RAG

Fiscal drag, or 'drenaggio fiscale', is drawing attention in Italy as media explain how this 'invisible tax' erodes salaries and pensions. It occurs when inflation pushes workers into higher tax brackets or reduces the real value of incomes without any formal tax increase. Outlets such as Sky TG24 are running explainers on how much it costs households, fuelling public interest in the mechanism.

Qualcomm has announced two new flagship smartphone chips: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and, for the first time alongside it, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The company describes both as flagship processors, with the differences between them relatively minor and focused on improved AI processing, video capture and gaming performance.

Reuters reports that Amazon and GoodRx are launching subscription-based prescription drug services aimed at US consumers as health insurance coverage slips. Both companies are positioning discounted medication plans as an alternative for households facing rising premiums, reduced employer benefits, or gaps in coverage, deepening Big Tech and digital pharmacy competition in the American healthcare market.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is searching for a bear believed responsible for at least 20 garage break-ins in Jefferson County, Colorado. Residents have reportedly had garages raided for food, and officials are working to locate the animal before conflicts escalate.

NASA is reportedly confronting a difficult decision regarding SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, the vehicle currently responsible for carrying NASA astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station. Ars Technica reports that the agency has a dilemma for which there appear to be no good answers, highlighting a potential problem in NASA's near-term human spaceflight plans.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife are searching for a bear believed responsible for at least 20 break-ins to garages across Jefferson County. Officers are working to locate and relocate the animal, which has been repeatedly getting into secured garages, likely in search of food. Residents are being urged to secure trash and lock garage doors to avoid attracting the bear.

Germany has awarded 480MW of combined solar and storage capacity in its latest tender round, under its Federal Network Agency auctions for renewable energy. The result points to continued government support for pairing battery storage with solar farms, part of the country's push to expand flexible renewable capacity. Details on winning bidders and average prices were not immediately available.

Reports question the reality behind China's robot charging infrastructure, dubbing it a 'mirage'. The claims suggest that widely circulated images and demonstrations of autonomous robot charging stations in China may not reflect genuine deployed capability. Commentary is centring on whether the technology is overstated for promotional purposes, and what that means for global perceptions of Chinese robotics progress.

HousingWire reports that price cuts are elevated across the US housing market, with sellers increasingly reducing list prices as buyers gain more negotiating power. The trend points to a cooling market in which homes are sitting longer and buyers no longer need to bid aggressively, marking a shift from the frenzied demand of recent years.

A city government has begun looking for partners to occupy and operate retail space in a planned parking garage. The announcement, reported by the Williamson County Sun, indicates the garage project will include commercial units alongside parking, with the city inviting businesses or developers to express interest in the future spaces. Further details on location, timeline, and terms were not provided in the report.

Analysts say Bitcoin is trading into a zone dense with long-term holder supply while excess leverage in the market has largely been flushed out. The overlap is being watched closely, since long-term holders selling into strength could cap the price, but reduced leveraged positioning may make any move less prone to violent liquidations and forced selling.