham, has held his first cabinet meeting, telling ministers he will set out his plans "over the coming days" and promised to reveal how his government will pay for any reductions in tax.
Luke Skywalker's 'The Empire Strikes Back' lightsaber breaks Star Wars record at auction
The lightsaber used by actor Mark Hamill in 'The Empire Strikes Back' (1980) has broken a record at auction for the sale of screen-used props. It sold for $3.75 million.
UN reports 144 dead or missing after migrant boat is stranded at sea for 25 days
Two children onboard the boat bound for the Canary Islands lost their entire family before the passengers were picked up by a rescue operation from Mauritania.
Living near noisy traffic could increase Parkinson’s risk, study finds
Long-term exposure to a busy road may increase the chances of developing Parkinson's disease, though a quiet side of the house could give some protection, new research suggests.
Uzbekistan forum explores Islamic civilisation's role in modern science
Researchers, religious leaders and policymakers examined how centuries of Islamic scholarship continue to influence education, scientific research and international cooperation.
Dozens hurt in Bologna protests after man dies while being restrained by police
Thousands of people took to the streets demanding justice for a Moroccan-born man who died on Sunday.
Spain backs Hernández de Cos in first-ever bid for the ECB presidency
The Spanish government has chosen Pablo Hernández de Cos, general manager of the Bank for International Settlements and former Bank of Spain governor, as its candidate to succeed Christine Lagarde at the ECB.
Row escalates in Ukraine over army chief's future
Protesters are demanding Oleksandr Syrskyi be removed and former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov reinstated by Friday.
Fabricated AI animal videos are distorting how we see wildlife, researchers warn
AI-generated animal footage is racking up millions of views online, but researchers warn it is also distorting public understanding of wildlife behaviour and could be undermining support for conservation.
Middle East flights: Air France suspends routes to Riyadh, Dubai and Beirut
Air France said it is ‘monitoring the situation’ in ‘real time’ while other carriers including KLM, British Airways, Aegean and Singapore Airlines have also issued recent updates on their Middle East flights.
Four drone strikes in four days hit tankers carrying Kazakhstan's oil
Drone attacks on vessels in the Black Sea tasked with transporting Kazakhstan's oil persisted for multiple days, with Astana condemning the strikes. The CPC route carries around 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports and more than 1% of global supply.
Iran vows to bomb own land as fears grow over Kuwait incursion
Iranian MPs called for capturing US soldiers and launching ground attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain, as discussions grew over a possible ground operation by either side and US strikes entered their 10th consecutive day.
Lebanese army begins deployment to southern regions after Israel deal
Beirut announced the beginning of its mobilisation to the southern Lebanese regions as President Aoun prepares for a high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday to conclude his four-day visit to Washington.
Invasive snakes in Germany: why the green-yellow western whip snake alarms conservationists
From a rubbish tip in the Western Palatinate, the green-yellow whip snake is spreading across Germany; reptile expert Hubert Laufer has already caught over 300 of this invasive species and tells Euronews why he continues the hunt.
Invasive snakes at German landfill: hunt for green whip snake
From a landfill in Germany’s West Palatinate, the green-yellow western whip snake is spreading. Reptile expert Hubert Laufer has already caught over 300 of this invasive species and tells Euronews why he is still hunting them.
This new luxury hotel in Cappadocia has panoramic views of fairy chimneys and valleys
The new Fortuna of Cappadocia, Autograph Collection hotel offers travellers a heritage-inspired retreat among the Turkish region’s famed sweeping valleys and rock formations.
Anger mounts in Italy after Moroccan man dies under police restraint while pleading for help
The incident has been likened to George Floyd's murder in the United States six years ago, and also prompted comparisons with tactics used by the US's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under President Donald Trump.
Three wounded in strike on Ukraine-bound LPG tanker off Romania in the Black Sea
Romania’s president says the attack on the Ukrainian ship carrying dangerous chemicals was “most likely” the result of a Russian attack, calling it a “serious incident” and launching a probe to determine its cause.
Anthropic to pay €1.3bn in biggest copyright settlement on record
A US judge has approved Anthropic's payout to authors whose pirated books trained its Claude chatbot, closing the first major settlement in a wave of copyright lawsuits against AI companies.
Iran's IRGC claims attack on Amazon's main data hub in Bahrain
The IRGC claimed its cruise missiles destroyed Amazon's central data infrastructure in Bahrain and hit US air defence systems. Bahraini, US and Amazon officials have not responded.
