An operating licence was issued yesterday for the new interim used fuel storage at the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania, the State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (Vatesi) announced today. The licence permits commissioning of the facility, known as the ISFSF B1 Project, and the start of hot trials with ten new design casks. ISFSF B1 Project is located in Visaginas municipality. world-nuclear-news.org

The leader of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party policy committee said Wednesday that it was time to make a “concrete decision” concerning the country’s Monju sodium-cooled fast-breeder reactor that has been plagued with problems, including an accident in 1995 that limited its time in operation. nuclearstreet.com

South Korea and the United States will conduct a mock attack on a nuclear facility next month, an official with the South Korean Defense Department told CNN. cnn.com

Ukraine’s military intelligence claims Russia’s nuclear forces have begun training, simulating the conditions of a large-scale conflict. newsweek.com