Southern Company CEO Tom Fanning said more time has been built into the schedules for both units to allow for unexpected issues, with unit 3 now expected to enter service in May or June and unit 4 at the end of this year or early in 2024.

The Finnish government has granted Fortum an extension to the operating licence for the two-unit Loviisa nuclear power plant, allowing the plant to continue generating power until the end of 2050.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has approved draft legislation to extend the operating life of the country's nuclear power reactors beyond 60 years. It also approved an amendment to the Nuclear Reactor Regulation Law to remove the rule specifying the operational periods of reactors.

EPZ, operator of the Borssele nuclear power plant in the Netherlands, is committed to ensuring operational safety and reliability of the plant, an International Atomic Energy Agency mission has concluded. The team also encouraged continued improvements, including with its radiation protection programme.

Japan's Cabinet has approved a policy to allow new nuclear power reactors to be constructed and the operation of existing reactors to be extended from 40 to 60 years.

The Belgian government has asked Engie to investigate whether the operation of the country's three oldest reactors - Doel units 1 and 2 and Tihange 1 - can be extended until 2027. The reactors are currently scheduled to shut down in 2025.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi is expected in Russia this week for more talks on establishing a safety and security zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

A ceremony has been held to mark the inauguration of unit 3 of the Karachi nuclear power plant in Pakistan. China National Nuclear Corporation said the two Hualong One reactors at the site have now both officially been delivered to Pakistan and put into operation.

Slovenské elektrárne says that after successful start-up tests, and the launch of steam turbines over the weekend, the new unit 3 at the Mochovce nuclear power plant was connected to the grid for the first time at 20% of its nominal power at 10.57pm on 31 January.

Unit 2 of the Tihange nuclear power plant in Belgium has been permanently shut down after 40 years of operation. The 1008 MWe (net) pressurised water reactor is the second to be shut down under the country's nuclear phase out policy.

Fortum is capable of continuing to safely operate the Loviisa nuclear power plant until 2050, Finland's Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority has told the country's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The government is expected to issue a decision on extending the two-unit plant's operating licence in the coming months.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's newly-established missions at Ukraine's nuclear power plants are not just symbolic, but signify the presence of internationally renowned experts who "will provide advice and technical support at this very difficult time", IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.