World Briefs

They are designed to reduce stress and improve well-being, but one laughing yoga club in Mumbai has been ordered to stop its early morning giggling sessions after complaints from grumpy neighbours.

The Bombay High Court told police to clamp down on the laughing yoga group after a 78-year-old resident complained it caused “mental agony, pain and public nuisance”, the DNA newspaper reported yesterday.

“It is not proper to gather outside somebody’s house and laugh,” judges said while hearing the public interest lawsuit filed by Vinayak Shirsat from the Kurla suburb of Mumbai.

According to Mr Shirsat’s petition, 10 to 15 members of the group gather at 7 a.m. to sing, clap and indulge in “loud and vigorous spells of laughter”. “They laugh at the top of their voices; every member encourages the others to laugh to their heart’s content,” the complainant said.

Laughing yoga was made popular as an exercise routine by Indian physician Madan Kataria in Mumbai in 1995, based on the principle that laughter has physiological benefits.

‘Primitive energy’ ad withdrawn

Korean Air has apologised for having vaunted the “primitive energy” of the Kenyan people in an advert for the soon to be opened Seoul-Nairobi route and withdrew the ad from its website.

“Fly Korean Air and enjoy the grand African Savanna, the safari tour, and the indigenous people full of primitive energy,” the airline said.

The advert provoked a barrage of reactions from Kenyans, most of them amused rather than furious.

“Thinking of lion hunting today and maybe some elephant baiting to deal with my PrimitiveEnergy,” tweeted one Kenyan.

“I use PrimitiveEnergy every morning to rise from my bed,” another Kenyan said.

Another Kenyan, more cynical, wondered if the advert was really an error on the part of Korean Air or a marketing strategy destined to get people talking about the new route which the airline will fly three times a week starting June 21.

Topless painter causes a stir

Thailand’s Culture Ministry is demanding an explanation from the producer of a talent show which broadcast a female contestant painting with her bare breasts on national television.

“Society has criticised this show and we need to seek an answer,” Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome told AFP.

The contestant on the Sunday show of Thailand’s Got Talent removed her shirt and bra before pouring tins of coloured paint on her breasts, which she rubbed on the canvas as the judges watched open-mouthed and the audience cheered.

She was voted through to the next round by two male judges, to the dismay of the sole female judge. The show’s producer was not available to comment.

Despite Thailand’s flourishing sex industry, officials in the kingdom often criticise raunchy activities in public. Last week, the Culture Ministry filed a complaint against Lady Gaga for using the Thai flag during her show.