NAC International Inc has received certification from the US nuclear regulator for the highly shielded version of its versatile OPTIMUS transport packaging system. This new certificate follows licensing approvals obtained under Canadian and Australian certifications.

A fire has occurred in one of the two cooling towers at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, with both Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of causing it. Meanwhile, military activities have reportedly been taking place in the vicinity of the Kursk plant in Russia.

Japan has a "robust nuclear security regime", an International Atomic Energy Agency team of experts has concluded. The latest International Physical Protection Advisory Service mission followed a previous mission in 2015 and a follow-up mission in 2018.

Holtec International's SMR-300 small modular reactor design has completed the first step of the UK's Generic Design Assessment process and progressed to the next phase of its assessment.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority looks set to rule that unit 2 of the Tsuruga nuclear power plant in Fukui prefecture does not comply with regulatory safety standards after a review team concluded that seismic activity beneath the unit cannot be ruled out. Owner Japan Atomic Power Company insists that further investigations are required.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed the operating licences of Comanche Peak units 1 and 2 for an additional 20 years of operation. This is the first licence renewal for the two pressurised water reactors, which began operating in 1990 and 1993, respectively.

Work has begun to assess changes in the properties of the metal of the reactor vessel of unit 2 at the Metsamor nuclear power plant in Armenia. The work is being carried out as part of preparations for extending operation of the VVER-440 unit for a further ten years.

Rolls-Royce SMR Limited's 470 MWe small modular reactor design has successfully completed Step 2 of the UK's Generic Design Assessment process and progressed to the third and final phase.

While International Atomic Energy Agency experts stationed at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have been focusing on monitoring maintenance activities across the site, agency teams at other nuclear plant sites in Ukraine say nuclear safety and security is being maintained despite the effects of the ongoing conflict.

The Nuclear Industry Association has applied to the UK government for a justification decision for Rolls-Royce SMR's small modular reactor, a decision required for the operation of a new nuclear technology in the country. It marks the first ever application for justification of a UK reactor design.

South Africa's National Nuclear Regulator has granted state-owned utility Eskom a licence to continue operating unit 1 of the Koeberg nuclear power plant for another 20 years until 21 July 2044.

The United Nations General Assembly voted by 99 votes to 9, with 60 abstentions, for Russia to "immediately return the plant to the full control of the sovereign and competent authorities of Ukraine". Meanwhile the IAEA warns about the impact of the war on the city where most of the nuclear power plant workers live.