Our pick of the strange stories from around the world.
Fishy signs at the Rio Olympics
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'Painted turtles' turning up in Florida
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has reminded residents that it is illegal to paint the shells of turtles and tortoises after a number of animals turned up in recent weeks sporting newly painted shells. Officials say painting the turtles is not a "harmless prank" as it makes them easier to spot as prey and may have long-lasting health effects.
Italian police cook pasta for lonely OAPs
Four police officers cooked pasta and parmesan for an elderly couple in Rome after neighbours reported crying coming from their home. Jole, 84, and Michele, 94, said nobody had visited them for months and were feeling sad by the state of the world. In a poetic post on Facebook, police said: "It is not always an easy life. Especially when the city is empty and the neighbours are away on vacation. Sometimes the loneliness melts into tears. Sometimes it's like a summer storm. It comes suddenly and overtakes one."
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‘Care fractures after birth’instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
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Shots fired in the US-EU war over digital censorshipIN THE SPOTLIGHT The Trump administration risks opening a dangerous new front in the battle of real-world consequences for online action
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What will the US economy look like in 2026?Today’s Big Question Wall Street is bullish, but uncertain
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How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
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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
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Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
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Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
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Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
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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
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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
