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Offbeat
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Offbeat. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Murals adorn a wall at 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace in Singapore. Photo: Kolette Lim
Singapore

What does Singapore lose when the wrecking ball swings?

Relentless reinvention, long inevitable in the land-scare city state, puts pressure on beloved ‘third spaces’.

Donald Trump

Trump says may leave UFC arena on White House lawn permanently

Mainland China

Cartoonist Harry Harrison’s humorous takes on Hong Kong and beyond in May

Art

French museum reports theft of banana from multimillion-dollar artwork

Pompidou-Metz museum contacts police after a guard notices Maurizio Cattelan’s iconic duct-taped centrepiece has vanished.

A visitor looks at the “Comedian” artwork by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan at the Centre Pompidou-Metz in Metz in May last year. On Sunday, 2025. (Photo by Jean-Christophe VERHAEGEN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION - TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION
Italy

Milan restores bull mosaic’s bits worn down by an unusual tradition

Craftsman rebuilds animal’s cratered anatomy after visitors wear down the 19th century floor with their heels.

Bangladesh

Celebrity ‘Trump’ buffalo spared sacrifice, sent to Bangladesh zoo

The animal with a blond hairdo said to resemble the US president’s signature look was saved just hours before it was set to be slaughtered.

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United States

RFK Jnr posts video of him grabbing 2 snakes, as his wife asks ‘why?’

US health secretary has a bare-handed encounter with snakes, as his TV star wife tries to get him to stop.

Robert Kennedy Jnr handling two snakes as one of them tries to bite him. Photo: @RobertKennedyJr via X
Trending in China

Every dog has its day: stray puppy steals show at Chinese university sports event

Student runner broke the 3,000-metre race record with the fluffy campus resident guiding her to victory like a professional pacer.

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King Charles III

UK radio station mistakenly reports death of King Charles

Radio Caroline has apologised after a computer error triggered the so-called death of a monarch procedure.

Japan

Japan’s late-night cafes open doors to soothe mothers of crying babies

The idea of a ‘nighttime crying cafe’, which appeared in an online comic nearly a decade ago, is now gaining real-world traction.

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The Creative French Toast in Tokachi cafe turns into a night-time haven for mothers of crying babies. Photo: Facebook/Creative French Toast in Tokachi
Japan

Japan’s hikikomori recluses are growing old. So are their carers

What happens to more than 1 million social recluses in the world’s fastest-ageing society when the last person who cared for them is gone?

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A Japanese government survey estimated that 1.46 million people were living as shut-ins as of 2023. Photo: Shutterstock
Academy Awards

Oscar statue goes missing after director forced to check it on flight

Pavel Talankin’s prize was misplaced for two days until it was relocated by Lufthansa after an international outcry.

Mainland China

Cartoonist Harry Harrison’s humorous takes on Hong Kong and beyond in April

Discover Harry’s View as our veteran cartoonist casts his satirical eye over the political, social and economic landscape.

Britain

New Banksy statue of man blinded by flag draws crowds in London

Satirical monument appears in Waterloo Place as speculation swirls over the artist’s ‘confirmed’ identity.

Statues are not what Banksy is primarily known for. He is far more famous for his spray-painting on buildings. Photo: AP
Vietnam

Survival of the sweetest: Choco Pies save Vietnamese hiker lost for 37 hours

The student’s 37-hour agony on Tam Dao Mountain – sustained by Choco Pies – has boosted the snack’s survival kit status.

Last week, Orion Vietnam uploaded a promotional post on social media celebrating the hiker’s safe return. Photo: Facebook/OrionVietnam
United States

How a bear costume cost these luxury car insurance scamsters their freedom

A bear-suit scam in California landed three people in jail for faking luxury car damage and seeking US$142,000 in fraudulent insurance claims.

Middle East

‘First of its kind’ flying taxi station completed in Dubai

Commercial operations, with flights by California-based Joby Aviation, are expected to begin by the end of the year.

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Hong Kong

Cartoonist Harry Harrison’s humorous takes on Hong Kong and beyond in March

Discover Harry’s View as our veteran cartoonist casts his satirical eye over the political, social and economic landscape.

Illustration: Harry Harrison
What to do in Hong Kong

Where are Hong Kong’s best swings? This man who has tested over 200 sets knows

Mr Swing travels across Hong Kong to explore the city’s many swing sets, from government parks to ‘home-made’ creations off the beaten path.

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Nepal

Untouchable no more: Nepal to apologise to Dalits for first time

Nepal has banned caste discrimination, yet many Dalits still live in poverty. Can a formal state apology inspire change?

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Crime

400,000 KitKat bars stolen, as thieves ‘make a break’ with 12 tonne shipment

The heist could cause a shortage of the chocolate snacks in Europe right before Easter, Nestlé warns.

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The stolen truck of KitKats had left central Italy and was making its way to Poland, with a plan to distribute the bars in countries along the way. Photo illustration: AFP
Singapore

‘Super-aged’ Singapore’s secret to growing old well? Stay busy

Forget doing nothing. At the city state’s active hubs, the soundtrack to ageing is sewing machines, exercise bikes and guitar lessons.

Elderly citizens use sewing machines at the Yong-en Active Hub in Singapore. Photo: Kolette Lim
US-China relations

How American Jesse Appell learned to land the punchline in Chinese

US comedian spent 8 years mastering Chinese comedy, navigating culture, language and fame before Covid forced a return home.

Thailand

Thai police thought she was drunk. She was already dying

A 21-year-old died because an assumption was made. The same assumption later left a stroke victim in a coma with 50-50 odds of survival.

Trending in China

China ‘city of humour’ is only place with road signs warning drivers against joking

Cartoon overhead sign depicts driver and passenger cracking gags in car; hazard warning amuses tourists and locals alike.

Tianjin is the only city in China with road signs advising drivers against joking for safety reasons. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sohu
Thailand

She married 2 men at once in Thailand – and her mother is fine with it

The two Austrian grooms each paid a 1 million baht dowry, then celebrated by leaping into a pond.

Dujduan Ketsaro with her two grooms, Roman and Macky. Photo: Facebook

Opinion | Cartoonist Harry Harrison’s humorous takes on Hong Kong and beyond in February

Discover Harry’s View as our veteran cartoonist casts his satirical eye over the political, social and economic landscape.

Crime

New York police arrest man after officers pelted in massive snowball fight

A 27-year-old influencer known as ‘Diaper Man’ faces charges as his lawyer calls his arrest ‘politicised’.

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