Germany will invest more than EUR1 billion (USD1.1 billion) in fusion research over the next five years, Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger announced.

Canadian private fusion developer General Fusion has announced plans for a new Magnetised Target Fusion machine designed to achieve fusion conditions of over 100 million degrees Celsius by 2025, and progress toward scientific breakeven by 2026.

Tractebel and First Light Fusion have signed a framework agreement for the development of the Machine 4 project designed to demonstrate net energy gain.

German laser fusion developer Marvel Fusion and the USA's Colorado State University are to create a public-private partnership for the construction of a USD150 million high-power laser and fusion research facility on the CSU Foothills Campus.

Researchers at the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California have reportedly achieved net energy gain in a fusion reaction for the second time. The milestone was first achieved last December.

SHINE Technologies of the USA says it has demonstrated clearly visible Cherenkov radiation produced by fusion for what is believed to be the first time. Historically, fusion has been demonstrated and detected with instruments instead of a visible light.

Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation announced that a technology breakthrough in its patented Fully Ceramic Microencapsulated fuel allows a fuel geometry that results in both higher power and increased safety, enabling its Micro-Modular Reactor to produce three times more power.

UK-based nuclear fusion company Tokamak Energy and Japan's Sumitomo Corporation have agreed to collaborate on the development, implementation and scaling-up of commercial fusion energy in Japan and worldwide.

Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy - part of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry - has selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as the core company to lead the development of a high temperature gas-cooled reactor programme.

A lead assembly of Framatome's 100% Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel has successfully completed its first cycle of operation at a US nuclear power plant. The assembly was inserted into unit 2 of the Calvert Cliffs plant in Maryland during a refueling outage in early 2021.

The USA's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has finalised an agreement with Lockheed Martin to begin work on the fabrication and design of an experimental nuclear thermal rocket and its engine. BWX Technologies, one of Lockheed Martin's partners in the effort, will develop the nuclear reactor and fabricate the HALEU fuel.

A study commissioned by the American Bureau of Shipping has explored the potential of advanced nuclear reactor technology for commercial marine propulsion, whilst a study led by UK-based innovative reactor developer Newcleo will consider the feasibility of nuclear applications to the shipping industry, including the firm's small modular lead-cooled fast reactor technology.