Framatome has signed a collaboration agreement with EDF to test its PROtect enhanced accident tolerant fuel technology. Under the agreement, four lead fuel assemblies will be loaded into one of EDF's French reactors by the end of this year.

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor fusion project's council has put back for a year an announcement on its updated timeline for the project - and is proposing other changes including switching the plasma-facing "first wall" material from beryllium to tungsten.

The French nuclear regulator has deemed the application lodged by national radioactive waste management agency Andra to construct a high-level radioactive waste repository to be admissible for review. This decision enables the launch of the technical appraisal of the application.

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission is conducting two feasibility studies on nuclear propulsion for the European Space Agency, which could pave the way for missions to Mars and beyond.

A new joint venture, known as NUCEAL, has been established by French, Spanish and Slovakian engineering firms Assystem, IDOM and VUJE to support the development of EDF's projects in the European Union and possibly in the UK.

France's Framatome and Slovakia's Slovenské elektrárne have signed a memorandum of understanding on further developing their long-term relations, and will also work together on the development of a "100% European" nuclear fuel for VVER-440 pressurised water reactors.

Japan's Federation of Electric Power Companies announced it will work with France's Orano on demonstration research and development for the reprocessing of used mixed oxide fuel.

In an interview for the World Nuclear News podcast, the President and CEO of Nuward, Renaud Crassous, explained EDF's decision to set up a wholly-owned subsidiary to drive forward development of its Nuward small modular reactor, and how it aims to be "Europe's SMR". He also discusses the broader prospects for SMRs and new nuclear.

Framatome has been awarded contracts by Sweden's Vattenfall to update reactor control systems using its digital instrumentation and control TELEPERM XS platform and refurbish the reactor coolant pumps for units 3 and 4 of the Ringhals nuclear power plant. The value of the contracts was not disclosed.

There is widespread public support for advanced nuclear energy technologies, according to a new, multinational survey of attitudes toward nuclear energy. The report is a collaborative effort by the non-governmental organisations ClearPath, Third Way, Potential Energy Coalition and RePlanet.

The French State has requested the country's Financial Markets Authority reopens the simplified public tender offer for the outstanding shares of EDF after the Paris Court of Appeal dismissed a claim lodged by minority shareholders in EDF challenging the deal.

Nuward has big plans for its small modular reactors. Renaud Crassous, president of the newly-created EDF subsidiary, joins us to discuss its hopes. Plus, in the monthly news round-up, it's Germany out, Turkey in.