France-headquartered innovative reactor developer Newcleo announced that its LFR-AS-200 small modular lead-cooled fast reactor design has been accepted to enter the UK's Generic Design Assessment process.

Plans for the deployment of four ACR-300 small modular reactors and restarting uranium mining and enrichment were among the priorities outlined as Argentina's National Atomic Energy Commission celebrated its 75th anniversary.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the 77 MWe version of NuScale Power's NuScale Power Module small modular reactor design. The regulator had previously approved a 50 MWe version of the design.

US fusion energy developer Type One Energy announced it has successfully completed the first formal design review of Infinity Two, its 350 MWe fusion pilot power plant using its stellarator technology.

Japan's Kyushu Electric Power Co says it is currently considering designs including innovative light-water reactors, small modular reactors and high-temperature gas reactors as it aims to develop a "next-generation innovative reactor".

Belgium's Nuclear Research Centre and the national nuclear regulator have announced the start of a formal preliminary consultation on an innovative small modular reactor using lead-cooled technology.

The US Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy has announced a significant upgrade to Argonne National Laboratory's liquid metal test loop for sodium-cooled fast reactors - the largest such test facility in the USA.

Russia's nuclear regulator Rostechnadzor has given the go-ahead for the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant's planned fifth unit - a fast neutron BN-1200 reactor. Preparatory construction works are expected to start this year.

TerraPower has formally notified UK regulators that it plans to begin the generic design approval process for its Natrium sodium-cooled fast reactor, a first step towards deploying the technology in an international market.