Daily chart Where smoking is the leading cause of death and ill health

Daily chartWhere smoking is the leading cause of death and ill health


Rich countries are hit the hardest but poor ones may soon follow





TODAY is World No Tobacco Day. Although in most countries the proportion of people who smoke continues to fall, campaigners see the glass as half full. In 24 countries smoking causes the largest share of the overall burden of disease, measured in years lost to ill health and premature death. In another 37 countries it ranks second. Most of these 61 countries are rich. Although their smoking rates are falling, much of the decline is because fewer young people are picking up the habit, rather than because older smokers are quitting. The harms from smoking affect people most seriously after middle age, so countries where smoking became popular a generation or more ago are worst affected—for now.

In poor countries, smoking is still a less important cause of death and disability than several other things, such as dirty water and malnutrition. Few African and Asian women light up—smoking is often socially acceptable only for men. In many of the poorest countries, smoking is still uncommon—though in some it is on the rise. As developing countries grow less poor, other harms will dwindle and smoking will start to look deadlier by comparison.

America’s foreign policy: embrace thugs, dictators and strongmen

ON APRIL 29th Donald Trump rang Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines. According to a leaked transcript, he said: “I just want to congratulate you because I am hearing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem.” Since Mr Duterte was elected in June last year, his anti-drugs campaign has led to the killing of around 9,000 people, mainly petty dealers and users. A couple of weeks earlier, Mr Trump had called the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to congratulate him on winning a referendum granting him sweeping new powers. Since an attempted coup last year, more than 100,000 Turks have been arrested or detained: the judiciary has been shredded, journalists jailed and media outlets shut down.

Last week, in Saudi Arabia on the first leg of a nine-day foreign trip, Mr Trump praised Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (pictured). “Safety seems to be very strong” in Egypt, he gushed. Mr Sisi’s regime has locked up tens of thousands of dissidents. Not once in Saudi Arabia did Mr Trump raise the kingdom’s habit of flogging, torturing and not letting people choose their government, preferring to trumpet a $110bn arms deal: “Hundreds of billions of dollars of investments into the United States and jobs, jobs, jobs.”



Mr Trump’s meetings later in his trip with NATO and G7 heads of government were, by contrast, sour affairs. The pattern is clear: this is a president who gets on better with authoritarian regimes than America’s traditional democratic partners.

Mr Trump’s secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, conveyed a similar impression to his department’s employees on May 3rd. He used the loaded phrase “America First”—coined by isolationists seeking to keep America out of the second world war—to define the new administration’s foreign policy. Central to his theme was that the pursuit of interests must take precedence over the promotion of values. Diplomats could express support for democracy, the rule of law and human rights, but only if that did not put an “obstacle” in the way of national-security and economic interests.

This represents a rupture with at least four decades of bipartisan consensus in favour of liberal internationalism. Far from conflicting with America’s interests, argues Ted Piccone, a former foreign policy adviser in the Clinton administration now at the Brookings Institution, advancing normative values is essential to those interests, and is the basis for America’s national prestige and international legitimacy.

In a recent article Eliot Cohen, an adviser to the State Department under George Bush junior, observed that open societies governed by the rule of law “make infinitely better allies in the long run than thugs sitting on powder kegs”. America has always based its foreign policy on national interests, says Shannon Green of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, but until now has seen advocating human rights as complementary to those interests. It had relationships with dictators, for example to co-operate against terrorism, but it also criticised them.

John McCain, the Republican candidate for the White House in 2008, who was tortured while being held as a prisoner of war by the North Vietnamese, has condemned the purely “transactional” approach to foreign policy as “dangerous”. Responding to Mr Tillerson’s speech, he wrote that “Depriving the oppressed of a beacon of hope could lose us the world we have built and thrived in.” He knows from experience that jailers often say to prisoners that they have been forgotten. Soviet dissidents such as Natan Sharansky have told of the courage they drew from Ronald Reagan repeatedly calling for their release.

