Dateline: ChinaA man is suing well-known actress Zhao Wei because she “stared at him too intently” through his TV set. Zhao is one of China’s most famous movie stars and appears on the prime-time TV show “Tiger Mom,” about a strong-willed woman who pushes her daughter to do better in school. According to England’s Sky News, Shanghai Pudong New District Court’s litigation service hotline has confirmed it received a case against the actress under new laws that make it easier to file lawsuits. Since the laws were streamlined, Chinese courts have seen a 29 percent increase in the number of lawsuits. The Legal Daily newspaper said the man is alleging Zhao’s stare caused him “spiritual damage.” A court official refused to say whether the case has been accepted or not.Dateline: EnglandA 19-year-old student had his name legally changed in order to avoid a $337 airline fee. Adam Armstrong, a student at Leeds City College, was scheduled to travel to Ibiza with his girlfriend for summer vacation. The girlfriend’s stepfather purchased the plane tickets through European carrier Ryanair. Unfortunately, the tickets were placed under the name “West” because the student’s Facebook name is “Adam West,” a tribute to the “Batman” TV show actor. Armstrong told The Sun newspaper the airline wouldn’t allow him to change the name on his ticket unless he paid a $337 fee. He tried to get the fee waived, but the airline refused, saying it helps prevent unauthorized online travel agents from purchasing large blocks of tickets and reselling them. Rather than cough up the extra money, Armstrong legally changed his name, via deed poll, to Adam West. The name change cost him nothing—although he did have to pay 103 pounds ($157) to rush a new passport to his home in Manchester under the name Adam West. In the end, Mr. West saved himself $180 and traveled to Ibiza with his girlfriend as originally scheduled.Dateline: SerbiaTwo armed robbers burst into a classroom in Belgrade and made off with … the teacher’s grade book? The scary incident took place during school hours in the Belgrade suburb of Kotez. Turns out the master criminals were a pair of 7th grade students armed with a toy gun, a plastic knife, ski masks and sunglasses. “It appears that a third boy agreed with two friends that they would grab the grade book because of his poor grades,” a police spokesperson said. The pair were charged with violent behavior, jeopardizing public safety and destruction and damage of property. No word on what the student who inspired it all will get—other than a lousy grade.Dateline: VirginiaA 25-year-old woman is accused of leaving her children in a car with the windows rolled up while she … Oh, well this is awkward. While she appeared in court to answer charges she left her children in a car with the windows rolled up. On May 26 Laquanda Newby was accused of leaving a child in her car while she shopped at the Sam’s Club in White Oak Village. When police arrived at the scene, they found Newby by her car but could not arrest her because the officer had not witnessed the alleged crime. Instead, the officer issued a warrant, ordering Newby to turn herself in at a later date. Newby did just that on Monday, June 8, showing up at the Henrico County Courthouse. Unfortunately, while doing so, she left her children, ages 6 and 1, outside in a hot car. “Had a citizen not alerted us to this, it’s a situation that would’ve turned out much differently,” Henrico Sheriff’s Capt. David Kinkle told WTVR-6. Surveillance video of the parking lot showed the children were locked in the vehicle for more than an hour. The car’s windows were closed, and temperatures that day hit the 90s. The children were taken inside the courthouse and given water and snacks until their father picked them up. Newby was booked into the Henrico Jail. She was charged with three counts of abuse of a child. Bond was later denied.Dateline: FloridaAccording to the Florida Highway Patrol, a shark was killed in a traffic accident on Interstate 95 earlier this month. The shark was one of five being transported by semitruck from Marathon, Fla., to Coney Island, N.Y. The truck was northbound on I-95 when one of its tires blew out, causing the vehicle to veer into the median. The other four sharks survived and continued the journey to New York after being transferred to another vehicle. WFMY News 2 reports the crash came during a storm that swept across the coast, creating heavy flooding and traffic issues.
Compiled by Devin D. O'Leary. Email your weird news to devin@alibi.com.
