Tag Archives: offbeat

Stockholm, Sweden | AFP | Swedish and Norwegian newspapers on Friday said they would refrain from the tradition of publishing April Fools’ Day jokes this year over fears that it might spread “fake news”. Magnus Karlsson, editor-in-chief at the daily Smalandsposten said on its website that he doesn’t want the newspaper’s …

Beijing, China | AFP |  The wife of a Chinese player gave her husband a red card Wednesday for playing away, claiming that spending too much time with his mistress led to his embarrassing gaffe in a crucial World Cup qualifier. Jiang Zhipeng, a Guangzhou R&F club left-back, had a …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa-based Ghanaian footballer Mohammed Anas was so excited after scoring twice in a top-flight match that he thanked his wife — and his girlfriend. The goals for Free State Stars in an away league draw with Ajax Cape Town this weekend earned striker Anas …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | British film icon James Bond has entertained audiences for over five decades, but now the country’s foreign intelligence agency is asking cinema-goers to become spies themselves. MI6 on Friday unveiled a 58-second advertisement — entitled “But She Can” — that will be shown in …

Stockholm, Sweden | AFP |  Swedes should take a one-hour paid break from work to go home and have sex with their partners, a local councillor suggested in a proposal Tuesday aimed at improving people’s personal relationships. “There are studies that show sex is healthy,” Per-Erik Muskos, a 42-year-old city …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | A Kenyan opposition MP has urged fellow women to impose a sex boycott until their men register to vote in August’s general election. Mishi Mboko, who is married, said women should withhold sex until their menfolk present their credentials in the form of a valid …

Kenyans mock president’s passion for project launches Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  Kenya’s notoriously caustic tweeters have taken aim at President Uhuru Kenyatta’s love for a good ribbon-cutting, mocking his endless unveilings of often bizarrely named projects. Kenyatta, who is seeking re-election in August, has an active Twitter account which …

Los Angeles, United States | AFP |  Come Sunday, Californians will legally be able to raise a glass of alcohol while getting a haircut or beard trim at beauty salons and barbershops. Although the practice of offering complementary wine and beer at such establishments has been going on quietly for …

London, United Kingdom | AFP |  West Ham fans were so relieved by their team’s 1-0 win over Hull last Saturday that they named a goalpost as man of the match after the woodwork saved the Hammers three times. A Mark Noble penalty gave Slaven Bilic’s side the three points …

Madrid, Spain | AFP |  A Spanish university chancellor who’s institution developed a system to catch plagiarists was forced to quit his post on a national education commission on Thursday — having been accused of plagiarism. Head of the King Juan Carlos University in Madrid since 2013, Fernando Suarez has …