Good deeds in a naughty world

Mr Trump’s hostility towards refugees has dashed the hopes of vulnerable people, says Audrey Gaughran of Amnesty International, and his refusal to raise concerns about human rights signals to authoritarian regimes that they can oppress with impunity. She fears that if America no longer speaks up for human rights in international forums, the consensus on such things will be at risk. Ms Green points to people-trafficking as an issue where American engagement has made a big difference. Since 2000 America has produced a “Trafficking in Persons” report each year, which it uses to lobby other governments. In 2001 only 12 countries met the highest “tier 1” standard; now 36 do, and 169 are party to a UN protocol on trafficking.


America has had close relationships with odious regimes in the past, and has on occasion offered hypocritical justifications for self-interested policies. But the guiding principle, articulated by Woodrow Wilson a century ago, that it should use its power for good in the world has endured.

Dean Acheson, secretary of state in the early 1950s, described “the American idea” as an inspiration to people who could only “dream of freedom”. But he knew that dream was constrained by a nuclear-armed communist Russia. In reality, says Sir Lawrence Freedman, a British strategist and historian, the ideological struggle with the Soviet Union took precedence over human rights. A description of Anastasio Somoza, Nicaragua’s dictator, sometimes attributed to Harry Truman—“He’s a bastard, but he’s our bastard”—was often cited to excuse poor company. Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger put reaching detente with the rival superpower ahead of what they saw as grandstanding on human rights.

A turning point came in 1975 when President Gerald Ford refused to meet Alexander Solzhenitsyn, an author who exposed the evils of the Soviet gulag. Conservative Republicans, such as Reagan, Jack Kemp and William Buckley, accused him of appeasement, as did Democrats, including Henry Jackson and Jimmy Carter. In a speech in 1977 Mr Carter marked a return to Wilsonianism: “It is a new world that calls for a new American foreign policy…We have reaffirmed America’s commitment to human rights as a fundamental tenet of our foreign policy.”

Although Mr Carter ran into difficulty over America’s support for the Shah of Iran, his vision was shared by his successor, Reagan. Liberals and conservatives had found something they could agree on. Human rights also helped win the cold war. The part of the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 (an accord between East and West) covering human rights did much to legitimise dissent in the Soviet empire.

In the early 1990s, with the cold war over, values-based foreign policy went into overdrive with what Tony Smith, a historian at Tufts University, calls neoWilsonianism. He argues that it rested on three ideas shared by neoconservatives and neoliberal interventionists. The first, “democratic peace theory”, held that as democracies did not wage war on each other, the more countries had democratic institutions, the more peaceful the world would be. The second, “democratic transition theory”, postulated a great global momentum towards democracy. The West, with its free-market economic model, primacy in multilateral organisations and human-rights pressure groups could accelerate the spread of democracy even in places with few of the institutional underpinnings. The third was “responsibility to protect” (known as R2P), a reworking of just war theory developed after the world’s failure to prevent the Rwandan genocide in 1994.Duterte: the wrong sort of friend

Together, these formed the framework for interventions in Bosnia, Sierra Leone and Kosovo. Britain’s prime minister, Tony Blair, a keen advocate of the new interventionism, laid out its principles in a speech in 1999 co-authored by Sir Lawrence. But early success spawned hubris. Combined with the “global war on terror” launched by George W. Bush after September 11th 2001, it led to flawed attempts at “nation-building” in Afghanistan and Iraq. Sir Lawrence says: “R2P pushed us into doing more than we reasonably could.”

Barack Obama did not resile from the human-rights agenda. But he became increasingly doubtful about using military force to buttress it. Ms Green, who served in the American agency for international development under Mr Obama, says he set great store by “civic-society engagement” to push authoritarian regimes towards international norms. He also believed that speaking out on human rights when meeting autocrats boosted campaigners, even when his lecturing grated.

