Zero's Briefs

Italy — 46,642 teacher hires authorized for 2026/2027 — The Council of Ministers has authorized permanent staff appointments for the next school year: 46,642 teachers, of whom 10,810 for special education support. The authorization also includes school principals, educational staff, religion teachers and ATA support staff. (Presidenza del Consiglio)

Italy — New resources for Campi Flegrei in the same session — In the meeting where it authorized school hires, the Council of Ministers strengthened measures for Campi Flegrei, with resources for families, building safety works and support for municipalities. The statement does not indicate the total allocation. (Presidenza del Consiglio)

Europe — German government holds two-day meeting in Neuhardenberg — The federal government is holding a retreat today and tomorrow at Schloss Neuhardenberg for a working session dedicated to economic competitiveness and the consequences of the 2026 summer heatwave. The news currently comes from a single source (dpa news agency); no independent confirmation available. (ZDFheute)

Europe — Volkswagen works council rules out layoffs and plant closures — Following a meeting with Lower Saxony Minister President Olaf Lies, works council chair Daniela Cavallo spoke out against layoffs and plant closures, asking the group’s leadership to make its strategy transparent. Lies, after a visit, considers the Hannover plant competitive. Single source (dpa news agency). (Epoch Times Deutschland)

Foreign Affairs and Geopolitics — Melnyk asks Security Council for a safe zone — On the night of August 25, Ukraine’s permanent representative to the United Nations Andriy Melnyk addressed the Security Council, stating that Russia is losing the war and calling for the establishment of a safe zone. “Words of condemnation are not enough,” he said (transl. from Russian). (TSN)

Foreign Affairs and Geopolitics — Four dead in Gaza, including two children — According to hospital officials, on August 24 Israeli air strikes and tank fire killed at least four people, including two children, one week after the American request to reduce strikes. The Israeli army and Shin Bet state they struck two Hamas weapons depots inside mosques. (Washington Post, AP news agency; Al Jazeera)

Foreign Affairs and Geopolitics — Fire near Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar — Explosions were heard in Krasnodar Krai and a fire broke out near the Afipsky refinery following the attack. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed new strikes against Ukrainian ports, including Pivdennyi: this is a partisan statement, reported as such. (TSN; TopNews)

News — Over 679,000 acres burned in France and Spain — The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s weekly bulletin records more than 679,000 acres burned in the two countries, the most destructive wildfires ever recorded. At least three fatalities, including two firefighters, and at least thirty homes destroyed, with damage to pastures and agricultural properties. (Center for Disaster Philanthropy)

Economy and Markets — EU sold production up 2.9% in 2025 — Eurostat published data on August 24 on sold industrial production: +2.9% at constant prices in 2025 versus 2024, the first increase since 2022 following the -1.5% recorded in 2023 and -1.9% in 2024. According to Eunews, Italy is among the top three countries by value of sold production. (Eunews)

Culture — Plovdiv exhibits 2025 excavation season — Plovdiv’s Regional Archaeological Museum opened “Discoveries 2025 – Threshold Between Worlds” on August 11, running until year’s end, dedicated to the most significant discoveries of the latest campaign in the city and region. Single source (BTA news agency, from museum communication). (BTA)

Sport — Roma beats Fiorentina 4-0, Lazio wins at Bologna — The August 24 late matches closed out the first Serie A matchday: at the Olimpico, a hat-trick from Malen off three assists from Paulo Dybala and a goal from Pisilli; at the Dall’Ara, Frattesi decided the match. For Bologna it was the first official outing under coach Domenico Tedesco. (Sportface; Sky TG24)

Sport — Inter open the season with a 4-1 win over Monza — The Italian champions beat Monza at San Siro with goals from Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Esposito and Bisseck. On the same matchday, wins for Napoli at Genoa, Cagliari at Parma, Juventus at Frosinone, Lecce at Venezia, Milan at Torino and Atalanta over Sassuolo; Udinese-Como finished 1-1. (Il Sussidiario)

Health — Mobile lab deployed at Central African Republic’s borders — As part of enhanced surveillance measures agreed on August 15 between WHO and five Central African countries, the Central African Republic has deployed a mobile laboratory near its borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. In Uganda, the 42-day period of enhanced monitoring ends on August 27. (WHO AFRO)

Tech & AI — In Germany, AI-generated content must be labeled — As of August 2, 2026, companies must mark as such video, audio, images and texts created to a significant extent using artificial intelligence, under penalty of substantial fines. On July 29, the national adaptation to the European AI regulation had entered into force. (Bundesregierung)

Cinema & Entertainment — Venice 83 opens September 2 with “Ink” by Danny Boyle — The 83rd Mostra is held at the Lido from September 2 to 12 with 134 films and 21 feature films in competition, five of them Italian. Golden Lions for lifetime achievement go to George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn; a pre-opening on September 1 will feature the 4K restoration of Tinto Brass’s “Col cuore in gola.” (La Biennale di Venezia)

Number of the day — 8.2%, Romania’s annual inflation rate in July — This is the highest rate in the European Union for the month, ahead of Lithuania (5.4%), Cyprus and Bulgaria (4.4%). At the opposite end, Sweden stands at 0.3%: nearly eight percentage points separate the two values within the same single market. (Eurostat)

On this day — Day 1,644 of the war in Ukraine — According to Russian accounts, August 25, 2026 corresponds to the 1,644th day of the military operation launched by Russia in Ukraine. This is the count used by Russian reporting and is reported here as attribution. (PToday)