The Czech Republic has significantly enhanced its regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety in recent years, but work remains in implementing the country's new Atomic Act, a mission from the International Atomic Energy Agency has concluded.

Initial construction has been completed at the UAE's first power reactor, Barakah 1. The operating company, Nawah Energy Company, must gain approval from national regulators before the final stage of loading fuel and bringing it into service.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has released an updated version of its self-assessment tool for countries to check whether their nuclear regulatory infrastructure is in line with IAEA safety standards.

Lithuanian State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate said today it had issued a permit for the start of commercial operation of the country's new interim used fuel storage facility. The announcement followed State Enterprise Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant's successful completion yesterday of hot tests with ten new design casks. The company has demonstrated it is ready to operate the facility safely, Vatesi said.

The Swedish framework for physical protection and computer security at nuclear power plants, other nuclear facilities and for nuclear material in transport continues to show good progress, an International Atomic Energy Agency report concludes following a mission there last year.

Significant changes in technology development and global governance are needed for nuclear energy to continue playing a vital role in combating climate change, according to a new report from the Global Nexus Initiative (GNI). The report makes recommendations to address these issues.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a decree on aligning nuclear power legislation in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In a statement on Medvedev's official website on 22 April, the government said national laws in some countries of the CIS vary in relation to the civilian nuclear energy industry and the construction of nuclear power facilities.

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

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking public comment on a draft regulatory basis for new emergency preparedness requirements for small modular reactors and new technologies such as non-light water reactor facilities. A regulatory basis is an early stage in the NRC's rulemaking process.

MVM Paks II has received environmental approval to build two new units at the Paks nuclear power plant in Hungary. The company received an environmental licence from the Baranya County Government Office in late September, but this was challenged by Greenpeace Hungary and Energiaklub. The initial licence was then reviewed by Pest County Government Office, which gave statutory approval of the licence on 18 April.

Decommissioning plans for five Japanese reactors officially taken out of service in April 2015 have today been approved by the country's nuclear regulator. The plans outline the facilities and equipment to be dismantled and a timetable for completing the work.

France's nuclear regulator, the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire, has defined the preconditions for the resumption of forging operations at Areva's Le Creusot forge. The facility has been out of operation since December 2015 following the discovery of quality assurance issues.