Zero's Briefs

Europe — EU returns rising in the second quarter — Eurostat recorded 110,335 return orders issued to non-EU citizens in the second quarter of 2026, down 3.9% from the previous quarter and 12% year-on-year. During the same period, 36,825 people were actually returned, up 5.9% from the previous quarter and 9.7% year-on-year. 60.8% of returns were voluntary, with the rest carried out forcibly. Germany, France and Poland lead the rankings for the number of returns carried out. Eurostat.

Chronicle — Six-car pile-up on the A11 near Florence — A serious road accident involved six cars in the late afternoon of Thursday along the A11 motorway link, at kilometre 1+800, in the municipality of Sesto Fiorentino. One person was trapped in the wreckage of one of the vehicles involved. Firefighters and highway police intervened at the scene to provide assistance and manage traffic. La Nazione.

Economy and Markets — France presents 54-billion-euro 2027 budget — The French government presented the framework of the 2027 budget, with public debt expected to reach 119.3% of GDP in 2026 and a deficit target of 5.0% of GDP for 2027, following a revised forecast of 5.4% for the current year. The bill rests on €43 billion in consolidation measures, rising to €54 billion including measures already underway; according to TV5Monde, the Ministry of Labour contributes €2.5 billion and the freeze on the civil service index point is expected to generate €2 billion in savings. The Élysée forecasts growth of 0.5% in 2026 and 1.0% in 2027. Élysée, TV5Monde.

Sport — Bayern Munich overwhelms Roma in Champions League — In the second matchday of the 2026/27 Champions League league phase, played between 13 and 14 October, Bayern Munich beat Roma 5-0. Among other results, Como won 4-0 against Sabah. The matchday also saw fixtures such as Lens-Sporting CP and Arsenal-Lille. The third matchday of the league phase is scheduled for 20 and 21 October 2026. Corriere dello Sport.

Health — Study in The Lancet on GLP-1 in tablet form — The ACHIEVE-4 phase 3 study on the drug orforglipron, presented at the 62nd EASD congress in Milan and published in The Lancet, involved adults with type 2 diabetes, overweight or obesity and increased cardiovascular risk. It is the largest and longest study conducted so far on this oral formulation GLP-1, with data collected over two years of observation. The results confirm glycemic control and weight loss associated with the treatment in the group examined. Mondosanità.

Health — WHO warns of growing fungal pathogens — The World Health Organization has published the complete list of fungal pathogens that constitute a growing threat to public health. Only four classes of antifungal drugs are currently available and few candidates are in clinical development. The WHO also notes that most of these pathogens lack rapid and sensitive diagnostic tests that are widely accessible globally. Quotidiano Sanità.

Tech & AI — Crew-13 flies toward the Space Station — NASA and SpaceX launched the Crew-13 mission from Cape Canaveral on 1 October 2026 at 11:10 local time. The Dragon capsule reached the International Space Station in under nine hours, with docking expected around 20:00. The four astronauts aboard will join the Expedition 75 crew already present on the station. ScienceDaily.

Europe — Nearly two thousand detained in French high school protests — The French Ministry of the Interior reported 1,949 arrests in police operations linked to the protest movement in high schools, recorded on 1 October 2026. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated he had requested the deployment of necessary mobile units, including CRS and mobile gendarmes. ANSA reported the nearly two thousand detentions on the evening of the same day. Le Monde, ANSA.

Europe — Junts votes against Spanish housing decrees — The Catalan party Junts decided on the evening of 1 October 2026 to vote against both government housing decrees, demanding their withdrawal, on the eve of the vote in the Spanish Congress. The first text provides for eviction protection measures until 31 December 2030 and a 10% VAT on tourist apartments; the second contains a single article on the automatic renewal of rental contracts. Podemos announced it would vote in favour of both texts, while PNV and Coalición Canaria will support only the first. Cadena SER, EL PAÍS.

Culture — Rome opens the Tomb of the Scipios for a day — From 2 to 8 October, Roma Capitale is offering a programme of exhibitions, conferences, guided tours and archaeological routes along the Via Appia Antica. On Saturday 3 October, the Appia Day initiative includes a special opening of the Tomb of the Scipios, in the urban stretch of the road. On the same day, visitors will be able to access a normally closed private area to view the Aurelian and Honorian Walls, between Porta San Sebastiano and Via Cristoforo Colombo. UrloWeb.