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ANA to offer digital in-flight magazines to cut carbon emissions

Feb 28, 2021 (Kyodo) - All Nippon Airways Co. has said it will offer digital in-flight magazines and newspapers from April to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Planes will be lighter as they will no longer carry printed versions, saving fuel and slashing carbon footprints by an estimated 10,690 tons per year.

The airline said the move is expected to cut annual paper usage by 1,540 tons and costs by 530 million yen ($5 million) per year.

The digitalization of in-flight publications comes as the company, hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, is planning to reduce its workforce by roughly 20 percent over the next five years through natural attrition, sources familiar with the matter have said.

According to ANA, its Tsubasa Global Wings in-flight magazine will be available online and via the airline's mobile application from the April issue. For passengers who prefer printed versions, the company will offer smaller-sized booklets.

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Large Typhoon No. 25 was moving northwest over waters south of Japan at 3 p.m. on September 19 and is forecast to strengthen as it approaches Kanto and the Izu Islands from September 20 through September 21, bringing the risk of torrential rain, violent winds and further damage in areas still recovering from last year's typhoon.

A black bear has been spotted near one of the most popular hiking trails on Mount Takao in western Tokyo, prompting authorities to urge visitors to take precautions ahead of the five-day Silver Week holiday and the approaching autumn foliage season.

Starbucks is considering selling a majority stake in its Japanese business, potentially valued at as much as $3 billion, or about 470 billion yen, as the U.S. coffee chain seeks to concentrate management resources on its struggling North American operations.

Japan's Halloween Jumbo Lottery went on sale nationwide on September 16, offering a combined top payout of 400 million yen for the first prize and its adjacent-number prizes.

A new top-tier "Supreme Class" offering fully private compartments above the level of Green Car service will debut on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen on October 1, with passengers able to experience the new seating at a demonstration booth at Shin-Osaka Station.

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