Our pick of the strange stories from around the world.
Pumpkin-paddler sets new world record
A man has broken the world record for paddling a hollowed-out pumpkin down almost 26 miles of a river. Rick Swenson, of Minnesota, started his journey believing his target was a mere eight miles. Seven miles in, however, he received a text message saying someone else had set a new record of 15 miles, leaving him with a bigger challenge. Swenson says his feat became "really boring towards the end" of the journey, which took more than 13 hours.
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Bus driver beaten with frozen chicken
A bus driver and a female passenger are recovering after being beaten by a man with a bag of frozen chicken. Police say Caleb Russell, 27, of Chicago, reacted badly when the 48-year-old passenger rejected his advances. The driver was injured when he stepped in to break up the assault. Russell has been charged with aggravated battery. He has only recently been released from prison, following a 2014 conviction for threatening to blow up a different bus.
Meth lab busted twice in one month
Police in Vermont have raided a meth lab and arrested the man operating it for the second time in less than a month. Daniel Roy, 28, called firefighters when his stove burst into flames this week. They alerted police to signs of meth production and hewas arrested. His home had previously been raided in late September and he was out on bail following that arrest.
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Critics’ choice: Watering holes for gourmandsFeature An endless selection of Mexican spirits, a Dublin-inspired bar, and an upscale Baltimore pub
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Argentinian beef is at the center of American farmers’ woesThe Explainer ‘It feels like a slap in the face to rural America,’ said one farmer
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‘Businesses that lose money and are uncompetitive won’t survive’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
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Zoos offer cockroach naming and hippo poo candlesTall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
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NHS tells Scots to walk like penguinsTall Tales Walk like penguins in the snow, says NHS
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Experts discover why dogs wag their tailsTall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
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Peruvian 'aliens' aren't really aliensTall Tales And other stories from stranger side of life
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Woman accidentally puts nan in washing machineTall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
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Tourist sparks bomb alert after accidentally ordering a 'grenade'Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
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Couple sues after ‘farting dog’ ruins flightfeature And other stories from the stranger side of life
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Experts suggest the real-life Dracula was veganfeature And other stories from the stranger side of life
