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International news, diplomacy, Geneva-based organisations.

World

Baden-Württemberg: Public media center dissolved over inappropriate spending practices

An audit report presented on July 20, 2026 by the Landesrechnungshof, Baden-Württemberg's regional audit office, has triggered the dissolution of the Landesmedienzentrum (LMZ), a public institution with 350 employees and an annual budget of approximately €30 million, operating under the state education ministry's supervision. Auditors identified practices deemed entirely inappropriate for public administration: a video studio costing €1.2 million—twice the budgeted amount—cryptocurrency purchases totaling €33,000 for purported testing purposes, and an oversized vehicle fleet. Staff allocated only 30% of their working time to core responsibilities.

20 July 2026 at 18:27

World

German July 2026 polls: ruling coalition retreats while AfD and Die Linke advance

In July 2026, German political polls indicate that the Union (CDU/CSU) and the SPD, which have formed the governing coalition since the federal elections on February 23, 2025, are losing popularity. The AfD and Die Linke are gaining ground in voting intentions. These data are compiled by Süddeutsche Zeitung from fifteen recent polls, each surveying approximately 1,000 people. In the latest elections, the Union won 28.5 per cent, ahead of the AfD (20.8 per cent) and the SPD (16.4 per cent). The next regular federal election is expected in early 2029.

20 July 2026 at 17:15

World

Nigel Farage faces parliamentary inquiry into undeclared donations; Clacton by-election triggered

Britain's parliamentary standards commissioner is investigating Reform UK leader Nigel Farage over potentially undeclared donations, including a £5 million payment from Thailand-based businessman Christopher Harborne, according to The Guardian. Rather than submit to the inquiry, Farage triggered a by-election in his Clacton constituency on 20 July 2026. He disputes any obligation to declare the gifts. Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties are boycotting the poll. A Reform UK ally has called the investigation a kangaroo court.

20 July 2026 at 14:00

World

Italo orders 26 trains from Siemens Mobility for €3 billion and enters German market

Italian private railway operator Italo has signed a €3 billion contract with Siemens Mobility for 26 Velaro Multi System high-speed trains, along with a 30-year maintenance agreement. The total investment to enter the German market is estimated at €3.6 billion, including approximately 2,500 new jobs. Starting in 2028, Italo plans to offer 50 daily connections across 1,300 km serving 18 cities on two major corridors. Deutsche Bahn currently controls roughly 95% of Germany's long-distance rail traffic.

20 July 2026 at 13:03

World

Abderrahim Fakir dies in police operation in Bologna; Italy divided over incident

Abderrahim Fakir, a 42-year-old Moroccan national who had lived in Italy for over 30 years, died on 19 July 2026 in Bologna following a police operation in the Pilastro district. Filmed by a neighbor, he was held face down and handcuffed before becoming unresponsive. Two paramedics at the scene did not intervene for over four minutes. An autopsy has been ordered and a police officer's bodycam handed to prosecutors. Hundreds of people protested in Bologna the same evening; the political divide deepens as supporters of law enforcement clash with those who denounce excessive force.

20 July 2026 at 12:00

World

Murder trial in Darmstadt: retrial ordered for Bangladeshi woman

A Bangladeshi woman who was convicted of murdering her husband in Darmstadt, Germany, has been ordered for a retrial by the country's Federal Court of Justice. The woman was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2025 by the Regional Court of Darmstadt. The Federal Court of Justice identified errors in how the evidence was evaluated during the original trial. Notably, it was the prosecution—not the defense—that filed the appeal that led to this decision. The date and court assignment for the new trial have not yet been announced.

20 July 2026 at 11:46

World

AliExpress Fined Record €550 Million by EU for Illegal Products

The European Commission fined AliExpress €550 million on July 20, 2026—the largest penalty ever imposed under the DSA (Digital Services Act, the EU regulation adopted in 2022 to combat illegal online content). AliExpress, the EU's leading online marketplace with 193 million users and owned by Chinese firm Alibaba, was sanctioned for allowing millions of illegal products to circulate: counterfeit goods, dangerous toys, harmful cosmetics. Even after detection, these items remained online for weeks. AliExpress is contesting the fine, calling it "disproportionate."

20 July 2026 at 11:42

World

Why Spaghetti Never Breaks in Two: The Physics of Pasta Explained

Le Temps publishes on July 20, 2026, under journalist Denis Delbecq, an article on the physics of pasta. At the heart of the subject lies the phenomenon whereby spaghetti—long pasta—never breaks into exactly two pieces when snapped. The article invokes figures from physics and computing: Richard Feynman, physicist at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and recipient of the 1965 Nobel Prize in Physics, and Danny Hillis, who aimed to build a computer with one million chips to create artificial intelligence.

20 July 2026 at 11:41

World

Iran strikes Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain; Kyiv hit by major Russian ballistic attack

On July 18, 2026, Iran launched simultaneous attacks against Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain as U.S. airstrikes on Iran entered their second week. The previous day, two American soldiers were killed in Jordan. Iran's toll stands at 50 dead and over 500 wounded since U.S. strikes began. On July 19, Kyiv suffered one of the largest Russian ballistic attacks: approximately 40 missiles and 125 drones struck the capital over five hours, killing at least 1 and wounding 7.