Mr Obama was more of a Wilsonian than a neo-Wilsonian; his idealism tempered by a cool realism that verged on cynicism. For him the Middle East, exemplified by Libya, was a “shit show” that America could do little to change. But critics saw his reluctance to intervene in Syria as an abdication of American responsibility.

Mr Obama reflected a loss of confidence in the certainties of the neolibs and neocons. He may have allowed the pendulum to swing back too far, but he reflected the mood of war-weary voters. Mr Trump stands for something different and darker: a contemptuous repudiation of the use of American strength in the service of anything other than self-interest. His enthusiasm for a brute like Mr Duterte gives heart to brutes everywhere. The consequences for America’s power and influence are likely to be grave.

http://www.economist.com/news/international/21722834-past-presidents-believed-american-power-should-be-used-force-good

Amazing Goats performing at the Yoga Sport

© Rath Phl Thiy Thwil / EyeEm / Getty Goat yoga is coming to the UK and it looks like a lot of funYoga isn't normally associated with animals (with, of course, exception to the downward facing dog), but that's all about to change as a living animal is being introduced to British yoga classes.

Created by US farmer Lainey Morse, goat yoga involves balancing a goat on your back while you hold a pose. It may not sound like the most relaxing form of yoga, but the instructors say it is actually very therapeutic.

If you're intrigued, the good news is that the trend is coming to the UK!

Pennywell Farm in Devon are now offering two-hour goat yoga classes priced at £25 each. Although the farm's qualified Hatha Yoga teacher, Donna McCheyne, admits that the addition of the goats means that the class doesn't always run smoothly...

"In our first class we had goats clambering on our backs, licking our toes, chewing our hair and nibbling at the yoga mats, which was quite hysterical really," she told the Mail Online. 

"And humour makes yoga more therapeutic for people who might be going through a difficult time."

So what does it feel like to have a goat stand on you? Donna says they are surprisingly light and gentle...

"They place one hoof on, then before you know it there's an angora goat on your back. The longer you're still, the more likely they are to climb on you, which encourages people to be calm and relaxed.

"They particularly like the hare pose – where you sit back on your heels and lower your forehead to the floor – and cat pose, where you are on all fours."

But it's not all about goats – to add to the cuteness, piglets will be joining the classes too!

Leading animal behaviourist, Dr Roger Mugford, told the Mail Online about the therapeutic effects of the animals.

"These animals can lower the heart rate because they release the 'cuddle chemical' oxytocin, which produces the same type of feelings as when a mother looks at her baby or a lover looks at their partner," he said.

Why not give it a go?

Ariana Grande will return to Manchester

Ariana Grande sends message of hope to fans 

Ariana Grande says she will return to Manchester to hold a benefit gig for victims of the suicide bombing at her concert.



Twenty-two people were killed when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in a crowd leaving her concert at the Manchester Arena on Monday.

"I'll be returning to the incredibly brave city of Manchester to spend time with my fans and to have a benefit concert in honor of and to raise funds for the victims and their families," the star wrote on Twitter.

©Getty LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 15: Singer Ariana Grande attends The 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 15, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for…In a statement, she said: "There is nothing I or anyone can do to take away the pain you are feeling or make this better.

"However, I extend my hand and heart and everything I possibly can give to you and yours, should you want or need my help in any way.

"The only thing we can do now is choose how we let this affect us and how we live our lives from here on out."

The star said the attack had weighed heavily on her mind: "I have been thinking of my fans, and of you all, non stop over the past week.

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"The compassion, kindness, love strength and oneness that you've shown one another this past week is the exact opposite of the heinous intentions it must take to pull off something as evil as what happened Monday.

"YOU are the opposite."

Ms Grande said that what had happened on Monday was the exact opposite of what she had wanted: "This show, more than anything else, was intended to be a safe space for my fans.

"A place for them to escape, to celebrate, to heal, to feel safe and to be themselves."

She also said the world came together at her shows: "When you look into the audience at my shows, you see a beautiful, diverse, pure, happy crowd.

"Thousands of people, incredibly different, all there for the same reason, music.

