Zero's Briefs — August 6, 2026

culture · Hiroshima, 81 years

Today, August 6, Hiroshima commemorated the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing with a ceremony at the Peace Memorial Park attended by more than 50,000 people and representatives from 120 countries. At 8:15 a.m. — the exact time of the 1945 explosion — a minute of silence and the tolling of the Peace Bell. Mayor Kazumi Matsui criticized the major powers that “justify the possession of nuclear weapons as deterrence,” while the number of survivors has fallen to 91,105, with an average age of over 86. The cenotaph register now records 353,639 names. The day falls in a world where two nuclear-related conflicts remain in the background: Ukraine and the Middle East.

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foreign · Ebola in Congo: historic record

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo — declared a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO on May 16 — has surpassed 3,874 confirmed cases and 1,751 deaths as of data updated to August 3, according to the European ECDC. It is officially the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the history of the DRC, surpassing the 2018-2020 one. The outbreak affects five provinces; transmission is active in 33 health zones. WHO Director-General Tedros arrived in Congo on Wednesday. Uganda declared the end of its own outbreak on July 28.

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economy-and-markets · Milan hits new highs

Hopes for a deal on Iran pushed European stock markets higher on Thursday. Milan’s FTSE MIB closed at 53,541 points, marking a new all-time closing high with a gain of 1.26% — the best performance among continental markets. Leading the gains were StMicroelectronics (+3%) and Prysmian, rewarded after its acquisition of the American company Atkore. At the bottom was Eni, dragged down by falling crude oil prices. Brent crude stood at around $80 a barrel in today’s session.

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sport · Curtis ready for the European Swimming Championships

The European Swimming Championships officially open today in Paris, scheduled from August 10 to 16 in the French capital. Italy’s Sara Curtis, a student at the University of Virginia coached by Todd Desorbo, arrives as the favorite in the 50m and 100m freestyle and the 50m backstroke. After a two-year period of growth that has taken her far from Italy and close to European records, Curtis approaches the championships “with awareness, experience and more confidence” than at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Among her rivals is Sweden’s Sara Sjöström.

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cinema-and-entertainment · FIFA and Infantino: crisis managed (for now)

FIFA said on Wednesday that it had apologized for the mistakes made in Gianni Infantino’s failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. At a crisis meeting in Morocco — held on the sidelines of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations — federation officials “reaffirmed full support” for Infantino’s presidency. The plan had been rejected with embarrassment by national federations. The institutional crisis has formally subsided, but tensions within the governance of world football remain unresolved.

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politics-and-geopolitics · Michigan: Democrats choose El-Sayed for Senate

Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan, one of the key states in the November 2026 midterm elections. According to WORLD Radio, Trump attempted to discredit the result by accusing Wayne County — which includes Detroit — of fraud without evidence. Michigan is considered a decisive state for the balance of power in Congress: current polls point to potential major gains for Democrats in the November elections.

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foreign · Arson in Spokane: one arrested

American authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the wildfires devastating the Spokane area in Washington state. WORLD Radio reports in this morning’s edition. The wildfires in the U.S. Pacific Northwest are among the most severe environmental emergencies of summer 2026, amid structural drought conditions affecting much of the American West.