A glance at the week that was
The numbers
8
The number of Shia opposition activists sentenced to life imprisonment for plotting to overthrow Bahrain’s government.
62
The number of suspected terrorists arrested in Ireland last year, the third-highest figure in the EU.
€228,000
The price that a painting by Jack B Yeats fetched at auction in the US.
250,000
The number of books Google plans to digitise from the British Library’s collections.
6th
The safety ranking of Ireland’s roads among European countries, according to the European Transport Council.
€5m
The amount RTÉ hopes to save with its voluntary severance package, planned to cut at least 70 jobs.
A real fun guy
A newly discovered species of mushroom has been named in honour of the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants. Officially known as Spongiforma squarepantsii, the fungus was found by researchers at San Francisco State University during an expedition to the forests of Borneo.
Their findings, published in the scientific journal Mycologia, state that the mushroom is shaped like a sea sponge, has a fruity or musty smell, and is only one of two species that belong in the genus Spongiforma.
We now know
Boston crimelord and FBI informant James 'Whitey' Bulgerhas been captured after 16 years on the run.
Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiweihas been freed on bail after admitting tax evasion.
Rapper 50 Cent is to write an antibullyingbook that he hopes will help teenagers.
Most read this week on irishtimes.com
1Hopes for "Greek miracle" as Merkel changes position
2Stranded in Ireland
3Robbie "floored" by Irish response
4Cyclist dies after Dublin city crash
5McIlroy makes it an Open and shut case
6Irish income "third-highest in EU"
7Potential to make "scary" numbers
8Google's Street View hits roadblock
9 Jackassco-star Ryan Dunn dies
10In Adare, fantasy homes near fairy-tale castle