Paperboy, 80, delays retirement thanks to e-bike
And other stories from the stranger side of life

An 80-year-old paperboy has postponed his retirement after receiving the gift of an electric bike. George Bailey, who delivers newspapers around the village of Headcorn in Kent, said his e-bike had given him a “new lease of life”. He made headlines last month when he announced he was retiring - prompting a bike company to offer him the new vehicle.
Robot vacuum cleaners 'drunk' after update
Owners of Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners have reported that appliances are acting “drunk” after a faulty software update messed up the robots’ circuits. One Roomba owner said: “It works, but it basically now behaves like it’s had a stroke and has no idea where it is most of the time.” Another complained: “These robots looks drunk since the update.” The manufacturer, iRobot, says it will release a new update to address the issue.
Subscribe to 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.
Alligator heads seized in Birmingham
Dozens of alligator heads have been seized after a police search of a house in Birmingham. West Midlands police said: “We received information that the heads were being imported from abroad illegally and sold on through eBay to buyers all around the world at a large profit to the seller.” A 44-year-old man has been voluntarily interviewed.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Helsinki's year of zero road fatalities
Under the Radar Finland's 'Vision Zero' safety strategy 'shifts responsibility for crashes from road users to the designers of the road system'
-
Critics' choice: Outstanding new Japanese restaurants
Feature An all-women sushi team, a 15-seat listening bar, and more
-
Why do Dana White and Donald Trump keep pushing for a White House UFC match?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The president and the sports mogul each have their own reasons for wanting a White House spectacle
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
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
-
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
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law