Latest news bulletin | July 21st, 2026 – Midday
Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this July 21st, 2026 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.
One in five EU jobs classed as vulnerable and Spain tops the list, report says
Close to one in five jobs in the European Union qualifies as vulnerable on at least one of three counts, inadequate pay, insecure employment or a lack of workplace rights, according to a new report from Eurofound, which places Spain at the top of the table.
Historic Italian theatres vying for UNESCO's World Heritage status
Eighteen historic condominium-style theatres across Italy's Marche, Emilia Romagna and Umbria regions are seeking to be recognised by UNESCO and are hoping for a place on its prestigious World Heritage List.
FIFA opens investigation into Argentina over post-World Cup final incidents
Football's governing body has appointed a prosecutor to assess the clashes between Argentine and Spanish players at the full-time whistle at the Metlife Stadium as well as the banner held by players after the semi-final with England.
Riyadh Air review: I flew to Madrid on the world’s newest airline – here’s what it was like
Riyadh Air’s business class offering is seriously impressive, and the Hafawa Lounge at King Khalid International might just be the Middle East’s best airport lounge.
Journalist behind Trump-Meloni row Daniele Compatangelo dies suddenly
The La7 journalist died at the age of 50 after falling ill. In recent months, he had risen to prominence with his exclusive interview with US President Donald Trump, which ignited a political storm in Italy.
Where in the EU can people expect the longest working life?
From the Netherlands to Romania, expected working lives vary dramatically across the EU. Here's how every country compares.
New Saudi visa lets Umrah pilgrims visit multiple times within a year
Saudi Arabia has launched a new one-year multiple-entry visa, which will allow Umrah pilgrims to make repeated visits.
Fact check: Is the EU set to ban bottled water multipacks?
Claims that the EU will ban multipacks of bottled water from August have spread widely on social media. But a closer look at the legislation shows the picture is more nuanced than some posts suggest.
European Statistical Monitor: July edition
On 17 July, Eurostat released the European Statistical Monitor, a dashboard with monthly and quarterly indicators covering different areas, such as economy, environment, business, health and work. This monthly updated dashboard is designed to track developments within the EU as
Two tourists injured in knife attack at Acropolis, police arrest suspect
A man attacked a Greek-American couple with a knife at the entrance to the Acropolis archaeological site and was arrested by Athens police shortly afterwards.
'Kick Argentina out of the World Cup' petition nearly breaks Guinness World Record
FIFA has confirmed that Argentina will face an investigation into the “disgusting” scenes at the end of the World Cup final. The team has gone viral for all the wrong reasons at this year’s tournament; and now, a petition to kick them out of the World Cup has amassed more than
Andrew and Tristan Tate to fight UK extradition over rape and trafficking allegations
The US-born brothers were arrested in Miami, Florida and face a total of 59 charges from the Crown Prosecution Service, including rape, assault and human trafficking.
Drone strike sparks major fire in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine
A home improvement shopping centre in Sumy, Ukraine, catches fire after a reported Russian FPV drone strike as firefighters battle the blaze.
Commission publishes state aid guidance on carbon contracts for difference
The European Commission has published guidance to support member states in designing state aid schemes based on carbon contracts for difference (CCfDs), in compliance with the Guidelines on state aid for climate, environmental protection and energy (CEEAG). The aim is to
Could 'banned topics' be the secret to stopping AI hackers?
The trick to stopping an AI cyberattack may be as simple as bringing up a subject the AI system is not allowed to discuss.
Portuguese scientists study Martian clouds to help future landings
As plans for crewed missions to Mars advance, a study led by two Portuguese scientists at Lisbon University's Faculty of Sciences is helping make landings on the Red Planet smoother.
Trade, trophies and tanks
In today's newsletter: A team of Members of the European Parliament travel to China, Spain's reigning champions tour Madrid, and an expert explains the point of Europe's military parades.
Air passenger rights reform: What the new rules mean for you
It's official: air passengers across the bloc will enjoy stronger rights from mid-2027. The European Parliament and the European Council approved the agreement reached earlier in June to strengthen passengers’ protection against flight disruptions.
Commission greenlights Estonia's fourth payment request for €135.5 million under NextGenerationEU
On 16 July, the European Commission positively assessed Estonia's fourth payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. This payment request reflects significant progress across a wide range of reforms aimed at driving
Victorious Spanish team parade through Madrid after World Cup triumph
Spain's World Cup-winning team toured Madrid on an open-top bus as huge crowds lined the streets to celebrate their victory over Argentina