Zero's Briefs
Eight afternoon stories: the resumption of the French government, the campaign for the centre-left primaries, Jackson Hole, the death of Rosellina Archinto, ECDC data on diphtheria and tetanus, Apple Music labels, Ridley Scott in London and concerts in the South.
Europe — France reopens the council of ministers on Monday — The Élysée told the AFP news agency that Emmanuel Macron will convene the government on Monday, August 24 in the morning, for the first council of ministers after the summer break: a season marked by repeated heatwaves and wildfires of historic scale. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu must prepare the 2027 budget, which Parliament will examine in the autumn, and is expected in Mayotte on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. Macron is receiving Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Paris. LCP, Orange Actu, Affiches Parisiennes.
Economy and Markets — Jackson Hole from August 27, the first for Warsh — The symposium organized by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City will be held from August 27 to 29, 2026 on the theme “Financial Innovation: Implications for Payments and Policy”. It will be the first for Kevin Warsh, chair of the Federal Reserve since May 2026 in succession to Jerome Powell. At the July 29 meeting the Fed left rates unchanged in a range of 3.50%-3.75%, with three regional bank presidents dissenting in favor of a hike; the next monetary policy committee meeting with new projections is expected on September 15-16. Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, DayTradingToolkit, CFI.
Culture — Rosellina Archinto has died, aged 93 — The publisher died in Santa Margherita Ligure; she was born in Genoa in 1933 and had worked in Milan. With Emme Edizioni she brought to Italy Maurice Sendak, Leo Lionni, Tomi Ungerer, Eric Carle and Guillermo Mordillo, while promoting Bruno Munari, Enzo and Iela Mari, Emanuele Luzzati and Flavio Costantini. In 1985 she founded the publishing house Archinto, specializing in literary correspondence; in 1999, Babalibri, directed with her daughter Francesca in co-publication with the French L’école des loisirs. In 2003 the brand passed to the Rizzoli-Rcs group and in 2015, at age 82, she bought it back. Between 1986 and 1996 she published the monthly magazine “Leggere”, which reached ninety issues. ANSA, La Voce di Genova, Orizzonte Scuola.
Health — ECDC: 151 cases of diphtheria and 73 of tetanus in the EU in 2024 — The annual epidemiological report of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, published in July 2026, records for 2024 in the European Union and the European Economic Area 73 cases of tetanus and 151 of diphtheria. Of the 67 tetanus cases with known outcome, 19 were fatal — 28% — almost exclusively in people over 70; diphtheria deaths numbered four. The ECDC recommends maintaining high vaccination coverage across all age groups and ensuring the availability of diphtheria antitoxin. Quotidiano Sanità, Guacci.
Tech & AI — Apple Music will make labels visible on AI-created tracks — Apple has told music industry partners that by the end of 2026 the AI Transparency Tags, introduced in March, will become visible to users as a “Made With AI” label, mandatory when artificial intelligence has created a substantial part of the content. The tags distinguish four areas: audio track, composition and lyrics, cover art and music video. According to Apple Music head Oliver Schusser, more than a third of new tracks uploaded each month are generated entirely with AI, but this accounts for less than 0.5% of listens. Spotify has removed about 75 million tracks identified as AI-generated; Deezer states that they exceed half of daily uploads. ANSA, Macitynet, Telefonino.net.
Film & Entertainment — World premiere in London for Ridley Scott’s “The Dog Stars” — The post-apocalyptic thriller was presented at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square in the presence of Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce and Benedict Wong with director and producer Ridley Scott. The film is based on Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, screenplay by Mark L. Smith, distributed by 20th Century Studios; release in theaters on August 28, 2026. The story is set after a devastating flu pandemic and follows a former civilian pilot and a former marine. According to Variety, the lead role had initially been intended for Paul Mescal, who left the project due to scheduling conflicts. ABC7 News, The Movie Blog, Variety.
Film & Entertainment — Melpignano and Catania, two mass concerts on the same evening — On Saturday, August 22, the Concertone of the Notte della Taranta returns to Melpignano, in its 29th edition; the same evening Negramaro perform at 9pm at Villa Bellini, in Catania, as part of the “Sotto il Vulcano Fest” festival, listed among the main events of the city’s cultural summer. Quotidiano dei Contribuenti, Sky TG24.
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