Gust of wind makes woman pregnant
And other stories from the stranger side of life

A woman in Indonesia says she fell pregnant after an encounter with an intrusive gust of wind. Siti Zainah said: “After afternoon prayer, I was lying face down, and then suddenly I felt a gust of wind enter my vagina.” Just 15 minutes later, she said she felt pain in her stomach, which started to expand. She claims she was rushed to a clinic, where she immediately gave birth to a child. Local police said: “We don't want this matter to foster wild rumours among the public.”
Man with Harry Potter name curses his luck
A man whose name sounds like it is based on the Harry Potter saga says he is regularly accused of lying when he introduces himself to people. Griffin Dohr’s name is pronounced like the Hogwarts House, Gryffindor. When he shared his story on TikTok other people with memorable monikers replied. One said: “My sister Mary is married to a man named Brian Christmas. Her name is Mary Christmas.”
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.
Mafioso wins right to listen to music
A mafia boss in solitary confinement has won a legal fight to be allowed to listen to music in his cell. Domenico Strisciuglio, who is serving more than 20 years, fell foul of rules which allow the authorities to suspend certain prison regulations, with the aim of cutting inmates off completely from their criminal associates. However, after his lawyer made a legal challenge, judges have agreed that listening to music was part of his constitutionally guaranteed rights.
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
-
A running list of RFK Jr.'s controversies
In Depth The man atop the Department of Health and Human Services has had no shortage of scandals over the years
By Brigid Kennedy
-
Film reviews: Sinners and The King of Kings
Feature Vampires lay siege to a Mississippi juke joint and an animated retelling of Jesus' life
By The Week US
-
Music reviews: Bon Iver, Valerie June, and The Waterboys
Feature "Sable, Fable," "Owls, Omens, and Oracles," "Life, Death, and Dennis Hopper"
By The Week US
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
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
-
'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
-
The El Salvador mega-prison at the centre of Trump's deportation scheme
The Explainer Invoking a 1798 law, the US president has sent hundreds of alleged gang members to high-security prison called 'black hole of human rights'
By Abby Wilson
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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