From pizza pranks to humanoid robots: 7 stories you missed
From pizza pranks to humanoid robots, the past week delivered a global grab bag of bizarre headlines you may have missed. A Polish man faces up to eight years over hundreds of fraudulent pizza orders, while dancing humanoid robots stole the show at Beijing's World Robot Games. Viral moments also included a record-breaking skateboarder, a controversial baby name, and Glasgow locals pranking a Batman film set.
Key Takeaways
- A 23-year-old Polish man was arrested after ordering up to 300 bogus pizzas worth more than 37,000 zlotys, using victims' personal details and threatening messages.
- California's Judi Oyama, 66, extended her Guinness World Record as the oldest female competitive skateboarder.
- Humanoid robots competed in a dance contest on August 25 at the World Robot Games in Beijing.
- Glasgow residents kept smuggling Irn-Bru cans onto The Batman: Part II set despite nightly security sweeps.
- A Virginia woman won a $1.72 million lottery prize during her lunch break.
Why is a Polish man facing eight years over pizza deliveries?
Police say a 23-year-old from Szczecin thought it would be funny to flood random addresses with pizza orders. Poland's Central Bureau for Combatting Cybercrime arrested him on suspicion of stalking, identity fraud, and causing massive financial losses.
The orders included detailed personal information about victims and alarming threats, such as abducting a minor, causing road accidents, and setting fires to workplaces. Recipients were left frightened and confused when deliveries arrived uninvited.
The prank mainly targeted Szczecin but spread to Krakow, Wroclaw, and Warsaw. Restaurants also absorbed heavy losses fulfilling bogus orders. In one case, the man ordered up to 300 pizzas worth more than 37,000 zlotys. His motives remain unknown, according to Mid-Day.
How did a 66-year-old skateboarder break her own world record?
Judi Oyama of California has extended her title as the oldest female competitive skateboarder. Guinness World Records confirmed her participation in the International Slalom Skateboarding World Championships last November beat her own 2024 mark, earning her a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records 2027.
Oyama, who has skateboarded since age 13, told Guinness: "I feel like I have raced to my best each year, but know that as I age I don't need to prove anything." She started competing professionally in 1975 and was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in 2018.
What other viral stories made headlines this week?
American influencer Conley Harris Thompson sparked online debate after revealing on Instagram that she named her baby girl Bindi. Commenters mocked the choice, with one asking, "What if I named my kid necklace?"
Across the UK, AI-generated images and videos of Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat are frightening teenagers on Instagram. The clips show the character stalking streets at night with menacing captions. Authorities have confirmed the footage is fake.
The late Dolly Parton's former California cottage, where she escaped for a decade, is listed for $2 million. Owner Cris Lapp hopes the buyer is a devoted fan. More odd tales like these often surface in our Bizarre World coverage.
Why were Glasgow residents hiding soda cans on a Batman film set?
With Glasgow standing in for Gotham during filming of The Batman: Part II, locals reportedly smuggled cans of Irn-Bru onto the Bothwell Street set. They placed them at hot dog stands and in bins, forcing security to search the area each night.
New cans kept appearing the next day as residents tried to sneak Scotland's iconic soft drink into the blockbuster. The 2028 film stars Robert Pattinson and Scarlett Johansson.
What happened with humanoid robots and a lottery winner?
Jaws dropped on August 25 as humanoid robots competed in a dance competition during the World Robot Games in Beijing. The performance highlighted how quickly robotic entertainment is moving from labs into public spectacle.
Meanwhile, a woman from Virginia discovered during her lunch break that she had won a lottery prize of $1.72 million. For most workers, lunch breaks yield little more than a quick meal or a scroll through social media.