Microsoft AI data center faces Wisconsin lawsuit over noise and light pollution

Microsoft’s US$7.3 billion Fairwater AI data center in Wisconsin is facing a class-action lawsuit from nearby residents over alleged noise, light pollution, dust and heavy truck traffic. The complaint, filed on July 1, centers on the Sturtevant and Mount Pleasant areas and highlights growing community concerns around large-scale AI infrastructure.

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Taiwan wireless specialist Climax Technology set for mainboard listing as US, Europe orders drive record 1H26 revenue

Wireless communications specialist Climax Technology is preparing for a listing on the TWSE mainboard later this month after posting record first-half 2026 revenue, supported by broad-based demand across Europe and North America. With production running at full utilization, the company is investing NT$2.3 billion (approx. US$71.72 million) in a new manufacturing facility in northern Taiwan to support its next phase of growth.

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Hyundai Rotem targets 2029 hydrogen rail launch as Foshan case raises cost concerns

South Korea’s hydrogen rail commercialization is entering the final stretch, with Hyundai Rotem, a unit of Hyundai Motor Group, building hydrogen trains equipped with Hyundai Motor’s in-house fuel cell system. The first commercial service is expected as early as 2029, but a 2024 shutdown of hydrogen trains in Foshan, China has raised questions about economic viability.

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LGES posts higher second-quarter sales, supported by US production credits

LG Energy Solution (LGES) reported stronger second-quarter sales and a swing back to operating profit, a result that could matter for global investors tracking how policy incentives are shaping vehicle manufacturing profits. The company said US production credits boosted its results, while underlying operating performance would have been weaker without those subsidies.

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Japanese startup completes AI chip validation with Oppstar and UMC support, moves toward mass production

Tokyo Artisan Intelligence said it has finished validating its Sting Ray test chip, a step that could broaden access to lower-power edge AI hardware for industries worldwide. The milestone highlights how startups and foundries are pushing specialized chips that may ease energy pressure from AI, even as they support real-time applications in factories, transport, and infrastructure.

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Unimicron prices US$1.355 billion overseas depositary receipt offering

Unimicron Technology has priced a large overseas depositary receipt sale that could affect global investors monitoring Taiwan’s electronics supply chain and semiconductor-related financing trends. The deal, which will fund foreign-currency purchases, is expected to reduce interest costs and strengthen the company’s balance sheet, with potential benefits for shareholders worldwide.

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US grid strain from AI power demand extends order boom for Taiwan equipment makers

A US emergency order to stabilize electricity supplies during an extreme heat wave has underscored a deepening structural imbalance in the country’s power system. As aging grid infrastructure struggles to keep pace with rapidly rising AI-driven electricity demand, Taiwan’s power equipment manufacturers are seeing stronger order momentum and extending backlog visibility in North America.

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Exclusive: Soaring lithium prices and China’s mass production ignite a global sodium battery race

A more than 3x rise in China’s lithium carbonate price over the past year has pushed sodium-ion batteries back into the spotlight, with the technology increasingly seen as a potential mainstream alternative to lithium batteries. But US industry players say sodium batteries made in the US still cost more than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, and subsidies from federal and local governments have yet to create a viable market in the near term.

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