Offbeat
Remembering the first generation of 'memes'
Before the age of TikTok dances and Twitter threads, memes were a nascent form of digital folklore. The term "meme" was coined by British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book, "The Selfish Gene". He used it to describe an idea, behaviour, or style that spreads within a culture. Little did he know, his term would become the moniker for one of the internet's most beloved phenomena.
Starving souls on paradise isle: The plight of St. Martin's stranded dogs
The coral island of St. Martin's is a place that usually evokes images of tranquillity, idyllic beaches, and unparalleled beauty. However, beneath this picturesque façade lies an unsettling reality—a burgeoning dog population that faces extreme cruelty and starvation, especially during the off-season from April to October. As tourism halts, these innocent animals, often fed by tourists during the peak season, are left to fend for themselves, leading to horrifying outcomes.
How SWAT Kats captured the hearts of '90s kids
Two cats: mechanics. Also fighter pilots. A banger of an electric guitar fuelled intro theme. And a guaranteed good time in front of the old TV. In the tapestry of '90s childhood in Bangladesh, woven with the threads of cricket matches, kite flying, and endless monsoon rains, a vivid patch stands out: the excitement of gathering around to watch 'SWAT Kats'.
Proof of 'alien' presented to Mexican Congress
In an unprecedented congressional hearing on Tuesday, Mexican lawmakers examined what was touted as physical evidence supporting the existence of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), commonly known as UFOs. The hearing marked Mexico's first official government discussion on the subject, following in the footsteps of recent U.S. hearings.
Offbeat / Cat stuck in taxi's grille travels 500 miles in Wales
A cat was found to have travelled over 500 miles while it was trapped in the grille of a taxi. The cat was discovered by a taxi driver named Tom Hutchins in Tonyrefail, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.
Offbeat / The latest bizarre TikTok trend is cracking eggs on your child's head
In this week's bizarre trend sweeping across TikTok, parents are cracking eggs on their young children's heads in a viral challenge that has raised some degree of alarm among medical experts and the public. The trend, tagged with #eggprank, has amassed over 670 million views as of last Tuesday.
World record as tightrope walkers cross Swedish Arctic valley 600m up
Four German tightrope walkers have set a new world highlining distance record by crossing a 2.1 km-long valley in Swedish lapland on a line suspended at a height of 600 metres.
Fish once labeled a 'living fossil' surprises scientists again
The coelacanth - a wondrous fish that was thought to have gone extinct along with the dinosaurs 66 million years ago before unexpectedly being found alive and well in 1938 off South Africa's east coast - is offering up even more surprises.
A new destination for Bangladeshi travellers in Sikkim: The Taj Guras Kutir Resort & Spa
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has announced the opening of the Taj Guras Kutir Resort & Spa in Gangtok, Sikkim. Located just a short flight away from Bangladesh, this resort emerges as a luxurious option for Bangladeshi travellers, who have increasingly been captivated by Sikkim's allure. Set amidst the alpine landscape, the resort offers panoramic views of the majestic Kanchenjunga.
Traffic police officers in Ahmedabad, India donning 'AC helmets'
Ahmedabad Traffic Police, in an innovative solution to tackle the intensity of the summer, has introduced special 'AC helmets' to officers on duty. A recently viral video in India shows constables wearing these AC helmets while controlling the traffic in the streets of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Man jumps from moving plane at Los Angeles airport
A passenger was taken to the hospital on Friday night after jumping out of a moving plane at Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said.
Duterte threatens to arrest Filipinos who refuse vaccination
The Philippine president has threatened to order the arrest of Filipinos who refuse COVID-19 vaccination and told them to leave the country if they would not cooperate with efforts to end a public health emergency.
Socially distanced robots serve Makkah Zamzam water ahead of Hajj
Robots began handing out bottles of sacred water in Makkah this week in preparation for a socially distanced Hajj pilgrimage in Islam's holiest city, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Artists create e-waste 'Mount Recyclemore' for G7
Artists Joe Rush and Alex Wreckage created the sculpture nicknamed "Mount Recyclemore" of the leaders of the G7 out of electronic waste to highlight the huge amount of tech and gadgets that goes unrecycled globally each year.
Delhi govt allows home delivery of alcohol via app, website
The Delhi government has allowed home delivery of alcohol under changed excise rules.
Indian YouTuber arrested for trying to make dog ‘fly’ with helium balloons
Delhi police arrested a local YouTuber who in one of his videos tied his pet dog to several helium gas balloons in a bid to make it “fly”.
Indian couple’s mid-air wedding: airline to take action over flouting Covid-19 protocols
A couple got married mid-air in the presence of guests and relatives onboard a SpiceJet airlines’ chartered flight on May 23 morning, in alleged violation of Covid-19 social distancing norms -- forcing Indian civil aviation authorities to take the entire cabin crew off duty.
BJP leader Rawat says coronavirus 'has right to live like rest of us'
Former Uttarakhand state Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Trivendra Singh Rawat has termed coronavirus as a "living organism which has a right to live", sparking troll on social media.
