The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently agreed to strengthen its collaboration with the International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC), a global network of young professionals working within the field of nuclear energy.

Russia has opened its uranium mining industry to foreign investment with an agreement signed yesterday between the Russia-China Investment Fund for Regional Development, ARMZ Uranium Holding, and Priargunsky Industrial Mining and Chemical Union (PIMCU). ARMZ and PIMCU are subsidiaries of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

The UK must be able to operate as an "independent and responsible nuclear state" as soon as it leaves the European Union in March 2019, the government has said in its response to a parliamentary report about the impact of Brexit on the country's nuclear industry.

Iran is implementing its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed to his board of governors yesterday. Amano said the plan represents a "significant gain" for nuclear verification.

India and Vietnam have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen their cooperation in nuclear energy. The agreement was one of three MoUs signed during Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang's visit to India.

Russia, Bangladesh and India yesterday signed a memorandum on cooperation in the implementation of the Rooppur nuclear power plant project. Construction of Bangladesh's first nuclear power reactor, Rooppur 1, officially began in late November 2017.

Holtec International and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy are to collaborate on accelerating the commercialisation of Holtec's SMR-160 small modular reactor (SMR). Their cooperation will initially include nuclear fuel development and control rod drive mechanisms.

Rosatom and the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovations of the Republic of Congo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

China General Nuclear subsidiary China Techenergy Corp recently signed an agreement to cooperate with South Korea's Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction to promote self-developed instrumentation and control products. CTEC has also signed a contract with Doosan to supply SpeedyHold (CTEC’s logic controller), and then Doosan will supply replacement control rod systems to four Korean nuclear power reactors.

The International Atomic Energy Agency and Indonesia signed a practical arrangement yesterday to promote nuclear science and technology, and to strengthen technical cooperation among developing countries.

Framatome is the best partner for Lightbridge for developing, licensing and commercialising nuclear fuel assemblies based on its technology, the company's president and CEO Seth Grae told World Nuclear News. Speaking shortly after the companies announced their Enfission joint venture, he said they intend Enfission to become a major player in the international nuclear industry.

The nuclear power industry presents "particular challenges" in the context of Brexit, the House of Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee says in a report published today.