"Music is something that everyone on Earth can share. Music is meant to heal us, to bring us together, to make us happy. So that is what it will continue to do for us."

The star also tweeted a link to the British Red Cross appeal for the families of those killed and injured.

She said "the ones we lost, their loved ones, my fans and all affected by this tragedy would be "on my mind and in my heart everyday".

She "will think of them with everything I do for the rest of my life".

Piece of Berlin Wall up for auction : reuters

Piece of Berlin Wall goes under the hammer in Mexican auction. Roselle Chen reports.


A piece of the Berlin Wall will go under the hammer in Mexico City. Built in 1961, the Berlin Wall was erected to stop East Germans fleeing to the West. The wall eventually came down in 1990 after the fall of Communist regimes across Europe. The owner of the piece of the Berlin Wall, Luis Alonso, hopes that the new owner will continue to preserve the memory of this piece of history for future generations. SOUNDBITE: Luis Alonso, owner of a piece of the Berlin Wall, saying (Spanish): "Let this historic piece that is three tons, 3.5 meters high be preserved. In the future there will be a lot of young people that will appreciate it, in a school, in a factory, in a public space, wherever. Let the piece continue to have an effect on people on the planet, as historic pieces should be." Morton auction house is managing the sale in Mexico City, with the item coming with proof of authenticity and going under the hammer on Saturday, May 27. The auction comes at a time during popular opposition in the Latin American country to a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to build a "great wall" along the border between the two nations.

13 American presidents who escaped attempts on their lives

Four out of 45 US presidents have been assassinated over the course of American history.

But many more chief executives escaped assassination attempts thanks to heroic bystanders, diligent guards, misfiring pistols, and crazy luck.

Even two presidents who were eventually assassinated escaped previous attempts on their lives.

On a hot August night in 1864, a sniper shot Lincoln's hat off his head - missing his skull by inches - as he took a solo ride on his favorite horse "Old Abe," according to "1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History." Lincoln was later shot and killed by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth, just five days after the surrender of Robert E. Lee.

Almost a century later, in 1960, retired postal worker Richard Paul Pavlick crammed his car with dynamite and plotted to ram the vehicle into Kennedy's limo in Palm Beach, Florida, according to Smithsonian magazine. He was motivated by his intense hatred of Catholics and the Kennedy family, but backed off when he saw that the president was with his wife and young children. Pavlick was later arrested and institutionalized until 1966, three years after Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald while visiting Dallas, Texas.

But these 13 other presidents all experienced serious assassination threats and ultimately survived - and these are only the most dramatic, most-publicized instances. Undoubtedly, the Secret Service has thwarted many more over the years.

Read  below
Here are 13 presidents who escaped attempts on their lives:

ANDREW JACKSON

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

90% Coffee Shops in UK, France and Germany Present Biggest Threat To Be Hacked

© Provided by IBT US

A report found businesses in the United States and throughout Europe have growing concerns about the possibility of getting hacked and are particularly worried about remote workers being compromised while on public Wi-Fi in places like coffee shops.

Mobile security firm iPass surveyed 500 technology companies in the U.S., U.K., Germany and France for its annual Mobile Security Report and found 93 percent of those surveyed were concerned about growing security challenges—including nearly half that said they were “very concerned,” up significantly from 2016.

U.S. companies led the world in worry according to the survey, with 98 percent worrying about the increasing number of mobile security challenges.


The UK, France and Germany all hovered closer to 90 percent. Nearly one in 10 companies in the UK said they had no significant security concerns at all, while no other country had more than two percent of companies surveyed express zero concern.

Raghu Konka, vice president of engineering at iPass, told International Business Times security concerns in the U.S. are so high because “the U.S. as a nation adheres to lot of ‘privacy laws’ and there are dire consequences for a corporation or individual who is responsible for any data breaches that happen. So, securing critical information is an absolute necessity.”

