Girl aged 12 is bishop for 45 minutes
And other stories from the stranger side of life

A 12-year-old girl became a bishop for 45 minutes as part of a quirky tradition at Salisbury Cathedral. Chorister Isabel Moss donned the bishop’s cope, mitre and ring and carried the staff to lead a service at the cathedral on Sunday. She sat in the intricately carved Cathedra – or bishop’s throne – to deliver a sermon and lead the choir and congregation in prayer. The tradition dates back to medieval times.
Climber given plane crash jewels
A mountaineer has been given the jewels he found on a French glacier 50 years after plane crash. The collection of emeralds, rubies and sapphires, which has been buried for decades on a glacier off France’s Mont Blanc, has been shared between the climber who discovered them and local authorities, eight years after they were found. The local mayor said he was “very happy” with the move and praised the climber for his “integrity” in turning his find in to police.
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.
Man hid giant model railway
A man who spent eight years building Britain’s biggest model railway kept his girlfriend in the dark about his epic 200ft project, fearing it might scare her away. Simon George, 53, told the BBC: “When I first met her she didn’t know I was building this. She knew I leased a mill with a huge basement but I kind of led her to believe I was a wine merchant because that sounded cooler than building a model railway.” He added that she was “shocked” when she discovered the truth.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Southern barbecue: This year’s top three
Feature A weekend-only restaurant, a 90-year-old pitmaster, and more
-
Film reviews: Anemone and The Smashing Machine
Feature A recluse receives an unwelcome guest and a pioneering UFC fighter battles addiction
-
Music reviews: Geese, Jeff Tweedy, and Mariah Carey
Feature “Getting Killed,” “Twilight Override,” and “Here for It All”
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
Missionaries using tech to contact Amazon's Indigenous people
Under the radar Wealthy US-backed evangelical groups are sending drones to reach remote and uncontacted tribes, despite legal prohibitions
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago