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Russia is experiencing a gas surplus as European exports collapse, with the EU implementing policies to eliminate Russian fuel dependency by 2027. European market share has dropped to just 13% of imports, creating economic challenges for Russia. To address this surplus, Russia is pivoting toward increasing domestic consumption, particularly targeting energy-intensive sectors like data centers. However, experts warn that domestic strategies likely cannot fully compensate for the scale of lost European demand, forcing Russia to pursue longer-term energy market diversification.

Tesla has begun supervised robotaxi trials with employees in key locations, marking a significant milestone. However, experts emphasize this is just the beginning of a challenging journey. The real difficulties involve navigating regulatory frameworks, ensuring technical reliability in unpredictable environments, building consumer trust, and adapting urban infrastructure. Despite Tesla's progress, the transition from controlled testing to public deployment faces substantial hurdles from competition, regulations, and public skepticism. While the internal trials show promise, the path to widespread autonomous transportation adoption remains complex and demanding.

NHTSA has requested detailed information from Tesla regarding its robotaxi service in Austin after social media videos showed potential safety issues. Federal regulators are concerned about the use of Full Self-Driving technology, which is still under investigation. The inquiry focuses on how Tesla ensures safety compliance, system performance standards, and regulatory adherence. Regulators have asked for specifics on driver assistance systems, safety validation methods, performance thresholds, traffic law compliance procedures, and data collection plans. The robotaxi service remains under scrutiny as part of ongoing federal oversight of autonomous vehicle technology.

Tesla has launched its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas with about 10 Model Y SUVs offering rides for $4.20. Each vehicle includes a human safety monitor in the passenger seat. The service currently operates under controlled conditions with rides limited to select users and influencers. Tesla employs teleoperation for safety, allowing remote operators to intervene when necessary. Austin has become competitive for autonomous vehicles, with Waymo and Amazon's Zoox also operating there. Initial user feedback has been positive despite limited availability. This launch represents a significant step for Tesla in the autonomous transportation market, with potential for expansion pending regulatory approval and public reception.