Yukiya Amano, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), spoke yesterday about the "remarkable contribution" nuclear applications make to "so many areas of our lives" at the opening of the agency's first International Conference on Radiation Science and Technology (ICARST 2017). The event is being held this week at the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna.

The International Atomic Energy Agency this month launched a project to enhance regulatory frameworks for nuclear security in African countries.

The nuclear governance system is facing an "unprecedented challenge" as traditional nuclear suppliers that have "built the backbone" of the safety, security, and non-proliferation regime face new competition to provide technology to emerging nations, according to a policy report by the Global Nexus Initiative. The GNI, which is co-sponsored by the Partnership for Global Security and the Nuclear Energy Institute, plans to publish the report, Evolving Nuclear Governance for a New Era, on 2 May.

The International Atomic Energy Agency and Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom have agreed to cooperate in improving nuclear infrastructure development in countries planning to introduce nuclear energy or to expand existing programs.

China has signed an agreement under which it will ensure the safe and secure transit of low-enriched uranium (LEU) and equipment through its territory to and from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) LEU Bank, which is being established in neighbouring Kazakhstan.

Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety highlighted the importance of sustaining and enhancing a nuclear safety culture, maintaining effective legal frameworks, and enforcing safety precautions within the supply chain following a two-week review of nuclear power plant safety. Their seventh review meeting was held from 27 March to 7 April at the International Atomic Energy Agency headquarters, in Vienna.

The International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Association of Nuclear Operators have agreed to enhance cooperation to strengthen nuclear operational safety and to support countries that are planning or considering launching nuclear power programs.

Significant progress has been made in strengthening nuclear safety across the world, and the need to maintain a robust nuclear safety culture is now universally recognised, delegates to the Seventh Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety were told yesterday. The meeting is taking place at the Vienna headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Nuclear professionals from across Asia will be able to use new training facilities at a soon-to-be-opened Indian research centre under extended cooperation between India and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The operator of the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant on Finland's southwestern coast has demonstrated a strong commitment to safety, an expert team from the International Atomic Energy Agency has concluded. However, the mission made recommendations to Teollisuuden Voima Oyj to reinforce some safety measures.

Kazakhstan's Institute of Nuclear Physics has implemented "significant" modifications and upgrades to improve the safety of its research reactor, an IAEA Integrated Nuclear Safety Assessment of Research Reactors mission has concluded. The IAEA team reviewed the comprehensive safety programs at the light water reactor called WWR-K, including improvements to reactor safety systems and to the training and qualification program for staff.

The International Atomic Energy Agency will look to strengthen its activities to bolster nuclear safety around the world, the agency's director-general Yukiya Amano told its board of governors yesterday. He also informed the board of progress in the IAEA's other work.