British nuclear scientist warns Abu Dhabi may be planning weapons program; even if not, threat from terrorists and natural disasters is not properly countered, he says timesorisrael.com

A ceremony was held on 15 December at the Xiangshan uranium deposit near Fuzhou city in China’s Jiangxi province to mark the start of the country’s deepest drilling project related to the exploration of uranium resources. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said a 3000-metre-deep bore hole will be drilled. World-nucleare-news.org

The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine has approved commercial operation using Westinghouse fuel at unit 3 of the South Ukraine nuclear power plant. The regulatory authority signed the relevant document after pilot operation of the unit had shown the fuel was “safe, reliable and efficient”, Energoatom said on 28 December. World-nucleare-news.org

Russian regulator Rostechnadzor has issued operating licence extensions to two more nuclear power units, bringing the total number to 27 since 2001. Unit 2 of Bilibino NPP and unit 4 of Novovoronezh NPP are now licensed to operate until the end of 2025 and 2032, respectively, which is six and 13 years longer than their previous licences. World-nucleare-news.org