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Canadian convenience store giant Couche-Tard remains determined to acquire Seven & i Holdings, the operator of Japan's top convenience store chain, 7-Eleven, despite the latter's rejection of its initial offer. Couche-Tard emphasizes its commitment to a friendly transaction and promises to retain local management, while Seven & i remains focused on boosting its own corporate value and has raised antitrust concerns.

Japan's economy grew at a slower pace than initially reported in the October-December quarter, with revised data showing an annualized growth rate of 2.2% instead of the initial estimate of 2.8%. This slower growth was attributed to weaker consumption, which was also reflected in weaker-than-expected household spending data.

At the Naruse Dam construction site in Japan, autonomous bulldozers and rollers operate tirelessly, powered by AI-driven technology that optimizes workflows and addresses the industry's labor shortage. This project marks a significant milestone in the adoption of autonomous construction, demonstrating its potential to revolutionize the industry.

Tomoko Yoshino, president of Rengo, urged the LDP to pass legislation allowing married couples to have separate surnames during the current Diet session. Yoshino's remarks were met with surprise by some party members opposed to allowing separate surnames, but lawmakers who support the change noted that the issue is now in the spotlight.

A major coral bleaching event this summer killed 61.2% of corals off Amami-Oshima island, mirroring the devastation of 1998. While the impact was severe in bays and reefs, researchers remain optimistic about the corals' ability to recover due to minimal impact on deeper water corals and the absence of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks.