Strange but true

Propaganda’s influence
Russian teachers were fooled into wearing tin foil hats by a prankster who claimed the hats would protect them from a Nato plot. The joke was masterminded by a Belarusian activist seeking to show how deeply Russians have been brainwashed by Kremlin propaganda. He sent letters to teachers in the Voronezh region, urging them to make “Helmets of the Fatherland” that would offer protection against Nato satellites seeking to irradiate the Russian people. Teachers promptly made the hats, and photographed themselves wearing them, in front of portraits of Vladimir Putin.
Strongman’s injury claim
A champion strongman was filmed pulling an eight tonne tractor less than two weeks after filing a large insurance claim for a debilitating whiplash injury. Scott Maw, 36, told his GP that a car crash had left him struggling to carry shopping and even to get in and out of the bath, but the extent of his injuries was contested after he was seen competing in the Peak District Highland Games, where he pulled the tractor, lifted 165kg rocks and was named King of the Log Press. He has now dropped his claim.
Very youthful prodigy
A three year old Indian boy has become the youngest rated chess player in history. Anish Sarkar, who turns four in January, was given a rating of 1555 – higher than many adult players – by the International Chess Federation, after a recent tournament in his home city of Kolkata. The highest rating ever achieved – 2882 – was given to Magnus Carlsen in 2014. Anish learnt to play chess after seeing a boy playing it on a train. His mother says she has tried to steer him towards the simpler joys of Peppa Pig, but he is not interested.
The prankster
Marlon Brando could be quite the prankster. For years, Jack Nicholson pestered Brando, wanting to buy his house. Eventually, Brando told him that he would sell – on one condition: “You have to have $15 million in a bag at the end of my driveway in three days.” But it was a Friday, and all the banks were shut. So Nicholson spent the entire weekend calling in favours, until finally he had the cash together. Then he rang Brando to tell him that he would be bringing it over. Brando replied “Hey, Jack. What is it today?” “1 April,” came the reply.
The rare believers
Nine per cent of British adults think that the Cop29 conference will result in major action to tackle climate change, according to a recent Yougov poll.
Bons mots
“Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.” – Samuel Butler, novelist, UK

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