Woman tries to buy a child at Walmart
And other stories from the stranger side of life
A Texas woman was arrested after she tried to purchase another woman’s child while waiting in a checkout queue at Walmart. Rebecca Taylor allegedly started to make comments about another customer’s two children before asking if she could buy one of them for $250,000. When the mother declined her offer, Taylor increased her bid to $500,000 and threatened to take the infant, according to local reports. She was charged with the third-degree felony of the sale or purchase of a child and was reportedly released from bail last week.
Teenage pilot breaks world records
A 19-year-old British-Belgian pilot has broken two Guinness World Records, including becoming the youngest woman to circumnavigate the globe solo. Zara Rutherford, 19, landed at Belgium’s Kortrijk-Wevelgem Airport after five months on Thursday, completing her 32,300-mile journey. She also became the first woman to circumnavigate the world in a microlight plane. “I would say the hardest part was definitely flying over Siberia – it was extremely cold,” she said.
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.
Stowaway survived 11-hour flight
Authorities in the Netherlands discovered a stowaway hiding in the nose wheel of a plane when it landed at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on Sunday morning. He had been hiding for more than 11 hours since the plane departed from Johannesburg, South Africa. The man, who is thought to be between 16 and 35 years old, was taken to hospital in a stable condition. “We were surprised upon finding this man but even more surprised at him being alive,” officials told CNN.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Today's political cartoons - October 20, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - Secret Service flaws, weather control, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 cartoon critiques of the Kamala Harris media blitz
Cartoons Artists take on 60 surrealist minutes, word salad, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Did the Covid virus leak from a lab?
The Explainer Once dismissed as a conspiracy theory, the idea that Covid-19 originated in a virology lab in Wuhan now has many adherents
By The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
A brief history of third parties in the US
In Depth Though none of America's third parties have won a presidential election, they have nonetheless had a large impact on the country's politics
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Modern royal scandals from around the world
The Explainer From Spain to the UAE, royal families have often been besieged by negative events
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published