Amazon algorithm suggests bomb-making ingredients

And other stories from the stranger side of life

Amazon merchandise in storage
Amazon is profiting from sellers who defraud UK taxpayers by failing to charge VAT, according to report
(Image credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Online retailer Amazon has announced it will be revising an algorithm on its website after an investigation found that the “frequently bought together” function was recommending bomb-making ingredients. Items such as ball bearings, remote detonators and chemicals were promoted to customers.

Father charged over clown mask prank

An Ohio man has been charged with inducing panic after donning a clown mask to scare his six-year-old daughter into behaving. The girl ran to a neighbour’s apartment saying a clown was chasing her. The neighbour fired a warning shot into the air and was found fighting with the father when police arrived.

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Instagram post leads to arrest

A man on the Texas ‘ten most wanted’ list has been arrested after posting a video of himself showing off his arsenal of weapons on Instagram. Police say metadata in the video of Christopher Gonzalez included the GPS coordinates of his location in Los Angeles, where he was detained after a short car chase.

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