French nuclear regulators have approved Areva's proposed program of tests to investigate the mechanical properties of the vessel head and vessel bottom of Flamanville 3's reactor pressure vessel.

The first phase of a project to repatriate Australian radioactive waste has been completed, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (Ansto) confirmed yesterday.

Areva has won a contract worth "tens of millions" of Euros to dismantle the vessel internals of EDF's Superphénix fast neutron reactor at Creys-Malville in France.

Juan Alberto González Garrido, a project manager with EDF, was among the 129 people killed in the attacks in the French capital on 13 November. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced the death of the 29-year-old engineer from Granada, who had been living in Paris for two years.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) said today it will prepare a proposal for taking a minority stake in Areva's reactor business. EDF has already agreed to take a stake of at least 51% in Areva NP, which is also responsible for equipment and fuel manufacturing, as well as services for reactors.

The prime ministers of France and Japan attended high-level talks in Tokyo on enhancing nuclear cooperation between the two countries. The talks included cooperation in nuclear safety and research on decommissioning nuclear facilities.

Areva's proposed methodology to demonstrate the strength of the reactor vessel of the EPR under construction at Flamanville is "acceptable", according to a letter French nuclear regulator published on its website yesterday. The ASN (Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire) referred to the recommendations  a group of nuclear pressure equipment specialists (GP ESPN) had made following a meeting with the regulator on 30 September.

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.

Areva Med, the subsidiary of French engineering company Areva for the development of cancer treatments, has begun construction of its second lead-212 production facility.

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.

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.