France: Part of iconic Paris bridge collapses from ‘love locks’ craze
Tourists were evacuated from the Pont des Arts footbridge in central Paris over the weekend, after more than two metres of railing collapsed, crumbling under the weight of a thousand so-called “love locks”. ... (Read more)
France 24
New Zealand: Deaf boy hears mum’s voice
It was an emotional time when Nikau Karauti-McMenamin’s cochlear implants were switched on for the first time. “It was an amazing experience,” says proud mother Katie McMenamin, who watched the life-changing moment with partner Fiona McMenamin.
“He placed his hand on my throat while I spoke and went very quiet, but you could tell he was listening while he felt the vibration.
“I think we just said ‘Hi Nikau’. ”He also listened to his first song which was John Lennon’s Beautiful Boy.” ... (Read more)
The New Zealand Herald
Norway: Baby squirrels survive cat attack
Two baby squirrels who survived a cat attack on their nest in Norway have been nursed back to health on a diet of special formula milk. Nina Oppedal, from Gressvik, south of Oslo, found the two squirrels lying abandoned in her garden, their parents nowhere to be seen.
UK: How extreme isolation warps the mind
Sarah Shourd’s mind began to slip after about two months into her incarceration. She heard phantom footsteps and flashing lights, and spent most of her day crouched on all fours, listening through a gap in the door.
That summer, the 32-year-old had been hiking with two friends in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan when they were arrested by Iranian troops after straying onto the border with Iran. Accused of spying, they were kept in solitary confinement in Evin prison in Tehran, each in their own tiny cell. She endured almost 10,000 hours with little human contact before she was freed. ... (Read more)
Argentina: Iguazú waterfalls re-open to public
Finland: Helsinki locals shocked as elk rampages through city centre
Helsinki commuters received and early-morning surprise when they saw an elk running through the city centre during rush hour on Tuesday.
The beast was first spotted at around 3:00 am, according to local police, who spent the early hours trying to catch the animal before the morning traffic hit.
One witness, Matti Murtoniemi, explained that the animal suddenly appeared in front of his car as he was driving through the city’s streets ... (Read more)
Japan: Man buys, dumps 1,000 bags of chips in bid to meet singer
Kazuki Fukumoto, a 25-year-old resident of Akashi in the prefecture, is accused of violating the waste disposal and public cleaning law. ... (Read more)
Asahi Shimbun
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