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A week in which gangs targeted hospitals, bald men were warned and Uber made a coach happy
STICKING OUT
A giant new fountain in Belgrade. The $2.5-million installation, complete with a light show and loud music, does have some fans. But many in the Serbian capital used words like “cheap,” “kitsch” and “too glamorous” for its rundown neighbourhood. To that point, some think the money should have been spent on fixing potholes, or poorly equipped hospitals. ROUNDED UP
Indonesia’s islands. Not literally, but the government decided that actually counting them would help ensure sovereignty and protect fishing waters. A 1996 law estimated the number of islands in the archipelago at 17,508, but that wasn’t verified by United Nations criteria. The government aims for a definite number before a UN meeting in August. BLAMED Colombian
organized crime rings, for hospital thefts in Europe. Greek authorities say the rings were behind heists targeting expensive equipment from hospitals in Greece and 11 other countries. Four stolen pieces, worth more than $700,000, have been recovered. Police said the gear had been mailed to Colombia and three Colombian suspects have been identified. RESOLVED
The strange case of a Florida woman accused of threatening a man whose son died in the 2012 Newtown, Conn., school massacre. Lucy Richards pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five months in prison, followed by five months of home detention. Prosecutors said Richards believed the Sandy Hook shootings were a hoax, after viewing conspiracy websites. LYING LOW
Kilian Jornet, two days after climbing Mount Everest twice in a week. Back home in Norway, he celebrated quietly by going for a run and eating a simple meal. The 29year-old Spaniard did the double feat without fixed ropes and supplementary oxygen. He told the Guardian that he just decided to “give it another go” on his way back to base camp following his first climb. SINGLED OUT
Bald men in Mozambique. Police have warned they could be the targets of ritual attacks, the BBC reported, following the killing of three bald men for their body parts. “The belief is that the head of a bald man contains gold,” said Afonso Dias, a police commander in Zambezia province. People in Tanzania and Malawi have been linked to the rituals. HAILED
An Uber for a long ride, so that an NFL player wouldn’t miss practice. Buffalo Bills cornerback Shareece Wright found himself stuck at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport at 11 p.m. on Sunday. So, he took the ride service for the 880-kilometre trip to Buffalo. At $632.08 (U.S.) plus $300 tip, it won’t bankrupt a player making $775,000. Then again, the practice was voluntary. UNEXPLAINED
Why large, graceful birds are washing up and dying on the Cape Cod coast. Animal hospitals and rehab facilities in Massachusetts have seen many cases of northern gannets suffering from a mysterious ailment. The birds, whose wingspans reach two metres, are known for steep dives into the water. A wildlife technician estimates 100 have been affected.