The biggest threat perceived by companies, especially those with mobile workers, is public Wi-Fi. Seven in 10 respondents identified connecting to a public network as a top concern for security, followed by lack of encryption, hotspot spoofing and unpatched operating systems.

It is worth noting the survey was taken prior to the spread of the WannaCry ransomware, which infected more than 300,000 computers across 150 countries, including computer systems at hospitals and major corporations. That attack spread due primarily to a vulnerability in Windows that Microsoft has offered a patch for but many people had yet to download and install.

While major malware attacks present a threat, many companies worry workers on public internet connections present a more constant one, especially man-in-the-middle attacks where an attacker can intercept communications from a person’s device without the person knowing.


“Man in the middle attacks are of such great concern because they're so easy to perpetrate,” Konka said. “Enterprises that deal with the personal and financial data of their customers are at even greater risk of these attacks. At public Wi-Fi locations, the airwaves are open and any attacker with a simple antenna can mount an attack.”

Businesses are most worried about CEOs and other executives being compromised, though any level employee with access to sensitive files can lead to larger issues. A recent hack of restaurant search engine Zomato occurred because an employee account was compromised and provided access to one of the company’s servers.

Coffee shops top the list of highest risk for most businesses, with 42 percent of respondents saying are concerned when employees work from cafes, where networks are often unprotected and ripe for attack. Thirty percent of businesses were concerned about employees working at airports, 16 percent said hotels, seven percent said exhibition centers and four percent said airplanes.

In response to the security risks associated with being connected to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, many businesses reported they considered banning work from public hotspots. Sixty-eight percent have put some restrictions on employee access to public Wi-Fi, including 33 percent of companies that have banned its use entirely.

These restrictions create problems for employees who work outside of the standard 9-5 hours or work remotely—an option that the Harvard Business Review found increases worker productivity and saves the company money.

“Organizations need to understand that people working remote want, need and expect to work wherever they are and however they can,” Konka explained. “Because you can’t enforce a blanket ban on public Wi-Fi, education becomes essential. Businesses need to enforce security solutions with as close to zero user input as possible, so that they don’t detrimentally impact productivity nor get circumvented as a result.”

Konka advised businesses encourage employees to only connect to secured sites when on public Wi-Fi and to always use a virtual private network, or VPN, to protect and encrypt activity. VPNs create a secure connection between a user’s device and a remote server that handles all traffic to and from the user, preventing the network—or anyone else on it—from seeing the activity.

He also recommended following best security practices like never initiating financial transactions over public networks, keeping machines up to date, and being cautious about opening emails from suspicious sources.

Konka also noted much of the protection comes from companies educating their workforce about threats and providing them the necessary tools to combat them.

International Business Times
AJ Dellinger

This Is What To Do If You Miss A Contraceptive Pill

© Getty This Is What To Do If You Miss A Contraceptive Pill, Based On Which One You TakeMost of us are busy women with busy lives, which means sometimes we can forget to take our contraceptive pill at the same time each day. But if you're not planning on procreating just yet, a missed pill could be a big deal.


So what happens if you do forget? Does it mean automatic pregnancy and a foreseeable future filled with nappies and breast milk? Don't panic just yet; we spoke to those in the contraception-know at Clue, the period tracker app, who explained exactly what steps to take dependent on your kind of pill.

They told us there are two main types of pill: the 'combined pill' and the 'mini-pill', and for those of us who aren't doctors by profession and therefore need those terms clarifying, here's the difference between them both:

The combined pill:

Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) include both hormones oestrogen and progestin. The most common types of combined pill in the UK include Microgynon, Cilest, Rigevidon and Yasmin.

The mini-pill:

Progestin-only pills (POCs) include only progestin. Some of the most common mini-pills given out by the NHS include Femulen, Micronor, Norgeston and Noriday.© Provided by Hearst Communications, IncWhat to do if you forget to take a combined pill



If it's been less than 3 hours:

A pill taken within three hours of scheduled time is considered on-time. The pill is fully effective.

