Russia is funding a new technology centre in Vietnam and cooperating with an Argentine university, helping develop the skills needed for nuclear programs in those countries. Meanwhile, Rosatom claims more than 15,000 jobs could be created if South Africa proceeds with its nuclear energy expansion plans.

A novel consortium has announced participation in the American funding contest for new small reactor designs. Proposing a high-temperature helium cooled reactor, the group features strong support from the state of New York.

A new virtual control room at the Idaho National Laboratory will help utilities convert old nuclear power plant control rooms running on analogue systems to digital ones.

Japan has established a new research body which it hopes will bring together international experience in the decommissioning of nuclear power plants. Plans call for the institute to set up a research facility near the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Initial success in demonstrating the feasibility of "space batteries" has led to the UK's National Nuclear Laboratory being awarded further developmental work by the European Space Agency.

A new nuclear cooperation agreement struck between South Africa and the European Union (EU) will support joint nuclear research and could help open access to South Africa's uranium resources.

A modular snake robot has performed well in trials where it crawled distances of up to 18 metres through pipework at the Zwentendorf training centre.

More robots are being put to work to survey the environment within the damaged reactor buildings of the Fukushima Daiichi plant and to map contamination in the surrounding lakes and rivers.

Thorium fuel is now being tested in the Halden research reactor in Norway. It was loaded in the last week of April, defining the start of a physical test program that will simulate how the thorium fuel operates in a power reactor.

Work has begun on two collaborative research programs to develop new forging and casting techniques for nuclear components, while UK manufacturers are invited to apply for funding to help them compete in the nuclear industry.

Lockheed Martin and China's State Nuclear Automation System Engineering Corporation have extended their cooperation in the development of reactor protection systems for Chinese nuclear power plants.

Three innovative technologies to reduce the costs of treating and storing nuclear industry wastes are to receive funding in Britain, while a major decommissioning milestone is being celebrated at one of the country's first-generation sites.