Our pick of the strange stories from around the world.
Chinese building looks like 'giant loo'
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Praying woman crashes car
A 28-year-old Florida woman drove her car into the side of a house while "praying with her eyes closed". The Okaloosa County Sheriff's department said the woman failed to break at a stop sign, careered through an intersection and crashed into the side of the house. When the woman tried to reverse out of the yard, the vehicle became bogged down in sand and she was forced to call the authorities for help.
Girl uses Kung Fu on prowler
An eight-year-old San Diego girl used a martial arts move to save herself from being kidnapped from her home. Police say an intruder broke into the house and entered the girl's bedroom while she was asleep. As the girl was being carried down the stairs, she struck out at the prowler, using what she called a "cheetah paw" strike. The would-be kidnapper fled the scene, prompting an extensive police search.
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Taking aim at Venezuela’s autocratFeature The Trump administration is ramping up military pressure on Nicolás Maduro. Is he a threat to the U.S.?
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Comey indictment: Is the justice system broken?Feature U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan has indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of lying and obstructing Congress
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Government shuts down amid partisan deadlockFeature As Democrats and Republicans clash over health care and spending, the shutdown leaves 750,000 federal workers in limbo
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Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
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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
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China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
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How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
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One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
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What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
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Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
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Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across SyriaTHE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
