Hawaii court halts construction of world’s largest telescope on volcano

Thirty Meter Telescope project temporarily blocked amid protests by Native Hawaiians and environmentalists who say it would damage sacred lands

The Hawaii supreme court has temporarily blocked construction of one of the world's largest telescopes on a dormant volcano, following a challenge by Native Hawaiians and environmentalists who say the project would damage sacred lands.

The state high court handed down the order late on Tuesday, suspending until 2 December the permit for the project near the summit of the Mauna Kea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island, court papers said.