Astronomers are celebrating the cancellation of a $10 billion project in Chile's Atacama Desert that would have threatened the world's clearest skies, according to The Guardian. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, the leader celebrated the 20-year jail sentence of pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai, as China announced plans to enhance a national security law. Elsewhere, an armed gang in Italy, posing as police, attempted a robbery by blowing up an armored vehicle, and in Iran, authorities shut down private businesses following recent protests. In France, a mobile swimming pool is bringing lessons to schoolchildren in rural communities.
The proposed $10 billion green hydrogen and ammonia production facility, known as INNA, in Chile, included a port, transport links, and solar power plants, and was under evaluation by the Chilean government, The Guardian reported. Astronomers had warned that the facility's proximity to telescopes would have irreparably damaged observation.
In Hong Kong, the leader, John Lee, celebrated the sentencing of Jimmy Lai, a British pro-democracy campaigner, stating that the media tycoon had "poisoned" the city, according to Sky News. The sentencing, which occurred on February 9, 2026, has drawn criticism from Western nations, including the UK. China has also released a white paper outlining plans to further enhance a national security law, used to clamp down on free speech and dissent.
In Italy's Puglia region, an armed gang, posing as police, blew up an armored van in an attempt to carry out a robbery, Sky News reported. Footage from the incident on a motorway showed the group wearing balaclavas and armed with Kalashnikov rifles. Local media described the scene as reminiscent of the "wild west."
In Iran, authorities shut down a number of privately owned businesses in the wake of deadly nationwide protests last month, Al Jazeera reported. The closures, affecting popular gathering spots in Tehran, come as the country's economy struggles. Neither police nor judicial authorities have elaborated on the reasons for the shutdowns.
Finally, in France, a mobile swimming pool has been touring rural areas of the Moselle department for over a year, providing swimming lessons to schoolchildren where access to public pools is limited, according to Euronews. The truck is equipped with a heated pool, filtration systems, and a movable floor.
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