Rowan Atkinson fireworks made locals think Cotswolds was under attack
And other stories from the stranger side of life

A fireworks display put on by Rowan Atkinson for his girlfriend’s 40th birthday “backfired” when local residents thought the local military base was under attack. The Times said the pyrotechnics in a “quiet Cotswolds valley” caused “terrified pets” to “flee into the night” and caused human residents to fear that “a heavy bomber group” might be “dropping their payload”. One resident said: “It completely startled me and was horrible. I just didn’t know what to do.”
Octogenarian priest becomes adult movie star
A former priest who has become a porn star at 83 has described sex with strangers on camera as “delightful”. The Daily Star said Norm Self made an unorthodox career move “from priesthood to pornhub” after he came out as gay following a 28-year marriage. Self said that filming porn in his eighties is like “having a party” and when asked whether he would participate in more saucy videos in future, he replied “absolutely”.
Man repeatedly calls 911 for Biden’s arrest
A man in Florida who repeatedly called 911 to say that President Joe Biden needed to be placed in jail was then arrested himself, according to deputies. The Pinellas County man was arrested for calling 911 dispatchers several times to say “President Biden needed to be placed into prison”, according to WFLA. Dispatchers told the caller that his comments were non-emergency related and he was asked not to ring 911 unless it was an emergency, but he kept ringing about the “exact same issue”, the report added.
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.
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