Sergey Kirienko, director general of Russia's Rosatom, has signed agreements with Cuba, Finland, Jordan and Tunisia this week, covering the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, training and the early notification of nuclear accidents. The agreements were signed on the side of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 60th General Conference in Vienna.

The full-scope operator training simulator at unit 2 of the Fermi nuclear power plant in Michigan is to be upgraded by Canada-based L-3 MAPPS under contracts signed with operator DTE Energy.

A ceremony was held yesterday to inaugurate the new full-scope operator training simulator at unit 1 of the Tihange nuclear power plant in Belgium. The simulator was supplied by Canada-based L-3 MAPPS.

More high quality, high skilled jobs are being created by the UK's civil nuclear industry, new statistics from the Nuclear Industry Association show. Some 65,791 people are now working in the sector, an increase of more than 2000 on last year.

The UK's finance minister, Philip Hammond, has described the terms of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant project as a "well-designed transfer of risk". Meanwhile British company Rolls-Royce has for the second time become a 'preferred bidder' for the project in Somerset, and members of EDF Energy's advisory panel have argued it is "strongly in the national interest to press ahead with the plant".

Young professionals from 14 countries attended the first Arabic-language international school on nuclear security held in Cairo, Egypt as part of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) efforts to promote awareness of nuclear security amongst young professionals.

The UK's Horizon Nuclear Power will provide funding towards the construction of a new Engineering Centre of Excellence at a college on the Isle of Anglesey. The facility will be used for the training of apprentices for Horizon's planned nearby Wylfa Newydd nuclear power plant.

Japan's Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy has renewed an agreement with two Malaysian universities under which it will conduct a new international human resources development program to train workers for the nuclear power industry.

An operator training simulator developed by the National Research Nuclear University has been launched at the Rostov nuclear power plant in Russia. Rosenergoatom, the nuclear power plant operator subsidiary of state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has given its permission for personnel to be trained using the new equipment.

Pacific Gas & Electric has outlined plans to close its twin-unit Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California, reflecting the US state's "changing energy landscape". PG&E yesterday announced a 'joint proposal' with labour and leading environmental organizations that would increase investment in energy efficiency, renewables and storage beyond current state mandates while phasing out PG&E's production of nuclear power in California.

South African nuclear operator Eskom has launched a five-year project to train 100 nuclear plant operators to support the country's current and future nuclear needs.

The board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency yesterday adopted a revision to a safety standard related to the role of leadership and management in ensuring safety to protect human life, health and the environment from harmful effects of radiation.