If it's been 3-24 hours:

A pill taken 3-24 hours past scheduled time is considered late. Take your pill as soon as you remember, even if it means taking two pills in one day. Taking your pill late on a regular basis is not recommended. Emergency contraception is not usually needed, but may be considered if pills were missed earlier in the cycle or in pills 15-21 of the previous cycle. Talk to your healthcare provider if you're concerned.

If it's been 24-48 hours:

A pill taken 24-48 hours after scheduled time is considered missed. Take the missed pill as soon as possible, even if it means taking two pills in one day. As before, emergency contraception is not usually needed, but may be considered if pills were missed earlier in the cycle or in pills 15-21 of the previous cycle. Again, if you're concerned, it's worth talking to a nurse or a doctor.

It's been more than 48 hours:

If you've missed two or more pills, take the most recent missed pill as soon as possible. Take your pill as soon as you remember, even if it means taking two pills in one day. Do not take more than two pills in one day – you can throw away extra missed pills.If you miss a pill, it's recommended that you should use a backup method of contraception such as condoms for the next seven days, while proceeding to take the remaining pills in your pack on time.
What to do if you forget to take the mini-pill

A mini-pill taken within three hours outside of the scheduled time is considered late (or 12 hours for desogestrel pills, such as Cerazette). If you are late taking a pill, you should take it as soon as you remember.

A mini-pill taken more than three hours after scheduled time is considered missed (or 12 hours for desogestrel pills). If you've missed a pill, you should take it as soon as you remember, even if that means taking two pills in one day. Do not take more than two pills in one day.

You will also need to use a backup method of contraception (eg. condoms) for the next 48 hours. You are not considered protected from pregnancy until you have taken your pills correctly for at least two days.

Emergency contraception is usually recommended if you had unprotected sex after missing your pill, and before you've taken your pill correctly for at least two days.

Hopefully that's provided some useful information for you, but it's worth remembering these guidelines from Clue do not replace the advice of a doctor - this information is based on the contraceptive recommendations of the World Health Organisation and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.





Related: Does 'The Pill' Increase Risk For Depression?

a 104 year old woman tells the secret of the long age is this food

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Plc Credits: Newcastle ChroniclePensioner Mary Charlton celebrated her 104th birthday and puts her long life down to a daily bacon butty.

And teetotal Mary reached her landmark day by raising a glass of orange as her friends and family sipped on champagne, while she received yet another birthday card from the Queen.

The former domestic worker, who loves to joke, still has a memory like an elephant, sweeps the snow away from her bungalow in the winter and without fail makes sure she visits her hairdresser every week.

Born before the First World War and in the same year as two American Presidents, Richard Nixon and Gerald R Ford, activist Rosa Parks and actors Sid James and Peter Cushing, she chose to reminisce about the good old days at a party thrown for her.

“I’ve never been a smoker or a drinker and I think that’s helped me to live to a good age,” said Mary. “I also make myself a bacon sandwich every morning and I think that’s the biggest secret.”

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Plc Credits: Newcastle ChronicleWidow Mary, who has lived independently at Your Homes Newcastle’s Welbeck Green sheltered housing in Walker for 26 years, added: “It was lovely having everyone singing happy birthday to me. And I enjoyed seeing all my friends and family.”

Sheltered housing staff and residents previously threw a big party for Mary’s 100th birthday in 2013, and they were keen to celebrate again this year.
© Provided by Trinity Mirror Plc Credits: Newcastle Chronicle

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Plc Credits: Newcastle ChronicleHousing officer Maureen Ball decided on an “old and new” theme for the party, so the buffet was presented on a tablecloth that was also over 100 years old, and guests brought along modern party props to get Mary into a fun spirit.

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Plc Credits: Newcastle Chronicle

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Plc Credits: Newcastle ChronicleMary’s neighbours and carers, as well as niece Margaret Case and her husband John, were among the guests.

And they reminisced of her past as stories were told about Mary’s domestic work at hotels in Scarborough and London and how she travelled to the capital by boat from the Tyne for £1 each way.

