Castro’s ‘assassination-prevention cigar box’ to be auctioned
And other stories from the stranger side of life

Personal items belonging to Fidel Castro and Che Guevara are to be auctioned off in Jersey. The lots will include the Cuban leader’s “assassination-prevention cigar box” which only he and his closest security team could touch, which is estimated to be worth £30,000. Che Guevara’s personal water bottle from the Cuban revolution, signed by the revolutionary, is estimated to be worth around £10,000, said ITV News.
Largest-ever Jaffa Cake is served
The world’s largest Jaffa Cake, which weighs 80kg and is nearly two metres wide, has been created by a former winner of The Great British Bake Off. Frances Quinn mixed mix 160 eggs, 8kg of dark chocolate and 15kg of orange jelly to create the cake, said Sky News. The cake was baked in celebration of the 15th anniversary of Britain’s Got Talent and was served to 300 guests and crew at the talent contest’s live semi-finals outside the Eventim Apollo in London.
Witch cleared after three centuries
A woman who was convicted of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts, has had her name cleared after more than three centuries. Lawmakers in Massachusetts have legally pardoned Elizabeth Johnson Jr, the final accused “witch” to be cleared, reported Fox News. She was convicted and sentenced to death in 1693. The move came after a group of eighth-graders began researching the legislative steps needed to exonerate Johnson Jr.
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
-
Today's political cartoons - April 13, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - waiting it out, hiring freeze, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 cracking cartoons about broken nest eggs
Cartoons Artists take on plummeting value, sound advice, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Mental health: a case of overdiagnosis?
Talking Point
By The Week UK Published
-
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 Published
-
'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 Published
-
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 Published
-
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 Published
-
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 Published
-
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 Published
-
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 Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published