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Offbeat
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Offbeat. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
Men repair a truck next to a replica of the Eiffel Tower in the village unofficially called Paris, in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. Photo: AFP
Asia travel

Paris, mountain truck stop in Central Asia with its own Eiffel Tower

A makeshift village in Kyrgyzstan offers food and warmth to truckers plying a dangerous north-south mountain road. But for how much longer?

Malaysia

In Malaysia, a mystery cash-filled suitcase finds its owner

Asia travel

Staged China rural scenes go viral, tourists pay US$40 to film them

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Animals

Scotland has no plans to ban cats, first minister says

A report from the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission had called for restrictions on cats to protect wildlife in ‘vulnerable areas’.

The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission urged ministers to explore introducing containment zones, within which there would be restrictions on cats. Photo: EPA-EFE
Asian cinema: Japanese films

Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki’s treasured car put on display

The Citroen 2CV, a French classic car, can be seen at Ghibli Park, with an original manga depicting how Miyazaki fell in love with it.

Malaysia

Malaysia fines Singapore woman who claimed Chinese tea sellers drugged her

Amyra Laila Ho, 45, claimed a couple selling Chinese tea had insisted she smell their tea leaves, which supposedly made her dizzy and stiff.

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Africa

‘Running for fun,’ Japanese tour guide pulls 100kg rickshaw across Africa

‘I couldn’t make it without you guys,’ Yuji ‘Gump’ Suzuki tells supporters after his six-month rickshaw pull from Nairobi to Cape Town.

Yuji “Gump” Suzuki with support team members near the end of his 6,400km rickshaw pull from Nairobi to Cape Town. Photo: AFP
UFOs and Extraterrestrial Life

US congressman says aliens exist under sea, large craft moves at incredible speeds

Congressman Tim Burchett says admiral told him about massive alien craft moving at ‘hundreds of miles an hour underwater’.

New Zealand

Cat from New Zealand left on plane in Australia flies there and back again

Mittens, 8, was only supposed to take a one-way flight from Christchurch to Melbourne. She ended up being airborne for over 10 hours.

Tourism

Sex and the City brownstone that’s a magnet for selfie takers to get a gate

Deterrent to tourists who take photos outside Manhattan brownstone where Carrie Bradshaw lived in Sex and the City approved by commission.

The Manhattan brownstone where Carrie Bradshaw lived in Sex and the City in New York. The city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission approved an application for a metal gate for the front staircase of the house to keep away tourists who endlessly trespass and pose for pictures. Photo: AP
Science

Scientists create ‘queen of explosives’ with Chinese steamed buns

Researchers have developed an unusual method for increasing the performance of the world’s most powerful non-nuclear explosive.

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Chinese steamed buns, known as mantou, have been used by scientists to boost the performance of the world’s strongest explosive. Photo: Shutterstock
Food and Drinks

Albino Trump lookalike in Punjab, Pakistan market a star

Sporting a blond quiff because of his albinism, pudding seller Saleem Bagga also sings to draw customers, who love taking selfies with him.

History

UK security service MI5 to reveal some of its secrets in exhibition

A World War II-era guide to tailing a target, and files on notorious double agents such as Kim Philby, feature in MI5: Official Secrets show.

Trending in China

Video | Cleaners in China go through tonnes of trash to retrieve man’s lost cash

The cleaners received some money as a token of appreciation.

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The cleaners received some money as a token of appreciation.
Art

New interest in viral Donald Trump as Buddha figures by Chinese sculptor

Sculptor Hong Jinshi’s Buddha-like Trump figures went viral in 2021, and since the US election are back in demand. His new focus? Elon Musk.

A sculpture of US president-elect Donald Trump in a pose evoking the Buddha. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Malaysia investigates viral video of cats being stuffed into sacks

One of the group of men caught on camera in the video denied allegations of animal abuse.

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Indonesia

Crocodile attack kills 5-year-old girl in Indonesia

The girl was last seen bathing in an abandoned tin-ore mining pond, rescuers say. Her body was found hours later.

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Australia

Court nullifies marriage after Australian bride thought it was Instagram ‘prank’

The woman said ‘we had to act to make it look real’ to help the groom monetise his social media page.

A couple in Australia had their marriage annulled after the bride said she did not genuinely consent. Photo: Shutterstock
Australia

Feeling the heat: bungling Australia arsonist sets trousers on fire

CCTV video shows a person in Melbourne engulfed in flames, who removes their burning clothes before running off.

Video gaming

‘Blandify’, ‘stroopwafel’ among new Oxford English Dictionary words

Other additions in the dictionary’s quarterly update include ‘non-player character’, ‘cheat code’, ‘snark’ and ‘three-dimensional chess’.

Asian cinema: Japanese films

Star face of low-alcohol beer fired over ‘unacceptable’ drunken escapade

Ryo Yoshizawa, who broke into his neighbour’s home while drunk on December 30, has had his contract with Asahi Breweries terminated.

Japanese actor Ryo Yoshizawa, who broke into his neighbour’s home while drunk on December 30, has been let go from his contract with Asahi Breweries. Photo: Instagram/oryojapon
Christmas

Don’t eat your Christmas tree, Belgians warned, after city posts food tips

The Ghent website had suggestions on how to recycle the conifers at the dinner table, such as by making flavoured butter with the needles.

An elephant eats a non-sold, untreated, leftover Christmas tree at a zoo in Berlin, Germany. Photo: EPA-EFE
Beauty

What’s on show at CES 2025? AI-powered beauty mirrors, robot dogs and more

A beauty mirror to tell you your skin woes? A lifelike robot puppy for those allergic to the real thing? The pick of the tech in Las Vegas.

Art

Artist’s vibrant viral Instagram works lift up crumbling district

Adel Yazdi has turned his neighbourhood in Shiraz, Iran into a vivid visual tapestry that many tourists are discovering through social media.

Australia

‘Everyone owns the beach,’ says Australian PM as cabana debate heats up

Portable cabanas used to reserve spots on Australian beaches are ‘un-Australian’, says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Australia’s beaches belong to everyone and no one should ‘reserve’ spots with cabanas, says Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Photo: AFP
France

Charlie Hebdo marks 10 years since Paris attack with defiant special edition

The French newspaper’s special edition featured a caricature contest mocking God, celebrating satire and freedom of expression.

French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo shows the front-page of its special edition to mark ten years since an attack on its offices by Islamist gunmen that decimated its staff. Photo: Handout/Charlie Hebdo/AFP
Social media

Language Matters | Word of the Year 2024 choices around the world focus on the negative

From Merriam-Webster’s ‘polarization’ and Oxford University Press’ ‘brain rot’ to Lianhe Zaobao’s ‘disaster’, prevailing moods are revealed.

Architecture and design

‘Gelatinous eggs wearing armour’? Welcome to Kosovo’s National Library

Balkan state’s National Library, built by Andrija Mutnjakovic, has been called both the ‘cherry on the cake of Pristina’ and an abomination.

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