Secret files reveal the UK’s hotspots for UFO sightings
And other stories from the stranger side of life

RAF files showing the top UK hotspots for spotting UFOs have been released following a Freedom of Information request. The paperwork lists more than 620 sightings across the UK between 1959 and 2009. London and Kent are the top spots, followed by Derbyshire, Lancashire and Essex. Most of the sightings were between 8pm and 1am.
Aquarium requests video calls for lonely eels
An aquarium in Japan has asked people to video-call its eels to keep them company during lockdown. After noticing the eels were looking sad, bosses at Tokyo’s Sumida Aquarium are launching a three-day “emergency event”, known as the “face-showing festival”, in order to prevent the fish from “forgetting the existence of humans”. People are asked to wave or call out to the eels for five minutes at a time, during two time slots a day.
Leicester man becomes oldest to cross Atlantic alone
A 72-year-old man from Leicester has claimed the world record for the oldest person to row across the Atlantic solo. Graham Walters nearly missed out on the accolade after he was blown off course six miles from shore, and was forced to call for help from the coastguard just off Antigua. He said he will not attempt the crossing again, adding: “I am sad in a way that it was the last one.”
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