People caught not wearing masks in Indonesia made to dig graves

And other stories from the stranger side of life

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People caught not wearing a face mask in Indonesia have been made to dig graves for people who died of Covid-19, as a punishment and deterrent. When eight people were caught flouting rules in Gresik regency, east Java, a local official gave them the novel punishment. “There are only three available grave diggers at the moment, so I thought I might as well put these people to work for them,” he said.

Octogenerian completes Earth circumference walk

An 88-year-old man who has walked 24,900 miles will finish the final mile next month of a distance equivalent to the circumference of the Earth. Brad Hathaway of Massachusetts said his doctor encouraged him to start walking in his mid-50s when he was facing various health issues. “I'm one mile to 24,901 and that's around the Earth at the equator,” Hathaway said.

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Seagull dyed blue confuses locals

A “tropical” bird turned out to be a seagull that someone had died electric blue. When the bird was spotted in a car park in Carlisle, the onlookers assumed it was a rare type of bird. However, when RSPCA welfare officers were called, they noticed that its familiar shape. “We just don’t know what happened with this poor bird,” said a spokesman.

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