Stop saying ‘hello’ orders Indian state
And other stories from the stranger side of life
Civil servants have been told to stop saying “hello” in the Indian state of Maharashtra, reported The Times. The state government, which said “hello” is too bland and western, told civil servants they should greet the public with “vande mataram” or “I bow to thee, oh motherland”. The state, including its largest city Mumbai, is ruled by Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, who is looking to assert “the cultural supremacy of the Hindu faith and Indian tradition,” said the paper.
Tallest living domestic cat honoured
A US man’s 18.83-inch tall pet was awarded the Guinness World Records title of the tallest living domestic cat. Fenrir, a Savannah cat belonging to William John Powers of Michigan, is not the first cat in the family to land such an honour. Powers said Fenrir’s brother, Arcturus, was previously awarded the same title when he was officially measured at 19.05 inches in 2016. Two other cats owned by Powers have won Guinness World Records, noted UPI.
Lidl to melt its chocolate bunnies
Lidl has been ordered to destroy its chocolate bunnies after it lost a court scrap with Lindt, reported Sky News. Switzerland’s highest court agreed with the posh chocolate maker that its gold-wrapped Easter rabbit deserved copyright protection from a similar product sold by the budget supermarket chain. Earlier this year, Marks and Spencer fought a chocolate copyright battle with Aldi after claiming the Cuthbert cake was too similar to its own Colin the Caterpillar.
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.
For more odd news stories, sign up to the weekly Tall Tales newsletter.
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
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'New arrivals are more than paying for themselves'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
6 stylish homes in Portland, Oregon
Feature Featuring a wall of windows in Collins View and a historic ballroom in Portland Heights
By The Week US Published
-
What's next for US interest rates?
The Explainer Stubborn inflation forestalls anticipated rate cuts
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
-
Pope aide under fire for 'mystical orgasms' book
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Angel' visits woman before lottery win
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Café forced to shut after complaints about noise from 'clinking teacups'
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published