ams OSRAM has closed the sale of its Entertainment and Industry Lamps business to Ushio Inc. (Japan) with a deal value of EUR 114 million. The transaction closed March 2nd. More information can be found here. ams OSRAM Completes Sale of Entertainment & Industry Lamps Business
Space-based solar power is transitioning from concept to reality, with recent advancements demonstrating the feasibility of transmitting solar energy from orbit to Earth. This technology, which could provide continuous, reliable electricity that isn’t interrupted by weather or geography, is being developed through initiatives such as Japan’s OHISAMA project and Caltech’s Space Solar Power Project. However, the implementation of space-based solar power will require international coordination on orbits, frequencies and safety protocols. The Washington Post
The US plans to purchase and own up to 10 nuclear reactors using Japan’s $550 billion funding commitment, part of a $332 billion investment in US energy projects. The initiative, driven by rising electricity demand for AI and manufacturing, is part of a broader strategy to accelerate the development of energy infrastructure. US to Own Nuclear Reactors Stemming From Japan’s $550 Billion Pledge – Bloomberg
ams OSRAM has signed an agreement with Ushio Inc. headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, for the sale of its Entertainment and Industry Lamps (ENI) business. The transaction is expected to close by the end of March 2026. The purchase price of EUR 114 million is on a cash-and-debt-free basis. ENI’s product portfolio ranges from specialty lamps for infrastructure and cinema applications to extremely sophisticated light sources for semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment (WFE). The profitable ENI business delivered revenues of approximately EUR 170 million in 2024. Ushio Inc. has approx. 6,000 employees and provides light units, equipment, systems, and services through developing new light sources and developing and applying proprietary optical technology, serving a multitude of industrial segments. ams OSRAM Sells Its Entertainment and Industry Lamps Business – tEDmag
President Donald Trump on Tuesday stateside announced that he had made the “largest Deal ever” with Japan, that involves “reciprocal” tariffs of 15% on the country’s exports to the U.S.
Yes, do you believe it, the Dodgers and Cubs are kicking off the MLB regular season with a two-game series in Japan, starting Tuesday, March 18. Of course, the remaining 28 MLB teams will not be participating. A week after the games in Japan, MLB Opening Day is slated for Thursday, March 27, 2025. Here is something you may not know. The American League is ahead 64-48 in the World Series that began in 1903. The American League has won the Fall Classic 16 more times than the National League, thanks to a team in the AL who has won the most titles. They won 27 times. The New York Yankees. Whooooooooah!
Remembering the Solemn Purpose of Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the last Monday in May to honor and mourn U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. The holiday traces its roots to the years immediately following the American Civil War (1861–1865), which caused massive casualties—roughly 620,000 soldiers dead, about 2% of the U.S. population at the time. Communities across the North and South began spontaneously decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, wreaths, and flags, a practice that gave rise to the original name: Decoration Day. On May 5, 1868, Major General John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)—a powerful Union veterans’ organization—issued General Order No. 11. This proclaimed May 30, 1868, as a nationwide “Decoration Day” to honor those who died in the Civil War. After World War I, the holiday expanded to honor all American service members who died in any war, not just the Civil War. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act to create more three-day weekends for federal employees. This moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, effective in 1971, when it was also officially named “Memorial Day.” As one 1868 quote put it: “That Nation which respects and honors its dead, shall ever be respected and honored itself.”
