Lynas Rare Earths Signs Vietnam Deal with LS Eco Energy to Boost Magnet Metal Production 
The UK is surprisingly short of water – but more reservoirs aren’t the answer 
Chinese Universities with PLA Ties Found Purchasing Restricted U.S. AI Chips Through Super Micro Servers 
Nomura Upgrades PDD Holdings to Buy, Calls Stock Too Cheap to Ignore 
SMIC Allegedly Supplies Chipmaking Tools to Iran's Military, U.S. Officials Warn 
Google's TurboQuant Sends South Korean Chip Stocks Tumbling Amid AI Memory Demand Fears 
How to create a thriving forest, not box-checking ‘tree cover’ 
Drug pollution in water is making salmon take more risks – new research 
Gold is meant to be a ‘safe haven’ in uncertain times. Why is it crashing amid a war? 
Google's TurboQuant Algorithm Sends Memory Chip Stocks Tumbling 
WTO Reform Talks Begin in Cameroon Amid Global Trade Tensions 
Asian Stocks Rebound as Trump Delays Iran Strike Deadline 
France's 2025 Budget Deficit Shrinks More Than Expected, Easing Fiscal Pressure 
Brazil Meat Exports Weather Iran War Disruptions With Rerouted Shipments 
Japanese taxi operators are replacing their gas-powered models with electric vehicles (EVs) as the government shifts toward decarbonization.
Mobility Technologies Co., the Tokyo-based operator of taxi-booking app Go, began encouraging its 100 partner companies in December to incorporate 2,500 EVs and 2,900 chargers by 2031.
Mobility Technologies will buy EVs from automakers with the government’s Green Innovation Fund subsidy program covering two-thirds of the purchase costs covered.
Toyota Motor Corp.’s bZ4X as well as Nissan Motor Co.’s Ariya and Leaf are expected to be bought and leased to cab companies, and more models will later be added to the project.
EVs accounted for just 0.1 percent of 210,000 taxis across Japan as of 2021, according to statistics. Cabs run an estimated seven times longer than personal vehicles per day.
Hiroshi Nakajima, president of Mobility Technologies, said they will help replace gas-powered cabs with EVs while easing taxi companies’ burden, such as establishing a mechanism for cheaper electricity.
Japanese taxi operators cannot secure EVs on their own, having struggled financially from the pandemic-related decline in overseas tourist numbers and higher gas prices. TheyConsequently, so many closed down when their cabs needed to be replaced.
