Japan May Decline ITER Site Bid

Citing tradeoffs that could land Japanese construction companies 20% of the work while costing the Japanese government only 10% of the cost, it now appears that a light at the end of the ITER tunnel is in sight, according to Reuters. It's probably too early for actual optimism on this one just yet, but the idea that two years of impasse could finally be broken is good news.

Update: France says it has struck a deal with Japan (PDF) for them to drop out of consideration, a statement the EU denies.

Update 5/6: Japan is now getting all huffy, saying it has not given up its bid for ITER (PDF), and will consider filing a formal protest with France over remarks by French president Jacques Chirac to the contrary.