The Today Radio news team brings you the latest headlines for Monday, 21 July.

Luxembourg 

NATIONAL ACTION PLAN – Yuriko Backes, Luxembourg’s Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity is presenting a new national LGBTQIA+ plan for Luxembourg today. She is presenting the National Action Plan to the relevant parliamentary committee this morning, and to the press in the afternoon. Backes has pledged to counter global regression on LGBTQIA+ rights, reaffirming the government’s commitment to defending the rights and freedom of all individuals.

STORM DAMAGE – Luxembourg firefighters faced an unusual challenge on Sunday as high winds tore crosses from church towers in Bivange and Esch-Lallange, requiring complex rescue operations. In both interventions, the crosses were removed without injuries.

World

UKRAINE WAR – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for talks with Russia this week to push forward ceasefire talks amid growing pressure on Moscow to reach a deal. The Kremlin said earlier this month it was ready to continue talks with Ukraine after US President Donald Trump gave Russia 50 days to strike a peace deal or face sanctions.

GAZA WAR – Gaza's civil defence agency says that Israeli forces opened fire on crowds of Palestinians trying to collect humanitarian aid on Sunday, killing 73 people and wounding dozens more. In addition, the UN World Food Programme says its 25-truck convoy carrying food aid "encountered massive crowds of hungry civilians which came under gunfire" near Gaza City. Israel's military is disputing the death toll and said soldiers had fired warning shots. Pope Leo XIV slammed the "barbarity" of the war in Gaza on Sunday and urged against the "indiscriminate use of force".

VIETNAM BOAT SINKING – A tourist boat ferrying families around Vietnam's Ha Long Bay capsized in a storm on Saturday afternoon, leaving at least 34 people dead. The vessel was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members when it capsized in the UNESCO World Heritage site because of sudden heavy rain. Most of those on board were families visiting from the capital Hanoi, with more than 20 children among the passengers.

SOUTH KOREA STORMS – Heavy rain in South Korea has killed at least 17 people in recent days, while 11 remain unaccounted for in the intense downpours. South Korea typically experiences monsoon rains in July and is usually well-prepared. But this week, the country's southern regions were hit with some of the heaviest hourly rainfall on record.

COLDPLAY KISSCAM – The CEO of a New York tech firm has resigned after a viral video of him embracing a colleague at a Coldplay concert triggered widespread memes and online speculation. The canoodling pair appeared shocked and horrified when they spotted themselves on the big screen, with the man ducking out of frame and the woman hiding her face. Within hours, internet sleuths tracked down the man as Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and said the woman was the company's chief people officer, Kristin Cabot, alleging that the two were having a not-so-discreet affair.

Sport

ATHLETICS – Patrizia van der Weken delivered a strong performance on Saturday evening at the KBC Night of Athletics in Belgium, clocking 11.07 seconds to finish second in the 100m – just 0.07 seconds off her national record.The race was won by American Maia McCoy in 10.90 seconds.

GOLF – Scottie Scheffler romped to a four-shot victory to seal his first British Open title at Royal Portrush on Sunday, notching his fourth major success. The world number one eased to a three-under par final round of 68, finishing on 17-under for the tournament after shooting in the 60s on all four days.

CYCLING – Tim Wellens of Team UAE won a baking and hilly stage 15 of the Tour de France on Sunday after a 45km solo rampage towards Carcassonne.  Overall leader Tadej Pogacar held on to the overall lead with a 4min 13sec advantage on Jonas Vingegaard. Today is the final rest day.

MOTOGP – Marc Marquez won the Czech MotoGP on Sunday for his eighth victory in 12 races this season and fifth in a row, extending his commanding lead in the world championship.

Weather

We are in for a day of thick clouds and heavy showers. The morning should be dry, but you can expect heavy showers in the afternoon. Temperatures will be a few degrees cooler than yesterday 15–17°C in the morning, increasing to 20–22°C in the afternoon.
 ---

Be sure to catch our full bulletin on the hour, every hour, and headlines at half past the hour on Today Radio. You can also access the news via Alexa and on RTL Play.