The operating licence of the single-unit Trillo nuclear power plant in central Spain has been renewed for a further ten years following governmental approval.

The long-delayed Rokkasho reprocessing plant, due to be completed last month, will now not begin operating until early 2016, Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited has announced.

Further legal challenges have been filed against the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission ruling on storage of used nuclear fuel. The petitions from environmental groups and tribal representatives follow a challenge over the legality of the rule filed by the states of New York, Vermont and Connecticut.

The Volga Interregional Department for Supervision over Nuclear and Radiation Safety, a specialist commission of Russian regulator Rostechnadzor, has completed its checks of information submitted as part of the licence application for building a nuclear research facility with the multi-purpose fast neutron reactor, or MBIR by its Russian acronym.

The Czech environment ministry has given its approval for initial geological surveys to begin at seven candidate sites for a national repository for high-level radioactive waste.

The municipal government of the Japanese town of Satsumasendai has given its approval for the restart of the nearby Sendai nuclear power plant. Approval is still required from the regulator, as well as the prefectural and national governments before the plant can begin operating again.

Three US states have launched a legal challenge to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) recently approved final rule on storage of used nuclear fuel after reactors have closed. The petition filed on behalf of the states of New York, Vermont and Connecticut alleges that the rule violates federal environmental legislation.

The municipal government of the Japanese town of Satsumasendai has given its approval for the restart of the nearby Sendai nuclear power plant. Approval is still required from the regulator, as well as the prefectural and national governments before the plant can begin operating again.

Japan's first reactor restart is moving to the end of the regulatory phase. Kyushu Electric Power Company has now submitted all the documentation to restart Sendai units 1 and 2 and a final decision lies with the Nuclear Regulation Authority.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' European version of its Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor (EU-APWR) has been formally certified as compliant by the European Utility Requirements (EUR) organisation.

Canadian nuclear safety regulators have updated regulations for the country's nuclear power plant operators to prepare for and manage emergency situations.

Consumers stand to receive refunds and credits totalling $1.3 billion due to the premature closure of the San Onofre nuclear power plant under a settlement proposed by the California Public Utilities Commission.