Villain in 2017 Asterix comic book was called Coronavirus

A character in an Asterix comic book was named after the coronavirus - three years before the deadly Wuhan outbreak. In Asterix and the Chariot Race, a masked villain taking part in the titular race was named Coronavirus. The popular comic book was published in 2017.

Man from 2050 says we are living in matrix

A man who insists he is a cyborg time traveller from 2050 says we are living in a simulation. “We are being kept down by a corporation,” says the man, known as Orrin. “They are lying to us through marketing schemes and propaganda to hate ourselves, to divide us based on gender, race, sexuality, identity and preference.”

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

Swami claims women who cook on period will be reborn as dogs

Women who cook while on their period will be reborn as dogs, according to an Indian religious leader. Krushnaswarup Dasji, a member of Swaminarayan sect of Hindus, has also warned men that they will come back as bullocks if they eat the food made by menstruating women.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For more outlandish tales and news to make you smile, sign up for our new Tall Tales email at theweek.co.uk/sign-up-for-the-tall-tales-email. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––