Raccoons besiege home

A woman in Poulsbo, Washington state, the US, called 911 after around 100 aggressive raccoons invaded her property, expecting to be fed. Having left some food for some resident raccoons for 35 years, the woman was surprised when the population swelled to over 100, leading to increasingly demanding behaviour from the new raccoons. They surrounded her car and scratched at her home, preventing her from leaving.

While feeding wild animals isn’t illegal, officials warn it can lead to dependency and health risks. After the woman stopped feeding them, the raccoon numbers decreased, allowing her to regain access to her property.

Official passport issued for Paddington bear

Britain’s Home Office has issued an official passport for Paddington Bear in response to a request from the makers of the upcoming film Paddington in Peru.

Rob Silva, the film’s co-producer, shared that they sought a replica passport for the movie, and to their surprise, the Home Office granted Paddington an official one-of-a-kind passport. The document features Paddington’s photo, his June 25 birthday, his birthplace in Peru, and they listed him simply as “Bear.” Paddington in Peru, the third film in the franchise, is set to be released on January 17, 2025.

World’s smallest functional excavator fits in palm

The Nano Tracks N320 is a miniature, remote-controlled excavator that is 1/64 the size of a real excavator, but is fully functional. It features six independent motors for precise movement and electronic controls, allowing users to operate it like a real excavator.

Founded by Jonathan Abbott, the project began when he couldn’t find miniature excavators online and decided to build one himself. After experimenting with materials, he developed the durable Nano Tracks N320 prototype, which took 2,300 hours to create.

Most rice grains eaten with chopsticks in a minute

A woman from Bangladesh, Sumaiya Khan, set a Guinness World Record by using chopsticks to eat 37 grains of rice in one minute, lifting one grain at a time.

The 24-year-old has been using chopsticks for all her meals for a few years, inspired by her love for ramen and Korean culture. After a co--worker suggested she try to break the previous record of 27 grains, Khan easily surpassed it.

She expressed her pride and joy in achieving the record, stating, “It feels surreal... I’m honoured and blessed.”

Published in Dawn, Young World, November 23th, 2024