Zero's Briefs

Italy — 665,689 pensions paid out in the first nine months — The INPS Observatory on pension flows, updated as of 2 October and published on 22 October, records 665,689 pensions effective in the first nine months of 2026, with an average amount of 1,297 euros: 227,906 old-age pensions, 159,344 early retirement pensions, 39,032 disability pensions and 162,009 survivor pensions. In 2025, 901,448 pensions had been paid out, with an average amount of 1,213 euros, but INPS warns that the two periods are not directly comparable due to different payment timelines. Source

Italy — 102 square kilometres of land consumed in 2025 — The ISPRA-SNPA 2026 Report, presented on 27 October in Rome, records a further 102 km² of surfaces covered by concrete and asphalt in 2025, more than 10,200 hectares in twelve months. For the first time, ISPRA has mapped more than 212,000 hectares of potentially recoverable land, with more than 2,100 km² available for urban redevelopment and 1,116 km² of rooftops suitable for photovoltaic installation. In the same period, more than 4,200 hectares of urban green space were lost. Source

Europe — Brussels and Ottawa relaunch strategic cooperation — The 21st EU-Canada summit was held in Montreal on 29 and 30 October, with António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen representing the European Union and Prime Minister Mark Carney representing Canada. On the occasion of the summit, the European association Euratex and Canadian textile federations called for strengthened trade cooperation under the CETA agreement. Source

Europe — Real household income in Europe grows by 0.1% — According to Eurostat, in the second quarter of 2026 real household income per capita rose by 0.1% in both the euro area and the European Union, while real consumption per capita increased by 0.3%. The savings rate fell from 14.4% to 14.2% in the euro area and from 14.2% to 13.9% in the EU, continuing a decline already reported by Eurostat on 2 October. Source

News — Ecoacciai fire extinguished, Arpat checks under way — The fire that broke out on 26 October at the Ecoacciai metal waste depot, in the Gello industrial area of Pontedera, was definitively extinguished on 29 October after the intervention of 45 firefighters and ten fire-fighting vehicles. Arpat began, the same day, approximately 62 hours after the event, sampling vegetation to check for the presence of metals and dioxins. Source

Economy & Markets — BTP-Bund spread above 115 points after Israeli vote — The FTSE Mib opened the 30 October session down 0.28% at 49,686.80 points, with the spread at 115.46 points, while the Dax and Cac40 rose 0.38% and 0.82% respectively. Chemicals and telecommunications were among the best-performing sectors; in Tokyo the stock exchange opened down 0.31% after the release of the final results of the Israeli elections. Source

Culture — The first episcopal basilica of Altino resurfaces — Il Giornale dell’Arte reported on 29 October the discovery, at the archaeological site of Altino, of the city’s first episcopal basilica, uncovered during ongoing excavation campaigns. The news currently comes from a single source; no independent confirmation is available at this time. Source

Culture — Multi-layered site at Loculi opens to the public — In Loculi, in the Nuoro area, a chance discovery in 2019 during works for a car park had brought to light a site of about 700 square metres with evidence from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages, including a fragment of a votive Nuragic sword. On 29 October, the via San Pietro excavation site opened to the public on a special basis from 9:30 to 13:00. Source

Sport — Juventus Women thrash opponents in Austria — Juventus Women beat Austria Vienna 4-1 in matchday three of the 2026-2027 women’s Champions League, played on 29 October, returning to winning ways after three consecutive league defeats. The news currently comes from a single source, the live coverage of the competition. Source

Health — AIFA reimburses orphan drug Voranigo — The Board of Directors of AIFA approved in October the reimbursability of Voranigo (vorasidenib), the first oral therapy for grade 2 astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma with IDH1 or IDH2 mutation, together with six indication extensions and three equivalent drugs. The news currently comes from a single source, the communication of the AIFA Board of Directors. Source

Health — CHMP recommends six new drugs, including an oral weight medication — The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use adopted favourable opinions in October for six new medicines, including Foundayo (orforglipron), Eli Lilly’s oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, recommended for weight management and type 2 diabetes. The news currently comes from a single source, the communication of the EMA’s CHMP Committee. Source

Tech & AI — NASA integrates core stage for Artemis III — On 28 October, NASA integrated the 212-foot-long core stage of the Space Launch System with the two boosters in the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. The Artemis III mission will carry astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, Andre Douglas and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano to the lunar surface. The news currently comes from a single source, the NASA press release. Source

Tech & AI — A brain mechanism eliminates defective neurons at birth — An article published in Nature on 28 October describes a system by which the brain eliminates billions of mutant neurons around the time of birth; according to the researchers, defective neurons not removed by this mechanism may contribute to various neurological conditions. The news currently comes from a single source, the journal Nature. Source

Film & Entertainment — Rome Film Fest becomes a competitive festival recognised by FIAPF — The 21st Rome Film Fest, which concluded on 25 October, was won by “I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning” by Clio Barnard; Javier Bardem and Julianne Moore received the Lifetime Achievement Award. On 24 October, official recognition of the festival as a competitive event by FIAPF, the International Federation of Film Producers Associations, was announced. The news currently comes from a single source, the Fondazione Cinema per Roma. Source