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AIREC, an AI-driven humanoid robot, is being developed as a future caregiver for Japan's rapidly aging population, addressing the chronic shortage of aged-care workers and the challenges of a declining birth rate. While the robot is capable of assisting with various tasks, it is not expected to be ready for use in nursing-care and medical facilities until around 2030.

Alaskan state representatives are visiting Japan this month to court investors for a natural gas project that President Donald Trump says could pump trillions of dollars into the U.S. economy. However, Japanese energy firms remain skeptical of the project's feasibility, citing concerns about its high cost and the challenges of building a pipeline in Alaska's extreme cold.

The world's first hydrogen-powered vending machine, installed at the Osaka Kansai Expo, generates its own electricity through a clean chemical reaction, producing zero carbon emissions and using half the electricity of a typical machine. This innovative technology offers a sustainable solution for beverage dispensing, particularly in locations without electrical sources.

The Japanese government is considering introducing human challenge trials, where healthy volunteers are deliberately exposed to viruses, to accelerate vaccine development and improve preparedness for future infectious disease outbreaks. This initiative aims to align Japan's vaccine clinical trials with international standards and address the lag in domestic vaccine development.

Russia has permanently banned nine Japanese citizens, including Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, from entering the country in response to Japan's sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict. This follows similar measures taken against other countries, including the U.S. and Canada, in retaliation for their opposition to Russia's military campaign.