From Germany’s latest teen sensation to the European Union’s leisurely approach to timekeeping, here is your weekly roundup of stories that are just a little too bizarre to be true.
No Leg to Stand On
Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is anything but shy—unless he’s standing legs akimbo in front of an open goal. During a tense face-off with Germany in the Nations League, he was so busy arguing with the referee that it seems he forgot he had a job to do. Enter stage left: 15-year-old ball boy Noel Urbaniak, who seized the moment, threw the ball to Joshua Kimmich, who passed it to Jamal Musiala, and voilà! An easy tap-in.
So now, Italy is out of the semi-finals, and millions of German fans are raising their glasses to young Urbaniak, whom Julian Nagelsmann, Germany’s manager, hailed as “world-class and unbelievably smart.” Donnarumma, on the other hand, might want to consider a career change—perhaps to a profession that doesn’t involve standing around idly like a statue when the stakes are high.
There Is a Monster
In Kansas, a babysitter faced a terrifying situation when a child insisted there was a monster under the bed. Determined to show the little one that monsters are merely figments of imagination, she bent down and came face-to-face with a man hiding there. Surprise! The “monster” was in fact a 27-year-old who was not only lurking but was also barred from the home by a restraining order. Classic case of taking “under your bed” too literally.
Needless to say, the babysitter’s reassurances about monsters went out the window, replaced by the more pressing concern of calling the police. Who knew that monsters also had a taste for crime?
Something Missing
Ever flown on a Boeing 787 with 270 people on board? You expect a pilot to be well-prepared, right? Apparently, not so much. A United Airlines pilot decided to skip an important pre-flight check and forgot—wait for it—his passport. So, the aircraft had to divert to San Francisco while the airline scrambled to find a replacement pilot. Talk about a “detour”!
After a rather unintentional sightseeing tour of California, the plane finally arrived in China the next day, six hours late. A lesson for all future pilots: check your pockets before takeoff, or risk becoming a global sensation for all the wrong reasons.
Not Quite Legit
In a plot twist straight out of a movie, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is currently embroiled in a trial concerning campaign financing from none other than the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Things took a surreal turn when the courtroom was disrupted by the arrest of a “fake lawyer.” You heard right—a “fake lawyer” had been lurking for two days, attempting to steal a real lawyer’s robes. The court couldn’t make this stuff up!
Sarkozy, meanwhile, who is currently under electronic surveillance for unrelated matters, is adamant that he never accepted a dime from Gaddafi. Well, if the courtroom drama doesn’t pan out, he can always add “expert in courtroom shenanigans” to his résumé.
No Time to Waste
As clocks prepare to spring forward in many parts of Europe, the EU is stumbling its way toward a “big time” decision regarding daylight saving time. Although the European Parliament has voted to bid adieu to this twice-yearly ritual, the machinery in Brussels moves slower than molasses in winter. Decisions are one thing; actions? That’s where the rubber meets the road—or perhaps where it stops altogether.
Irish lawmaker Sean Kelly is campaigning for the end of time changes, citing the adverse effects on human health—and animals, too. Apparently, even pets are getting anxious about the whole “fall back, spring forward” charade. Meanwhile, Lithuania is in a bit of a hurry, promising to prioritize the daylight saving change—when they take the presidency—in 2027. Just in time for the next grand clock revolution!
Know Any Offbeat News from the Past Seven Days?
We’d love to hear your gems! Share your quirkiest finds in the comments below or drop a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Because who doesn’t love a little insanity sprinkled throughout their week?
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By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
