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Japan's trade balance returned to a surplus in February 2024, driven by a 11.4% annual growth in exports, despite concerns over President Donald Trump's proposed tariff hikes. The February trade surplus amounted to 584 billion yen ($3.9 billion), a significant improvement from the 415 billion yen deficit recorded in the same month the previous year.

The world's first hydrogen-powered vending machine, installed at the Osaka Kansai Expo, generates its own electricity through a chemical reaction of oxygen and hydrogen, causing zero carbon emissions and using half the electricity of a typical machine. This environmentally friendly innovation offers a glimpse into the future of sustainable vending.

Alaskan officials are visiting Japan to court investors for a natural gas project that President Trump believes could pump trillions of dollars into the U.S., but Japanese energy firms remain skeptical of its feasibility. Despite Trump's support and pressure on Japan to ease trade frictions, Japanese energy firms have yet to commit due to concerns about the project's high cost and feasibility.

The Japanese government has approved a bill introducing stricter regulations on artificial intelligence, aiming to prevent harmful applications that could violate human rights, spread misinformation, or break laws. The bill also promotes responsible AI development and utilization through a dedicated task force.

Nissan's board is considering replacing CEO Makoto Uchida due to the company's weak performance, with CFO Jeremie Papin and CPO Ivan Espinosa among potential successors. The move comes amidst a turbulent period for Nissan, including the collapse of merger talks with Honda and speculation about an investment from Taiwan's Foxconn.