Our pick of the strange but true stories from around the world.
'Iron Thatcher' plan for university grounds
Students at the University of Kent will vote on whether to erect a giant iron statue of Baroness Thatcher on their grounds. A petition calling for the statue, which would be higher than a tower of 17 stacked double-decker busses, says it should be modelled on the Colossus of Rhodes and built across the road from the university's nightclub to "encourage good and sensible behaviour under the gaze of the 250ft Colossus".
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Three men stuck in lift after curry binge
Three young men have spent an uncomfortable 30 minutes trapped in a hotel lift, after sharing a meal of hot curries and beer in Darwin, Australia. The experience was made "much, much worse" by the effect of the food on one of the occupants, Englishman Scotty Lintern, who released a "wave of eye-watering flatulence", much to the displeasure of his friends. "We were struggling to breathe after Scotty's little effort – there was a smell in that lift that I thought would outlast religion," said his friend, Ben Rose.
Man returns library book 72 years late
New Jersey man Frank Ryan has returned an overdue book 72 years after it was meant to be returned to the Bound Brook Memorial Library. The book, Football through the Years, was discovered by his daughter while cleaning out the attic of the family home. Ryan told her he was afraid to return it so late because he believed he would be put in prison for theft. However, the librarians waived the late fees and placed the book in the archives.
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Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drugSpeed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
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In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policySpeed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
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Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
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Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UKSpeed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
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Sandy Hook families vs. Remington: a small victory over the gunmakersSpeed Read Last week the families settled a lawsuit for $73m against the manufacturer
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Farmers vs. walkers: the battle over ‘Britain’s green and pleasant land’Speed Read Updated Countryside Code tells farmers: ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’
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Motherhood: why are we putting it off?Speed Read Stats show around 50% of women in England and Wales now don’t have children by 30
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Anti-Semitism in America: a case of double standards?Speed Read Officials were strikingly reluctant to link Texas synagogue attack to anti-Semitism
