Italian media on July 21st prominently focused on Milan Mayor Sala's public defense amidst an urban planning inquiry. His crucial afternoon address to the City Council saw him firmly declare "my hands are clean" and his intent to continue in office, with assessor Tancredi, also implicated, concurrently resigning. Earlier, extensive coverage detailed a massive overnight Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv, marked by explosions across Ukrainian regions. The Gaza conflict remained a significant international concern, with Israel's ongoing ground offensive into the central Strip and Pope Francis's continued diplomatic efforts, including a call with Abu Mazen and renewed pleas for peace. The identification of Emanuela Ruggeri's body in Rome and the cancellation of Valery Gergiev's concert were other notable domestic stories.