Protests planned to stop telescope
HONOLULU – About 20 people opposed to building what would be one of the world’s largest telescopes on a Hawaii mountain are camped out near the construction site, vowing to stop work from resuming.
Some say they are bracing to be arrested when the nonprofit company building the Thirty Meter Telescope intends to resume construction Wednesday.
Work was put on hold for two months after the arrests of 31 people blocking access to the site. On Saturday, telescope officials announced construction would start again. Opponents say the $1.4 billion project that will be 18 stories high will desecrate land held sacred by Native Hawaiians. Some say it’s time to curb development on the mountain, where 13 other telescopes sit.
Agency chief blames hackers for attack
WASHINGTON – The head of the government agency that suffered two massive cyberattacks said Tuesday that a hacker gained access to its records with a credential used by a federal contractor.
Despite calls for her ouster, the director of the Office of Personnel Management said if anyone is responsible for the breaches, it’s the hackers.
Katherine Archuleta told a Senate hearing that old computer networks were to blame for the cyberbreak-ins that exposed private information on nearly every federal employee and personal histories of millions with security clearances.
Greek officials defend debt plan
ATHENS, Greece – Greece’s government on Tuesday defended the billions worth of “harsh” new budget savings it has offered in talks with creditors, as some of the governing party’s own lawmakers spoke out against them.
Greece has proposed measures worth $9 billion, including increases in company and consumer taxes, to persuade the country’s bailout creditors to release new loans it needs to avoid defaulting on its debts next week.
A decision is expected this week: eurozone finance ministers are to meet Wednesday evening, followed by a European Union summit Thursday and Friday.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will travel to Brussels Wednesday.
Associated Press
