News

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.

Canadian convenience store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard is exploring the sale of some of its U.S. stores to address regulatory concerns and facilitate a potential $47 billion acquisition of Japan's Seven & i Holdings, the owner of 7-Eleven convenience stores. However, Seven & i remains opposed to the bid, citing U.S. antitrust laws as a major obstacle.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi met with Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki to discuss concerns about sexual assaults by U.S. military personnel and the return of land from U.S. military control to Japan. Tamaki demanded more serious preventative measures against sexual violence and emphasized the excessive burden Okinawa bears in hosting U.S. military bases.