Panda wrestles intruder at Chinese zoo - video
Man escaped with torn trousers after reportedly trying to impress female friends - and other tall tales
Our pick of the strange stories from around the world.
Bear-knuckle fighting
An unidentified man has been caught on camera wrestling with a giant panda at a zoo in Nanchang City, China. The man, who reportedly climbed into the animals' enclosure to impress his female companions, was approaching 12-year-old Mei Ling when the animal woke up and grabbed him by the legs. The intruder escaped with torn trousers and left the zoo before officials could locate him.
Subscribe to 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.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_original","fid":"102791","attributes":{"class":"media-image"}}]]
Man changes name to 'iPhone 7'
A man has officially changed his name to iPhone 7 in order to win one of the Apple phones. A competition in Ukraine offered the prize to the first five people to rename themselves. The 20-year-old man, formerly known as Olexander Turin, said the decision made good financial sense: a new iPhone 7 costs about £700 in Kiev, while the cost of changing his name was £1.60.
Inmate avoids execution by buying sperm
A woman on death row for drug offences in Vietnam avoided being executed by purchasing sperm from another prisoner and artificially inseminating herself. Nguyen Thi Hue, 42, reportedly paid around £1,900 for a small bag of semen and a syringe. Under Vietnamese law, women on death row who give birth have their sentences commuted to life in prison.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Women are getting their own baseball league again
In the Spotlight The league is on track to debut in 2026
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Giant TVs are becoming the next big retail commodity
Under the Radar Some manufacturers are introducing TVs over 8 feet long
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
When will mortgage rates finally start coming down?
The Explainer Much to potential homebuyers' chagrin, mortgage rates are still elevated
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Zoos offer cockroach naming and hippo poo candles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
NHS tells Scots to walk like penguins
Tall Tales Walk like penguins in the snow, says NHS
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Experts discover why dogs wag their tails
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Peruvian 'aliens' aren't really aliens
Tall Tales And other stories from stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman accidentally puts nan in washing machine
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Thieves who stole shopping bag in for big disappointment
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Couple sues after ‘farting dog’ ruins flight
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Luton Airport bendy buses join Ukraine war effort
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published