Our pick of the strange but true stories from around the world.
"Prophet" almost killed after challenging lions
A self-proclaimed prophet of the Zion Christian Church in Africa has narrowly escaped with his life after he leapt out of a vehicle during a safari drive in the Kruger National Park and charged towards a pride of lions. Alec Ndiwane's fellow church members told authorities that he "went into a trance and started speaking in tongues" before running at the animals and allegedly challenging them to fight. Ndiwane was mauled and suffered serious injuries to his buttocks.
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Fire hydrant clogged with fish
Canadian firefighters responding to a grass fire in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley were surprised to find a nearby hydrant wasn't working because it was completely clogged with fish. "We had a hard time getting any suction from the dry hydrant," said fire chief Shawn Carey. "When we took it apart, we found a bunch of fish that came up through the strainer." Some of the fish survived the ordeal and were placed in a nearby pond.
"Pro-gun" mother shot by four-year-old son
Florida-based gun-rights advocate Jamie Gilt has been shot by her four-year-old son, hours after she said on Facebook that he was "jacked up to target shoot". Police say 31-year-old Gilt was driving the family SUV when she was shot in the back with a .45-calibre handgun her son found on the floor of the vehicle. She is expected to make a full recovery and will be questioned by police over her storage and handling of firearms.
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What we know about the Copenhagen mall shootingSpeed Read Lone gunman had mental health issues and not thought to have terror motive, police say
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Texas school shooting: parents turn anger on policeSpeed Read Officers had to be urged to enter building where gunman killed 21 people
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DJ Tim Westwood denies multiple sexual misconduct allegationsSpeed Read At least seven women accuse the radio and TV presenter of predatory behaviour dating back three decades
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What happened to Katie Kenyon?Speed Read Man charged as police search for missing 33-year-old last seen getting into van
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Brooklyn subway shooting: exploring New York’s ‘steep decline in law and order’Speed Read Last week, a gunman set off smoke bombs and opened fire on a rush-hour train in the city
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How the Capitol attack investigation is splitting the RepublicansSpeed Read Vote to censure two Republican representatives has revealed deep divisions within party
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Is sentencing a Nazi sympathiser to read Shakespeare an appropriate punishment?Speed Read Judge seemed to think introducing student ‘to high culture’ would ‘magically make him a better person’ said The Daily Telegraph
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Sarah Everard’s murder: a national reckoning?Speed Read Wayne Couzen’s guilty plea doesn’t ‘tidy away the reality of sexual violence’
