Cat saves 83-year-old who fell down ravine
And other stories from the stranger side of life

An 83-year-old woman was rescued from a ravine in Cornwall after her cat’s “persistent” cries led search teams to her location. Emergency crews were alerted to the injured woman, who had fallen more than 20 metres, by her pet Piran, who was meowing from the corner of a large field near her home. The woman was taken to hospital in a stable condition. Bodmin Police said Piran “saved the day”.
Influencer wins shed of the year contest
A cocktail bar has won Shed Of The Year, beating more than 300 other entries including a bra-fitting boutique and a fairytale castle. Social media influencer Danielle Zarb-Cousin’s 1970s-inspired cocktail bar was declared the winner of the competition, which comes with a £1,000 prize. She said the shed became a place she could “go and write and not be disturbed” after moving back in with her parents during lockdown.
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.
Tutankhamun’s mask ‘not made for him’
Experts say that ancient Egyptian emperor King Tutankhamun’s gold death mask may not have been made for him but rather for a different ruler. Archaeologists say the mask may originally have been intended for Queen Neferneferuaten, as her royal name (Ankhkheperure) was witnessed in a partly erased tablet on the inside of the mask. “It now seems as if Tutankhamun's own face was effectively grafted onto the mask of the previous ruler,” said one.
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
-
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 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
-
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