Tag Archives: offbeat

Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |  He’s a mercurial army general known for penning saccharine ballads and angry tirades against his critics. Now Thailand’s junta chief has launched a new eye-catching project: trimming the waistlines of the kingdom’s civil servants. Former army chief turned Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha ditched his fatigues …

New Delhi, India | AFP | Huge bank queues have become an ubiquitous sight across India after the government suddenly withdrew the two highest denomination notes from circulation two weeks ago — but now you can hire-a-queuer online. New Delhi-based startup BookMyChotu — a play on the Hindi word “chotu” …

Madrid, Spain | AFP |  Children have long complained about homework but parents in Spain are now joining in and have decided to go on strike against their offspring’s school load for the whole month of November. Called by the Spanish Alliance of Parents’ Associations (CEAPA), a network that covers …

Kampala, Uganda | AFP | Michael O’HAGAN A Ugandan policeman has turned to rap and breakdancing to win over a sceptical public in a popular music video extolling the virtues of the police service. Inspector Samuel Ojobira, known as “O.J”, is making waves with his hit song “Physically Fit”, although some …

  Paris, France | AFP |  FASHION: If the idea of an “It girl influencer” sitting in a “frow” watching a “gender fluid” collection available in “see now, buy now” has you scratching your head, then you need our essential guide to fashion jargon. Here are a few basic terms …

Tokyo, Japan | AFP |  A Japanese bullet train was forced to make an emergency stop on Monday after a snake was found slithering between the seats, local media reported. A passenger spotted the 30 centimetre (12 inch) serpent poking between a gap in the seats, prompting the train, travelling …

Lagos, Nigeria | AFP |  A Nigerian man whose pet dog shares the same name as Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday asked the court to dismiss criminal charges against him. In a statement sent by his lawyer, the owner of ‘Buhari’ the dog Joachim Iroko said he had a …

Kampala, Uganda | AFP |  Ugandan officials raided a prestigious private school Thursday to seize copies of British children’s author Jacqueline Wilson’s “Love Lessons”, as a minister who has led several similar crackdowns threatened to close the establishment. Minister for ethics and integrity Simon Lokodo said the book exposed children …

Colombo, Sri Lanka | AFP |  Sri Lanka’s police sought spiritual help from Buddhist clergy Monday to bless an accident-prone highway in a country that has some of the world’s most dangerous roads. Police at Mawathagama, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) north-east of Colombo, directed three saffron-robed monks to bless …

New York, United States | AFP | Legendary competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut wolfed down a record 70 hot dogs — buns and all — in just 10 minutes Monday to reclaim his crown at an annual New York competition. Chestnut’s gastric feat at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest …