offbeat

Boy sends card to grandad in heaven, and gets reply

A 5-year-old boy couldn’t get over the death of his grandfather, so attached a card to a helium balloon. His parents were surprised to find a box in the post shortly after.

Police

Police send helicopter to rescue Papa Smurf

A police helicopter and patrol cars were called to assist a 'lifeless body' in Düsseldorf that turned out to be less of an emergency than they expected.

Travel

Hot-air balloon makes shocking landing

A hot air balloon landing caused a four-hour power outage when it became entangled with a power line while landing on Monday night near Kevelear in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

balloon

Hot air balloons take off for German championship

Hot air balloon pilots from around the world are in Frankenthal, in the Pfalz over the long weekend, competing for the German Hot Air Balloon Piloting Championships.