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Panasonic to stop making fluorescent lamps by 2027

Oct 02, 2024 (NHK) - Panasonic has announced that it will end production of fluorescent lamps in 2027 when an international ban comes into force prompted by the health risks and environmental pollution from mercury used in them.

The Japanese electronics giant says it will end production by the end of September 2027.

Panasonic started selling fluorescent light tubes in 1951 and increased output as Japan's economy enjoyed decades of high growth, but the increasing popularity of more energy-efficient LED bulbs led to a gradual decline in production.

An international conference on mercury use last year decided to prohibit the production, export, and import of fluorescent lamps containing the toxic element by 2027.

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The eruption alert level for Mount Tokachidake in Hokkaido was raised to Level 2 on June 18 for the first time in 12 years, prompting authorities to restrict entry within 1.5 kilometers of the crater and close parts of hiking trails just days before the mountain’s official opening for the summer climbing season.

Bear attacks and sightings are increasing across Japan, with multiple people injured on June 17 and experts warning that bears are becoming more accustomed to human environments, potentially leading to more dangerous and unpredictable encounters in the years ahead.

JR Central and JR West on June 17 announced pricing and service details for the new private-room seating that will be introduced on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen from October, creating a new top-tier class above the existing Green Car service.

A draft of the joint statement from the G7 summit in France has revealed that all proposals put forward by Prime Minister Takaichi on energy security and critical minerals have been incorporated into the agreement.

A Japanese man suspected of serving as a key coordinator for a Cambodia-based fraud syndicate that allegedly caused losses totaling billions of yen was arrested by Japanese authorities after being deported from Thailand on June 16.

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The Nikkei Stock Average surged past 71000 on Thursday, closing at a record high for the fourth straight session, as easing tensions in the Middle East lifted investor sentiment while the yen weakened to a nearly two-year low against the dollar.

Nissan Motor announced that it will launch the fully redesigned Kicks compact SUV on June 18, marking the model's first full overhaul in six years as the automaker seeks to strengthen its position in Japan's highly competitive small SUV market.

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