Drunk monkey goes on knife rampage and other tall tales

Our pick of the strange but true stories from around the world.

Monkey business in Brazil

A capuchin monkey has terrorised customers of a bar in Paraiba, Brazil, after drinking too much of the local rum and arming itself with a foot-long knife. It chased male patrons with the weapon but left the women alone, said witnesses. The animal was eventually trapped and released into a local wildlife reserve, where it was re-captured after harassing children.

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Robotic arm can play the drums

Scientists at Georgia Tech have developed a cybernetic arm that is capable of keeping a beat and even improvising with the rhythm being played. The arm, created specifically for drummers, is largely computer-controlled at present but the team is developing a headband that would give precise mental control of the prosthetic limb.

Egypt sentences four-year-old to life in prison

An Egyptian court has sentenced a four-year-old boy to life in prison for murder, attempted murder, disturbing the peace and damaging state property. The child was convicted along with 115 other defendants, despite his birth certificate being presented to the court as evidence he could not be responsible for the crime. Local lawyers say it is clear the presiding judge had not reviewed the case properly and that it is symptomatic of the corruption and incompetence of the Egyptian legal system.