Story Archive

Now Scoot!

A “Saharan bubble” has sparked a heatwave scorching Europe, with temperatures hitting 45C (113F). That has led to some odd situations, from a forest fire caused by the spontaneous combustion of a pile of cow manure in Spain that has exceeded 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres), to what an unnamed man in Brandenburg, Germany, did. Police pulled the man over as he rode a motorized scooter down the street wearing a helmet and sandals — and nothing else. Just trying to stay cool, the man explained. Police said they were “speechless” — but took photos of the man, which they posted online, before they let him go with a warning. (RC/London Independent, London Evening Standard) ...“Warning: you should be wearing SPF 100 sunblock, especially on anything that doesn’t normally see much sunlight.”