20 July 2026 at 10:32

World

Iran-U.S.: Ninth Night of American Strikes, Tabriz Targeted for First Time

On the night of July 20, 2026, the United States launched its ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iran, targeting Sirik, Jask, Tabriz, Chabahar, Mahshahr, and Imam Khomeini port. Tabriz, in the country's northwest, was hit for the first time since the escalation began. The U.S. military states it aims to degrade Iranian capabilities threatening navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Since the conflict began on February 28, 2026, 17 American soldiers have been killed and over 420 have been wounded.

20 July 2026 at 04:39

World

Iran-U.S. Conflict: Ninth Night of American Strikes, Two Tankers Seized in Strait of Hormuz

On July 20, 2026, the U.S. military bombed Iran for the ninth consecutive night, targeting command centers and Iranian communication networks. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards announced seizing two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and claimed to have targeted U.S. aircraft in Jordan with missiles. Two U.S. soldiers were killed in Iran-attributed strikes in Jordan, and a third is missing. Tehran voided the Islamabad Declaration—a non-binding ceasefire agreement concluded in mid-June 2026—ending all formal truce. No diplomatic initiatives are visible.

20 July 2026 at 04:28

World

Andrew and Tristan Tate arrested in Miami as UK seeks extradition

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were arrested in Miami on July 19, 2026, according to Repubblica. The United Kingdom has submitted an extradition request in connection with the arrests. The charges include rape, organizing or facilitating sex trafficking for exploitation, and aggravated assault. Andrew Tate is described as a manosphere influencer—an online community movement within the broader men's rights sphere where men gather to discuss issues they consider 'typically male' and openly assert gender stereotypes and hostility toward women.

19 July 2026 at 19:00

World

Luigi Esposito, 53-Year-Old Sports Journalist, Found Shot Dead and Burned in Eboli

The charred body of Luigi Esposito, known as "Luca," a 53-year-old sports journalist, was discovered on July 19, 2026 in Eboli, south of Naples. According to Salerno prosecutor Raffaele Cantone, the victim was shot before his body was burned. The investigation points toward homicide. Esposito covered multiple local sports media outlets and also worked for the regional environmental agency. Italy's National Order of Journalists has confirmed his identity and professional profile.

19 July 2026 at 17:05

World

Brandenburg: irritant gas used during beach party at Gräbendorfer See, four injured

Early on July 19, 2026, a beach party at Gräbendorfer See in Laasow near Vetschau/Spreewald in southern Brandenburg, Germany, descended into a brawl between multiple participants involving the use of irritant gas. Four attendees suffered respiratory tract irritation. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and treated several injured individuals, though some refused medical assistance. Police have not yet determined how many people used the irritant gas, and no information about arrests is currently available.

19 July 2026 at 16:46

World

Kyiv targeted by one of Russia's largest-ever ballistic attacks of the war

In the night of July 18-19, 2026, Russia launched over 40 ballistic missiles and 120 attack drones on Kyiv, killing 1 and wounding 16 in the capital. Simultaneous attacks on a Kharkiv suburb left 3 dead and 16 wounded. Several Kyiv neighborhoods caught fire, a metro station ceased operations, and a major logistics hub was destroyed. President Zelensky called it "one of the most massive ballistic attacks against Kyiv" and urgently called on the West to deliver air defense missiles.

19 July 2026 at 14:11

World

US: Violence and Deadly Attacks Between Residents With Dementia in Nursing Homes

Repeated violence between residents with dementia is occurring in nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the United States, according to NPR. Some of these assaults have been fatal. Court records and inspection reports reveal that safeguards designed to prevent resident-to-resident violence are inadequate, despite prior warnings having been issued to the facilities involved.

19 July 2026 at 14:02

World

Germany: 87-year-old man's head trapped in window gap for hours, unharmed

During the night of July 19, 2026, an 87-year-old man became trapped with his head stuck in a window gap in Balingen, a town in the Zollernalbkreis district of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Police responded after an emergency call and found the man unharmed, according to authorities. The incident lasted several hours. The precise circumstances leading to the man becoming stuck remain unclear from available information.

19 July 2026 at 12:37

World

Lilli, 11-Year-Old Female Red Panda, Moves to Thüringer Zoopark Erfurt

Lilli, an 11-year-old female Red Panda, has recently moved to a newly built enclosure at Thüringer Zoopark Erfurt, a zoo located in Erfurt, Germany. The zoo announced the arrival of its new resident through its Instagram account. The official inauguration of the enclosure is scheduled for Monday, July 20, 2026.

19 July 2026 at 12:25

World

Yogurt Semifreddo with Amaretto Cherries: Elena Cremer's Summer Recipe

On July 19, 2026, Elena Cremer publishes a recipe for yogurt semifreddo with Amaretto cherries on Zeit.de as part of the "Süßer Sonntag" series. Semifreddo is a family of Italian frozen desserts, also known as parfaits. This simplified version of the classic semifreddo skips the traditional meringue to reduce preparation time. The dessert is vegetarian and rated easy, requiring more than 60 minutes of preparation and at least 2 hours of freezing. An alcohol-free variant is also provided.

19 July 2026 at 11:59

World

Milan: Bad Bunny's Concert Halted by Severe Hailstorm

Bad Bunny's sold-out outdoor concert at the Snai La Maura Hippodrome in Milan was interrupted on July 18, 2026, due to a violent hailstorm. Large hailstones, powerful winds, and heavy rain struck spectators, forcing organizers to safely evacuate the venue. The following day, Live Nation Entertainment, the event promoter, announced full refunds for all ticket holders.

19 July 2026 at 10:39

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