Cancer makes man develop an Irish accent
And other stories from the stranger side of life
A rare form of prostate cancer caused an American man in his 50s to suddenly speak with an Irish accent, reported Science Alert. Foreign accent syndrome (FAS) is a rare speech disorder that can cause a person to suddenly speak in a different accent with their pronunciation transforming in ways that resemble another dialect or style. In 2018, a woman from Arizona awoke “speaking like Mary Poppins”, noted the outlet.
Janitor locked in cell for three days
A janitor said she prayed when she spent three nights accidentally locked inside a holding cell, reported Fox News. Libia Vargas De Dinas, 72, was cleaning an inmate holding cell at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, Florida, when “the door shut behind her and she was unable to open it”, said police. She had no food but was able to drink from a tap above the cell’s toilet. “I prayed to God that he would take care of my health, body, mind, soul and spirit,” she said after her release.
Hole in King’s sock noted during mosque visit
King Charles appeared to have a hole in his sock during visit to a Brick Lane mosque. The small hole in the black sock on his right foot was visible as he “took off his shoes to adhere to custom”, said The Telegraph. The “thrifty King has long eschewed fashion trends”, said the paper, but “royal aides might be advised that His Majesty needs a new pair of socks”.
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.
For more odd news stories, sign up to the weekly Tall Tales newsletter.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Chas Newkey-Burden has been part of The Week Digital team for more than a decade and a journalist for 25 years, starting out on the irreverent football weekly 90 Minutes, before moving to lifestyle magazines Loaded and Attitude. He was a columnist for The Big Issue and landed a world exclusive with David Beckham that became the weekly magazine’s bestselling issue. He now writes regularly for The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, Metro, FourFourTwo and the i new site. He is also the author of a number of non-fiction books.
-
Why are micro-resolutions more likely to stick?In the Spotlight These smaller, achievable goals could be the key to building lasting habits
-
What will happen in 2026? Predictions and eventsIn Depth The new year could bring peace in Ukraine or war in Venezuela, as Donald Trump prepares to host a highly politicised World Cup and Nasa returns to the Moon
-
Why is Trump’s alleged strike on Venezuela shrouded in so much secrecy?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Trump’s comments have raised more questions than answers about what his administration is doing in the Southern Hemisphere
-
How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
-
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
-
King Charles strips Andrew of ‘prince’ titleSpeed Read He will now be known only as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor
-
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