Belgium's SCK-CEN has awarded a €24 million ($32 million) contract for front-end engineering design for the Myrrha accelerator-driven research reactor to a multinational consortium led by Areva.

Russia and the USA have agreed to cooperate on a range of nuclear-related research areas such as safeguards, security, fast reactors - and "defence from asteroids."

Russia is funding a new technology centre in Vietnam and cooperating with an Argentine university, helping develop the skills needed for nuclear programs in those countries. Meanwhile, Rosatom claims more than 15,000 jobs could be created if South Africa proceeds with its nuclear energy expansion plans.

Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd has reached a settlement with Nordion over its decision in 2008 to abandon the two MAPLE isotope production reactors before they began operation.

Permission has been granted to begin construction of Jordan's first nuclear reactor. Operating from 2016, the research reactor should become a focal point for the country's nuclear education and training.

Draft safety requirements for nuclear fuel cycle facilities and research reactors have been approved by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority. Meanwhile, restart inspections are to proceed at four power reactors.

An €80 million ($105 million) state loan for the construction of a replacement for the High Flux Reactor (HFR) in the Netherlands meets EU rules, the European Commission has concluded. The Pallas reactor will take over HFR's role as a major supplier of the world's medical radioisotopes.

All highly enriched uranium (HEU) has now been removed from Vietnam following the air transport of 11 kilograms of used research reactor fuel back to Russia.

Thorium fuel is now being tested in the Halden research reactor in Norway. It was loaded in the last week of April, defining the start of a physical test program that will simulate how the thorium fuel operates in a power reactor.

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) president Atsuyuki Suzuki has resigned after the country's nuclear regulator blocked the restart of the Monju prototype fast breeder reactor due to inspection deficiencies.

Most of the highly active liquid waste produced from the reprocessing of Material Test Reactor fuel at the UK's Dounreay site has now been cemented into drums ready for disposal.

Nuclear technology firm Invap will construct two research reactors, one in Brazil and one in Argentina, under a contract signed with the two countries.