McCartney says ‘Paul is dead’ theory was ‘great publicity’
And other news from the stranger side of life

Sir Paul McCartney says the conspiracy theory that he died and was replaced by a body double on the cover of Abbey Road was “great publicity”. The former Beatle says although the theory “didn’t make sense” it did not trouble him. “People said: ‘what do you want to do about this?’” he remembers. “I said: ‘Just leave it. It’s great publicity for the album. I put a statement out saying: ‘I’m not dead.”
Mummified man died after eating only grasshoppers
A mummified man who lived in Texas 1,400 years ago died of extreme constipation after eating only grasshoppers for several months. Scientists who have been experimenting on the mummified remains of the man say he probably embarked on the diet after an infection made his colon swell up to six times its normal size. One of the researchers said grasshoppers are “high in protein” and “pretty high in moisture”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Peruvian cops adopt Santa disguise for drug raid
Police in Peru dressed up as Santa Claus and an elf to capture a suspected cocaine dealer. Reuters says the tactic of launching drug raids using operatives in costumes is a common and successful tactic of Peruvian police to bring an element of surprise. Police say they found hundreds of small bags that appeared to contain drugs, a revolver and a balaclava.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Chas Newkey-Burden has been part of The Week Digital team for more than a decade and a journalist for 25 years, starting out on the irreverent football weekly 90 Minutes, before moving to lifestyle magazines Loaded and Attitude. He was a columnist for The Big Issue and landed a world exclusive with David Beckham that became the weekly magazine’s bestselling issue. He now writes regularly for The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, Metro, FourFourTwo and the i new site. He is also the author of a number of non-fiction books.
-
5 invigoratingly funny cartoons about healing the economy
Cartoons Artists take on surgical precision, going under the knife, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Adjapsandali: Georgian-style ratatouille recipe
The Week Recommends Twist on the authentic recipe offers bursts of garlic and spices
By The Week UK Published
-
Gaza: the killing of the paramedics
In the Spotlight IDF attack on ambulance convoy a reminder that it is 'still possible to be shocked by events in Gaza'
By The Week UK Published
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published