Funny old world: the week's offbeat news

From a New York couple's "Higher Love" to how Norway's Viking hordes have already "won" the World Cup. Your weekly roundup of offbeat stories from around the world:

- Vikings shake the Earth anew -

Now the hard-partying Scots have been sent home with their kilts between their legs, the Norwegians have become the World Cup's new sweethearts thanks to the "Viking row".

Ranks of fans are literally rocking stadiums to their foundations mimicking their raiding ancestors pulling on the oars of their longboats.

Roaring "Row! Row! Row!" they rock back like their fearsome forefathers, fired up for some vigorous cultural exchange with the locals.

Seismologists recorded mini earthquakes in Oslo and Bergen from mass rowing after matches and fans have been going viral from doing their Viking thing in metro carriages, on escalators and in New York's Times Square. Even children in kindergartens and MPs in parliament have got in on the act.

It also helps that Norway's towering top scorer Erling Haaland looks like Thor, the Norse god of thunder.

"Seeing thousands rowing with you... gives you goosebumps," he told reporters after the win over Ivory Coast, where the team performed another Viking row on the pitch after getting a drum from the crowd.

Their Icelandic cousins cast a similar runic spell on the Euro 2016 tournament with their spine-tingling thunderclap that helped push the minnows into the last eight.

But some of Norway's Scandinavian neighbours are less than impressed.

"We just sigh when we see it," said Swedish defender Gustaf Lagerbielke. Teammate Elliot Stroud was equally dismissive. "It's a bit overplayed."

Which could also be a case of sour lingonberries, the Swedes having been sent home early after a 3-0 spanking from France.  

- Samurai slackers? -

It has been a rough week too for Japanese fans. Not only were they knocked out of the World Cup at the death by Brazil, but they have raised the hackles of women back home for their "performative" cleaning up after games.

Widely-shared images of Samurai Blue fans picking up trash won huge praise, with FIFA lauding their "impeccable manners".

"Please do it at home," a viral post shot back, adding that "Japanese men spend among the least time on housework internationally."

Indeed, statistics show they do precious little.

"Wives struggling with husbands who don't clean at all should make them wear Japan kits at home too," another added.

- Till NYPD do us part -

In what could be the most perilous marriage proposal ever, a man went down on one knee to his intended after they climbed to the top of the Empire State Building in New York.

The couple then embraced and kissed and in a final flourish unfurled a banner reading, "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace" from the antenna atop the 443-metre (1,454-foot) landmark.

But there was no romantic ending, with the pair spending the rest of their big day in the cells.

"Two individuals were taken into custody... Charges are pending," a New York police spokesman told AFP.

- It won't kill you... -

In France, there is no escaping death, taxes... and exams. 

Just because you have been rushed to hospital with a life-threatening heart condition, it doesn't mean you get out of sitting your final high school examination, the dreaded "Bac". 

Elyam Vignaud, 18, had his final test in a cardiac unit in Angouleme after doctors ruled that he wasn't well enough to leave the hospital.

Instead, the examiners came to him for his "grand oral", where he had to defend his dissertation in front of two teachers.

Having survived the test, Elyam now has only to wait till Tuesday for the results. 

burs-fg/kjm

© Agence France-Presse