Zero's Briefs

Foreign Affairs and Geopolitics — Chad notifies the UN of its withdrawal from the Criminal Court — N’Djamena has informed the United Nations Secretary-General of its withdrawal from the Rome Statute under article 127; the move will take effect in July 2027. The declaration is signed by foreign ministry spokesman Ibrahim Adam Mahamat. It is the fourth African country after Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, whose withdrawals also take effect in 2027. (Agenzia Nova, Il Post)

Foreign Affairs and Geopolitics — N’Djamena cites nine African investigations out of thirteen — In support of the withdrawal, the Chadian government cites Court data updated as of May 11: of 13 open investigations, nine concern African countries. The statement calls on the African Union to speed up the construction of continental judicial mechanisms. The ICC has in the past rejected accusations of bias, noting that some early investigations were opened at the request of the African governments themselves, such as Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Rivista Africa, Il Sole 24 Ore)

Foreign Affairs and Geopolitics — Washington entrusts the Ukrainian dossier to unexpected emissaries — According to the Financial Times, citing sources, the United States is relying on unconventional negotiators to break the deadlock on Ukraine; among them Rodney Cook, chairman of the US Commission of Fine Arts, who led the American delegation to the St. Petersburg Economic Forum on June 3-6. Cook has not commented. Moscow has said it is ready to welcome Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The account is available only through Russian state agencies. (RIA Novosti, Russian state agency; Moskva 24, Russian state outlet)

Europe — Switzerland reopens Dublin transfers to Italy — The State Secretariat for Migration confirmed to public broadcaster SRF the resumption of transfers to Italy of asylum seekers under Italian jurisdiction, suspended for nearly four years. More than 600 people are expected to be affected starting at the end of August. Spokeswoman Magdalena Baker explained that the process will proceed gradually to avoid overloading reception facilities and to test new solidarity mechanisms. The news currently comes from a single source; no independent confirmation is available. (Domani)

Economy and Markets — US building permits up 5% — In July, US building permits rose 5% month-on-month, to an annualized rate of 1.443 million, above expectations of 1.37 million. In the same month, import prices fell 0.4% month-on-month, the sharpest decline since May 2025. (MilanoFinanza)

Economy and Markets — Beijing prepares a provincial consumption plan — Chinese authorities have unveiled a plan to stimulate consumption at the provincial level, while the central bank is considering a cut to the benchmark lending rate (LPR). The two measures move toward the same goal — supporting domestic demand — through different levers, one fiscal and administrative, the other monetary. (XTB)

Economy and Markets — India’s central bank sells dollars for the rupee — The Reserve Bank of India intervened in the currency market by selling dollars to support the rupee, amid capital outflows and high oil prices. For a major net crude importer, rising barrel prices act directly on the balance of payments and the exchange rate. (XTB)

Tech & AI — YouTube will count views from video start — Starting August 24, 2026, a view will be counted from the moment a video starts, with no minimum time threshold, for traditional videos, Shorts and live streams. The previous measurement will remain in Analytics under the name Engaged Views. The change will not affect earnings or YouTube Partner Program requirements and brings the count closer to that of TikTok and Instagram. The news currently comes from a single source; no independent confirmation is available. (Smartphonology)

Health — A hundred beds in Bunia and the World Food Programme’s appeal — In the capital of Ituri, a 100-bed treatment center for Ebola patients has been inaugurated. At the end of July, the World Food Programme launched an appeal for immediate funding, warning that hunger is worsening the response to the outbreak in a province marked by insecurity and high population mobility. (UN News, WHO)

Health — EMA and African agency work together for the first time — The Emergency Task Force of the European Medicines Agency is collaborating with the African Medicines Agency and African national regulatory authorities, with support from the AVAREF forum of the WHO African regional office, to define the design of clinical trials on the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. It is the first health emergency in which the two agencies have cooperated since the AMA became operational. (EMA)

Culture — Plovdiv displays findings from the latest excavation season — The Bulgarian Regional Archaeological Museum is hosting, from August 11 through the end of the year, the annual exhibition “Discoveries 2025 – Threshold Between Worlds,” dedicated to the most significant discoveries from the latest campaign in the city and region. The exhibit is organized along two axes: daily life and the afterlife. The news currently comes from a single source; no independent confirmation is available. (BTA)

Cinema & Entertainment — A technicians’ strike cancels “PICASSa” in San Sebastián — The Quincena Musical was forced to cancel the show due to the technicians’ walkout. The Basque festival continues with Grigory Sokolov’s recital of works by Beethoven and Schubert and, a few days later, with a Berlioz Requiem involving more than 300 musicians. The news currently comes from a single source; no independent confirmation is available. (Beckmesser)

Sport — Cincinnati without Sinner, Alcaraz and Paolini — The US tournament is being played at the Lindner Family Tennis Center without Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, sidelined by knee and wrist problems respectively. In the women’s draw, Jasmine Paolini, runner-up in the previous edition, and Emma Raducanu withdrew due to injury. Leading the field are world number one Aryna Sabalenka and defending champion Elena Rybakina; among the men competing are Djokovic, Zverev, Fritz and Shelton. (Olympics.com)

Number of the Day — Eight thousand times the offer for Unitree — Total demand for the share offering of the Chinese humanoid robot maker exceeded available shares by more than 8,000 times, a record for Shanghai’s STAR Market: 9.8 million orders submitted by individual investors alone for an offering of 40.4 million shares. (Il Sole 24 Ore)

On This Day — Forty-five years ago “Sogni d’oro” was awarded in Venice — Nanni Moretti will return to competition at the Mostra with “Succederà questa notte” forty-five years after winning the Special Jury Prize for “Sogni d’oro.” The 83rd edition opens at the Lido on September 2. (Il Post)