Woman spots ‘crocodiles’ off Yorkshire coast
And other stories from the stranger side of life
A woman has claimed she spotted three crocodiles swimming off Yorkshire coast, reported the Daily Star. Sarah Craven and her family were holidaying at the Blue Dolphin caravan park in North Yorkshire, when they went for a walk up the cliffs and her son shouted “there’s crocodiles down there”. Craven said: “I saw front and back legs swimming at the side of two large crocodiles or alligators, and the long pointed tails were swishing behind them.” However, Angela Julian from the Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK, said: "These are definitely not crocodiles. It is extremely unlikely we would be seeing such tropical species in the North Sea.”
Brits have 84 bad days each year
British people on average suffer 84 “bad days” over the course of a year, or seven each month, according to a survey of 2,000 people. The causes of a bad day varied from individual to individual: 55% said sleeping poorly would do it, while 30% of respondents said “trying on clothes but finding nothing fits or looks good” would ruin the day. However, relaxing on the sofa with a favourite TV show was considered a great way to improve the day by 42% of respondents, noted The Times.
NZ bans ‘middle finger’ campaign
A health campaign in New Zealand, designed to help curb hepatitis C, has had a setback after TV ads showing people raising the middle finger was banned. The campaign features actors raising their middle finger to another person, before having their middle finger pricked for a blood test. The Advertising Standards Authority agreed with a complaint describing the imagery as “deeply offensive”, noted The Guardian. The complainant had said: “The gesture is long established as ‘sign language’ for a series of very rude words, in short ‘F*%$ You!’”
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.
For more odd news stories, sign up to the weekly Tall Tales newsletter.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
‘The economics of WhatsApp have been mysterious for years’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Will Democrats impeach Kristi Noem?Today’s Big Question Centrists, lefty activists also debate abolishing ICE
-
Is a social media ban for teens the answer?Talking Point Australia is leading the charge in banning social media for people under 16 — but there is lingering doubt as to the efficacy of such laws
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military
-
How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
-
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
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians