Our pick of the strange but true stories from around the world.
New foot patrol leaves police stunned
Lawyers sues over missing soup
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A lawyer in Texas has issued a local restaurant with a letter of demand seeking $2.25 (£1.54) for a portion of a meal that wasn't served, together with $250 (£171) in legal fees. Dwain Downing claims he didn't receive the soup he ordered as the restaurant had run out, nor was he offered a discount or a replacement item as part of his meal. "I don't want to make a big deal of this," he said. Restaurant owner Benji Arslanovski has refused to pay and has organised a charity food drive in response to the legal claim.
Man rescued after failed 'bubble run' to Bermuda
A man has been rescued by the US Coast Guard after attempting to run from South Florida to the Bermuda Triangle in an inflatable bubble. It was a second failed attempt for Reza Baluchi, whose "hydropod" bubble has been deemed "manifestly unsafe" by the authorities. Baluchi now faces a fine of up to $40,000 (£27,400) and seven years in prison for ignoring Coast Guard warnings.
-
Political cartoons for December 13Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include saving healthcare, the affordability crisis, and more
-
Farage’s £9m windfall: will it smooth his path to power?In Depth The record donation has come amidst rumours of collaboration with the Conservatives and allegations of racism in Farage's school days
-
The issue dividing Israel: ultra-Orthodox draft dodgersIn the Spotlight A new bill has solidified the community’s ‘draft evasion’ stance, with this issue becoming the country’s ‘greatest internal security threat’
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
