Zero's Briefs

Italy — Fuel decree issued by the Quirinale — President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella has issued the decree law on oil prices approved by the Council of Ministers and has authorized submission to Parliament of the conversion bill. The measure extends until September 5 the 17-cent-per-liter cut on diesel excise duty, at a cost of approximately 130 million euros according to government sources (110 million according to Il Sole 24 Ore). Also extended to the same date is the tax credit for road transport companies. Il Sole 24 Ore

Europe — Moscow accuses The Hague tribunal of double standards — Following Ratko Mladic’s death in the UN detention unit, the Russian foreign ministry released a statement accusing The Hague tribunal of double standards and anti-Serb bias, claiming the detainee had been denied fundamental rights. The claim is a partisan statement with no independent corroboration in available sources. The UN spokesperson recalled the final nature of the rulings. Kyiv Post

Foreign Affairs and Geopolitics — Iran calls American pressure “economic terrorism” — Tehran sent a letter to the United Nations describing as “economic terrorism” the US attempt to disrupt its legitimate economic relations with other countries, claiming that Washington is resorting to economic leverage after failing to achieve its objectives through war. The move comes in the same week that President Trump called on world leaders to join in economic pressure on Iran, according to NPR. Milano Finanza

News — Campania on heat alert until Sunday — The Campania regional Civil Protection has issued a heat wave warning valid until Sunday, August 30, with temperatures 6-7 degrees above seasonal averages and peaks up to 41 degrees. In coastal areas humidity in the evening and nighttime hours can reach very high levels. Today is indicated as the most intense day of the heat wave affecting mainly the Center-South. TorreSette

News — Storms over the Alps and African dust over the Mediterranean — While the Center-South faces the peak of the heat wave, in the North a passing weather front over the Alps is bringing back thunderstorms after days of heat. At the same time, a cloud of African dust has reached the Mediterranean. The roundup notes transport disruptions and an increase in hospital admissions in areas affected by the heat. Sky TG24

Economy and Markets — HP beats expectations but stock drops 9% — HP Inc. reported third-quarter earnings of 83 cents per share against an analyst estimate of 69 cents, and revenue of 15.68 billion dollars against forecasts of 14.43 billion, up from 13.93 billion the previous year. The company raised its earnings guidance for fiscal year 2026, but shares fell 9% to 27.77 dollars in after-hours trading. The news currently comes from a single source (Benzinga Italia, based on an HP corporate statement); no independent confirmation available. Benzinga Italia

Economy and Markets — US trade deficit rises to 118.8 billion — According to preliminary data, the US trade deficit rose to 118.8 billion dollars in July 2026, from 101.4 billion in June. The increase, of more than 17 billion in one month, comes at a time when markets are revising rate expectations following inflation data that came in above forecasts. The euro-dollar exchange rate remained around 1.165. Milano Finanza

Sport — Europa League league-phase draw today at 1pm — The draw for the 2026/27 Europa League is set for Friday, August 28 at 1pm, the day after the Champions League draw held in Monte Carlo. The Italian teams competing in the tournament are Juventus and Milan. The event is broadcast live on Sky Sport 24, as announced by the broadcaster. The news currently comes from a single source (Sky TG24, based on the official UEFA draw schedule); no independent confirmation available. Sky TG24

Health — WHO makes 70,000 doses of Ebola vaccine available for Congo — For the outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization has made available 70,000 doses: 20,000 allocated for a phase 3 clinical trial, 50,000 for health workers and frontline personnel. The circulating virus is Bundibugyo, different from the strain for which the vaccine is authorized, and the question of cross-protection remains open. As of August 9, WHO had recorded at least 155 infections. The news currently comes from a single source (Mondo Sanità, based on WHO documents and a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on July 22, 2026); no independent confirmation available. Mondo Sanità

Tech & AI — Meta settles with US attorneys general for up to 18 billion — The agreement reached by Meta with US attorneys general provides for a financial commitment of up to 18 billion dollars and new restrictions for teenage users on Instagram and Facebook: age requirements, nighttime blocks and expanded parental control tools. The two available sources diverge on the number of signatory jurisdictions — 52 attorneys general according to Smartphonology, 47 states according to laRegione — and the figure needs verification against the original document. Smartphonology

Film & Entertainment — Ten unreleased Prince tracks in posthumous album — “Timeless,” a collection of ten unreleased tracks by Prince, the musician who died in 2016, is out now. According to the account by Luca Dondoni in La Stampa, cited in the front-page roundup, this is not outtake material but rather content drawn from the artist’s vast body of work. The release fits within the trend of posthumous publications drawn from unreleased recording archives. Musicletter

Film & Entertainment — Gianna Nannini releases “Meraviglioso errore” — The Italian singer-songwriter releases today, August 28, 2026, her new single titled “Meraviglioso errore.” The release was announced by the artist herself and covered in the day’s music news, placing it among the late-August releases ahead of the autumn season. Sky TG24

Number of the day — 2.137 euros per liter — This is the average price of self-service diesel on the Italian road network according to the Price Observatory of the Ministry of Enterprises, compared to 2.017 euros for gasoline. It is at this level that the 17-cent cut, extended until September 5, takes effect. Gazzetta del Sud

On this day — Yayoi Kusama died two weeks ago, the announcement came only yesterday — On August 14, 2026, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama died in a Tokyo hospital at age 97. The news was made public only on Thursday, August 27 by the Yayoi Kusama Studio, thirteen days later; the cause of death was not disclosed. CNN