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.

The 214-tonne upper part of the inner containment dome, with a diameter of 36 metres, has been installed in its design position at Tianwan nuclear power plant unit 7, in Jiangsu province in China.

Pakistan has signed a USD4.8 billion deal with China to construct a Hualong One reactor as unit 5 of the Chashma nuclear power plant in Pakistan's Punjab province, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced.

The conceptual design of a new Polish high-temperature research reactor, developed by the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ), has been unveiled. Developed with input from Japan, the reactor could be built in Poland at the NCBJ.

An X-ray "flashlight" which would use an energy source based on Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation's EmberCore nuclear chargeable ceramic technology to map the lunar surface has been selected for early-stage funding under the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts programme.

Belgian engineering firm Tractebel has signed a framework cooperation agreement to strengthen and extend its collaboration with France's Nuward and EDF in the development of the Nuward small modular reactor technology.

Slovenia's government will take a decision in principle by 1 August on the JEK2 new nuclear project, Prime Minister Robert Golob has said - meanwhile the operating company said it was considering increasing the proposed capacity of the scheme.

The CA03 module has been hoisted into place at unit 3 of the Sanmen nuclear power plant in China's Zhejiang province. Meanwhile, the circular rail that will support the polar crane of unit 3 at the Xudabao plant in Liaoning province has been installed.

State nuclear power company Rosatom has signed an agreement with TSS Group to create a joint venture for the construction of a series of floating power units "with a capacity of at least 100 MWe and an assigned service life of up to 60 years for foreign markets and the subsequent sale of electricity from the floating power unit in the countries of presence".

Polish copper and silver producer KGHM Polska Miedź SA has signed a letter of intent with the Legnica Special Economic Zone to cooperate in research and development projects and investment initiatives related to small nuclear reactor technology. The partners will discuss the possibility of potential joint involvement in the implementation of investment projects in the field of SMRs.