GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) and DTE Energy have announced plans to explore advancing the detailed design of the Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR). DTE received a licence earlier this year to build and operate an ESBWR at its Fermi plant, but the utility has yet to decide whether to go ahead with the project.

The United Nations (UN) working group tasked with negotiating a new universal climate change agreement has issued the first comprehensive draft of the agreement in the lead-up to the forthcoming COP 21 climate change conference.

US-based TerraPower has signed a memorandum of understanding with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) to develop its travelling wave reactor (TWR).

A cooperation agreement has been signed between Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) to promote the exchange of information and experience in decommissioning nuclear facilities.

The construction of a used fuel processing and recycling facility in China is expected to begin in 2020 and be completed by 2030. The facility will be based on French technology.

The head of EDF Energy has outlined the benefits of Chinese investment in the UK's nuclear industry. His comments came the day after the UK government announced up to £2 billion ($3 billion) in support for the planned Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been given access to a location at the Parchin site in Iran for the first time, IAEA director general Yukiya Amano said yesterday.

The UK government has today announced up to £2 billion ($3 billion) in support for the planned Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant, the first such plant in Britain for 20 years. The guarantee paves the way for Chinese investment in the UK's nuclear industry.

Several international cooperation agreements related to nuclear safety and regulation have been signed this week on the sidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency's General Conference in Vienna.

Russia and Norway yesterday signed a protocol on the practical measures required for their inter-governmental agreement on early notification of nuclear accidents and exchange of information on nuclear facilities. The protocol was signed in Vienna during the International Atomic Energy Agency's General Conference by Rosatom director general Sergey Kirienko and Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority director general Ole Harbitz.

French nuclear research centres in Saclay and Cadarache have become the first to be designated international research hubs under a scheme launched by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last year.

Rosatom and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) yesterday signed 'practical arrangements' to enhance their cooperation in radiation safety.