Woman travels 500 miles for driving test – and fails
And other stories from the stranger side of life

A woman travelled 500 miles by car and ferry to take what is regarded as the UK’s easiest driving test – and failed. Constance Kampfner travelled all the way from London to the Isle of Mull, having handpicked the test route after discovering it only consisted of one roundabout. But she was left disappointed after the test when her instructor told her: “I don’t like to talk about people who fail their tests. Think of it as just not passing.”
Tsunami-struck man swims for 24 hours
A Tongan man washed away by the tsunami drifted and swam between islands for more than 24 hours. Lisala Folau, a retired disabled carpenter, told Tongan radio station Broadcom FM that he swam and floated from his island of Atata via two other uninhabited islands to eventually reach the main island of Tongatapu, a total distance of around 13 kilometres. Erika Radewagen, an Olympic level swimming official from the Pacific, described Folau’s achievement as “absolutely amazing”.
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.
Burglar rescued from chimney
Firefighters in the US rescued a suspected home intruder after he found himself stuck inside a chimney. The resident of a home in Maryland heard a mysterious rustling and called the police, but officers left after finding no signs of an attempted break-in. The resident said that an hour later he heard moans coming from inside a wall and called the police again. Officers then discovered that an unknown man was trapped inside the house’s chimney.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Europe counters Putin ahead of Trump summit
Speed Read President Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this week for Ukraine peace talks
-
Trump sends FBI to patrol DC, despite falling crime
Speed Read Washington, D.C., 'has become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the world,' Trump said
-
Aug. 11 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday’s political cartoons include solar power shunned by Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin's appetite for Ukraine, and another distraction from the Epstein files
-
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