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.

A round of safety improvements to ensure core cooling in scenarios similar to those of the accident at Fukushima Daiichi have been announced by the Swedish regulator, which unusually made its statement in a newspaper article.

The operator of Spain's Garoña nuclear power plant, Nuclenor, has submitted documents to the country's nuclear regulator detailing how it plans to meet a series of requirements for the plant's restart.

Wylfa unit 1 - the world's last operating Magnox reactor - will be able to continue generating electricity until the end of 2015 after the UK nuclear regulator approved the plant's latest periodic safety review.

The Finnish government has decided not to grant Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) an extension to its 2010 decision in principle for the construction of a fourth unit at the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant.

US nuclear generators continue to fight for recognition of their contribution to electricity supply, as subsidies for other forms of power undermine the business case for operation of older nuclear units.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has approved the operation of units 5 and 6 of the Bruce B nuclear power plant beyond the 210,000 equivalent full power hours threshold. Bruce B is located in the Municipality of Kincardine, on the eastern shore of Lake Huron, in Ontario.