The International Atomic Energy Agency celebrated its 60th anniversary on 29 July, the date in 1957 when it formally came into existence after 26 countries ratified its Statute. The Vienna-based agency now has 168 Member States.

China and Pakistan have agreed to cooperate in uranium exploration and mining. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said it had signed a framework agreement with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission yesterday for technical cooperation in the exploration and development of uranium resources. China signed a similar agreement with Saudi Arabia earlier this year.

All contracting parties to the international Convention on Nuclear Safety have now made their national reports on the implementation of their obligations publicly available, the first time this has happened since the convention was established in 1996.

The nuclear cooperation agreement signed between India and Japan last November entered into force yesterday with the exchange of diplomatic notes. The agreement opens the door for India to import Japanese nuclear technology.

The USA's Holtec International has signed a teaming agreement with Canada's SNC-Lavalin to collaborate in the development of Holtec's SMR-160 small modular reactor.

The UK government's Department for Exiting the European Union has today published a position paper on nuclear materials and safeguards issues, which the head of the country's Nuclear Industry Association says "demonstrates the complexity" of replicating arrangements with the European Atomic Energy Community.

The restructuring of France's Areva group has taken a step forward with the implementation of a €2.0 billion ($2.3 billion) capital injection from the French state. NewCo - Areva's separated nuclear fuel cycle activities - is also to receive a €2.5 billion capital increase from the state by the end of this month.

The British government and media are discussing with renewed concern the prospect of the UK's departure from the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Current plans would see the UK leave both the European Union and Euratom by April 2019.

Mistubishi Heavy Industries and Assystem have today signed binding agreements with EDF to take equity stakes in New Areva NP. Subject to approval by its board, MHI will take a stake of 15% - and potentially up to 19.5% - in New NP, while Assystem will take a 5% stake.

The consequences of US President Donald Trump's "recarbonisation" policy for nuclear energy are likely to be nuanced, a newly released paper from S&P Global Ratings has concluded. The nuclear sector will likely benefit from the removal of existing regulations but suffer under a "watering down" of clean power legislation.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed by Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology on the construction of a nuclear science and technology centre in Vietnam. An inter-governmental agreement to build the centre was signed between Russia and Vietnam in 2011.

Nuclear firmly remains an important part of the UK's energy mix and the government will ensure Britain's exit from the European Union will not have a negative impact on the country's nuclear industry, Energy Minister Richard Harrington has confirmed. Harrington has been undersecretary of state at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for less than two weeks following a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Theresa May.