Topic Reading-Vol.1951-8/14/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Amazon and Alibaba battle it out in Asia
20 years ago, who could understand what this headline meant? It still sounds pretty odd even today for those who are not familiar with or users of these two e-commerce giants.
Amazon is a two-decade old veteran in online sales, started in the US and has expanded to many other counties. The company is also the leading provider of cloud infrastructure services.
Founded by an English teacher in 1999, Alibaba is a leading e-commerce and online payment service provider in China. Their e-payment service, Alipay is becoming one of the two dominant payment platforms along with WeChat Pay.
Though it is a real battle between American and Chinese, fortunately it is just in the market place in South East Asia, not in the disputed waters.
Enjoy reading and thinking who will be the dominant, or most liked player in the market 10 years from now.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-40813092

Topic Reading-Vol.1950-8/13/2017

 Dear MEL Topic Readers,
China's 'four great new inventions' in modern times
Inventions, innovations or just sheer numbers?
First is a hassle free bike rental. Anytime, anytime and anyone. All you need is your smartphone to rent a bike. Sounds very convenient, too convenient that many worry about abandoned bikes on busy streets and entrances. Good for health, though.
Second is the network of high speed railroads across the country. Having been extended to over 20,000km only in a decade, It surely has achieved the fastest expansion and operating speed in the world. Amazing speed and scale.
Next is Alipay and also Tenpay, online and mobile payment services. These service are so convenient for day-to-day shopping and payment that the country is becoming rapidly cashless. Another usage of the smartphone.
Lastly, e-commerce. China is one of the markets where more and more people now prefer buying things and services online. Another amazing speed and scale but not on the train but on smartphones.
Enjoy reading and thinking what inventions mean.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/tech/2017-08/08/content_30370096.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1949-8/12/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Can Japan survive without immigrants?

It seems uncomfortable for Japanese to have neighbors or fellow workers from foreign countries.

While the country is rapidly aging and desperately needs younger workers to fill the labor gap, sustain the social welfare system and maintain a demographic balance, Japan is still reluctant to accept foreign workers, immigrants or refugees.

Japan is one of the few sovereign countries that don't have any land borders. So easy to stay isolated, block out foreign immigrants from entering and maintain its distinctive identity. In fact, the island country was closed to foreigners between the 17^th to 19^th centuries, like its neighboring countries. There is a clear distinction in the country when it comes to classifying people, Japanese or a foreigner.

Will Japan never change its immigration policy or bet on alternative labor resources?

Enjoy reading and thinking if automation, AI and robots could take place for all human labors.

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/01/asia/japan-migrants-immigration/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1948-8/11/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Cashless trend takes hold in China

Only in a few years, originally just a mobile phone turned into a ubiquitous multifunctional gadget that offers texting, messaging, tweeting, photos and videos, games, music, and browsing. Nowadays, the handy device is taking a place for cash, credit cards, and prepaid cards.

It’s been about a decade since the smartphone appeared on the market. China alone, there are over 600 million smartphone users and the number is rapidly increasing. Accordingly, numbers of new convenience have been invented and created for this personal, mobile device.

Now, Alipay by Alibaba and WeChat by Tencent are the two dominant platforms of mobile payment in China. A young lady says she can hardly recall when she paid for something in cash last time. This doesn’t sound so strange in today’s smartphonized society. But this emerging and expanding trend hasn’t just stopped there. A 67-year old woman says, "Gone are the days when I had to search all my pockets for a coin," when she shops in a nearby wet market to buy daily groceries near her home. In China these days, instead of being asked cash or card for payment, you are more likely to be asked, “WeChat or Alipay?”

It seems that countries waiting for economic development will also follow the suit because there are hardly any other convenient payment options available there.

Enjoy reading and thinking what other new platforms could emerge from China.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/tech/2017-08/01/content_30315259.htm

Topic Reading-Vol.1947-8/10/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The health benefits of apples

‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ This old saying seems to be true. Loaded with a wide variety of nutritional benefits, maybe you should pick some apples in your next grocery shopping. They are good with cereals, in a salad, for pies of course, and as a snack. There are various kinds of apples with different colors and textures, and most of them are economically friendly. Also, thanks to the storing technologies, apples are on the shelves all year round.

Unless you dislike them, there doesn’t seem to be any reason to omit apples from your menu.

Enjoy reading and thinking how you would eat or use an apple next time.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-apples

Topic Reading-Vol.1946-8/9/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Los Angeles reaches deal with Olympic leaders for 2028 Games

As reported in Vol.1921 on July 15^th, Paris and Los Angeles set to host 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games because no other city wanted to. The two finalists were given a chance to decide which city would take which of the two events, 2024 or 2028, and LA came to choose the latter only within two weeks. It seems like quite a swift decision to make considering the cost and investment, public interest and support, and business and marketing to bring the world sports event together.

But why 2028, not 2024? Who will still be sitting in the office or taking the role in the city to coordinate and organize such a huge and complex project of this scale for that long?

One thing for sure is that the incumbent president of the host country will not be sitting in the oval office in 2028. Indeed, California is Democrats state.

Enjoy reading and thinking why LA and the US Olympic Committee didn’t want 2024.

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/los-angeles-reaches-deal-olympic-leaders-2028-games-48952582

Topic Reading-Vol.1945-8/8/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Toronto: the city of 140 languages

What does this multi-cultural cosmopolitan city offer? It seems to be a lot more than one might think.

The city’s metropolitan population is approximately six million and is adding 100,000 new residents a year. It is the most populous city and metropolitan area, a center of business, finance, arts, and culture in Canada, and is also recognized as one of the most multicultural cities in the world.

Toronto offers comfortable yet still affordable urban living compared with other global cities. There are a lot of trees and parks, beautiful lakes and shores and a wide variety of recreational areas. Though winter is not as warm as most people want, Toronto seems to offer much more to attract more people and entice the residents.

Enjoy reading and learning what this multicultural city is like.

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170728-canadas-city-of-140-languages