World Cup winner Roberto Carlos plays for Shrewsbury pub team
And other stories from the stranger side of life
The Brazilian World Cup winner Roberto Carlos made an unlikely return to the game, swapping the yellow of Brazil for the red shirt of an English pub team. The retired left-back made an appearance for Bull in the Barne United in the village of Hanwood, near Shrewsbury, after the team won a charity “Dream Transfer” raffle on eBay. Although Carlos scored, Bull in the Barne still suffered a 4-3 defeat at the hands of fellow Shrewsbury and District Sunday Football League side Harlescott Rangers, noted Irish sports site The 42.
False claims of ‘crisis actors’ go viral
Claims that the invasion of Ukraine is a “hoax” have gone viral, reported the BBC. A video showing a woman and man having fake blood applied to their faces has been widely shared as “proof” that the war in Ukraine is a “hoax” and civilian victims are actually “crisis actors”, said the broacaster’s Reality Check team. However, the video was shot in 2020 on the production set of a Ukrainian TV series called Contamin and has no connection to the current conflict.
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.
Ed Sheeran ‘best artist to get your dogs to sleep’
Ed Sheeran’s songs are the most calming for dogs, according to a new study. Researchers analysed the top sleep playlists on Spotify to find the best sounds for sleepy canines. Sheeran was named the best artist to send dogs to sleep, with his acoustic song The Joker and the Queen said to be particularly effective. Taylor Swift and John Mayer came in second and third place, noted The Daily Mirror.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Farage’s £9m windfall: will it smooth his path to power?In Depth The record donation has come amidst rumours of collaboration with the Conservatives and allegations of racism in Farage's school days
-
The issue dividing Israel: ultra-Orthodox draft dodgersIn the Spotlight A new bill has solidified the community’s ‘draft evasion’ stance, with this issue becoming the country’s ‘greatest internal security threat’
-
Codeword: December 13, 2025The daily codeword puzzle from The Week
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN 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 citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted