Nuclear Decommissioning: TEPCO has started removing fuel assemblies from the No. 2 spent-fuel pool at Fukushima Daiichi, using a remote crane to transfer 615 assemblies (587 spent, 28 unused) into safer casks for movement to a common-use pool by FY2028. AI Sovereignty & Chips: A report says the EU is set to join the US-led “Pax Silica” effort to coordinate export controls and co-invest in advanced chips, a move critics warn could strain “strategic autonomy” and disrupt supply chains. Japan AI Infrastructure Push: ai& and Plug and Play Japan are teaming up to help enterprises deploy AI using Japan-built sovereign infrastructure, linking Plug and Play’s AI center with ai&’s data center and model services stack. Energy Storage Scale-Up: Tokyo-headquartered PowerX won a 230.1MWh BESS order for a Fukuoka project, with Mitsubishi Estate, Itochu, and Tokyo Century placing 102 containerized units targeting commercial operation in Jan 2028. Semiconductor Supply Crunch: Nvidia’s “Vera Rubin” is driving a surge in demand for multilayer ceramic capacitors, with Japanese suppliers (including Murata and Taiyo Yuden) raising prices amid tight capacity. Crypto Policy: Japan’s ruling LDP is pushing a framework for crypto ETFs and yen-denominated stablecoins, signaling a more formal regulatory path for digital assets.