It’s very entertaining to dig up the oddity stories from around the world every Friday.
Europe
Britain
Former British paratrooper Karl Bushby began walking from Chile in 1998. His journey eventually covered more than 30,000 miles across 29 countries, including a crossing of the Bering Strait and a swim across the Caspian Sea. After being refused permission to walk through the Channel Tunnel, he received permission to swim the English Channel. He reached Britain in October 2026, completing the journey after 28 years
Germany
A 38-year-old man repeatedly attempted to steal a 30-kilogram decorative elephant from a hotel in Mainz. After several unsuccessful attempts, he finally dragged the statue from the entrance toward the nearby railway station. Hotel employees called police.
France
French police arrested four suspected thieves accused of jumping onto moving trucks travelling at speeds of up to 90 km/h, throwing electronics worth approximately $225,000 to accomplices in another vehicle, then escaping. Investigators tracked the suspects to Angers.
Asia
Japan
Eight Japanese and eight French-speaking authors boarded the luxury Mizukaze train in Kyoto on October 22. Their assignment was to collectively write a 200-page novel before reaching Matsue the following morning. The writers had less than 24 hours to complete the manuscript.
India
Police investigating an ATM burglary in Gandhari reviewed footage showing three masked suspects arriving in an ambulance, dressed in women’s pajamas. The group allegedly used cutting equipment to force open the ATM before escaping with cash. Investigators are examining whether the ambulance was part of the disguise.
Middle East
Turkey
Unusual, smooth, disc-shaped clouds appeared above the mountains of Hakkari province on October 20. The formations resembled flying saucers but were identified as lenticular clouds, which develop when moist air flows over mountainous terrain.
Africa
South Africa
South African freight operator Transnet assembled a train containing 696 empty wagons and stretching approximately 7.6 kilometres. The extraordinary formation completed its journey along the Sishen–Saldanha railway corridor on October 18.
Australia & Oceania
Australia
Angie Derrett and Corey Murtagh married on October 17 beneath Coffs Harbour’s famous Big Banana, becoming the first couple to hold a wedding at the landmark in its 62-year history. The bride arrived in a garbage truck, dressed as Alice from Alice in Wonderland. Her husband wore a costume combining the Mad Hatter and Willy Wonka. The bridesmaids also arrived in garbage trucks, and the reception followed a Mad Hatter’s tea-party theme.
For weeks, weather radars across southeastern Australia have displayed what appears to be widespread nighttime rainfall, even under cloudless skies. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology identified the cause: millions of migrating bogong moths. The insects take flight after sunset, producing radar echoes that resemble precipitation.
New Zealand
A 22-year-old Belgian man attempting a BASE jump from Auckland’s Hotel Indigo became stranded approximately 23 floors above the ground after his parachute malfunctioned. Firefighters rescued him, and police charged him with burglary in connection with alleged BASE-jumping incidents.
North America
Canada
Employees at a British Columbia library discovered that a dusty book without a barcode was actually a long-overdue library item. Its return date was 43 years in the past.
Brady Rogers ran for city council in Kelowna, British Columbia, with campaign signs advertising his age as “Under 60!” and the slogan “I Barely Want To Do This.” His campaign biography continued the joke by questioning his enthusiasm, experience and qualifications. He was one of 37 candidates in the October 17 election
United States
Police in Charlotte, North Carolina, stopped two men transporting an entire sofa balanced across two electric scooters. Officers photographed the improvised vehicle and reminded the public that creativity does not eliminate road-safety requirements.
A black bear arrived at a farmers market in Aspen, Colorado, while vendors were setting up. It helped itself to baked goods from a table before police drove it away. The bear subsequently climbed a tree before leaving the area.
In Leawood, Kansas, an officer encountered a small dog standing in the road at night, barking, with its leash trailing behind it.
The officer followed the dog to a nearby house, where he discovered the owner lying on the garage floor. The person had reportedly been stranded there for three hours before receiving medical assistance.
South America
Argentina
More than one million people entered an online queue hoping to buy tickets for two U2 concerts scheduled for March 2027 in Buenos Aires. Both performances at River Plate Stadium sold out. Organizers estimated that approximately 15 concerts would have been needed to accommodate the demand.
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