This is no smoking gun, nor Iranian bomb

Nothing in the published 'intelligence documents' shows Iran is close to having nuclear weapons

Seven years ago Condoleezza Rice said "there will always be some uncertainty" in determining how close Iraq may be to obtaining a nuclear weapon, but "we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud". Now the focus is on Iran, not Iraq. Iran's nuclear projects are in the news again.

According to the Times last week, alleged "confidential intelligence documents" show Iran is working on testing a key final component of a nuclear bomb. The notes, the newspaper claims, describe "a four-year plan to test a neutron initiator, the component of a nuclear bomb that triggers an explosion". President Ahmadinejad yesterday denounced the documents as more American forgeries. But even if we take them as genuine, is this a real "smoking gun" – and what do the documents show anyway? More >>>

Norman Dombey [pictured] is professor emeritus of theoretical physics at Sussex University.

The Prince of Wales speaks at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference

Temperature warning as Copenhagen climate deal emerges

A deal appears to be in sight for the final day of the UN climate change talks, but there are fears it may not prevent a 3C (5.4F) temperature rise.

Denmark's prime minister spoke of "very fruitful" talks as Copenhagen prepared to receive US President Barack Obama and 118 other world leaders.

Both the US and China, the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases, have indicated they may make concessions.

It is hoped these may help overcome sharp divisions at the two-week talks.

China signalled concessions on the monitoring of emission curbs while the US said it would commit money for developing countries. More >>>

Iran Avows Willingness to Swap Some Uranium

December 12, 2009 - BEIRUT, Lebanon — Iran’s foreign minister said Saturday that his country was willing to exchange most of its uranium for processed nuclear fuel from abroad — as the United Nations has proposed — but only according to a timetable that Western powers appear to have already rejected.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki of Iran spoke at a regional security conference in Bahrain about Iran’s nuclear plans.

The statement by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki came just days before a scheduled meeting of the United States and its allies to discuss possible new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program — and may be aimed at trying to divide them, analysts said.

Mr. Mottaki said Iran would agree to hand over 400 kilograms, or 882 pounds, of uranium initially — about a third of the amount proposed in a draft agreement reached under United Nations auspices in October — in exchange for an equivalent amount of enriched material to fuel a medical research reactor, according to Iranian news agencies.
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Nepal Cabinet holds meeting on Mt. Everest

Nepalese ministers have held a cabinet meeting on Mount Everest to raise awareness of the effects of climate change. Ministers hope the world's highest cabinet meeting will attract the same attention as a similar event held underwater in the Maldives in October. The meeting comes ahead of next week's climate summit in Copenhagen.

Scientific studies show temperatures are rising faster in the Himalayas than the rest of South Asia. It has led to reduced snowfall and caused glaciers to melt. Before Friday's meeting, teams ferried in medical equipment, oxygen canisters, soldiers and journalists to Kalipatar - a plateau at 5,200m (17,000ft) next to Everest's base camp.

Resolution endorsed
Then the entire cabinet of 21 ministers including the prime minister arrived in Kalipatar by helicopter. During their half-hour meeting, the ministers - some wearing oxygen masks - endorsed a resolution on climate change. They then left by helicopter.
Environment Minister Thakur Prasad Sharma shrugged off criticism that the meeting was just a costly publicity stunt. "The fact is that the glaciers are melting due to global warming. That has become a critical issue and we want to draw global attention to it," Mr Sharma told the AFP news agency.
The trip was funded by a group of Nepalese private organisations, many of them from the tourist sector. Mount Everest is the highest point on earth, with a summit 29,035 ft (8,850 m) above sea level. More >>>

Peter Gleick on Peak Water