The world of news can sometimes be stranger than fiction. From a famous lighter company turning its attention to America’s cannabis market to a museum deliberately covering its floor with peanut butter, the past week has produced plenty of unusual headlines.
Here are some of the stories that stood out for their humour, surprise and sheer oddness.
BIC Brings Back a Classic Slogan for Cannabis Culture
French company BIC, best known for pens, razors and disposable lighters, is looking to expand its lighter business in the United States by tapping into the country’s growing legal cannabis market.
The company is reviving its famous “Flick my Bic” slogan from the 1970s as part of its new marketing strategy. It has also brought celebrities associated with cannabis culture, including Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson and Martha Stewart, into its advertising campaign.
BIC’s leadership sees the growing number of US states where marijuana is legal as a significant commercial opportunity.
‘South America’ Becomes South Park’s Latest Joke
US President Donald Trump has continued to make headlines with suggestions about changing geographical names, including references to New Mexico and the Strait of Hormuz.
The idea has provided plenty of material for satirists. The animated comedy series South Park took aim at the naming controversies with its own tongue-in-cheek announcement.
The show’s creators joked that, inspired by technology companies, they would rename South Park “South America”. It is another example of the programme using absurd humour to comment on political developments.
Rotterdam Museum Turns Peanut Butter Into Art
One of the week’s most unusual art experiences took place in the Netherlands, where a museum covered its floor with almost 400 kilograms of peanut butter.
The messy installation at the Boijmans van Beuningen museum in Rotterdam was a tribute to artist Wim T. Schippers, who died this year. The artwork remained on display for two months.
The unusual exhibition had some unexpected consequences. According to the museum, 48 visitors accidentally stepped into the peanut butter, while five phones were dropped into the sticky artwork.
There was even an apparent licking incident involving a child who seemingly could not resist the giant spread.
French Mayor Declares War on Tiger Mosquitoes
In France, one mayor decided to tackle an annoying summer problem with an unusually worded decree.
Olivier Joly, mayor of Saint-Just Saint-Rambert, jokingly announced a ban on tiger mosquitoes flying over the town after residents struggled to enjoy their traditional outdoor evening aperitif.
The Asian tiger mosquito has become a growing nuisance in parts of Europe, particularly during hot weather. The mayor’s mock legal threat was intended to draw attention to the problem and encourage residents to take the mosquito invasion seriously.
When Everyday Problems Become Unusual Headlines
These stories may seem unrelated, but they share one thing: they show how ordinary subjects can produce extraordinary news.
A lighter becomes part of a cannabis marketing strategy, a political naming dispute becomes television satire, peanut butter turns into museum art, and mosquitoes become the target of a mayoral “ban.”
Together, they offer a lighter side of the news cycle—and a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected stories are the ones people remember.