Our pick of the strange stories from around the world.
Schoolchildren suspended after 'happy crack' sugar bust
Article continues belowThe 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.
Man arrested for pranking 911
Police have arrested a man after he called emergency services to ask how many legs an octopus has. John Dargan Barron, 69, of Ohio, was cautioned for misusing 911 - but then called back 30 minutes later to ask if the Russian alphabet was the same as the English one. When officers went to his home, Barron greeted them without any trousers on. He was arrested and taken to jail, but refused to get out of the patrol car, claiming he was stuck in the back seat. Police say alcohol may have been a factor.
Officer shoots himself fighting off rabid raccoon
A US Park Police officer is recovering in hospital after accidentally shooting himself in the foot while fighting off a rabid raccoon. The officer was attacked by the animal in north-west Washington and fired his weapon in an attempt to kill it. He was airlifted to hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. The raccoon was killed by a second officer.