Margaret, who visits Mary every week, also says her aunt’s memory is still incredibly sharp despite her age, which proves useful when Margaret and John help with her Christmas cards.

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Plc Credits: Newcastle Chronicle

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Plc Credits: Newcastle ChronicleMargaret said: “Her memory is amazing. She knows all of her neighbours’

door numbers off the top of her head and she remembers their birthdays too.

“It makes it really easy for us when John acts as postman for her.”

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Plc Credits: Newcastle Chronicle

© Provided by Trinity Mirror Plc Credits: newcastle chronicleMary still visits her hairdresser once a week with her friend Dot and likes to be smartly dressed every day – often having her jewellery on when her carer arrives in the morning.

Maureen said: “Mary’s fantastic, she still lives quite independently and she even brushes the snow away from the front of her bungalow in the winter – you really wouldn’t believe she was 104 if you met her.

“There’s a lovely sense of community spirit at Welbeck Green, with everyone enjoying getting together for a celebration and lots of people baking and making things for special occasions like this.

“Mary really enjoys the parties, so it was great to have one in her honour and to see her surrounded by her friends and family.

“It’s days like these that make my job so special and I’m thrilled to have been able to make this such a special day for Mary too.”

A dog broadcasts a news bulletin in Russian TV

© МТРК Мир / YouTube 

Anyone who owns a dog knows that they can often cause a fuss at the most inappropriate times, but the furry friend featured in this video definitely takes the (dog) biscuit for awkward (and incredible) antics.

Over on a Russian news programme, the newsreader is going about her business when the animal comes bounding into the studio, wagging its tail excitedly – and the stunned look her face when the dog lets out its first bark is absolutely priceless.

She does her best to carry on with the bulletins and the dog continues to hound her, even jumping up stand with its front paws on the desk.

Now, our non-existent knowledge of Russian is more than a little rusty – but the automatic translation tool provided by YouTube suggests that at the point the dog jumps up, the newsreader says something along the lines of "this is why I like cats".

In the grand scheme of news-broadcast interruptions, we're not sure it quite tops that now legendary "one time an expert's kids came barging into his study during an interview" – but it's definitely up there.

This particular incarnation of the canine news invasion has already racked up 5.4 millions views and is rising steadily – and the whole thing definitely brings to mind the old adage of not working with children or animals....even if it is an unplanned collaboration

Alien Yoga: The weird fitness trend taking over Instagram

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  aubrymarieI don't have much rhythm, but I think I caught the beat there for a second 🤓🙃 #aloyoga #beagoddess#nauli

Forget unicorn lattes or the glitter booty beauty trend, because the latest thing Instagram users are infatuated by comes from the realms of health and wellbeing.


Now a viral phenomenon, what’s being dubbed as ‘Alien Yoga’ has quickly taken over as videos of the strange contortions flood social media.

Otherwise known as Nauli, the traditional yoga move involves exhaling completely, isolating the abdomen and pulling it under the ribcage.


Then the abdominal muscles are contracted and released to create a mesmerising side-by-side rolling motion.

Said to promote digestion and help strengthen the core, ‘Alien Yoga’ is nothing new but the practice of Nauli is not something we typically see taught in classes.

That being said, Nauli.org insist that it can be mastered by a person of any age and level of experience, and in some more classical traditions was often among the first exercises taught to students.

In order to master Nauli, it’s necessary to master four movements.

The first is Uddiyana Bandha, an abdominal lock accomplished by emptying your lungs and pulling in the abdomen under the ribcage. Followed by Madhyana Nauli, Vama Nauli and Daksina Nauli which isolated contraction of the central, left and right side of the abdominal muscles.

The practice is thought to have endless benefits including improving willpower and emotional stability, correcting hormone imbalances and keeping your organs in shape. However, experts warn that it should only be attempted alongside a qualified yoga instructor as, if done improperly, the intense contractions could cause discomfort and even minor injury

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